Storage lift for storing and retrieving goods, and confirmation device for confirming an order-picking operation for a storage lift

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage lift (10) for storing and retrieving goods, said storage lift comprising a loading and unloading opening (12) for order-picking goods, and a confirmation device (22) for confirming an order-picking operation, wherein the confirmation device (22) is arranged in a channel (20) below the loading and unloading opening (12) and has a light barrier device (23), wherein the light barrier device (23) has a transmitter (24), which emits a light beam, and a receiver (26) which receives the emitted light beam, and wherein both the transmitter (24) and the receiver (26) are each provided with a slotted aperture (32) arranged in front of them. The invention also relates to a confirmation device (22) for confirming an order-picking operation for such a storage lift (10).

Description

[0001] Storage lift for storing and retrieving stored goods and a confirmation device for confirming a picking process for a storage lift

[0002] The present invention relates to a storage lift for storing and retrieving stored goods, comprising a loading and unloading opening for picking stored goods and a confirmation device for confirming a picking process. Furthermore, the invention relates to a confirmation device for confirming a picking process for such a storage lift.

[0003] A storage lift of the type mentioned above has a plurality of storage locations at which storage carriers are picked up for depositing stored goods. The storage carriers are delivered to or removed from the storage locations by means of a transport device. Based on an order or a command, stored goods are positioned for storage on a storage carrier via the loading and unloading opening and / or removed from a storage carrier for retrieval. This process is referred to as picking. To confirm a picking process, the orders or commands must be confirmed. For this purpose, it is known to provide an operating device in the form of a control panel and / or a display next to the loading and unloading opening, which must be operated to confirm the commands.

[0004] An example of a storage lift with a control unit for confirming a storage operation is disclosed in DE 10 2008 018 436 A1. This discloses a storage lift with an access opening and a control unit mounted on the storage rack, which is connected to a computer via LAN. When storage is complete, the operator enters this information on the control unit. A disadvantage of the known storage lift is that the operator must walk to the control panel of the storage lift to confirm an order or command.

[0005] The present invention is based on the object of creating a storage lift and a confirmation device that enable easy-to-reach confirmation of a picking process and at the same time prevent accidental operation.

[0006] To solve the problem, a storage lift with the features of claim 1 is proposed.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the storage lift are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, a storage lift for storing and retrieving stored goods is proposed, which has a loading and unloading opening for picking stored goods and a confirmation device for confirming a picking process, wherein the confirmation device is arranged below the loading and unloading opening in a channel and has a light barrier device, wherein the light barrier device has a transmitter which emits a light beam and a receiver which receives the emitted light beam, and wherein a slit diaphragm is arranged in front of the transmitter and in front of the receiver.

[0009] The arrangement of the confirmation device below the loading and unloading opening makes it easy for the operator to reach. To confirm, the operator simply needs to insert their hand into the channel, which interrupts the light beam emitted by the transmitter. This triggers a command to the control system that confirms the picking process that has just been carried out. Furthermore, the arrangement of the confirmation device in a channel protects against accidental confirmation by an operator. Furthermore, the slit diaphragms prevent reflection from occurring on the surfaces of the channel. This ensures sufficient operational reliability. For the purposes of the invention, picking is understood to mean the feeding and / or removal of at least one stored item to or from a storage item carrier by the operator.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment, the slit diaphragm is made of a metal or a plastic, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic. Furthermore, the slit diaphragms are advantageously connected to the transmitter and receiver in a form-fitting, force-fitting, and / or material-fitting manner. The slit diaphragms are advantageously attached to the transmitter and receiver in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment, the slit aperture has a rectangular slit. A rectangular slit shape effectively prevents reflections from the surfaces of the channel.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the channel extends almost across the entire width of the loading and unloading opening. This allows the command to confirm a picking process to be sent to the control system across the entire width of the lift.

[0013] Advantageously, the transmitter is arranged at a first end of the channel and the receiver is arranged at a second end of the channel, so that the light beam emitted by the transmitter extends over almost the entire length of the channel and thus over almost the entire width of the loading and unloading opening.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, the channel is closed on three sides. This design effectively protects against accidental activation of the activation device by an operator. The channel advantageously has a rectangular cross-section.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment, the channel has a light color. This light color creates an attractive appearance. The light color can be white or light gray. The slit apertures effectively prevent the light from the light barrier device from being reflected or refracted due to the light color prevailing in the channel. In an advantageous embodiment, the channel is arranged in a frame section surrounding the loading and unloading opening. This creates an attractive appearance. Furthermore, the arrangement of the channel in a frame section prevents accidental actuation of the activation device.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the frame is formed from four frame parts that surround the loading and unloading opening. Furthermore, the channel is advantageously accommodated in a lower frame part located below the loading and unloading opening. The frame parts can be connected to one another in a form-fitting, force-fitting, and / or material-fitting manner.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the frame is made of a metal or a plastic, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic. Furthermore, the frame is advantageously light in color, for example, white or light gray.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment, a matrix display, in particular an LED matrix display, is arranged below the loading and unloading opening. The matrix display enables the position of the stored goods to be removed within the storage carrier to be shown.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment, the matrix display is accommodated in the frame part, in particular the lower frame part. Advantageously, the matrix display is accommodated in the frame part having the channel, in particular the lower frame part.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment, the matrix display is inserted in an insert which is connected to the frame part, in particular to the lower frame part.

[0021] Furthermore, the invention relates to a confirmation device according to independent claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the confirmation device according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment, which is schematically illustrated in the figures. Herein:

[0022] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a loading and unloading opening of a storage lift and a frame surrounding the loading and unloading opening, in which a confirmation device is arranged;

[0023] Fig. 2 is a cross-section through a lower frame part of the frame along line ll-ll in Fig. 1; and

[0024] Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a transmitter and a receiver of the confirmation device, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are each provided with a slit diaphragm.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a storage lift 10 having a plurality of storage locations where storage carriers are mounted to receive stored goods. These are delivered to or removed from the storage locations by an automatic transport device.

[0026] The storage lift 10 has a loading and unloading opening 12 for storing and retrieving or for picking stored goods (not shown). A storage goods carrier can be delivered to the loading and unloading opening 12 by means of the transport device. The loading and unloading opening 12 is surrounded by a frame 14 formed from four frame parts 16 that are connected to one another in a form-fitting, force-fitting, and / or material-fitting manner. In particular, the frame 14 has a lower frame part 16a arranged below the loading and unloading opening 12, an upper frame part 16b arranged above the loading and unloading opening 12, and two lateral frame parts 16c arranged on either side of the loading and unloading opening 12.The frame parts 16 are made of a metal or a plastic, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic, and have a light color, such as white or light gray. As can be seen from a combined view of Figures 1 and 2, a matrix display 18 is arranged in the area of ​​the loading and unloading opening 12. This matrix display indicates the position of the stored goods to be removed on the storage goods carrier. In this case, the matrix display 18 is designed as a color LED matrix display.

[0027] The matrix display 18 is arranged in the lower frame part 16a of the frame 14, wherein the matrix display 18 is received, in particular flush-mounted, in an insert 19 which is connected to the frame part 16, as can be seen in Fig. 2.

[0028] In the lower frame part 16a, a channel 20 with a rectangular cross-section is introduced, which extends almost over the entire width of the removal and loading opening 12 in the horizontal direction.

[0029] As can be seen particularly in Fig. 2, the channel 20 is closed on three sides. At a front side 21, the channel 20 is open for the insertion of the hand of an operator (not shown).

[0030] A confirmation device 22 for confirming a picking process is provided within the channel 20. The confirmation device 22 has a light barrier device 23, which, as shown in Fig. 3, comprises a transmitter 24 that emits a light beam (not shown) and a receiver 26 that receives the emitted light beam.

[0031] The transmitter 24 is arranged at a first end 28 of the channel 20, and the receiver 26 is arranged at a second end 30 of the channel 20. The light beam emitted by the transmitter 24 extends over almost the entire length of the channel 20 and thus across almost the entire width of the loading and unloading opening 12 to the receiver 26.

[0032] To confirm a picking process, the operator must insert their hand into channel 20, which interrupts the light beam emitted by transmitter 24. This triggers a signal that is sent to a controller (not shown). This signal serves as a confirmation command for the picking process.

[0033] Channel 20 has the same color as frame 14, namely a light color, such as white or light gray. To prevent reflections from the surfaces of channel 20 due to its light color, slit diaphragms 32 are arranged in front of transmitter 24 and receiver 26.

[0034] The slit diaphragms 32 are, in particular, attached to the transmitter 24 and the receiver 26 in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner. The slit diaphragms 32 are made of a metal or a plastic, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0035] As can be seen in Fig. 3, each of the slit diaphragms 32 has a circular cover section 34 with a rectangular slot 36 and a surrounding edge section 38, by means of which the slit diaphragm 32 is positively and non-positively attached to the transmitter 24 or the receiver 26.

[0036] The storage lift 10 is characterized by the arrangement of the confirmation device 22 below the loading and unloading opening 12 in the channel 20.

[0037] This makes the confirmation device 20 easy to reach for confirming a picking process. Furthermore, the confirmation can be triggered across almost the entire width of the removal and loading opening 12. Furthermore, the arrangement of the confirmation device 22 within the channel 20 provides protection against inadvertent confirmation by an operator. Finally, the slit diaphragms 32 prevent reflection from the surfaces of the channel 20. Reference Symbol List

[0038] Storage lift

[0039] Loading and unloading opening

[0040] Frame

[0041] Frame part a lower frame part b upper frame part c side frame part

[0042] Matrix display

[0043] Mission

[0044] channel

[0045] front

[0046] Confirmation device

[0047] Light barrier device

[0048] Sender

[0049] Receiver first end of the channel second end of the channel

[0050] slit aperture

[0051] Cover section rectangular slot edge section

Claims

Claims 1. Storage lift (10) for storing and retrieving stored goods, comprising a loading and unloading opening (12) for picking stored goods and a confirmation device (22) for confirming a picking process, wherein the confirmation device (22) is arranged below the loading and unloading opening (12) in a channel (20) and has a light barrier device (23), wherein the light barrier device (23) has a transmitter (24) which emits a light beam and a receiver (26) which receives the emitted light beam, and wherein a slit diaphragm (32) is arranged in front of the transmitter (24) and in front of the receiver (26).

2. Storage lift (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slotted cover (32) has a rectangular slot (36).

3. Storage lift according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the channel (20) extends almost over the entire width of the loading and unloading opening (12).

4. Storage lift (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (20) is closed on three sides.

5. Storage lift (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (20) has a light color.

6. Storage lift (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (20) is received in a frame part (16a) of a frame (14) surrounding the loading and unloading opening (12).

7. Storage lift (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that below the loading and unloading opening (12) a matrix display (18), in particular an LED matrix display, is arranged.

8. Storage lift (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the matrix display (18) is accommodated in the frame part (16a).

9. Storage lift according to claim 8, characterized in that the matrix display (18) is inserted in an insert (19) which is connected to the frame part (16a).

10. Confirmation device (22) for confirming a picking process for a storage lift (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the confirmation device (22) is arranged below a loading and unloading opening (12) of the storage lift (10) in a channel (20) and has a light barrier device (23), wherein the light barrier device (23) has a transmitter (24) which emits a light beam and a receiver (26) which receives the emitted light beam, and wherein a slit diaphragm (32) is arranged in front of the transmitter (24) and in front of the receiver (26).

11. Confirmation device (22) according to claim 10, characterized in that the slit diaphragm (32) has a rectangular slot (36).

12. Confirmation device (22) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the channel (20) extends almost over the entire width of the loading and unloading opening (12).

13. Confirmation device (22) according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the channel (20) is closed on three sides.

14. Confirmation device (22) according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the channel (20) is received in a frame part (16a) of a frame (14) surrounding the loading and unloading opening (12).

15. Confirmation device (22) according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that a matrix display (18), in particular an LED matrix display, is provided, which is received in the frame part (16a) of the frame (14).

16. Confirmation device (22) according to claim 15, characterized in that the matrix display (18) is inserted in an insert (19) which is connected to the frame part (16a).

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