Improved switching from an energy-saving mode to a normal operating mode in an order picking system

Abstract

The invention relates to an order picking system (1) comprising a goods warehouse (3a, 3b), an order picking station (14), a transport equipment (8a...8e, 10, 12a...12c) for transporting goods (9a...9h, 11), a drive system (M) for the transport equipment (8a...8e, 10, 12a...12c), a control system for the transport equipment (8a...8e, 10, 12a...12c), and an energy supply system (EVS) for the drive system (M) and the control system (22), wherein the order picking system (1) comprises an electronic energy-saving module (21) by means of which the order picking system (1) can switch from a normal operating mode to an energy-saving mode and vice versa.The energy-saving module (21) is also designed to: a) automatically mask, suppress, or recognize error messages when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode; and / or b) automatically recognize error diagnostic or troubleshooting functions when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode; and / or c) provide an error message recognition element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, whereby multiple error messages can be recognized simultaneously. The invention also relates to a method for operating such a selection system (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a picking system and a method for switching from an energy-saving mode to a normal operating mode in a picking system according to the preamble of claims 1 and 17.

[0002] While existing technologies offer proposals for an energy-saving mode in order picking systems, the complexity of the startup process means that the energy-saving mode is rarely, if ever, used by the operators. If it is used at all, the energy-saving mode is only employed for relatively long operational breaks due to the time-consuming startup process. Therefore, the objective of the energy-saving mode is either not achieved or only partially achieved.

[0003] JP 5 879941 B2 discloses a picking system and a method for switching from an energy-saving mode to a normal operating mode in a picking system according to the preamble of claims 1 and 17.

[0004] The order picking system according to JP 5 879941 B2 comprises a warehouse, a picking station, a conveyor system for transporting goods between the warehouse and the picking station, a drive system for the conveyor system, a control system for the conveyor system, a power supply system configured to provide energy to the drive system and the control system, and an electronic energy-saving module that allows the order picking system to be switched from a normal operating mode to an energy-saving mode and vice versa. According to the method, the order picking system can be switched from an energy-saving mode to a normal operating mode, whereby at least part of the power supply system is switched off in the energy-saving mode.

[0005] One object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved order picking system and an improved method for switching from an energy-saving mode to a normal operating mode. In particular, the disadvantages mentioned above are to be overcome and the usability of an energy-saving mode in an order picking system is to be improved.

[0006] The object of the invention is solved by a picking system according to claim 1, in which the energy saving module is designed to a) To mask, suppress, or automatically acknowledge error messages when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or b) To suppress or automatically acknowledge error diagnostic or troubleshooting functions when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or c) To provide an error message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several error messages can be acknowledged simultaneously.

[0007] Furthermore, the object of the invention is achieved by a method for switching the picking system from an energy-saving mode to a normal operating mode with an electronic energy-saving module according to claim 17, wherein a) Error messages are masked, suppressed, or automatically acknowledged by the energy-saving module when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or b) Error diagnostic or troubleshooting functions are suppressed or automatically acknowledged by the energy-saving module when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or c) an error message acknowledgment element is provided by the energy-saving module when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several error messages can be acknowledged simultaneously.

[0008] The proposed measures enable the order picking system to be easily switched from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode without requiring complex start-up procedures or extensive intervention from the operating personnel. In particular, the system automatically restarts when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode. Therefore, the system can be placed in energy-saving mode for relatively short periods without causing significant disruption to the order picking process. Overall, the proposed measures contribute to reducing energy consumption in order picking systems compared to the current state of the art.Furthermore, the proposed measures require no or only minimal modifications to the software used to operate a picking system. This allows for the convenient switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode to be implemented with minimal effort, even in existing picking systems.

[0009] The energy-saving module can comprise software and / or hardware and, in particular, can be configured as a central computer or part of a central computer with integrated switching elements for switching the power supply system, or switching elements connected to the central computer via control lines. The switching elements for switching the power supply system can be configured, in particular, as relays or contactors. The switching elements can be switched on or off via corresponding switching commands from the central computer. Similarly, the error message acknowledgment element can be a physical switching element, such as a mechanical switch or push button.

[0010] Preferably, the energy-saving module comprises a software module by means of which the picking system can be switched to energy-saving mode. Particularly preferably, the software module comprises a graphical user interface with a button, the picking system being switched to energy-saving mode by pressing the button. The button can be configured such that it is activated by clicking, by dragging the button along a predefined (displayed) path, or the like. Similarly, the error message acknowledgment element can be formed by another such button.

[0011] Conveyor technology can include storage and / or retrieval conveyor technology (e.g., stacker cranes or shuttles), stationary conveyor technology and / or mobile conveyor technology.

[0012] The electronic energy-saving module is used primarily to switch off electrical energy from the order picking system or parts thereof, but it also refers to the saving of other forms of energy. For example, the energy-saving module can also switch off pneumatic energy from the order picking system or parts thereof.

[0013] An "error message" indicates a fault in the picking system. In particular, an error message can be actively generated by the unit in which the fault occurs.

[0014] For example, an error message can indicate the failure of a drive component and can also be generated by it.

[0015] A "fault diagnostic function" is, in particular, a function implemented in software and / or hardware that can be used to diagnose a potential fault in the order picking system. A fault diagnostic function thus serves primarily to detect faults that are not actively generated. For example, the proper functioning or failure of a drive component can be checked in this way.

[0016] A "fault correction function" is, in particular, a function implemented in software and / or hardware that can be executed to correct a fault in the order picking system. For example, the software of a drive component can be restarted by a fault correction function to rectify an existing fault, if possible.

[0017] "Masking" an error message means, in particular, that the error message is generated but not displayed to the operating personnel of the picking system.

[0018] "Suppressing" an error message means, in particular, that the error message is not generated. Similarly, "suppressing" a diagnostic or troubleshooting function means that it is not executed.

[0019] "Automatic acknowledgment" of an error message means, in particular, that the error message is generated and may also be displayed, but is automatically acknowledged without intervention from the operator of the picking system. Similarly, "automatic acknowledgment" of a fault diagnosis or troubleshooting function means, in particular, that it is executed, but is automatically acknowledged without intervention from the operator of the picking system.

[0020] The "simultaneous acknowledgment" of multiple error messages using the error message acknowledgment element provides an automated method for confirming error messages. While this method requires intervention from the picking system operator, acknowledging error messages is simple for the operator, as multiple error messages can be acknowledged at once with a single actuation of the error message acknowledgment element. The term "simultaneous" refers to the act of activating the error message acknowledgment element. Individual error messages can be acknowledged simultaneously, but a sequential acknowledgment of individual error messages is also possible. This is particularly useful when error messages are interdependent and can only be acknowledged or confirmed in a specific order.This means that the acknowledgment of error messages can also extend over a certain period of time. In this sense, the term "simultaneously" in the given context can be understood synonymously with "all at once" or "through a single activation of the error message acknowledgment element".

[0021] The presented implementation variants can be used individually or in any combination. For example, it is conceivable to use only variant a), only variant b), or only variant c). Selective use of one of several available variants is also possible. It is also conceivable that variant a) is applied to some error messages and variant c) to others.

[0022] Similar considerations can be made regarding the terms "masking," "suppression," "automatic acknowledgment," and "simultaneous acknowledgment" (or "automated acknowledgment"). For example, it is conceivable that only one of the listed options is applied, or that one of several available options can be selected. It is also conceivable that one option is applied to some error messages and a different option to others.

[0023] Further advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and from the description in conjunction with the figures.

[0024] It is advantageous to if the control system includes a submodule with a voltage monitoring device that detects a failure of the supply voltage for the submodule and also indicates it by means of an error message after the supply voltage has been restored, and if the energy-saving module a) masks, suppresses and / or automatically acknowledges error messages concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or b) suppresses or automatically acknowledges fault diagnostic functions concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or c) provides an error message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several error messages concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage can be acknowledged simultaneously.

[0025] It is equally advantageous if the energy-saving module is designed to perform steps a) and / or b) and / or c).

[0026] Submodules of the control system can include a voltage monitoring device that detects a power supply failure for the submodule and displays an error message after the power supply is restored. This prevents unexplained errors in the affected part of the control system caused by a brief power outage. Instead, a power supply failure is always traceable, even if it is only temporary. Errors resulting from such a power supply failure can therefore be correctly identified.In energy-saving mode, such voltage monitoring devices, while otherwise useful, without further measures, lead to a multitude of error messages and / or the execution of numerous diagnostic functions when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode in a picking system. These must be acknowledged to ensure proper operation of the picking system after switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode. However, this is very time-consuming for the picking system operators, so, as mentioned, the energy-saving mode is rarely or never used in current technology.The proposed measures, however, offer significant relief, as error messages resulting from a power supply failure deliberately induced by switching to energy-saving mode are masked, suppressed, and / or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or can be easily acknowledged manually using the error message acknowledgment element. Similarly, fault diagnostic functions resulting from a power supply failure deliberately induced by switching to energy-saving mode are suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode. The aforementioned submodule of the control system could be, for example, a control module or a measurement module.

[0027] In principle, providing a voltage monitoring device to detect a power supply failure for a submodule is not a prerequisite. For example, a power failure for a submodule could also be detected (indirectly) by the fact that it is no longer reachable via a communication channel. The control system could then generate a corresponding error message. It is also conceivable that a corresponding error message could be sent to the submodule if the power supply drops, even before the submodule fails.

[0028] It is advantageous to if the picking system is divided into spatially limited zones, each of which is supplied with energy by the energy supply system in normal operating mode, and if the energy-saving module is designed to switch one, several or all zones of the zones from normal operating mode to energy-saving mode and from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode as required, wherein in energy-saving mode at least that part of the energy supply system which supplies the respective zone or zones with energy is switched off, and if the energy-saving module is designed to a) mask, suppress or automatically acknowledge error messages assigned to the zone when switching the zone from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode,and / or b) to suppress or automatically acknowledge fault diagnosis or troubleshooting functions assigned to the zone when switching the zone from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or c) to provide a fault message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several fault messages assigned to the zone can be acknowledged simultaneously.

[0029] It is equally advantageous if the energy-saving module is designed to perform the above steps.

[0030] For example, zones can be formed by or encompass functional groups within the order picking system, such as an order picking zone, a storage zone, a transport zone, a sorting zone, and the like. A zone can have a virtual boundary and / or be wholly or partially delimited by structural measures, with access to the zone by a person only permitted via a single passageway. Such structural measures include, in particular, walls, but also other installations within the order picking system that cannot be traversed by persons or at least are not intended for human passage. For example, scaffolding, railings, fences, and similar structures that can theoretically be climbed over or through, but are not designed for this purpose, are structural measures not intended for human passage.Access to a zone restricted by structural measures may be possible via a passageway, or only via a single passageway. Such passageways include, for example, wall openings, doors, gates, and the like.

[0031] It is advantageous if the energy-saving module comprises several energy switching modules, each assigned to a zone, whereby one or more zones are switched from normal operating mode to energy-saving mode and vice versa as needed by their respective energy switching modules. Similarly, it is advantageous if the energy-saving module comprises several energy switching modules, each assigned to a zone, and configured to switch the respective zone from normal operating mode to energy-saving mode and vice versa as needed. In this configuration, the energy-saving module has a hierarchical structure. This simplifies the design, operation, and maintenance of the energy-saving module. If the energy-saving module includes a software module, the energy switching modules can, for example, be implemented as software submodules.It is also conceivable that the energy switching modules are each implemented as a button as described above, so that each button is assigned to one zone of the zones.

[0032] It is particularly advantageous to If the picking system includes an integrity monitoring device that monitors the integrity of the zone in energy-saving mode, the integrity of the zone being violated at least when the integrity monitoring device detects a person entering the zone, and if the energy-saving module a) displays zone-associated error messages on an output device when the zone switches from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone is violated during said switch, and masks, suppresses, and / or automatically acknowledges them if the integrity of the zone is intact during said switch, and / or b) executes zone-associated fault diagnostic or fault correction functions when the zone switches from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone is violated during said switch, and suppresses or automatically acknowledges their execution,if the integrity of the zone is intact during the aforementioned switching, and / or c) displays error messages assigned to the zone on an output device when switching the zone from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, if the integrity of the zone is violated during the aforementioned switching, and provides an error message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several error messages assigned to the zone can be acknowledged simultaneously, if the integrity of the zone is intact during the aforementioned switching.

[0033] It is equally advantageous if the energy-saving module is designed to perform steps a) and / or b) and / or c).

[0034] When a picking system is divided into zones and selectively switched to energy-saving mode, the otherwise appropriate error messages, diagnostic functions, and troubleshooting functions, without further measures, result in a multitude of error messages and / or diagnostic functions being executed when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode. These must be acknowledged to ensure proper operation of the picking system after switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode. However, this is very time-consuming for the picking system operators, so, as mentioned, the energy-saving mode is rarely or never used in current technology.The proposed measures, however, offer significant simplification, as they assume that zone-specific error messages and / or fault diagnosis or troubleshooting functions are irrelevant if the zone's integrity is intact during the switchover, i.e., if no one has entered the zone while it is in energy-saving mode. Therefore, error messages that occur in energy-saving mode are masked, suppressed, and / or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or can be easily acknowledged manually using the error message acknowledgment element, provided the zone's integrity is intact during the switchover. Similarly, fault diagnosis functions that occur in energy-saving mode are suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode.if the integrity of the zone is intact during the aforementioned switching operation.

[0035] The phrase "if the integrity of the zone is violated during the aforementioned switching operation" specifically means "if the integrity monitoring device indicates a violation of the zone's integrity during the aforementioned switching operation." For example, the integrity monitoring device may set a flag or status bit, or activate a switching element, if the zone's integrity is violated. In the latter case, a violation of integrity may be indicated, for example, by a specific voltage level or a specific signal. The integrity monitoring device may be implemented in either software or hardware and therefore comprise a computer program and / or an electronic circuit.

[0036] An integrity monitoring device can also be configured to trigger an (automatic) switchover from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode. This allows, for example, a start-up process for the zone to be initiated when a person responsible for its operation enters the zone, such as the morning after a nighttime shutdown. The proposed measures enable the zone to be brought back online particularly quickly and conveniently. The switching process can also be scheduled to occur only within a specific time window, for example, from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. If an integrity breach is detected before this time window (in this example, before 7:00 a.m.), then no automatic triggering occurs.

[0037] It is also conceivable that certain integrity monitoring devices within the zone could (immediately) trigger the display of error messages that have occurred in the zone (cases a) and c)) and / or the execution of the fault diagnosis or troubleshooting functions assigned to the zone (case b) in the event of an integrity violation. In particular, the display of error messages and / or the execution of fault diagnosis or troubleshooting functions assigned to the detection by the integrity monitoring device can be triggered. This allows for the separate handling of integrity violations classified as particularly serious. For example, this might be the case if an intrusion into a zone from outside the picking system is detected.

[0038] It is also advantageous if if the control system includes a submodule with a voltage monitoring device that detects a failure of the supply voltage to the submodule and also indicates this by means of an error message after the supply voltage has been restored, and if the energy-saving module a) masks, suppresses and / or automatically acknowledges error messages assigned to the zone concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage when the zone switches from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or b) suppresses or automatically acknowledges fault diagnostic functions assigned to the zone concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage when the zone switches from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or c) provides an error message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode,by means of which several error messages assigned to the zone concerning the aforementioned power supply failure can be acknowledged simultaneously.

[0039] It is equally advantageous if the energy-saving module is designed to perform steps a) and / or b) and / or c).

[0040] In this design variant, the measures proposed for a voltage monitoring device and for a zone, or the resulting advantages, are combined.

[0041] It is particularly advantageous to if the picking system includes an integrity monitoring device that monitors the integrity of the zone in energy-saving mode, wherein the integrity of the zone is violated at least when the integrity monitoring device detects a person entering the zone, and if the control system includes a submodule with a voltage monitoring device that detects a failure of the supply voltage to the submodule and indicates it by means of an error message even after the supply voltage has been restored, and if the energy-saving module a) displays error messages assigned to the zone, including error messages relating to the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage, when the zone switches from energy-saving mode to a normal operating mode, if the integrity of the zone is violated during said switchover, and masks, suppresses and / or automatically acknowledges them if the integrity of the zone is intact during said switchover,and / or b) executes fault diagnosis or troubleshooting functions associated with the zone, including fault diagnosis functions relating to the aforementioned supply voltage failure when switching the zone from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, if the integrity of the zone is violated during the aforementioned switchover, and suppresses their execution or automatically acknowledges them if the integrity of the zone is intact during the aforementioned switchover, and / or c) displays fault messages associated with the zone, including fault messages relating to the aforementioned supply voltage failure when switching the zone from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, if the integrity of the zone is violated during the aforementioned switchover, and provides a fault message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode.by means of which several error messages assigned to the zone, including error messages concerning the aforementioned power supply failure, can be acknowledged simultaneously, provided the integrity of the zone is intact during the aforementioned switching operation.

[0042] It is equally advantageous if the energy-saving module is designed to perform the above steps.

[0043] In this design variant, the measures proposed for a voltage monitoring device and an integrity monitoring device, or the resulting advantages, are combined, whereby the error messages concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage are treated in the same way as all other error messages in this design variant.

[0044] It is also particularly advantageous to if the picking system includes an integrity monitoring device that monitors the integrity of the zone in energy-saving mode, wherein the integrity of the zone is violated at least when the integrity monitoring device detects a person entering the zone, and if the control system includes a submodule with a voltage monitoring device that detects a failure of the supply voltage to the submodule and indicates it by means of an error message even after the supply voltage has been restored, and if the energy-saving module a) displays error messages assigned to the zone, excluding error messages relating to the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage, when the zone switches from energy-saving mode to a normal operating mode, if the integrity of the zone is violated during said switchover, and masks, suppresses and / or automatically acknowledges them if the integrity of the zone is intact during said switchover,and zone-associated error messages concerning the aforementioned supply voltage failure when switching the zone from power-saving mode to normal operating mode, regardless of the integrity of the zone during said switching, are masked, suppressed, and / or automatically acknowledged; and / or b) zone-associated fault diagnostic or fault correction functions, excluding fault diagnostic functions, concerning the aforementioned supply voltage failure when switching the zone from power-saving mode to normal operating mode, if the integrity of the zone is violated during said switching, and their execution is suppressed or they are automatically acknowledged if the integrity of the zone is intact during said switching.and suppresses or automatically acknowledges fault diagnostic functions assigned to the zone concerning the aforementioned supply voltage failure when switching the zone from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, irrespective of the integrity of the zone during said switching, and / or c) displays fault messages assigned to the zone, excluding fault messages concerning the aforementioned supply voltage failure when switching the zone from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, if the integrity of the zone is violated during said switching, and provides a fault message acknowledgment element during switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several fault messages assigned to the zone, excluding fault messages concerning the aforementioned supply voltage failure, can be acknowledged simultaneously if the integrity of the zone is intact during said switching,and by means of which several error messages assigned to the zone concerning the aforementioned power supply failure can be acknowledged, regardless of the integrity of the zone during the aforementioned switching operation.

[0045] It is equally advantageous if the energy-saving module is designed to perform the above steps.

[0046] In this implementation variant, the measures proposed for a voltage monitoring device and an integrity monitoring device, and the resulting advantages, are combined again. However, in this variant, error messages relating to the aforementioned supply voltage failure are handled differently than all other error messages. In particular, zone-related error messages resulting from a supply voltage failure deliberately induced by switching to energy-saving mode are always masked, suppressed, and / or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode. Similarly, fault diagnostic functions resulting from a deliberately induced supply voltage failure are always suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode.

[0047] It is particularly advantageous to have an integrity acknowledgement element that resets a violated integrity of the zone when activated, or that is configured to reset a violated integrity of the zone when activated. This allows individuals entering a zone in energy-saving mode, while ensuring that no changes have been made to the zone, to reset a violated integrity. For example, such a person could be a night porter patrolling a zone. The integrity acknowledgement element can be implemented as an acknowledgement button or function and can be implemented in either software or hardware. The statements made regarding the implementation of the error message acknowledgement element using a physical switching element, or regarding the switching elements of the energy-saving module, apply accordingly.The same applies analogously to the design of the error message acknowledgment element by means of a button or to the graphical user interface of the energy saving module.

[0048] It is advantageous if the integrity monitoring device for monitoring access to the zone in energy-saving mode includes a door switch, a light barrier, a light curtain, a surveillance camera, and / or a motion detector. This ensures the use of well-established and readily available means for monitoring the integrity of a zone.

[0049] It is particularly advantageous if The integrity monitoring device includes an emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator that acts on the energy supply of the zone, and the integrity of the zone is violated and remains violated when the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator is pressed, even if the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator is subsequently released.

[0050] Activating an emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown device is usually the result of a serious error in the processes of a picking system. To prevent further damage, personnel who notice such an error can take relevant parts of the picking system out of service. While emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown devices are useful in themselves, their activation in energy-saving mode has no effect if the relevant components of the picking system are already de-energized. Nevertheless, it can be advisable not to ignore such an event, as it can be assumed that the activation was preceded by the perception of an error. In this design variant, therefore, the integrity of the zone is compromised and remains compromised, even if the emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown device is subsequently reset.

[0051] Alternatively, it is particularly advantageous if The integrity monitoring device includes an emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator that acts on the energy supply of the zone, and the integrity of the zone is only violated as long as the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator is pressed or locked.

[0052] This design variant is very similar to the previously mentioned one. However, in this case, it is assumed that the activation of the emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuator is only relevant as long as it is pressed or locked in place. Therefore, this design variant ensures that the integrity of the zone is only compromised as long as the emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuator is pressed or locked in place. When the emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuator is released or unlocked, the integrity of the zone is restored.

[0053] In the context of this disclosure, "emergency stop" refers in particular to the stopping of moving devices without necessarily (completely) interrupting the energy supply to these devices. For example, a drive motor can be switched off and an electromagnetic brake applied simultaneously. In this way, a hazard emanating from moving parts can be averted, but not necessarily a hazard arising from the energy supply itself.

[0054] In the context of this disclosure, "emergency stop" refers specifically to the interruption of a power supply without necessarily actively stopping the movement of moving equipment. For example, a drive motor can be switched off without braking. Accordingly, a hazard arising from the power supply itself can be averted, but not necessarily a hazard posed by moving equipment.

[0055] Hazards arising from a power supply as such, and hazards arising from moving parts, can be eliminated by a combined emergency stop and emergency shutdown actuator. It should also be noted that in practice the individual designations are not always clearly distinguished, so the functional assignment described above is not necessarily always the case.

[0056] In general, the emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuator can be designed, for example, as an emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown switch or as an emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown button. This primarily refers to physical actuators that serve only this purpose, such as actuators with a yellow housing and a red mushroom-shaped button. However, buttons on a screen with, for example, a tactile or switching function, which can be operated with a computer mouse or, in the case of a touchscreen, with a finger, are also conceivable for the same purpose.

[0057] It is advantageous if the order picking system also incorporates safety technology powered by the energy supply system, whereby at least part of the energy supply system for the safety technology is deactivated in energy-saving mode. Such safety technology could, for example, be a light curtain that monitors access to a safety zone around a robot. If such a light curtain or safety zone is located within a zone in energy-saving mode, this safety technology can also be safely deactivated, as the de-energized robot poses no danger. Safety technology that does not only affect the deactivated zone, however, can remain activated. This could, for example, include components of an alarm system that monitors the order picking system.

[0058] It is advantageous if the energy-saving module a) all error messages, in particular all error messages assigned to a zone, are masked, suppressed and / or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or b) all fault diagnosis or troubleshooting functions, in particular all fault diagnosis or troubleshooting functions assigned to a zone, are suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or c) an error message acknowledgment element is provided when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which all error messages, in particular all error messages assigned to a zone, can be acknowledged simultaneously.

[0059] It is equally advantageous if the energy-saving module is designed to perform steps a) and / or b) and / or c).

[0060] This allows switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode to be done with very little effort.

[0061] Alternatively, it is advantageous if the order picking system a selection module which captures a selection of error messages, fault diagnosis functions or fault correction functions, in particular a selection of error messages, fault diagnosis functions or fault correction functions which are assigned to a zone, and if the power saving module a) exempts the selected error messages from masking, suppression or automatic acknowledgment when switching from power saving mode to normal operation, and / or b) exempts the selected fault diagnosis functions or fault correction functions from suppression or automatic acknowledgment when switching from power saving mode to normal operation, and / or c) provides an error message acknowledgment element when switching from power saving mode to normal operation mode, wherein the selected error messages are exempt from simultaneous acknowledgment by the error message acknowledgment element.

[0062] It is equally advantageous if the energy-saving module is designed to perform steps a) and / or b) and / or c).

[0063] In an input mask of the selection module, in cases a) and c), those error messages can be actively selected that should not be masked, suppressed, or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operation, or that should not be acknowledgeable by the error message acknowledgment element. In case b), those error diagnostic or troubleshooting functions can be selected that should not be suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode. Points a), b), and c) can also refer to a negative selection (i.e.,(Deselect) refers, for example, if in an input mask of the selection module, in cases a) and c), those error messages are actively selected which should be masked, suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy saving mode to normal operation, or which should be acknowledgeable by the error message acknowledgment element, and in case b), those error diagnostic functions or error correction functions are actively selected which should be suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy saving mode.

[0064] It is advantageous if, in the described procedures, several error messages are acknowledged simultaneously in step c) using the provided error message acknowledgment element, especially by one operator.

[0065] To better understand the invention, it is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

[0066] They each show, in a highly simplified, schematic representation: Fig. 1 an exemplary order picking system in top view; Fig. 2 a somewhat more detailed schematic representation of part of the order picking system including its electrical supply; Fig. 3 how Fig. 2 , only with an emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator in the supply line; Fig. 4 a circuit diagram of an exemplary voltage monitoring device.

[0067] It should be noted at the outset that in the differently described embodiments, identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals or component designations, and the disclosures contained in the entire description can be applied analogously to identical parts with the same reference numerals or component designations. Furthermore, the positional designations chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., refer to the figure directly described and illustrated and must be applied analogously to the new position if the position changes.

[0068] Fig. 1Figure 1 schematically shows an exemplary order picking system 1 in plan view. Order picking system 1 is located in a building and has several walls 2. Order picking system 1 can further include a warehouse 3a for flat-packed goods and / or a warehouse 3b for hanging garments. However, the provision of two separate warehouses 3a and 3b is not mandatory and is purely exemplary. In addition, order picking system 1 preferably includes receiving areas 4a and 4b, as well as an shipping area 5. Warehouse 3a contains several racks 6 and stacker cranes 7a and 7b moving between them. Between receiving area 4a and warehouse 3a are several conveyors 8a and 8c. In the receiving area 4b, there is another conveyor 8d.

[0069] Between warehouse 3a and shipping point 5, there is a conveyor 8e. For example, flat-packed goods 9a-9d are located on conveyors 8a, 8b, 8d, and 8e. Warehouse 3b includes an overhead conveyor 10 on which hanging garments 11 can be stored and / or transported. Warehouse 3b is connected to conveyors 8d and 8e. The picking system 1 can also include several autonomous industrial trucks 12a-12c, which, for example, transport goods 9e-9g. Furthermore, the picking system 1 includes several robots 13a-13c, which are intended for handling the flat-packed goods 9a-9g and / or the hanging garments 11. Specifically, robot 13a forms the conveyor connection between conveyor tracks 8a..8c and the industrial trucks 12a..12c, while robot 13b forms the conveyor connection between conveyor track 8d, overhead conveyor 10 and the industrial trucks 12a..12c, and the robot 13c provides the conveyor connection between the conveyor 9d, the overhead conveyor 10 and the industrial trucks 12a..12c.

[0070] Flat-packed goods 9e to 9g can be delivered via goods receiving 4a, transported to robot 13a via conveyor 8a, and then transferred to conveyors 8b and 8c. On conveyors 8b and 8c, the flat-packed goods 9e to 9g can be transported to warehouse 3a and stored in the storage racks 6 using stacker cranes 7a and 7b. Similarly, hanging garments 11 can be delivered to goods receiving 4b, transported to robot 13b via conveyor 8d, and then transferred to overhead conveyor 10. Finally, the hanging garments 11 can be transported to warehouse 3b on overhead conveyor 10 and stored there. In addition, flat-packed goods 9e..9g and hanging goods 11 can also be transported from the goods receipts 4a, 4b to one of the conveyor lines 8a..8d, to one of the robots 13a, 13b, to the storage areas 3a, 3b or to the goods dispatch 5 using the industrial trucks 12a..12c.

[0071] When picking (customer) orders, the required flat-packed goods 9e..9g are retrieved from the storage racks 6 using the storage and retrieval machines 7a, 7b, transported to the robot 13c via the conveyor 9d, and picked by the robot into a shipping unit. Similarly, hanging garments 11 can be transported to the robot 13c via the overhead conveyor 10 and picked by the robot into a shipping unit. It is also possible for flat-packed goods 9e..9g and / or hanging garments 11 to be transported directly from the receiving areas 4a, 4b to the robot 13c using the industrial trucks 12a..12c, and picked by the robot into a shipping unit.

[0072] The above processes are known in themselves and are therefore not described in more detail.

[0073] Preferably, the picking system 1 is divided into several zones Z1..Z6, as shown in Fig. 1This is illustrated as an example. In particular, zones Z1 to Z6 can be entered and exited via goods receiving areas 4a and 4b, goods issue area 5, and passageways D1 to D7. Zones Z1 and Z2 are goods receiving areas, zones Z3 and Z4 are storage areas, zone Z5 is a picking area or picking station 14, and zone Z6 is a general goods handling area.

[0074] For a door, as exemplified by the doors at goods receiving 4a, 4b and goods dispatch 5, door switches 15a to 15c can be provided. The opening of each door can then be detected using the respective door switch 15a to 15c. Specifically, door switch 15a can detect the opening of the door at goods receiving 4a, door switch 15b can detect the opening of the door at goods receiving 4b, and door switch 15c can detect the opening of the door at goods dispatch 5.

[0075] It is also conceivable that a light barrier or a light grid 16a is provided at passages D1..D7, as is the case in the Fig. 1 This is the case at passage D4. With the help of the in Fig. 1 The light barrier or light grid 16a shown can detect entry to or exit from zones Z2 and Z4. Generally, the respective light barrier or light grid 16a can detect entry to or exit from zones Z1 to Z7. Additionally, zone Z3 can be secured with light barriers or light grids, thereby detecting entry to or exit from zones Z1 and Z3, or Z3 and Z5.

[0076] Furthermore, one or more surveillance cameras 17a can be installed in zones Z1 to Z7, as shown in the example for zone Z6. Motion detectors 18a and 18b can also be installed in zones Z1 to Z6, as shown in Fig. 1The following is shown as an example for zones Z4 and Z6. Using the surveillance camera 17a and the motion detector 18b, a person, animal, or other movement can be detected in zone Z6. Using the motion detector 18a, a person, animal, or other movement can be detected in zone Z4.

[0077] Furthermore, the picking system 1 can include several emergency stop and / or emergency off actuators 19a..19d, with arrows indicating which zones Z1..Z6 they affect. In the example shown, the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator 19a affects zone Z3, the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator 19b affects zones Z1, Z2, Z4, the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator 19c affects zone Z6, and the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator 19d affects zone Z5.

[0078] Finally, the picking system 1 includes a controller 20 with an energy-saving module 21. The controller 20 can communicate with devices in the picking system 1 via wired and / or wireless means, as described in the Fig. 1 as indicated by arrows. The control unit 20, together with the communication channels or communication lines, forms a control system 22. The energy-saving module 21 can generally comprise software and / or hardware.

[0079] Fig. 2Figure 1 shows a more detailed schematic representation of a part of the order picking system 1 in side view, in particular the electrical connection of a sub-module 23 of the control system 22, an exemplary conveyor 8, a light barrier 16, a camera 17, and a light 24. In the example shown, the sub-module 23, the drive M for conveyor rollers 25 of the conveyor 8, the light barrier 16, the camera 17, and the light 24 are connected to a power supply system (PSS), in particular to a power grid, via a switch 26. The switch 26 is controlled by the controller 20, specifically its energy-saving module 21. The switch 26 can be designed as a relay or contactor. The switch 26 can be switched on or off via corresponding switching commands from the energy-saving module 21. The functional connection between the energy-saving module 21 and the switch 26 can be wired or wireless.In this example, the submodule 23 of the control system 22 also includes an optional voltage monitoring device 27 (see also . Fig. 4 Wired or wireless communication between submodule 23 and controller 20 is possible in the Fig. 2 symbolized by a double arrow. It is also noted here that in the Fig. 2 The focus is on the electrical supply or the connection to the EVS energy supply system, and communication channels between the sub-module 23 and the light barrier 16, the camera 17 and the drive M are not explicitly shown, but may exist in reality.

[0080] In general, the order picking system 1 therefore includes, among other things, a warehouse 3a, 3b, an order picking station 14, a conveyor system for transporting goods 9e..9g, 11 between the warehouse 3a, 3b and the order picking station 14, which in this example includes in particular the conveyor tracks 8, 8a..8c, the overhead conveyor 10 and the industrial trucks 12a..12c, a drive system for the conveyor system 8, 8a..8c, 10, 12a..12c, which in this example includes the drive M or is symbolized by the drive M, the control system 22 for the conveyor system 8, 8a..8c, 10, 12a..12c and the energy supply system EVS, which is designed, among other things, to supply the drive system M and the control system 22 with energy.

[0081] The control system 22, in particular its energy-saving module 21, is generally configured to switch the picking system 1 or parts thereof from a normal operating mode to an energy-saving mode and from the energy-saving mode to the normal operating mode, whereby in the energy-saving mode at least a part of the energy supply system EVS is switched off.

[0082] To enable automatic startup of the picking system 1 when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, the energy-saving module 21 is further designed to a) To mask, suppress, or automatically acknowledge error messages when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or b) To suppress or automatically acknowledge error diagnostic or troubleshooting functions when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or c) To provide an error message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several error messages can be acknowledged simultaneously.

[0083] This allows the picking system 1 to be easily switched from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode without requiring complex start-up procedures or extensive intervention from the operating personnel. Specifically, the picking system 1 is enabled to start up automatically when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode. Therefore, the picking system 1 can also be put into energy-saving mode for relatively short periods without causing significant disruption to the picking process.

[0084] As in Fig. 1 As shown, the picking system 1 can be divided into spatially limited zones Z1..Z6. Generally, a zone Z1..Z6 can have a virtual boundary, but it can also be, as shown in the Fig. 1The area shown may be wholly or partially restricted by structural measures, whereby access to zone Z1..Z6 by a person is only permitted at one of the goods receiving points 4a, 4b, at the goods dispatch point 5, or at a passageway D1..D7. Such structural measures include, for example, the walls 2. However, other installations may also be provided in the order picking system 1 that cannot be passed through by persons or at least are not intended for human passage. For example, scaffolding and similar structures that can theoretically be climbed through or over, but are not designed for this purpose, are structural measures not intended for human passage.

[0085] In normal operating mode, zones Z1 to Z6 are each supplied with energy by the EVS energy supply system. With the help of the energy-saving module 21, in this configuration, one, several, or all zones Z1 to Z6 can be switched from normal operating mode to energy-saving mode and vice versa as needed. In energy-saving mode, at least that part of the EVS energy supply system that supplies the respective zone(s) Z1 to Z6 is switched off. Furthermore, in this configuration, the energy-saving module 21 is designed to... a) to mask, suppress, or automatically acknowledge error messages assigned to zone Z1..Z6 when switching zone Z1..Z6 from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or b) to suppress or automatically acknowledge fault diagnostic or troubleshooting functions assigned to zone Z1..Z6 when switching zone Z1..Z6 from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or c) to provide an error message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several error messages assigned to zone Z1..Z6 can be acknowledged simultaneously.

[0086] The energy-saving module 21 can generally comprise several energy switching modules, each assigned to a zone Z1..Z6 of the zones Z1..Z6 and configured to switch the respective zone Z1..Z6 from normal operating mode to energy-saving mode and from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode as needed. These energy switching modules can communicate wirelessly or via wired connections with a central part of the energy-saving module 21. The decentralized approach is similar to the approach pursued with the submodules 23 of the control system 22. Accordingly, in the Fig. 2 An energy switching module will replace the energy saving module 21 and be configured to switch the switch 26.

[0087] It is further advantageous if the picking system 1 includes an integrity monitoring device designed to monitor the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 in energy-saving mode, whereby the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated at least when the integrity monitoring device detects a person's access to zone Z1..Z6. In the Fig. 1 The integrity monitoring device shown in the example includes, in particular, the door switches 15a..15c, the light barrier or light grid 16a, 16b, the surveillance camera 17a, 17 and the motion detectors 18a, 18b. These devices can detect a person's access to a zone Z1..Z6.

[0088] The energy saving module 21 can now be further trained to a) to display error messages associated with zone Z1..Z6 on an output device (for example, a screen of the power-saving module 21) when switching zone Z1..Z6 from power-saving mode to normal operating mode if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated during said switching, and to mask, suppress, or automatically acknowledge them if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is intact during said switching, and / or b) to execute fault diagnosis or troubleshooting functions associated with zone Z1..Z6 when switching zone Z1..Z6 from power-saving mode to normal operating mode if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated during said switching, and to suppress or automatically acknowledge their execution if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is intact during said switching, and / or c) to display error messages associated with zone Z1..Z6 when switching zone Z1..To display the message "Z1..Z6" from power-saving mode to normal operating mode on an output device (for example, a screen of the power-saving module 21) if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated during said switching, and to provide an error message acknowledgment element during the switching from power-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several error messages assigned to zone Z1..Z6 can be acknowledged simultaneously if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is intact during said switching.

[0089] This implementation assumes that error messages, diagnostic functions, or troubleshooting functions assigned to zones Z1-Z6 are irrelevant if the integrity of zones Z1-Z6 is intact during the switchover, meaning, for example, if no person has entered zones Z1-Z6 while they are in energy-saving mode. Accordingly, error messages that occur in energy-saving mode are masked, suppressed, and / or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, provided the integrity of zones Z1-Z6 is intact. Alternatively, they can be easily acknowledged by pressing the error message acknowledgment button. Similarly, diagnostic functions that occur in energy-saving mode are suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, provided the integrity of zones Z1-Z6 is intact.This significantly simplifies the switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode for the operating personnel of order picking system 1.

[0090] For example, the integrity monitoring device can set a flag or status bit, or activate a switching element, if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated. In the latter case, an integrity violation can be indicated, for example, by a specific voltage level or a specific signal. The integrity monitoring device can be implemented in either software or hardware and therefore include a computer program and / or an electronic circuit.

[0091] The Fig. 3 shows a device which of the in Fig. 2 The device shown is very similar. In contrast, the one in Fig. 3The device shown additionally includes an emergency stop and / or emergency off actuating element 19, with which the drive M for conveyor rollers 25 of the conveyor track 8, the light barrier 16 and also the camera 17 and the lighting 24 can be de-energized in an emergency, for example, if an operator detects a serious error in the processes of the order picking system 1. The emergency stop and / or emergency off actuating element 19 is arranged in series with the switch 26.

[0092] In one embodiment, it may be provided that the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated and remains violated when the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator 19 is pressed, even if the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator 19 is subsequently released. In this embodiment, actuation of the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator 19 always results in a violation of the integrity of zone Z1..Z6, since its actuation, in the case of non-malicious operation, is always the consequence of a perceived hazard.

[0093] In another embodiment, it is provided that the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is only compromised as long as the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator 19 is pressed or locked in place. In this case, it is assumed that the actuation of the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator 19 is only relevant as long as it is pressed or locked in place, and that a perceived hazard is no longer relevant once the emergency stop and / or emergency off actuator 19 is released or unlocked.

[0094] It is also conceivable that an integrity acknowledgement element is provided which, when activated, resets a violated integrity of zone Z1..Z6. This gives individuals entering zone Z1..Z6 in energy-saving mode, but ensuring that no changes have been made within zone Z1..Z6, the opportunity to reset a violated integrity. For example, such a person could be a night porter on duty in zone Z1..Z6. The integrity acknowledgement element can be part of control system 22 and, for example, be implemented as an acknowledgement button or function, and can be implemented in either software or hardware.

[0095] As already mentioned, the control system 22 may include a submodule 23 with a voltage monitoring device 27, which is designed to detect a failure of the supply voltage to the submodule 23 and to indicate this by means of an error message even after the supply voltage has been restored. This is intended to prevent unexplained errors in the relevant part of the control system 22 from occurring due to a short-term interruption of the supply voltage.

[0096] Instead, a failure of the power supply is always traceable, even if it is only short-term.

[0097] Fig. 4 Figure 27 shows a possible implementation of such a voltage monitoring device. The voltage monitoring device 27 comprises a threshold switch 28, an RS flip-flop 29, an OR gate 30 and a signal lamp 31.

[0098] A supply voltage Uv for submodule 23 is applied to the negative input of threshold switch 28. This voltage is compared to a reference voltage URef applied to the positive input of threshold switch 28. If the supply voltage Uv falls below the reference voltage URef, this results in a rising edge at the output of threshold switch 28 and thus a rising edge at the set input S of RS flip-flop 29. This sets RS flip-flop 29, resulting in a positive output signal at output Q of RS flip-flop 29, which illuminates indicator lamp 31. A rise in the supply voltage Uv above the reference voltage URef does not change this, as RS flip-flop 29 retains its switching state. In this example, RS flip-flop 29 can only be reset by pressing button T or by an external acknowledge signal EXT.For this purpose, a switching signal from the T button and the external acknowledge signal EXT are fed to the input of the OR gate 30. The output of the OR gate 30 is connected to the reset input R of the RS flip-flop 29, which resets it and consequently also turns off the indicator lamp 31. A single detected drop in the supply voltage Uv is therefore indicated until the fault is acknowledged. Fig. 4 This is merely intended to illustrate the logical function of such a voltage monitoring device 27; of course, this can also be implemented in other ways and, in particular, may include software components. It should be noted here that the acknowledgement signal EXT should not be confused with or equated to the integrity acknowledgement element for resetting a violated integrity of a zone Z1..Z6, and instead only resets the indication of a detected failure or drop in the supply voltage Uv.

[0099] The energy saving module 21 has now been further trained to a) To mask, suppress and / or automatically acknowledge error messages concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage Uv when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or b) To suppress or automatically acknowledge error diagnostic functions concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage Uv when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or c) To provide an error message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several error messages concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage Uv can be acknowledged simultaneously.

[0100] This means that error messages resulting from a deliberate failure of the supply voltage Uv (caused by switching to energy-saving mode) are masked, suppressed, and / or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, or can be easily acknowledged by pressing the error message acknowledgment element. Similarly, fault diagnostic functions resulting from a deliberate failure of the supply voltage Uv are suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode. Consequently, switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode is significantly simplified for the operating personnel of picking system 1. For example, the external signal EXT from energy-saving module 21 can be generated automatically for this purpose.

[0101] It is also conceivable that the measures proposed in connection with the shutdown of zone Z1..Z6 and those proposed in connection with a voltage monitoring device could be combined. This would then generally result in a picking system 1. wherein the control system 22 comprises a submodule 23 with a voltage monitoring device 27, which is configured to detect a failure of the supply voltage Uv for the submodule 23 and to indicate this by means of an error message even after the supply voltage Uv has been switched back on, and wherein the energy-saving module 21 is configured to a) mask, suppress and / or automatically acknowledge error messages assigned to zone Z1..Z6 concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage Uv when switching zone Z1..Z6 from energy-saving mode to a normal operating mode, and / or b) fault diagnostic functions assigned to zone Z1..Z6 concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage Uv when switching zone Z1..to suppress or automatically acknowledge error messages Z6 from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or c) to provide an error message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several error messages assigned to zones Z1..Z6 concerning the aforementioned supply voltage failure Uv can be acknowledged simultaneously.

[0102] It is also conceivable that the measures proposed for the integrity monitoring device and the measures proposed in connection with a voltage monitoring device 27 are combined. This generally results in a picking system 1 in which The picking system 1 includes an integrity monitoring device designed to monitor the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 in energy-saving mode, wherein the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated at least when the integrity monitoring device detects access by a person to zone Z1..Z6, and the control system includes a sub-module 23 with a voltage monitoring device 27 designed to detect a failure of a supply voltage Uv for the sub-module 23 and to indicate this by means of an error message even after the supply voltage Uv has been switched back on.

[0103] As already mentioned, the integrity monitoring device may include, in particular, the door switches 15a..15c, the light barrier or light grid 16a, 16b, the surveillance camera 17a, 17 and the motion detectors 18a, 18b.

[0104] In one design variant, the energy-saving module may be designed to a) to display error messages assigned to zone Z1..Z6, including error messages concerning the aforementioned supply voltage Uv failure when switching zone Z1..Z6 from power-saving mode to normal operating mode, if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated during the aforementioned switching, and to mask, suppress, or automatically acknowledge them if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is intact during the aforementioned switching, and / or b) to execute fault diagnostic or troubleshooting functions assigned to zone Z1..Z6, including fault diagnostic functions concerning the aforementioned supply voltage Uv failure when switching zone Z1..Z6 from power-saving mode to normal operating mode, if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated during the aforementioned switching, and to suppress or automatically acknowledge their execution if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is intact during the aforementioned switching, and / or c) zone Z1..To display error messages assigned to zone Z6, including error messages concerning the aforementioned supply voltage Uv failure, when switching zone Z1..Z6 from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated during this switchover, and to provide an error message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several error messages assigned to zone Z1..Z6, including error messages concerning the aforementioned supply voltage Uv failure, can be acknowledged simultaneously, provided the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is intact during this switchover. In this implementation variant, the error messages concerning the aforementioned supply voltage Uv failure will be treated in the same way as all other error messages.

[0105] In an alternative design variant, it can also be provided that the energy-saving module is designed to a) To display error messages assigned to zone Z1..Z6, excluding error messages concerning the aforementioned supply voltage Uv failure when switching zone Z1..Z6 from power-saving mode to normal operating mode, if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated during said switching, and to mask, suppress, or automatically acknowledge such errors if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is intact during said switching, and to mask, suppress, or automatically acknowledge error messages assigned to zone Z1..Z6 concerning the aforementioned supply voltage Uv failure when switching zone Z1..Z6 from power-saving mode to normal operating mode, regardless of the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 during said switching, and / or b) to display fault diagnosis or troubleshooting functions assigned to zone Z1..Z6, excluding fault diagnosis functions concerning the aforementioned supply voltage Uv failure when switching zone Z1..to execute Z6 from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated during said switching, and to suppress or automatically acknowledge its execution if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is intact during said switching, and to suppress or automatically acknowledge fault diagnostic functions associated with zone Z1..Z6 concerning the aforementioned supply voltage Uv failure during the switching of zone Z1..Z6 from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, regardless of the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 during said switching, and / or c) to display error messages associated with zone Z1..Z6, excluding error messages concerning the aforementioned supply voltage Uv failure during the switching of zone Z1..Z6 from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is violated during the aforementioned switching operation, and an error message acknowledgment element is to be provided during the switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which several error messages assigned to zone Z1..Z6, excluding error messages concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage Uv, can be acknowledged simultaneously if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is intact during the aforementioned switching operation, and by means of which several error messages assigned to zone Z1..Z6 concerning the aforementioned failure of the supply voltage Uv can be acknowledged regardless of the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 during the aforementioned switching operation.

[0106] In this version, error messages relating to the aforementioned supply voltage Uv failure are handled differently than all other error messages. Specifically, error messages assigned to zones Z1 to Z6, which are attributable to a supply voltage Uv failure deliberately induced by switching to energy-saving mode, are always masked, suppressed, and / or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, or can be easily acknowledged by pressing the error message acknowledgment button. Similarly, fault diagnostic functions resulting from a deliberately induced supply voltage Uv failure are always suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode.

[0107] The picking system 1 can additionally include safety technology powered by the energy supply system EVS, whereby in energy-saving mode at least part of the energy supply system EVS is switched off for the safety technology. Such safety technology could, for example, be camera 17 from the Figs. 2 and 3exhibiting this feature. This camera can not only be designed to detect flat-packed goods 9a..9g on conveyor belt 8, but also to trigger an alarm message when the drive M of conveyor belt 8 is switched off, and a signal therefore cannot originate from flat-packed goods 9a..9g. If such a camera 17 is located in a zone Z1..Z6 in energy-saving mode, it can be switched off if the integrity of zone Z1..Z6 is established by other means. Security technology that does not only affect the switched-off zone Z1..Z6 can also remain switched on. For example, this could be components of an alarm system that monitors the picking system 1.

[0108] In general, it can be provided that the energy saving module 21 is designed to a) to mask, suppress, or automatically acknowledge all error messages, in particular all error messages assigned to a zone Z1..Z6, when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or b) to suppress or automatically acknowledge all fault diagnosis or troubleshooting functions, in particular all fault diagnosis or troubleshooting functions assigned to a zone Z1..Z6, when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, and / or c) to provide an error message acknowledgment element when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode, by means of which all error messages, in particular all error messages assigned to a zone Z1..Z6, can be acknowledged simultaneously.

[0109] This allows switching from energy-saving mode to normal operating mode to be done with very little effort.

[0110] It would also be conceivable that the picking system 1a selection module which is configured to capture a selection of error messages, fault diagnostic functions or fault correction functions, in particular a selection of error messages, fault diagnostic functions or fault correction functions which are assigned to a zone Z1..Z6, and the power saving module 21 is configured to a) exempt the selected error messages from masking, suppression or automatic acknowledgment when switching from power saving mode to normal operation, and / or b) exempt the selected fault diagnostic functions or fault correction functions from suppression or automatic acknowledgment when switching from power saving mode to normal operation, and / or c) provide an error message acknowledgment element when switching from power saving mode to normal operation mode, wherein the selected error messages are exempt from simultaneous acknowledgment by the error message acknowledgment element.For example, the selection module can be part of the energy-saving module 21 and, in particular, can be implemented in software. In an input mask of the selection module, in cases a) and c), those error messages can be actively selected that should not be masked, suppressed, or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operation, or that should not be acknowledgeable by the error message acknowledgment element; and in case b), those error diagnostic or troubleshooting functions that should not be suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode. Points a), b), and c) can also refer to a negative selection (i.e.,(Deselection) refers, for example, if in an input mask of the selection module, in cases a) and c), those error messages are actively selected which should be masked, suppressed, or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode to normal operation, or which should be acknowledgeable by the error message acknowledgment element, and in case b), those error diagnostic or troubleshooting functions are actively selected which should be suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from energy-saving mode.

[0111] In conclusion, it is noted that the scope of protection is determined by the patent claims.

[0112] It is specifically noted that the depicted devices may in reality comprise more or fewer components than shown. In some cases, the depicted devices or their components may also be shown not to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size. Reference numeral list

[0113] 1Picking system 2Wall 3a, 3bWarehouse 4a, 4bIncoming goods 5Outgoing goods 6Shelf 7a, 7bStack retrieval unit 8a..8eConveyor track 9a..9hFolded goods 10Suspended conveyor track 11 Hanging goods 12a..12c Autonomous industrial truck 13a..13c Robot 14 Picking station 15a..15c Door switch (integrity monitoring device) 16a, 16b Light barrier / light grid (integrity monitoring device) 17a, 17b Surveillance camera (integrity monitoring device) 18a, 18b Motion detector (integrity monitoring device) 19a..19e Emergency stop and / or emergency off actuation element 20 Control 21 Energy saving module 22 Control system 23 Sub-module of the control system 24 Lighting 25 Conveyor roller 26 Switch 27 Voltage monitoring device 28 Threshold switch 29 RS flip-flop 30 OR gate 31 Signal lamp D1..D7 Passage EVS Energy supply system EX External acknowledge signal MA Drive / drive system Q Output R Reset input S Set input T Button URef Reference voltage Uv Supply voltage Z1..Z6 Zone

Claims

1. A picking system (1) with an article storage (3a, 3b), a picking station (14), a conveying system (8a..8e, 10, 12a..12c) for transporting articles (9a..9h, 11) between the article storage (3a, 3b) and the picking station (14), a drive system (M) for the conveying system (8a..8e, 10, 12a..12c), a control system (22) for the conveying system (8a..8e, 10, 12a..12c), an energy supply system (EVS), which is configured for supplying the drive system (M) and the control system (22) with energy, and an electronic energy saving module (21), with which the picking system (1) can be switched from a normal operating mode to an energy saving mode and from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, wherein in the energy saving mode, at least a part of the energy supply system (EVS) is switched off, characterized in that the energy saving module (21) is configured for a) masking, suppressing or automatically acknowledging error messages when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or b) suppressing or automatically acknowledging error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or c) providing an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages can be acknowledged at the same time.

2. The picking system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control system (22) comprises a submodule (23) with a voltage monitoring device (27), which is configured for detecting a failure of a supply voltage (Uv) for the submodule (23) and displaying the failure of a supply voltage (Uv) by an error message also after the supply voltage (Uv) has been switched on again, and the energy saving module (21) is configured for a) masking, suppressing and / or automatically acknowledging error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or b) suppressing or automatically acknowledging error diagnosis functions relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or c) providing an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) can be acknowledged at the same time.

3. The picking system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the picking system (1) is divided into spatially limited zones (Z1..Z6), each of which is supplied with energy by the energy supply system (EVS) in the normal operating mode, and the energy saving module (21) is configured for switching one, multiple or all zones (Z1..Z6) of the zones (Z1..Z6) from the normal operating mode to the energy saving mode and from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode as required, wherein in the energy saving mode, at least the part of the energy supply system (EVS) which supplies the respective zone (Z1..Z6) or zones (Z1..Z6) with energy is switched off, and the energy saving module (21) is configured for a) masking, suppressing or automatically acknowledging error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or b) suppressing or automatically acknowledging error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or c) providing an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) can be acknowledged at the same time.

4. The picking system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the energy saving module (21) comprises multiple energy switching modules, each of which is assigned to a zone (Z1..Z6) of the zones (Z1..Z6) and configured for switching the respective zone (Z1..Z6) from the normal operating mode to the energy saving mode and from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode as required.

5. The picking system (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the picking system (1) comprises an integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b), which is configured for monitoring an integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) in the energy saving mode, wherein the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated at least whenever the integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) detects an access to the zone (Z1..Z6) by a person, and the energy saving module (21) is configured for a) displaying error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) at an output device when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and masking, suppressing and / or automatically acknowledging error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and / or b) executing error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching the zone from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and suppressing or automatically acknowledging their execution if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and / or c) displaying error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) at an output device when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and providing an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) can be acknowledged at the same time if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified.

6. The picking system (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the control system (22) comprises a submodule (23) with a voltage monitoring device (27), which is configured for detecting a failure of a supply voltage (Uv) for the submodule (23) and displaying the failure of a supply voltage (Uv) by an error message also after the supply voltage has been switched on again, and the energy saving module (21) is configured for a) masking, suppressing and / or automatically acknowledging error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) and relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode, and / or b) suppressing or automatically acknowledging error diagnosis functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) and relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or c) providing an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) and relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) can be acknowledged at the same time.

7. The picking system (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the picking system (1) comprises an integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b), which is configured for monitoring an integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) in the energy saving mode, wherein the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated at least whenever the integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) detects an access to the zone (Z1..Z6) by a person, the control system (22) comprises a submodule (23) with a voltage monitoring device (27), which is configured for detecting a failure of a supply voltage (Uv) for the submodule (23) and displaying the failure of a supply voltage (Uv) by an error message also after the supply voltage (Uv) has been switched on again, and the energy saving module (21) is configured for a) displaying error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), including error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and masking, suppressing or automatically acknowledging error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), including error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and / or b) executing error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), including error diagnosis functions relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and suppressing or automatically acknowledging their execution if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and / or c) displaying error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), including error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and providing an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), including error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), can be acknowledged at the same time if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified.

8. The picking system (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the picking system (1) comprises an integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b), which is configured for monitoring an integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) in the energy saving mode, wherein the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated at least whenever the integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) detects an access to the zone (Z1..Z6) by a person, the control system (22) comprises a submodule (23) with a voltage monitoring device (27), which is configured for detecting a failure of a supply voltage (Uv) for the submodule (23) and displaying the failure of a supply voltage (Uv) by an error message also after the supply voltage (Uv) has been switched on again, and the energy saving module (21) is configured for a) displaying error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), excluding error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and masking, suppressing or automatically acknowledging error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), excluding error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and masking, suppressing or automatically acknowledging error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) and relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode independent of the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching as specified, and / or b) executing error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), excluding error diagnosis functions relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and suppressing or automatically acknowledging their execution if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and suppressing or automatically acknowledging error diagnosis functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) and relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode independent of the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching as specified, and / or c) displaying error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), excluding error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and providing an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), excluding error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), can be acknowledged at the same time if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and by means of which multiple error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) and relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) can be acknowledged independent of the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching as specified.

9. The picking system (1) according to any one of the claims 5, 7 or 8, characterized by an integrity acknowledgement element, which is configured for resetting a violated integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) upon actuation.

10. The picking system (1) according to any one of the claims 5 or 7 to 9, characterized in that the integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) comprises a door switch (15a..15c), a light barrier (16a, 16b), a light grid, a surveillance camera (17a, 17b) and / or a motion detector (18a, 18b) for monitoring an access to the zone (Z1..Z6) by a person in the energy saving mode.

11. The picking system (1) according to any one of the claims 5 or 7 to 10, characterized in that the integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) comprises an emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuating element (19a..19e) acting upon the energy supply of the zone (Z1..Z6), and the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated and remains violated if the emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuating element (19a..19e) is pushed even once the emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuating element (19a..19e) is unlocked again.

12. The picking system (1) according to any one of the claims 5 or 7 to 10, characterized in that the integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) comprises an emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuating element (19a..19e) acting upon the energy supply of the zone (Z1..Z6), and the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated only as long as the emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuating element (19a..19e) is pushed or locked.

13. The picking system (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the picking system (1) additionally comprises a safety system supplied with energy by the energy supply system (EVS), wherein in the energy saving mode, at least a part of the energy supply system (EVS) for the safety system is switched off.

14. The picking system (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the zones (Z1..Z6) are limited by construction measures, wherein an access to the zone (Z1..Z6) by a person is enabled only at a passage (D1..D7).

15. The picking system (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the energy saving module (21) is configured for a) masking, suppressing or automatically acknowledging all error messages, in particular all error messages assigned to a zone (Z1..Z6), when switching from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode, and / or b) suppressing or automatically acknowledging all error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions, in particular all error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions assigned to a zone (Z1..Z6), when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or c) providing an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which all error messages, in particular all error messages assigned to a zone (Z1..Z6), can be acknowledged at the same time.

16. The picking system (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the picking system (1) comprises a selecting module, which is configured for acquiring a selection of error messages, error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions, in particular a selection of error messages, error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions which are assigned to a zone (Z1..Z6), and the energy saving module (21) is configured for a) excepting the selected error messages from being masked, suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from the energy saving mode to a normal operation, and / or b) excepting the selected error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions from being suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operation, and / or c) providing an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, wherein the selected error messages are excepted from being acknowledged by the error message acknowledgement element at the same time.

17. A method for switching from an energy saving mode to a normal operating mode in a picking system (1) with an article storage (3a, 3b), a picking station (14), a conveying system (8a..8e, 10, 12a..12c) for transporting articles (9a..9h, 11) between the article storage (3a, 3b) and the picking station (14), a drive system (M) for the conveying system (8a..8e, 10, 12a..12c), a control system (22) for the conveying system (8a..8e, 10, 12a..12c) and an energy supply system (EVS), which is configured for supplying the drive system (M) and the control system (22) with energy, wherein in the energy saving mode, at least a part of the energy supply system (EVS) is switched off, characterized in that the picking system (1) is switched from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode with an electronic energy saving module (21), and a) error messages are masked, suppressed or automatically acknowledged by the energy saving module (21) when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or b) error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions are suppressed or automatically acknowledged by the energy saving module (21) when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or c) an error message acknowledgement element is provided by the energy saving module (21) when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages can be acknowledged at the same time.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the control system (22) comprises a submodule (23) with a voltage monitoring device (27), which detects a failure of a supply voltage (Uv) for the submodule (23) and displays the failure of a supply voltage (Uv) by an error message also after the supply voltage has been switched on again, and the energy saving module (21) a) masks, suppresses and / or automatically acknowledges error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or b) suppresses or automatically acknowledges error diagnosis functions relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or c) provides an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) can be acknowledged at the same time.

19. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the picking system (1) is divided into spatially limited zones (Z1..Z6), each of which is supplied with energy by the energy supply system (EVS) in the normal operating mode, and the energy saving module (21) switches one, multiple or all zones (Z1..Z6) of the zones (Z1..Z6) from the normal operating mode to the energy saving mode and from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode as required, wherein in the energy saving mode, at least the part of the energy supply system (EVS) which supplies the respective zone (Z1..Z6) or zones (Z1..Z6) with energy is switched off, and the energy saving module (21) a) masks, suppresses or automatically acknowledges error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or b) suppresses or automatically acknowledges error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or c) provides an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) can be acknowledged at the same time.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the energy saving module (21) comprises multiple energy switching modules, each of which is assigned to a zone (Z1..Z6) of the zones (Z1..Z6), wherein one or multiple zones (Z1..Z6) are switched from the normal operating mode to the energy saving mode and from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, as required, by the respectively assigned energy switching module.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the picking system (1) comprises an integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b), which monitors an integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) in the energy saving mode, wherein the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated at least whenever the integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) detects an access to the zone (Z1..Z6) by a person, and the energy saving module (21) a) displays error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) at an output device when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and masks, suppresses and / or automatically acknowledges error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and / or b) executes error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and suppresses or automatically acknowledges their execution if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and / or c) displays error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) at an output device when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and provides an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) can be acknowledged at the same time if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified.

22. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the control system (22) comprises a submodule (23) with a voltage monitoring device (27), which detects a failure of a supply voltage (Uv) for the submodule (23) and displays the failure of a supply voltage (Uv) by an error message also after the supply voltage has been switched on again, and the energy saving module (21) a) masks, suppresses and / or automatically acknowledges error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) and relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode, and / or b) suppresses or automatically acknowledges error diagnosis functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) and relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or c) provides an error message acknowledgement element when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) can be acknowledged at the same time.

23. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the picking system (1) comprises an integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b), which monitors an integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) in the energy saving mode, wherein the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated at least whenever the integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) detects an access to the zone (Z1..Z6) by a person, and the control system (22) comprises a submodule (23) with a voltage monitoring device (27), which detects a failure of a supply voltage (Uv) for the submodule (23) and displays the failure of a supply voltage (Uv) by an error message also after the supply voltage (Uv) has been switched on again, and the energy saving module (21) a) displays error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), including error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and masks, suppresses and / or automatically acknowledges error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), including error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and / or b) executes error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), including error diagnosis functions relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and suppresses or automatically acknowledges their execution if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and / or c) displays error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), including error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and provides an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), including error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), can be acknowledged at the same time if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified.

24. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the picking system (1) comprises an integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b), which monitors an integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) in the energy saving mode, wherein the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated at least whenever the integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) detects an access to the zone (Z1..Z6) by a person, and the control system (22) comprises a submodule (23) with a voltage monitoring device (27), which detects a failure of a supply voltage (Uv) for the submodule (23) and displays the failure of a supply voltage (Uv) by an error message also after the supply voltage (Uv) has been switched on again, and the energy saving module (21) a) displays error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), excluding error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and masks, suppresses and / or automatically acknowledges error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), excluding error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and masks, suppresses and / or automatically acknowledges error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) and relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode independent of the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching as specified, and / or b) executes error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), excluding error diagnosis functions relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and suppresses or automatically acknowledges their execution if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and suppresses or automatically acknowledges error diagnosis functions assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) and relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode independent of the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching as specified, and / or c) displays error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), excluding error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), when switching the zone (Z1..Z6) from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated when switching as specified, and provides an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which multiple error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6), excluding error messages relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv), can be acknowledged at the same time if the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is inviolate when switching as specified, and by means of which multiple error messages assigned to the zone (Z1..Z6) and relating to said failure of the supply voltage (Uv) can be acknowledged independent of the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) when switching as specified.

25. The method according to any one of the claims 21, 23 or 24, characterized by an integrity acknowledgement element, which resets a violated integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) upon actuation.

26. The method according to any one of the claims 21 or 23 to 25, characterized in that the integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) comprises an emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuating element (19a..19e) acting upon the energy supply of the zone (Z1..Z6), and the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated and remains violated if the emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuating element (19a..19e) is pushed even once the emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuating element (19a..19e) is unlocked again.

27. The method according to any one of the claims 21 or 23 to 25, characterized in that the integrity monitoring device (15a..15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) comprises an emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuating element (19a..19e) acting upon the energy supply of the zone (Z1..Z6), and the integrity of the zone (Z1..Z6) is violated only as long as the emergency stop and / or emergency shutdown actuating element (19a..19e) is pushed or locked.

28. The method according to any one of the claims 17 to 27, characterized in that the energy saving module (21) a) masks, suppresses or automatically acknowledges all error messages, in particular all error messages assigned to a zone (Z1..Z6), when switching from the energy saving mode to a normal operating mode, and / or b) suppresses or automatically acknowledges all error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions, in particular all error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions assigned to a zone (Z1..Z6), when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, and / or c) provides an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, by means of which all error messages, in particular all error messages assigned to a zone (Z1..Z6), can be acknowledged at the same time.

29. The method according to any one of the claims 17 to 27, characterized in that the picking system (1) comprises a selecting module, which acquires a selection of error messages, error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions, in particular a selection of error messages, error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions which are assigned to a zone (Z1..Z6), and the energy saving module (21) a) excepts the selected error messages from being masked, suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from the energy saving mode to a normal operation, and / or b) excepts the selected error diagnosis functions or troubleshooting functions from being suppressed or automatically acknowledged when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operation, and / or c) provides an error message acknowledgement element when switching from the energy saving mode to the normal operating mode, wherein the selected error messages are excepted from being acknowledged by the error message acknowledgement element at the same time.

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