Method for operating an automated warehouse, control unit for controlling an automated warehouse, and automated warehouse

Abstract

A method of operating an automated warehouse (1) for storing and processing containers of goods is provided, the warehouse including a processing area (8) and a shelving area (9). The method comprises: a) processing at least one container of articles in a processing area (8) to obtain at least one individual article (10); b) determining or obtaining item information for at least one item (10); c) storing the items (10) in the shelf area (9) based on the item information; Furthermore, a control unit and an automated warehouse (1) for carrying out the method are provided.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating an automated warehouse for storing and processing containers of goods, a control unit for controlling an automated warehouse for storing and processing containers of goods, and an automated warehouse for storing and processing containers of goods. [Background technology]

[0002] Warehouses that serve as intermediate storage for containers of goods are known in the prior art. A container of goods can be, for example, a transport unit that can be transported by truck, train, or other transport means. A container of goods can be, for example, a pallet filled with goods. A container of goods can also be a container or transport box that stores different or identical goods. In a conventional warehouse, these goods are stored in the form of containers. When needed, individual goods are removed from the container and sent out of the warehouse. Alternatively, the containers are distributed within the warehouse and stored in other storage boxes or other containers. This often requires manual labor. These processes require a high degree of manual labor, and the storage of individual goods is expensive and time-consuming. In particular, the storage of individual goods is time-consuming. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and device that allows for efficient storage and automated handling of individual items. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The object is solved by a method for operating an automated warehouse having the features of claim 1, a control unit having the features of claim 28, and an automated warehouse having the features of claim 29. Furthermore, the problem is solved by using a warehouse having the features of claim 30.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating an automated warehouse for storing and processing containers of items. The warehouse may include a processing area and a shelving area. The method may include a) processing the container of at least one item in the processing area to obtain at least one item. Further, the method may include b) determining or obtaining item information for the at least one item. Further, the method may include c) storing the item in the shelving area based on the item information.

[0006] In contrast to the prior art, the present method allows containers of items to be processed in such a way that only individual items need to be stored. In other words, containers delivered to a warehouse can be processed in a processing area so that only a single item is stored in the storage area. Furthermore, the individual items can be stored in a shelf area based on the item information. For this purpose, the present method can individually obtain item information based on the individual items, thereby ensuring that the individual items can be stored efficiently and safely in the shelf area. In other words, particularly efficient item storage can be realized based on the item information of at least one item. This allows items with predetermined characteristics and / or requirements to be stored more efficiently than other items in a predetermined location in the warehouse. Furthermore, the present method can be applied to automated warehouses without the need for a user (i.e., a human) to directly handle the items in any way. In other words, a warehouse can be provided in which items can be processed (i.e., stored and retrieved) without direct human intervention.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, items are stored separately in minimal packaging (i.e., no multiple items stored in one package). To be able to provide separate storage, item information about the stored items may be required. To this end, the process may include determining item information. Often, containers are provided with information corresponding only to the container, and not to the individual items. In this invention, the warehouse itself can determine or obtain this item information and, based on this information, store the items separately. In this way, a fully automated warehouse can be provided that can accept containers containing multiple items as incoming items and provide individual items as outgoing items.

[0008] The warehouse can be located in a building or an enclosed area. The processing area and the shelving area can be directly adjacent to each other. In other words, the warehouse can be designed as a black box system, receiving containers of goods on the inbound side and making individual goods available on the outbound side. The processing area can be the area where step a) is performed. The shelving area can be the area where step c) is performed. Furthermore, the warehouse can have a control unit that can perform step b) (more on this below).

[0009] The item container can be a packaging unit capable of transporting one or more items. The item container can ensure that individual items or multiple items are not damaged or slipped during transportation. Furthermore, the item container can store the same items or different items. For example, the item container can be a pallet with items. Furthermore, the item container can be a shipping box filled with items, etc. The item container can be delivered to a warehouse, for example, by truck. In step a), the item container can be processed to obtain the individual items. In other words, the processing can include unpacking the item container. Processing the item container can be performed automatically or manually. After processing the item container, the individual items can be transported to an analysis area, etc. There, step b) can be performed to analyze the individual items. This allows item information to be assigned to each item. Here, it can be checked whether the item is a known item or an unknown item. If the item is a known item, item information can be retrieved from a database and assigned to each item. In the case of unknown items, item information can be individually obtained by analyzing the items. Once step b) is completed, in step c), each item can be stored in a shelf area. The items can be stored based on predetermined or obtained item information. In other words, the individual characteristics and / or requirements of the items can be taken into account during individual storage. For example, particularly fragile items can be stored in specially designated storage locations. For this purpose, the storage can be an individual storage, in which the items can be arranged on shelves or the like as desired, without special partitions or storage compartments being provided. In other words, the shelf area can be an undivided or continuously expanding storage area in which the items to be stored can be loaded individually. This means that the items can be stored individually based solely (i.e., exclusively) on item information, without having to pay attention to special specifications of the shelf area.The item information may include item attributes or item characteristics. The item information may be computer-readable data. For example, the item information may include text and / or tables. Such files contain displayable characters. These may be subdivided by control characters such as line breaks and page breaks. Additionally, the item information may also be available as a binary file. For binary files, the contents may be interpreted in other ways (e.g., by a computer).

[0010] Preferably, individual items can be shuttled, transferred, or transported between the processing area and the shelf area by a shuttle (also known as a storage and retrieval unit). In other words, a shuttle can be used to transport individual items to the shelf area. The shuttle can move along a rail section. The shuttle can be designed to individually drop off items in their smallest package unit into a predetermined storage location. The storage location of the item can be determined based on the item information before the item is dropped off.

[0011] Preferably, step a) includes receiving advance item information and marking a container of goods based on the advance item information, where the advance item information preferably includes identification information of a supplier. The advance item information can be obtained before processing at least one container of goods. Furthermore, the advance item information can be known before the goods arrive at the warehouse. For example, a supplier delivering a container of goods to the warehouse can send advance item information to the warehouse. The advance item information can include, for example, information regarding the quantity and / or type of goods. Furthermore, the advance item information can identify the supplier. Based on the advance item information, the warehouse can send unloading instructions to the supplier, thereby enabling the supplier to ensure that the container of goods is unloaded at the correct location within the warehouse. For example, a warehouse may have multiple goods entrances (e.g., in the form of gates) at which the container of goods can be unloaded. The unloading instructions can enable the supplier to have a vehicle driven directly to the correct gate, improving overall processing efficiency. When a container of goods is unloaded and transported to the warehouse's loading dock area, the container is directly marked (e.g., with a label or similar) so that the container can be clearly assigned. The marking can include, for example, information about how the container is packed. It can also include information about the individual goods within the container of goods. Based on the marking or advance goods information, the container can be fed to the first processing step in the processing area. Early labeling of containers of goods can ensure efficient execution of the processing.

[0012] Preferably, step a) comprises distributing the containers of goods to obtain the individual goods. Preferably, the distributing is based on marking of the containers of goods. The marking can be used to feed the containers of goods to special distribution areas designed to distribute special containers of goods. For example, a special distribution station can be provided for refrigerated goods. A separate distribution station can also be specially designed for goods delivered in containers. By pre-marking the goods, the containers of goods can be clearly fed to the appropriate distribution station, thereby avoiding unnecessary movement of the containers of goods around the processing area. This can make the overall process more efficient. Automatic distribution is also possible if the containers of goods are pre-assigned or identified.

[0013] Preferably, step b) includes inspecting the item to determine whether it is a known item or an unknown item. In other words, after step a), an automatic inspection or analysis of the item thus obtained can be performed. The inspection of the item can be, for example, scanning a marking, such as a barcode, or visual recognition of the item, for example, based on its appearance (e.g., shape, color, etc.). It is also conceivable that the item is photographed and the image is compared with images in a database. This makes it possible to determine whether the item is a known item or an unknown item. A known item can be defined here by the fact that its item information is available in the database. The item may have already been processed in another warehouse (e.g., another location), and in that case, item information is also available. In such a case, the item may be a known item. Therefore, item information can be synchronized even between different locations. On the other hand, an unknown item may be new to the system and processed for the first time in that warehouse. In other words, for unknown items, item information may not be available in the database.

[0014] Preferably, obtaining the item information includes searching a database to obtain item information for known items. If the comparison of the items with the database results in a hit (i.e., the items in the warehouse are known), the item information corresponding to these items can be automatically retrieved from the database without the item information being collected again. This results in particularly efficient handling of the items. The database can, for example, contain multiple entries, each of which is assigned to one item. By checking the item, the comparison unit can, for example, determine whether the item is available in the database. In this case, the item information assigned to an entry in the database can, for example, be assigned to this given item. This allows for rapid handling of the items.

[0015] Preferably, step b) includes a verification to determine whether the retrieved item information matches a known item. In other words, following the comparison of the item with the database, an additional verification or check can be performed to determine whether the item actually corresponds to an entry in the database. For this purpose, depending on the previous check, further checks of the item can be performed. For example, if the appearance was checked by visual inspection during the previous check, the weight of the item can be measured during verification to check whether the weight listed under the used entry in the database matches the actual weight of the item. Furthermore, other characteristics of the item information retrieved from the database can be compared with the actual item. For example, dimensions in a predetermined direction can be measured and compared to confirm whether they correspond to the entry in the database. Verification of the item performed after the check can ensure that the item identified as a known item is actually a known item. This can prevent warehouse malfunctions or inaccurate operation. It can also prevent damage to the item due to incorrect storage or handling. If the verification of the item yields the same results as the previous check, the item can be delivered to the delivery device after verification.

[0016] Preferably, the verification includes visual inspection and / or weighing of the items. Thus, additional inspection mechanisms can be provided to avoid misinterpretation of the items. More specifically, during verification, some or all of the information contained in the item information can be checked against the actual items. For this purpose, a sensor system designed to determine item information can be provided in the processing area.

[0017] Preferably, determining the item information includes analyzing the item. In particular, if the item is not determined to be a known item, the item can be analyzed individually. Item information assigned to the item can be obtained through this analysis. The item information can be an attribute of the item and can characterize the item. Compared to known prior art, this item analysis has the advantage that any type of item can be individually processed (i.e., stored, processed, handled, etc.) based on the analysis results. Furthermore, the correct storage and / or processing of the item can be ensured by analyzing the characteristic characteristics of the item, without having to rely on external information such as delivery slips or other data provided by third parties. Furthermore, since individual item information can be determined or obtained individually for each item, a large number of different items can be provided to the item receiving section of the warehouse. This means that the warehouse itself can be integrated into diverse and complex supply chains and function efficiently.

[0018] Preferably, the analysis of the article includes optical detection and / or weighing of the article. For example, the article can be visually recorded by one or more cameras. The image information thus obtained can be evaluated to determine the characteristics of the article. Visual detection can be used, for example, to determine the dimensions (i.e., size) of the article and its shape. Furthermore, the surface quality of the article can also be determined. Thus, it is conceivable to illuminate the article with a light source and measure the reflection of the article. This makes it possible, for example, to determine the surface properties of the article. Additionally or alternatively, the article can be weighed to determine its weight. In particular, both the outer shape and the weight of the article can be used to characterize the article in detail. In particular, this method can determine the density of the article. For example, it can be recognized that an article with relatively large dimensions is simply light in weight. From this, it can be concluded that the article is fragile. This conclusion can then be stored in the article information. Furthermore, in step b), prior article information can be used together with the individual analysis of the article to obtain further article information. It is also conceivable that a pre-selection can be made based on the analysis of the article, which can then be selected by a person. In this way, a learning algorithm can be provided that recognizes the type of an item based on predetermined characteristics of the item (e.g., size and / or weight). For example, the learning algorithm can take the obtained physical quantities as input data and consider the item as the desired inventory data, which is subsequently selected by a human user. The more such training data sets the learning algorithm processes, the more accurate the description of the item in question can be. It is also conceivable to use neural networks that continuously learn and consequently improve recognition accuracy.

[0019] Preferably, the item information includes at least one item's fragility, load-bearing capacity, dimensional stability, surface quality, porosity, sensitivity, potential hazards posed by the item, refrigeration requirements, incompatibilities, assembly state, shelf life, odor information, and / or serial number. The item information can also include batch and / or item batch information, which, for example, facilitates recall of a given item. Accordingly, the item information can reflect a variety of different characteristics of an item, ensuring that the item is optimally handled and stored to prevent damage to the item or other equipment. For example, the fragility of an item may mean that heavy objects cannot be placed on the item. The item's load-bearing capacity can define the weight that a given item can carry. This can be important, for example, when items can be stacked, and if so, which items can be placed on top of each other. The dimensional stability of an item can define the extent to which the item can resist unintended deformation. Surface quality can define how porous the surface of an article is, or how wrinkled or cracked it is, etc. This can be important for further processing of the article, for example, because it can be used to determine whether the article can be gripped with a suction cup or not. The sensitivity of an article can generally define the environment in which the article can be placed without being damaged. Meanwhile, the hazard posed by the article can define the potential danger to nearby articles, for example, the need to transport and / or store the article at a certain distance from other articles. The cooling requirements of an article can define the climatic environment in which the article can be stored and for how long. Incompatibility can be, for example, incompatibility with magnetic vibrations, which can ensure, for example, that electrical devices are not damaged. The state of assembly can primarily refer to whether the article is solid or liquid, based on which further processing or storage of the article can be performed. The shelf life of an article can refer to how long the article can be stored.This can be important when determining the order in which items are stored in or removed from a shelf area. Odor information can mean whether an item emits an unpleasant odor or not. This can be decisive, for example, when deciding where or together with which item a given item should be stored or transported. The serial number can be a serial number assigned by the manufacturer in the form of a barcode or QR code. This can be used for further identification of the item. Furthermore, OCR systems can additionally or alternatively be provided that are designed to recognize and read characters (numbers and / or letters) marked on the item in order to identify the item. This means that items can be identified even if they do not have a standardized barcode or similar.

[0020] Preferably, step c) includes storing the items individually within the shelving area. In this case, storing individually means that each item is transported to the shelving area individually. The item information can be used as a basis for determining the transport and storage location of the items. Individual handling or processing of the items can result in particularly efficient operation of the warehouse.

[0021] Preferably, step c) includes determining a storage location and location information for the storage location, where the location information preferably identifies a storage location in a shelving area where the item is to be or has been stored. The storage location can be determined based on the item information. In this way, the above-mentioned characteristics of the item can be taken into consideration, and the storage location can be determined accordingly. Furthermore, the storage location of the item in the shelving area can be determined in relation to the efficiency of the overall system. For example, if the item is particularly heavy, the storage location can be determined to be a low position in the shelving area (in the direction of gravity). This eliminates the need to transport heavy items far in the direction of gravity, thereby saving energy. The storage location can also have a predetermined function, such as a cooling function or a function to isolate it from the rest of the storage area. The storage area can also have an EX area in which particularly dangerous items can be stored. This can be used as a basis for determining the storage location. The location information can identify the storage location within the shelving area. For example, the location information can be X, Y, and Z coordinates defining a point in space. It is also conceivable that the location information includes the plane and the shelf row as well as the distance in the direction in which the shelf row extends in order to uniquely identify the storage location. In other words, the location information may allow items to be stored individually within a shelf area. As already mentioned above, the shelf area cannot be subdivided, so items can be individually placed within the shelf area. Thus, the shelf area can be filled particularly efficiently, as items can be placed next to each other based on their individual item information (such as their dimensions) and pre-made storage areas do not have to be filled.

[0022] Preferably, step c) includes storing the items in the shelf area using a shuttle. The shuttle can be an automated transport means, specifically an automated storage and retrieval unit, capable of entering the shelf area. The shuttle can have a transport area in which the items can be transported. The shuttle can move back and forth between the processing area and the storage area. The shuttle picks up the items at a pickup point in the processing area and automatically moves them to a storage location in the shelf area, where the items are automatically deposited. The shuttle can have a conveyor device designed to pick up the items and transport them to the shuttle's transport area. This can be based on item information so that the items can be reliably grasped. For example, if the dimensions of the items are known, the conveyor device can be used in a targeted manner to grasp and transport the items. Furthermore, the conveyor device can be designed to grasp the items to be stored or retrieved by the shuttle based on the item information. This allows the items to be handled with particular care.

[0023] Preferably, step c) includes determining the shortest route for the shuttle from the item pickup point to the item storage location. The route can be along a rail system (e.g., a rail section) on which the shuttle can travel. Alternatively, the route can be a free route between the item pickup point and the storage location (i.e., without rails, such that the shuttle can move freely on a running surface or in the air). In other words, the shortest possible route refers to the shortest possible route along the shuttle's running surface, rather than a direct, straight route in space between the item pickup point and the storage location. This means that even in very large shelving areas with many shelves and shelving levels, it is possible to ensure that the shuttle can transport the items to the desired target storage location in an efficient manner without traveling unnecessarily long distances. Preferably, the shortest route is determined before the shuttle starts moving. As a result, the shuttle can be instructed on which route to take before departing. This is particularly advantageous when communication with the shuttle is impossible or possible but difficult in the storage area. This may be the case, for example, if the storage area is specially shielded to protect the items. Furthermore, contact-based data transmission with the shuttle may be provided, increasing the reliability of the transmission. For example, the storage location may be transmitted to the shuttle via electronic contact at the item pick-up point. This means that no wireless data exchange with the shuttle is necessary while the shuttle is in motion.

[0024] Preferably, step c) includes determining the shortest route for the shuttle from the storage location to the item pickup point. In other words, the return path for the shuttle from the storage location to the item pickup point can be determined directly when the items are stored. This is particularly useful when one-way traffic is implemented on the rail system in the shelving area and / or processing area. As a result, the shuttle cannot use the same route to the item pickup point as it used to get to the storage location. Again, it is advantageous for the shuttle to be instructed at the start of order processing (e.g., at the item pickup point) which route it should take to return from the shelving area. This prevents the shuttle from getting stuck in the shelving area, unable to find its way back.

[0025] Preferably, the shuttle senses the shelving area and / or stored items as it moves through the shelving area and obtains current status information for the shelving area and / or items, where the method preferably includes comparing the current status information with saved status information to determine change information. The shuttle may include sensors designed to sense its surroundings, allowing the shuttle to record the environment during its movement from the item pickup point to the storage location or from the storage location to the item pickup point. This means that items already stored in the shelving area can be detected. The method may check, in the background, whether the actual measured storage location of an item matches the stored storage location of the item. This means that each time the shuttle passes an item, it can check whether the item is in the desired location. As a result, shifts in the shelving area can be detected and corrected. For example, if it is determined that the storage location of an item has deviated from its stored location, a service shuttle may be activated to move the item in question to the desired storage location. The change between the stored storage location of the item (i.e., the storage location previously determined for the item stored there) and the currently recorded actual storage location of the item can be stored as change information. The change information can be, for example, a percentage deviation between the target location and the actually recorded location (i.e., the actual location). If the percentage deviation exceeds a predetermined limit, the method can correct the actual storage location of the item. On the one hand, this makes it possible to ensure that the item is always in the correct position within the storage area without being gradually moved. Furthermore, the threshold above which the method is enabled can ensure that the deployment of an unnecessarily large number of service shuttles is not required.

[0026] Preferably, the change information includes a change in the storage location of an item and / or a change in the condition of the shelf area. A change in the condition of the shelf area can be, for example, damage to a shelf. For example, the shuttle can monitor a predetermined distance within the shelf area. Thus, the shuttle can measure the distance between two shelf posts and / or the distance between rail sections. If such measurements deviate from a target value, an inspection can be ordered. This allows the shelf condition to be monitored every time the shuttle travels, so even minor damage can be detected early. This can extend the useful life of the shelf area and, ultimately, the entire warehouse.

[0027] Preferably, step c) includes checking the charge state of an energy storage unit of the shuttle for storing and retrieving the items. For example, the route planned for the shuttle can be compared with the available energy in the shuttle's energy storage unit. Based on this, it can be determined whether the shuttle can transport the items to the storage location or pick them up from the storage location without any problems and without depleting its energy. The energy storage device can be, for example, a battery. The charge status can be checked, for example, at the item pick-up point. In particular, this can be done in parallel with the wired data exchange.

[0028] Preferably, step b) includes outputting the item information. In this way, the item information can be made available to third parties outside the warehouse. For example, an inventory list can be maintained of items present in the processing area and / or storage area. Also, for example, returns can be sent directly to the warehouse, and this can be noted in the item information. This allows this information to be made available to third parties. In other words, a two-way flow of information into and out of the warehouse can be provided. In returns management, the corresponding item information can be made available to the manufacturer of the returned item. The manufacturer can then decide what to do with the item. All this information can be saved in the item information for the corresponding item. This eliminates the need to process items multiple times, thereby improving efficiency.

[0029] Preferably, the method further comprises: d) receiving a retrieval command; and e) retrieving items from the shelf area. The retrieval command can, for example, be an order for one or more items. Thus, if the items are present in the storage area, a shuttle can be ordered to transport the items from the shelf area to an item drop-off point. For example, this order can be combined with a put-away order, such that the shuttle travels from the item pickup point to a storage location, deposits the items there, and on its way back picks up another item and transports it to the item drop-off point. This therefore ensures particularly efficient warehouse operation. Furthermore, unnecessary empty shuttle movements can be avoided. The item drop-off point can be located within the processing area. Preferably, the retrieval command includes a storage location for at least one item. The order can be converted by a warehouse control unit into a retrieval command, which specifies the exact location of the desired item within the shelf area.

[0030] Preferably, the method further includes f) packaging the retrieved items based on the item information of the retrieved items. In other words, the retrieved items can be packaged for delivery, e.g., to an item drop-off point. The packaging can be performed based on the item information. For example, the characteristics of the retrieved items may require specific packaging. For example, particularly fragile items may be packaged with additional cushioning material to ensure safe delivery. It is also possible that multiple items are removed from storage and packaged in the same package. It is important not to place fragile or delicate items too close together in one package. Therefore, preferably, the retrieved items are packaged based on the item information of each item to ensure that the items are packaged with particular care. It is also possible that certain items require refrigeration and therefore require appropriate packaging. Because the item information is available, all requirements can be met when packaging the items.

[0031] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control unit for controlling an automated warehouse for storing and processing containers of items, the warehouse including a processing area and a shelving area, the control unit preferably adapted to perform the above method. The control unit may be a computer-like device capable of receiving signals, processing them, and outputting signals. Preferably, the control unit is capable of outputting control commands capable of controlling individual units of the storage system. In particular, the control unit is capable of controlling shuttles moving between the processing area and the shelving area. Furthermore, the control unit is capable of receiving and processing item information.

[0032] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automated warehouse for storing and processing containers of items, the warehouse preferably including a processing area having a receiving portion for the items and a shelving area having a plurality of storage locations. The automated warehouse may further include a rail system extending between the processing area and the shelving area and designed to allow a shuttle to travel on the rail system. Preferably, the warehouse is provided with at least one shuttle designed to transport items between the processing area and the shelving area. Furthermore, the warehouse preferably includes a control unit as described above.

[0033] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of a control unit according to the above embodiments for controlling an automated warehouse system.

[0034] Individual features or embodiments may be combined with other features or embodiments to form new embodiments. Embodiments and advantages mentioned in connection with features or embodiments apply analogously to the new embodiments. Embodiments and advantages mentioned in connection with methods also apply analogously to devices and vice versa.

[0035] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like features throughout. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic and perspective view of a warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 shows a schematic top view of a warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic flow chart of a method according to one embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective and schematic diagram of a warehouse 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The warehouse 1 is divided into a processing area 8 and a shelving area 9. The shelving area includes shelves 2 with shelves 3 therein. Each shelf 3 defines a different shelf level in a vertical direction V. Extending between the shelves 2 are rail sections 4 (not shown in FIG. 1 ) on which a shuttle 5 can travel. The shelving area 9 includes a riser area 6 that allows the shuttle 5 to reach different shelf levels in the vertical direction V. The riser area 6 allows the shuttle 5 to independently reach different shelf levels in the shelving area 9. The warehouse 1 also includes a rail system 7 comprised of multiple rail sections 4. The rail system 7 connects the processing area 8 to the shelving area 9. Multiple shuttles 5 (also known as storage and retrieval units) can travel on the rail system 7. Containers of goods can be delivered to the processing area 8 and dispense individual goods 10. The dispensed individual goods 10 can then be picked up by the shuttle 5 and individually transported to the shelving area 9. More precisely, items 10 can be placed on shelves 3 without having a pre-defined, structurally defined storage location within the shelving area. In other words, items 10 can be placed individually, next to each other, and / or overlapping on shelves 2 of shelving area 9. When items 10 are removed from warehouse 1, shuttle 5 or multiple shuttles 5 can move into shelving area 9, individually pick up the associated selection, transport it to an item storage location (not shown in FIG. 1 ), and deposit it there. From there, items 10 can be packaged and transported out of warehouse 1. Furthermore, items 10 can also be collected and packaged together with other items 10. In this way, warehouse 1 can perform order picking of multiple items 10.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a warehouse 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, a processing area 8 is shown on the left-hand side and a shelf area 9 on the right-hand side. Containers of goods can be supplied to the warehouse as incoming goods. In this embodiment, the containers of goods are supplied to the warehouse 1 at a number of receiving stations 11. After the containers of goods are delivered, they are labeled based on the supplier or retailer. Depending on the label, the containers of goods are supplied to a predetermined processing station 12. There, the containers are distributed (i.e., unpacked) to obtain a number of individual goods 10 (i.e., the smallest possible packaged units of goods). The individual goods 10 are then recognized and defined as known goods or unknown goods. If the goods 10 are known goods, goods information from a database is assigned to the goods 10. Otherwise, if the goods 10 are unknown goods, the goods information is determined directly at the processing station 12. Alternatively or additionally, the item information is then recorded at a further, specially equipped station (i.e., not a storage station or item receiving point 13). The obtained item information may include attributes of the item 10. The item information of the item 10 may include the item's fragility, load-bearing capacity, dimensional stability, surface quality (e.g., porosity), sensitivity, cooling requirements, incompatibilities, aggregation state, shelf life, odor characteristics, and / or serial number. For items defined as known items, a verification is also performed to check whether the item is indeed a known item 10. If the verification determines that the items 10 initially defined as known items 10 are not known items, these items are sent to the item information recording system. The items that have been assigned item information or whose item information has been determined are then provided to the item receiving point 13. The items 10 are picked up from this item receiving point 13 by one or more shuttles 5 and transported to the shelving area 9. The items 10 are individually deposited into the shelving area 9 based on their item information. When an item 10 is requested, the item 10 is picked up from the shelf area 9 by the shuttle 5 and delivered to the item dispenser 14 .The article dispenser 14 can also collect multiple items in order to package them together. In other words, the article dispenser 14 can provide picking of different items. This is particularly advantageous when multiple items are ordered. The packaged items are then transported from the article dispenser 14 to a transport terminal 15. The items can be picked up from the transport terminal by an external third party and transported further.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic flow chart illustrating a sequence of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In a first step S1, a supplier of a container of goods registers the goods with the warehouse 1. The information is saved in the same step. In a further embodiment, the warehouse sends the supplier information about the unloading terminal 11 where the supplier will unload the container of goods. In a second step S2, the container is delivered to the warehouse 1 and provided with a marking. The marking (also known as a label) is assigned to the container. This allows prior product information to be assigned to the container. The prior product information may, for example, identify the retailer. The container is then provided to a processing station 12 in step S3. The processing station 12 relies on the marking assigned to the container. This ensures that containers from the same retailer are always processed at the same processing station 12. This simplifies processing, as goods or containers of goods are always packed in the same way.

[0040] In step S4, the container of items is opened and the items are distributed. After that, the individual items become available. Further, in step S4, it is determined whether the individual items are known or unknown items. The unknown items are fed to an item attribute detection unit or an item information detection unit, which determines the item's characteristics. According to a further embodiment, the individual items can be assigned to a predetermined item class having the same item attributes or item information. If the item is known, in step S4, it is checked whether it is indeed a known item or whether the initial determination was incorrect. For this purpose, in step S4, a verification is performed. For example, for this purpose, optical detection of the item can be used, which is compared with stored information about the item. If there are any deviations, the item is sent to attribute detection. If the item verification matches the stored characteristics of the item, in step S5, the item is sent to the item receiving unit 13. Similarly, in step S5, items to which item information has been assigned are also sent to the item receiving unit 13. Further, in step S5, it is determined where the item will be placed in the shelf area 9. In other words, the storage location is determined in response to the item's demand. Furthermore, the storage location is defined to allow for the most efficient operation of the warehouse (i.e., heavier items tend to be located lower in the warehouse, and lighter items tend to be located higher). In step S6, an order is given to shuttle 5 to pick up a specific item from receiving area 13 and transport it to a specific storage location within shelving area 9. For this purpose, the shuttle is instructed to take the most direct and shortest possible route so that communication with the shuttle is not required while the shuttle is moving within shelving area 9. Furthermore, the shuttle is also instructed to take a direct return route so that it can return to processing area 8 of warehouse 1 as quickly and efficiently as possible. For example, the shuttle is controlled to execute a pick order when returning from shelving area 9. In this way, the shuttle can pick up an item from storage area 9 on its return journey from the storage order.When the shuttle 5 reaches a predetermined storage location, in step S6, it checks whether the storage location is an empty or occupied storage area. If the storage area is empty, the shuttle deposits the item there. If the deposit area is occupied by another item or object, the shuttle reports an error to the control unit and moves the item to an alternative deposit location. Furthermore, a service call for the service shuttle is triggered to check the incorrectly determined storage location in the shelf area 9. In step S7, as the shuttle passes over shelf 2, it checks whether the shelf is empty or occupied. To do this, the shuttle 5 can scan the shelf surface as it passes over shelf 2, thereby creating a sort of shelf map. It can then be ascertained which items are located where, and where and how they are located on shelf 2. This can be compared with a database to check whether the actual occupancy of shelf 9 matches the stored occupancy.

[0041] In step S8, the shuttle checks the status of its internal energy storage device (i.e., within the shuttle) and, based on that, decides whether the shuttle should move to a staging area or for a battery swap. This proactively ensures that the shuttle can process new orders efficiently and reliably.

[0042] According to yet another embodiment, the shuttle uses a sensor system permanently attached to the shuttle to check whether an item has been placed in the shuttle's loading area, ensuring that the item is properly placed on the shuttle and does not exceed the shuttle's outer dimensions, and also detecting items unintentionally left in the shuttle's loading area, thereby preventing malfunction of Warehouse 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Warehouse 2 Shelves 3. Shelve boards 4 Rail section 5 Shuttle 6. Riser area 7 Rail system 8. Process area 9 Shelf area 10 Goods 11 Receipt of goods 12 Processing station 13 Goods Receipt 14 Goods dispenser 15 Transport terminal V Vertical direction

Claims

1. A method of operating an automated warehouse (1) for storing and processing containers of goods, said warehouse having a processing area (8) and a shelving area (9), a) processing at least one container of goods in said processing area (8) to obtain at least one individual item (10); b) determining or obtaining item information of said at least one item (10); c) storing the item (10) in the shelf area (9) based on the item information; A method comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual articles (10) are moved or transported back and forth between the processing area (8) and the shelf area (9) by a shuttle (5).

3. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein step a) includes receiving advance item information and marking the container of the item based on the advance item information, and wherein the advance item information includes identification information of a supplier.

4. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein step a) comprises distributing containers of goods to obtain individual goods (10), said distributing preferably being based on markings of said containers of goods.

5. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) includes testing the item (10) to determine whether it is a known item (10) or an unknown item (10).

6. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein step b) includes verifying to determine whether the obtained article information corresponds to the known article (10).

7. 7. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein determining or obtaining item information comprises searching a database to obtain the item information of known items.

8. 8. The method of any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein verifying comprises visually inspecting the item and / or weighing the item.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein determining the item information comprises analyzing the item (10).

10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the analysis of the item (10) comprises optical detection and / or weight measurement of the item (10), and the item (10) is preferably visually recorded by one or more cameras.

11. 11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the article information comprises at least one of the article's (10) fragility, load-bearing capacity, dimensional stability, surface quality, porosity, sensitivity, potential hazards arising from the article (10), cooling requirements, incompatibilities, assembly state, shelf life, odor information, and / or serial number.

12. 12. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein step c) comprises storing the items (10) individually in the shelf area (9).

13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein each item (10) is individually transported to the shelf area (9) during individual storage.

14. 14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the item information can be used as a basis for determining transport and storage locations for the items (10).

15. 15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein step c) comprises determining a storage location and storage location information, said location information preferably identifying said storage location in said shelf area (9) at which said item (10) is or has been stored.

16. 16. The method of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the storage location of the items (10) in the shelf area (9) is determined with respect to overall system efficiency.

17. 17. The method of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein step c) comprises storing the items (10) in the shelf area (9) using a shuttle (5).

18. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein step c) comprises determining the shortest route for the shuttle (5) from a pick-up point of an item to a storage location of the item.

19. 19. A method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the determination of the shortest route is performed before the shuttle (5) starts its movement, and the route to be taken by the shuttle (5) is communicated to the shuttle (5) before it departs.

20. 20. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein step c) comprises determining the shortest route for the shuttle (5) from a drop-off location to an article pick-up point.

21. 21. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the shuttle (5) comprises a conveyor device configured to grip the item (10) and transport it onto a transport area of the shuttle (5) based on item information so as to be able to grip the item (10) reliably.

22. 21. The method of any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the shuttle (5) scans the shelving area (9) and / or stored items (10) during its movement through the shelving area (9) to obtain current status information of the shelving area (9) and / or the items (10), the method preferably comprising comparing the current status information with stored status information to determine change information.

23. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the change information comprises a change in the storage location of an item and / or a change in the condition of the shelf area (9).

24. 24. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 23, wherein step c) comprises checking the state of charge of an energy store of the shuttle (5) for storing and retrieving the items.

25. 25. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) further comprises outputting the item information.

26. The method comprises: d) receiving a retrieval command; e) removing said item (10) from said shelf area (9); 26. The method of any one of claims 1 to 25, further comprising:

27. The method comprises: f) packaging the removed item (10) based on the item information of the removed item (10); 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

28. 28. A control unit for controlling an automated warehouse (1) for storing and processing containers of goods, said warehouse (1) comprising a processing area (8) and a shelf area (9), said control unit being designed to implement a method according to any one of claims 1 to 27.

29. An automated warehouse (1) for storing and handling containers of goods, said warehouse (1) comprising: a processing area (8) with an article receiving section (13) and a shelf area (9) with a plurality of storage locations; a rail system (7) extending between the processing area (8) and the shelf area (9) and designed to allow the shuttle (5) to move; at least one shuttle (5) designed to transport items (10) between the processing area (8) and the shelf area (9); and 29. A control unit according to claim 28. An automated warehouse (1) comprising:

30. 29. Use of a control unit according to claim 28 for controlling an automated warehouse.

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