Device and method for separating piece goods - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention relates to a picking device, in particular to a device and method for separating piece goods to be stored in pharmaceutical packages. Known separation devices do not provide pharmaceutical packages individually and on a predetermined side. The device according to the present invention includes a feeding device for the piece goods, a recording device (20) for recording 3D images of the piece goods (2, 3), a control device (30) for evaluating the 3D image and determining the piece goods (3) to be picked, a conveyor (40) for picking the piece goods (2), a stacking surface (50), and a lateral recording device (60). The control device is configured to identify the orientation of the picked piece goods and establish a preferred storage surface, and to operate the conveyor (40) in such a way that the picked piece goods are positioned on the preferred storage surface on the stacking surface (50).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and method for separating piece goods to be stored in a picking device, and in particular for separating pharmaceutical packages to be stored in a pharmacy picking device.

Background Art

[0002] In modern pharmacy picking devices, various different pharmaceutical packages are stored according to the principle of chaotic storage and, if necessary, removed from storage using a control unit. The storage location of the pharmaceutical packages in this case is oriented according to the unoccupied storage spaces available within the picking device, and under the principle of chaotic storage, is independent of the type of pharmaceutical, i.e., the packages are not stored sorted in this type of storage. To store the pharmaceutical packages, the user may deposit them, for example, on a storage belt, whereby the pharmaceutical packages are then moved into the picking device. Using the control unit of the picking device, the pharmaceutical packages are then picked off the storage belt and moved and placed into a pre-determined storage space by a control device. The process of storing a large number of pharmaceutical packages can sometimes be relatively time-consuming depending on the number of pharmaceutical packages to be stored, and as a result, it is known from the prior art to combine a pharmacy picking device with an automated device for separating piece goods. These are used to provide piece goods separated from a plurality of piece goods, which are then identified and stored.

[0003] Such devices for separating piece goods are known from the prior art. In EP 1 233 333 A1 a device for separating piece goods is known, which includes, for example, a device for conveying piece goods from a stock of piece goods onto a support surface of a collecting device. The conveyor separates the piece goods by moving an obliquely arranged slider under the stock of piece goods, thereby moving the piece goods onto the support surface. However, depending on the size of the slider and the piece goods of the stock, instead of one piece goods, two or three piece goods may be moved onto the support surface. This also depends on how the piece goods are oriented in the stock, i.e. whether there are, for example, several piece goods resting on their narrowest side in the stock, which are then all moved onto the support surface with one movement of the slider. As a result, the piece goods are arbitrarily oriented on the support surface, i.e. the known device does not allow the piece goods to be provided individually and on a predetermined side. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2012 / 167846 (WO2012 / 167846A1) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device and a corresponding method with which piece goods can be presented individually and on a predetermined side. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The object is achieved by a device according to the invention and a method according to the invention for separating piece goods to be stored in a picking device. The device according to the invention comprises a feed device for providing a plurality of non-separated piece goods in a receiving area extending in the X and Y directions of the device, an upper 3D recording device located in the Z direction, which is orthogonal to the X and Y directions, above the feed device in the receiving area for recording a 3D image of the piece goods located on the feed device in the receiving area, and a control device coupled to the upper 3D recording device for evaluating the ascertained 3D image and determining one of the plurality of piece goods to be picked up. The 3D image is evaluated using conventional image processing software for detecting different objects (i.e. piece goods) in the 3D image and for establishing which piece goods may be selected next or which piece goods will be selected next. Thus, for example, a plurality of piece goods may be arranged such that only overlying piece goods, for example, can be picked while underlying piece goods are not picked, so that the underlying piece goods are overlapped by the overlying piece goods. Exactly how the image processing and the determination of the piece goods to be picked up are performed is irrelevant to the invention and all approaches known to the person skilled in the art, in particular under the term "machine vision", can be used.

[0007] The device according to the invention further comprises a conveyor coupled to the control device having gripping means rotatable about a Z-axis (i.e. a vertical axis) for picking a particular piece good determined by the control device from the plurality of piece goods, a deposit surface located in the X-direction downstream from the receiving area for depositing the piece goods picked by the conveyor, and a lateral recording device for generating at least one image of the piece goods picked by the conveyor. According to the invention, the control device is configured such that at least one image generated using the lateral recording device is processed to determine the dimensions of the picked piece goods. If during the processing it is determined that not all the dimensions of the picked piece goods can be determined from the image, the picked piece goods are rotated by a predetermined angle about the Z-axis and another image is generated which is then processed accordingly, and this process is repeated until all the dimensions of the piece goods are determined. The control unit predetermines the angle by which the picked piece goods are rotated, this value may be a permanently programmed value or may be a result from the processing of a previous image. An orientation of the picked piece goods is identified based on results of the image processing or dimensions of the picked piece goods, and a preferred storage surface for the picked piece goods is established based on specifications by the control device. The conveyor is then operated by the control device as a function of the orientation of the preferred storage surface in such a way that the picked piece goods are positioned on the preferred storage surface on the deposition surface.

[0008] Thus, the device of the invention includes not only a 3D recording device for establishing the piece goods to be next removed from the stock, but also another recording device for creating one or more images of the picked piece goods, on the basis of which or these images the dimensions of the picked piece goods can be determined so that the orientation of the picked piece goods can be identified. The dimensions of the picked piece goods cannot be easily obtained, i.e. from the 3D image of the upper 3D detection device, since it is not guaranteed that the entire piece goods are detected by the upper 3D detection device. Furthermore, it is not routine to identify the height of the piece goods to be picked or the height of the picked piece goods with the upper 3D recording device. However, by using a lateral recording device, the three dimensions of the picked piece goods can be easily determined, so that the orientation of the picked piece goods can be determined, i.e., whether, for example, the maximum bearing surface of the piece goods is located at the bottom, side or end surface of the piece goods. The lateral recording device may be a 2D or 3D recording device. When using a 2D recording device, the picked piece goods must be rotated around a vertical axis to determine all dimensions, and at least two images must be generated and evaluated. When a 3D recording device is used, with proper positioning of the 3D recording device, one image may be sufficient to determine all dimensions of the picked piece goods, however, in such cases rotation about the Z axis will also be periodically required.

[0009] For example, a 3D camera may be used as a 3D recording device. A 3D camera is a camera system that allows a visual representation of the entire range of a scene. In this specification, the term "3D camera" is intended to encompass, in particular, the following systems: - a stereo camera, in which the environment is recorded simultaneously using two cameras, the distance between the camera lenses usually corresponding to the distance between the human eyes. The obtained image pairs may be processed in a computer (of the control device) and thus a depth map may be generated. - A triangulation system, where a light source images a defined pattern on an object. A camera records this pattern from different angles and calculates a distance or depth map based on the distortion. - A TOF camera (Time of Flight camera), which shows distance by measuring the transit time of light. - Interferometry systems, which operate using the interference between the measurement beam and the object beam. - A light field camera, where in addition to the brightness of a pixel, the light direction of the light rays resulting in the pixel is also recorded, at the expense of resolution, using a microlens array, and a depth map may then be calculated from that data.

[0010] Knowing the orientation of the picked piece goods and taking into account the storage surface that is usually the maximum bearing surface of the piece goods, predetermined by the control device, the piece goods can therefore be positioned exactly on this storage surface on the deposition surface. Depending on the orientation of the picked piece goods, it may be sufficient to simply deposit the piece goods on the deposition surface, i.e. when they are picked on the preferred storage surface. If, for example, a preferred bearing surface is provided by the side of the picked piece goods, the piece goods have to be tipped after being deposited on the deposition surface, which can be done, for example, by a conveyor. For this purpose, a conveyor may be arranged next to the piece goods, and the piece goods may then be tipped using the conveyor.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the lateral recording device is designed as a 3D recording device. As previously mentioned, the use of a 3D recording device reduces the images necessary to detect all dimensions after picking has occurred, and ideally, one 3D image is sufficient to identify all dimensions.

[0012] How the conveyor is precisely configured depends in particular on the expected dimensions and weights of the piece goods to be separated. In the case of a pharmaceutical picking device, these dimensions and weights are on the one hand relatively minimal, and on the other hand, they are subject to relatively minimal variations. In a preferred embodiment, therefore, it is provided that the conveyor is designed as a suction gripper movable in the X, Y and Z directions having at least one suction head rotatable about the Z axis. The use of a suction gripper also makes it possible for such piece goods to be picked, which otherwise would be prevented or hindered by adjacent piece goods located unfavorably. The rotatability of the suction head about the Z axis may be achieved by the suction head itself only being rotatable, or alternatively, the entire suction gripper or the component carrying the suction head may be rotatable about the Z axis and thus "rotate the suction head likewise".

[0013] To adapt the picking of piece goods to the dimensions of the piece goods themselves, in a preferred embodiment of the picking device according to the invention, it is provided that the suction gripper has two suction heads of different dimensions, so that, depending on the situation, it is possible to select the most suitable suction head for the next piece good to be picked. Thus, the next piece good to be determined is considered to be a piece good having a very narrow receiving surface that can be reasonably gripped only with the small suction head, and in other cases, in particular, the selection of a larger suction head is considered to be more beneficial in order to provide stability to the piece good picked on the suction head.

[0014] In order to enable rapid selection between at least two different suction heads, in one preferred embodiment of the picking device, it is provided that the suction head includes a rotating body, the suction head is located thereon, and the rotating body is rotatable about a horizontal axis extending in the horizontal direction. In a corresponding embodiment of the suction gripper, rapid and structurally simple switching between suction heads of different dimensions is possible.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the picking device according to the invention, it is provided that the deposition surface is designed to be rotatable, and in this way, the deposited piece goods can be better prepared for subsequent storage or prior removal from the deposition surface.

[0016] The object of the present invention is further achieved by the method according to claim 7. According to the present invention, a) Using a feeding device, a plurality of non-separable piece goods are positioned in a receiving area extending in the X and Y directions, b) At least one 3D image of the plurality of non-separable piece goods is generated using an upper 3D recording device positioned in the Z direction orthogonal to the X and Y directions above the feeding device, c) At least one 3D image is processed using a control device coupled to the 3D recording device to identify the positions of the non-separable piece goods, and it is determined which of the plurality of piece goods will be picked next. When such a piece good is determined, d) The piece good is picked using the gripping means of a conveyor rotatable about the Z axis, e) At least one image of the picked piece good is generated using a lateral recording device coupled to the control device, and f) At least one image generated by the lateral recording device is processed to identify the dimensions of the picked piece good, g) if all dimensions of the picked piece goods are not determinable, the picked piece goods are rotated a predetermined angle about the Z axis, and steps e) and f) are repeated until all dimensions of the picked piece goods are identified; and h) determining an orientation of the picked piece goods based on the results of the image processing and establishing a preferred storage plane for the picked piece goods based on specifications by the control device; and then i) the picked piece goods are moved from the receiving area to a deposition surface located in the downstream X direction; and j) The picked piece goods are positioned on a preferred storage surface on the stacking surface, which was determined in method step f).

[0017] As mentioned above, depending on the orientation of the picked piece goods, it may be sufficient to deposit them as picked, which is sufficient if the piece goods are thus picked on the storage surface. If this is not the case, the piece goods may be relocated after the initial placement. In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the picked piece goods are positioned on the storage surface by first being positioned on another surface on the deposition surface and then tipping onto the storage surface. This can be done simply with a conveyor, for example, by moving the conveyor next to the piece goods and tipping it using the conveyor.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the method, it is provided that the 3D image of the picked piece goods is generated using a lateral recording device. In this way, the number of images required to identify the dimensions of the picked piece goods may be reduced. Ideally, one 3D image is sufficient to determine all three dimensions.

[0019] To increase flexibility in placing the piece goods on the deposition surface, a preferred embodiment of the method provides that the picked piece goods are rotated according to the specifications of the control device about the Z axis (i.e., the vertical axis) before being placed on the deposition surface. Thus, an optimal orientation for subsequent storage can be achieved, the "optimal" orientation may depend, for example, on the unoccupied space in the picking device.

[0020] In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the picked piece goods are rotated about the Z axis and scanned during processing by a lateral recording device to determine an identifier. If such an identifier can be identified, the processing step that would normally follow but identify piece goods not associated with the separation itself may be skipped, which speeds up the overall storage process. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings.

[0022] [Figure 1a] FIG. 1a is an oblique view of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention, the detection area of ​​the recording device depicted in FIG. 1a being omitted in FIG. 1b. [Figure 1b] FIG. 1b is an oblique view of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention, the detection area of ​​the recording device depicted in FIG. 1a being omitted in FIG. 1b. [Diagram 2] 13 shows another perspective view of the preferred embodiment with piece goods. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment with piece goods. [Figure 4] 1 shows an embodiment from the rear, i.e. looking at the conveyor. [Figure 5a]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first process situation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention. [Figure 5b] 1 shows a rear view of a first processing stage of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention; [Figure 6a] 2 shows a second processing situation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention. [Figure 6b] 2 shows a second processing situation of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention. [Figure 7a] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a further processing situation of a preferred embodiment of the method, namely, placement and tipping of picked piece goods on the deposition surface. [Figure 7b] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a further processing situation of a preferred embodiment of the method, namely, placement and tipping of picked piece goods on the deposition surface. [Figure 7c] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a further processing situation of a preferred embodiment of the method, namely, placement and tipping of picked piece goods on the deposition surface. [Figure 8a] 1 shows a side view of different processing situations. [Figure 8b] 1 shows a side view of different processing situations. [Figure 9] 1 shows a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] 1a and 1b show perspective views of a preferred embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention for separating piece goods to be stored in a picking device, which may in particular be pharmaceutical packages to be stored in a picking device of a pharmacy or a hospital. The illustrated embodiment comprises a feeding device 10, which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a conveyor belt 13 with side strips 12 intended to prevent the piece goods from falling out. As shown in fig. 1b, the "left" section of the conveyor belt is provided with an area 11, which is a receiving area 11 in which the piece goods are located, as will be evident in the following figures. The receiving area 11 extends in the X and Y directions of the device, which directions define a plane. In the Z direction, which is positioned orthogonal to the plane spanned by the X and Y directions, a 3D recording device 20 with a detection area 21 is arranged above the feeding device 10, with which a 3D image of the piece goods placed in the receiving area 11 is generated.

[0024] The embodiment of the picking device 1 according to the invention shown further comprises a guide frame 5 positioned at the side of the feed device 10, on which the conveyor 40 is movably positioned, which in the embodiment shown is designed as a suction gripper. The suction gripper comprises a Z-guide 43 which is movable in the X-direction on the guide frame 5. A Y-guide 44 is movable in the Z-direction on this Z-guide 43, and in turn a holder 45 is movable in the Y-direction on the Y-guide 44. The rotor 42, as shown in more detail with reference to the following figures, is fixed on the holder 45 (or rotor holder 46 shown in the following figures), on which in turn two gripping means designed as suction heads are arranged.

[0025] Located upstream from the conveyor 40 is a lateral recording device 60 having a detection area 61, and located downstream from the feeding device 10 is a depositing surface 50 for depositing the piece goods picked by the conveyor 40. Finally, the picking device 1 comprises a control device 30, which is coupled to the lateral recording device 60 as well as to the conveyor 40 and optionally to the feeding device 10 via lines not shown in the upper 3D recording device 20. According to the invention, the control device 30 is configured such that images generated with the lateral recording device 60 are processed to determine the dimensions of the picked piece goods.

[0026] The processing and number of images depends on the type and capabilities of the lateral recording device. If a 3D recording device is used as in the illustrated embodiment, it may be sufficient to generate just one image of the picked piece goods to identify all three dimensions, with a suitable alignment of the recording device with respect to the receiving area 11. However, even when using a 3D recording device, it is routinely necessary to generate several 3D images to determine all dimensions. Before generating a subsequent image, the picked piece goods are rotated by a predetermined angle X. In this case, the process is repeated until all three dimensions of the piece goods are identified. If a 2D recording device is used, it is in any case necessary to generate at least two images that render the picked piece goods in different perspectives. For this purpose, when a first image is generated, it may be rotated, for example, by 90° around the Z axis.

[0027] The orientation of the picked piece goods is determined based on the results of the image processing, and also, for example, where the maximum bearing surface of the picked piece goods is located is determined based on the orientation of the picked piece goods. Depending on the arrangement of the piece goods before being picked, this arrangement may represent the suction surface of the piece goods (and its mating surface), but it is also possible that a side or end surface (with respect to the X direction of the device) is the maximum bearing surface of the piece goods.

[0028] A preferred storage surface for the picked piece goods is established based on specifications of a control device, which may receive these specifications from a control device of the picking device, in which the piece goods are stored, this preferred storage surface typically being the maximum bearing surface for the picked piece goods. The conveyor is then operated via the control device of the device for separating the piece goods in such a way that the picked piece goods are positioned on the preferred storage surface on the deposition surface 50, which will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

[0029] 2, 3 and 4 show a perspective view, a top view and a rear view of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which four piece goods are located in the receiving area 11 of the feeding device 10 of Figs. 2 to 4. Two of the piece goods, identified by the reference number 2, are arranged free-standing in the receiving area, the piece goods 2" being partially overlapped by the piece goods 2', as is especially evident in the rear view of Fig. 4. In the rear view, the view is in the X-direction "from behind" over the feeding device 10 towards the depositing surface 50, whereas in the front view, the view is in the X-direction from the depositing surface 50 towards the feeding device 10. In the embodiment shown, the X-direction is determined by the conveying direction of the piece goods from the receiving area 11 to the depositing surface 50 located downstream.

[0030] 5a, 5b, 6a, and 6b respectively show perspective and rear views of different processing situations during the separation of piece goods. In the processing situations shown in Fig. 5a and 5b, the suction head 41a of the suction gripper is placed on the upper side of the piece goods 3. As is clear in Fig. 5b, the suction gripper in the embodiment shown includes a central rotor 42 rotatably mounted on the rotor holder 46 around a horizontally formed rotation axis. Two suction heads are arranged on the rotor 42, i.e., the suction head 41a is seated on the piece goods 3 and the suction head 41b is arranged on the opposite side. As is clear in Fig. 5b (and Fig. 6b), the diameter of the suction head 41a is larger than the diameter of the suction head 41b, i.e., the suction head 41a is provided for picking up larger piece goods or for placing them on a larger surface of the piece goods.

[0031] Figures 6a and 6b show a more advanced processing situation where the suction gripper on the Y-guide 44 rises higher, and the piece goods 3 are lifted from the receiving area 11 due to the suction effect by the suction gripper acting on the upper side. As can be seen from Figures 5a and 6a and the previous figures, the piece goods 3 are freely located in the receiving area 11 so that other piece goods do not prevent the piece goods 3 from being picked.

[0032] Figures 7a, 7b and 7c show front views of further processing situations according to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention. In Figure 7a, the piece goods 3 are set down on the stacking surface 50, i.e. on the "left" part of the stacking surface. As can be seen from Figure 7a and the previous figures, the maximum bearing surface for the piece goods 3 is the lateral surface of the piece goods oriented in the X direction, and in the preferred embodiment described herein, this maximum lateral surface is established as the storage surface. Then, to set down the piece goods 3 on this storage surface, the conveyor 40 is moved so that the suction head 41a is positioned to the left of the piece goods 3, so that the suction head is located below the upper edge of the piece goods 3. To move the piece goods onto the storage surface, the suction gripper on the Y guide 44 is moved to the right and the piece goods 3 are tipped using the suction head 41a. As a result, the piece goods rest on the maximum side intended as the storage surface, as shown in Figure 7c. In this orientation it can then be moved by a handling device (not shown), for example to a storage belt of a picking device (also not shown), from where it is then moved to a final storage space.

[0033] 8a and 8b show perspective views as visual illustrations of the processing situations shown in 7a and 7c. A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention for separating piece goods to be stored in a picking device is described below with reference to the flow chart of fig. 9. In step 100, a plurality of non-separated piece goods are first provided in the receiving area 11 of the sending device 10, as described in more detail in the preceding figures. The piece goods may in particular be pharmaceutical packages to be stored in a medicine picking device after being separated using the device according to the invention. Once the piece goods are provided, a 3D image of the plurality of piece goods is recorded in step 110 using a 3D recording device (e.g. a simple 3D camera) located above the sending device. This 3D image is processed in step 120 using a control device 30 coupled to the 3D recording device, and the positions of the individual piece goods are identified. From this, the next piece goods to be picked is determined, which is a piece goods that is not routinely superimposed on other piece goods. In the aforementioned figures, this is for example the subsequently picked piece goods 3. The previously determined piece goods are then picked in step 130 using the suction head 41a of the suction gripper, i.e. on the side of the piece goods that is most easily reached by the suction gripper. Once the piece goods are picked, a 3D image of the picked piece goods is recorded in step 140 using a 3D recording device located laterally, which may be a 3D camera. In step 150, this 3D image is processed, i.e. with the aim of identifying the dimensions of the picked piece goods. If it is not possible to identify all three dimensions based on the 3D image, the picked piece goods are rotated by a predetermined value around the Z axis and another 3D image is generated, which undergoes the corresponding processing according to step 150. This is repeated until all dimensions are identified. The orientation of the piece goods is determined in step 160 based on its dimensions. It can thus be established, for example, where the maximum bearing surface of the piece goods is located.Thus, for example, it is conceivable that the piece goods are picked via the largest receiving surface located laterally or at the end surface (relative to the X direction). Once the alignment is identified, the preferred storage surface is established in step 170 based on the specifications by the control device. The control device of the device according to the invention is routinely coupled to the control device of the picking device in which the piece goods are stored, and depending on the available storage space, the control device of the picking device may for example prescribe that all the piece goods are stored in such a way that their longest side is oriented, for example, in the Y direction. However, if there are no limitations regarding the storage space, it will regularly happen that the largest bearing surface of the piece goods is also the preferred storage surface, since this can ensure that the piece goods can be stored safely and without the risk of tipping in the picking device. After or as the preferred storage surface is established, the picked piece goods are moved in the X direction in step 180 to the stacking surface 50 where the picked piece goods are located on the preferred storage surface in step 190, and when the preferred storage surface is located laterally, for example by tipping the piece goods using a suction gripper after they have been initially put down.

Claims

1. A device (1) for separating piece goods (2) to be stored in a picking device, comprising: a feeding device (10) for providing a plurality of non-separable piece goods to a receiving area (11) of said device extending in the X-direction and the Y-direction; an upper 3D recording device (20) located in a Z direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction above the feeding device (10) for capturing 3D images of the piece goods (2, 3) located on the feeding device (10) in the receiving area (11); a control device (30) coupled to the upper 3D recording device (20) for evaluating the 3D images generated by the upper 3D recording device (20) and for determining a piece good (3) to be picked from the plurality of piece goods; a conveyor (40) coupled to the control device (30) having gripping means (41a, 41b) rotatable about a Z-axis for picking a piece good (2) determined by the control device (30) from the plurality of piece goods; a depositing surface (50) located downstream from the receiving area (11) in the X direction for depositing the piece goods picked by the conveyor (40); a lateral recording device (60) for generating at least one image of the piece goods (3) picked by the conveyor (40), the control device being configured such that the at least one image generated by the lateral recording device (60) is processed to identify dimensions of the picked piece goods, and if all dimensions of the picked piece goods cannot be determined, the picked piece goods are rotated by a predetermined angle about the Z-axis and another image is generated; Including, and based on a result of said processing of said image, an orientation of said picked piece goods is identified, and a preferred storage plane of said picked piece goods is established based on a specification by said control device; and wherein said conveyor (40) operates as a function of said orientation and said preferred storage surface such that picked piece goods are positioned on said deposition surface (50) on said preferred storage surface.

2. A device (1) for separating piece goods (2) to be stored in a picking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral recording device (60) is designed as a 3D recording device.

3. The device (1) for separating piece goods (2) to be stored in a picking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveyor (40) is designed as a suction gripper movable in the X-direction, the Y-direction and the Z-direction and has at least one suction head (41a) rotatable around the Z-axis.

4. A device (1) for separating piece goods (2) to be stored in a picking device according to claim 3, characterized in that the suction gripper has two different sized suction heads (41a, 41b).

5. The device (1) for separating piece goods (2) to be stored in a picking device as described in claim 4, characterized in that the suction gripper (40) has a rotating body (42) on which the suction heads (41a, 41b) are positioned, and the rotating body (42) is rotatable about a rotation axis extending horizontally.

6. A device (1) for separating piece goods (2) to be stored in a picking device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the depositing surface (50) is rotatable.

7. A method for separating piece goods (2) to be stored in a picking device, comprising: a) a plurality of non-separable piece goods (2) are positioned in a receiving area (11) extending in the X-direction and the Y-direction by a feeding device (10); b) at least one 3D image of the plurality of non-separable piece goods (2) is generated using an upper 3D recording device (20) located above the feeding device (10) in a Z direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction; c) said at least one 3D image for identifying the location of said non-separable piece goods (2) is processed using a 3D recording device (20) coupled to a control device (30), which determines which piece goods of said plurality of piece goods are to be picked next; d) the piece goods (3) identified in step c) are picked using a gripping means (41a, 41b) of a conveyor (40), which is rotatable about the Z-axis; e) at least one image of the picked piece goods (3) is generated using a lateral recording device (60) coupled to the control device (30); f) the at least one image generated using the lateral recording device (60) is processed to identify dimensions of the picked piece goods; g) if all of the dimensions of the picked piece goods cannot be determined, the picked piece goods are rotated a predetermined angle about the Z-axis, and steps e) and f) are repeated until all dimensions of the picked piece goods have been identified; h) based on the results of said processing of said images, an orientation of said picked piece goods is identified and a preferred storage plane of said picked piece goods is established based on specifications by said control device; i) the picked piece goods (3) are moved in the X direction from the receiving area (11) to a deposition surface (50) located downstream; and j) said picked piece goods are positioned on a preferred storage surface on said deposition surface (50).

8. A method for separating piece goods (2) to be stored in a picking device as described in claim 7, characterized in that the picked piece goods (3) are first positioned on another surface of the picked piece goods on the deposition surface (50) and then positioned on the storage surface by being tipping onto the storage surface.

9. A method for separating piece goods (2) to be stored in a picking device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a 3D image of the picked piece goods is generated using the lateral recording device (60).

10. A method for separating piece goods (2) to be stored in a picking device as described in any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the picked piece goods (3) are rotated about the Z axis according to the specifications of the control device before being positioned on the stacking surface.

11. A method for separating piece goods (2) to be stored in a picking device as described in any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the picked piece goods are rotated about the Z axis and scanned during processing by the lateral recording device to determine an identifier.

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