Systems and methods for storing and retrieving materials

Abstract

A system (1) for storing and removing coils (2) arranged on trays (3) housed in an accumulation structure (6), the accumulation structure (6) comprising a number of walls (8) defining a vertical direction (Z) which are aligned one after the other along a horizontal direction (X) facing and spaced apart from one another and perpendicular to the vertical direction (Z). Between the walls (8) are included a number of storage spaces (9) which are stacked and spaced apart one after the other according to the vertical direction (Z) and which are delimited by the walls (8) by guiding means (10). The guiding means (10) define a transverse direction (Y) for inserting / removing the trays (3) into / from said storage spaces (9). The transverse direction (Y) is perpendicular to a frontal plane (K) of the accumulation structure (6) which belongs to the horizontal direction (X) and to the vertical direction (Z). The depth (9a) of the storage space (9) measured according to the transverse direction (Y) is at least equal to the length (3a) of two or more trays (3) that are flush with one another when the trays (3) are aligned one after the other in their respective storage spaces (9).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for storing and retrieving materials, in particular but not exclusively, a system for storing and retrieving mainly flat elements with a limited thickness.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a method for storing and retrieving materials using the above-described system. [Background technology]

[0003] The use of the system and the method utilizing this system is particularly aimed at companies active in the field of assembling electronic boards, used to store and pick up coils of flexible tape, to which electronic elements of the SMD (Surface Montage Devices) type are removably applied.

[0004] As is known, the assembly of electronic boats is carried out using automatic machines, which have special motorized arms equipped with grippers that pick up the electronic elements to be assembled, which are removably associated with coiled flexible tape, and apply them to a fixed support, such as a printed circuit.

[0005] These coils are housed in rectangular trays which are held in a system with one or more magazines, in each of which there is a collection structure that houses the trays.

[0006] When required, these trays are pulled out of the integrated structure and the coils are removed for use with the electronic elements placed therein during assembly.

[0007] After use, the coils with the remaining electronic elements are returned to their respective trays and reintroduced into the integrated structure. Summary of the Invention

[0008] By way of example, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a prior art magazine, generally designated A. There is an accumulation structure B therein, which comprises a plurality of vertical walls C facing each other and spaced apart, which are visible in the detailed view of Figure 2 and in the plan view of Figure 3, and which are provided with protrusions D.

[0009] Thus, each pair of opposing protrusions D defines a housing E (also known as a "storage space"), which houses a tray F on which a coil G is housed, along with a wound flexible tape to which electronic elements are removably associated.

[0010] As can be seen in the figure, the accumulation structure B comprises a number of housings E, which can accommodate an equal number of trays F. The trays F are arranged next to each other in a horizontal direction X and stacked on top of each other in a vertical direction Z.

[0011] As mentioned, one or more trays F are successively picked up from their respective housings E as required, and the coils G that each tray F supports are picked up by an operator and mounted onto a board assembly machine that removes the elements to be assembled from the coil G tape.

[0012] At the end of the assembly, all unused coils G are removed from the machine and the operator places them again in their respective trays F, which are then placed in their respective housings E in the accumulation structure B.

[0013] The removal / replacement of trays F from / into accumulation structure B is performed using an automated handling system H. The automated handling system H is controlled by software that manages the reading of the identification codes on the trays F and their positioning in the housing E.

[0014] Since each housing E of the accumulation structure B contains a single tray F, which in turn contains a single coil B, there is a code on the coil but not on the tray, and the machine automatically identifies the type of tray that matches the code on the coil itself.

[0015] The management software thus associates this code with the position that the tray and associated coils are expected to take in integrated structure B.

[0016] This ensures that the coil the operator picks from the tray that is pulled out is exactly the coil selected by the management software.

[0017] Thus, the possibility of an operator picking up the wrong coil is essentially eliminated.

[0018] In order to increase the stacking capacity of the magazine for the same number of housings present in the stacking structure, embodiments are known in which each housing contains a tray supporting two or more coils.

[0019] Advantageously, this significantly increases the amount of coils stored, but can lead to unintentional errors in storing and retrieving the coils by the operators performing these tasks.

[0020] In fact, in this type of magazine, the software manages the storage and removal of the trays by code, and it is the operator who selects which coils to remove from those present on the tray itself when the tray is pulled out of its respective housing.

[0021] Obviously, the operator acts on the basis of a pick-up list showing the identification codes of the picked coils printed on the coils, but this does not prevent the operator from picking up one or more incorrect coils due to carelessness or a minor reading error.

[0022] When this occurs, damage downtime or incorrect assembly of elements on the board can occur, thereby resulting in the production of scrapped boards.

[0023] The present invention is intended to overcome the drawbacks that have been complained of.

[0024] To this end, the first objective is to realize a system for storing and retrieving material, preferably trays supporting tape coils onto which electronic elements are removably fixed, which allows for greater reliability in retrieving the coils than known comparable systems.

[0025] Thus, it would be desirable to have a system that substantially eliminates the possibility of an operator making an error when removing / positioning coils onto / from their respective trays.

[0026] Another object is to realize a method for storing / removing trays from the respective magazines using the aforementioned system.

[0027] The above mentioned object is achieved by a system having the features according to the main claim to which reference is made, and by a method according to claims 7 to 9 using this system.

[0028] Advantageously, the systems and methods of the present invention provide easier management of tray and associated coil retrieval / storage over prior art systems, and are more reliable than comparable known systems.

[0029] The enumerated objects and advantages, as well as others, will be better highlighted hereinafter during the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the method and system of the present invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a prior art system for storing and retrieving material, primarily thin, flat elements; FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front view of the system of the present invention. [Figure 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 in the VV plane. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 taken along the plane VI-VI. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an enlarged detail of FIG. 5. [Figure 8] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 9] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 10] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 11] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 12] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 13] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 14] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 15] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 16] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 17] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 18] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 19] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 20] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 21] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 22] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 23] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 24] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 25] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 26] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 27] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. [Figure 28] 6A-6C are cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in various operating positions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The system for storing and retrieving materials of the present invention is shown in various views in FIGS. 4-6, all of which are designated 1.

[0032] Further details of the system of the present invention, and in particular details of FIG. 5, are shown in FIG. 7, and FIGS. 8-28 represent cross-sectional plan views of the system of the present invention at various operational steps as will be described hereinafter.

[0033] The system 1 of the present invention is used to store and retrieve objects 2 with limited thickness, which are placed on trays 3 .

[0034] In the following description, reference will be made to a system 1. A coil 2 is placed on a tray 3, on which a flexible tape is wound, on which electronic elements are removably fixed for use in an electronic board assembly machine.

[0035] It is clear that the system 1 of the present invention can also be used for storing and picking up any other object or material that is thin and adapted to be placed on a tray 3.

[0036] It should be noted that the system 1 comprises a storage structure 4 provided with at least one door 5, which communicates with the external environment and is accessible by an operator for inserting / removing trays 3 into / from an accumulation structure 6 enclosed within the storage structure 4.

[0037] Thus, the integrating structure 6 communicates with the external environment through the door 5 and comprises a plurality of walls 8 arranged vertically, i.e. according to a defining vertical direction Z. These walls 8 are spaced apart facing one another and aligned one after the other along a horizontal direction X perpendicular to the vertical direction Z.

[0038] Between the walls 8 facing each other, a plurality of storage spaces 9 are included, which are stacked one on top of the other and spaced apart according to the vertical direction Z and are delimited at the walls 8 by guide means 10. The guide means 10 define each storage space 9 in the transverse direction Y for inserting / removing the trays 3.

[0039] As can be seen in detail in Figure 6, the transverse direction Y is perpendicular to the frontal plane K of the integrated structure 6. The frontal plane K is parallel to the horizontal direction X, which is emphasized in Figure 6, and to the vertical direction Z, which is emphasized in Figures 5 and 7.

[0040] There are also means 11 for moving the tray 3 with the coils 2 arranged thereon, which move the tray 3 and move it within the storage space 9 or from a door 5 present in the storage structure 4 to the storage space 9 or even from the storage space 9 to the door 5.

[0041] According to the present invention, in the system 1, the depth 9a of the storage spaces 9 measured according to the transverse direction Y is at least equal to the length 3a of two or more of the trays 3 that are flush with one another when the trays 3 are aligned one after the other in the respective storage spaces 9.

[0042] In the system 1 of the present invention, two or more trays 3 arranged in alignment with one another in each storage space 9 can be stored in this manner, but in the preferred embodiment described herein, two trays 3 are stored in each storage space 9, and the depth 9a of the storage space 9 measured according to the transverse direction Y is equal to the total length 3a of the two trays 3 that are on the same plane as one another and arranged in alignment with one another in each storage space 9.

[0043] In particular, the system 1 of the present invention uses trays 3 that all have the same length 3b, so that the total length 3a of two trays 3 aligned with each other is equal to the depth 9a of each storage space 9.

[0044] Basically, the trays 3 are used with a length 3b of each tray 3 equal to half the depth 9a of each storage space 9.

[0045] In comparison with the known systems described, in which each housing contains a tray supporting a coil, the system 1 of the present invention advantageously makes it possible to manage a reduced number of storage spaces 9 while still containing the same number of contained trays 3.

[0046] Furthermore, in contrast to the known systems described, in which each housing houses a tray with two coils placed thereon, the system 1 of the present invention advantageously has each tray 3 housing only one coil 2, thus almost completely eliminating the possibility of the operator selecting the wrong coil 2.

[0047] In summary, the system 1 of the present invention has all the advantages of the disclosed known systems, but without their drawbacks and deficiencies.

[0048] As regards the guide means 10, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 5 and 7, they comprise a number of shaped channels which are present on the mutually facing faces of the wall 8 and which extend according to the transverse direction Y.

[0049] In particular, the height of each shaped channel, measured along the vertical direction Z, is slightly higher than the height of each tray 3, thereby allowing each tray 3 to slide freely in its respective shaped channel without interference.

[0050] With regard to the movement means 11, it should be noted that in the drawing they comprise a Cartesian robot 15 arranged inside the accumulation structure 6 and configured to slide parallel to the frontal plane K, which comprises moving and gripping means 16, which are configured to move the trays 3 inside the same accumulation structure 6.

[0051] In detail, the moving and gripping means 16: - to move the tray 3 with the object 2 thereon within the storage space 9; - to move each tray 3 with objects 2 placed thereon from the door 5 into any one of the accumulation spaces 9, and to move each tray 3 with objects 2 placed thereon from any storage space 9 to the door 5; It is composed.

[0052] There is also present computer means with memory means, in which computer products are stored, for managing and controlling the system 1 when it is in a processing step.

[0053] Using the system 1 as described, a method for storing and retrieving the coils 2 arranged on the respective trays 3 is: the storage of the coils 2 is carried out by slidingly inserting into each storage space 9 at least two trays 3, which are aligned one after the other in the transverse direction Y, and in each storage space 9, the introduction of a first tray 3' is followed by the introduction of at least one second tray 3'', which is pushed against the first tray 3', so that both trays 3', 3'' advance towards the back of the storage space 9 in the transverse direction Y; - the coils 2 are removed by sequentially pulling out the trays 3', 3'' from the storage space 9 in which the trays 3', 3'' are accommodated, and the first tray 3', which is located closest to the back of the storage space 9, is pulled out after pulling out at least one second tray 3'' preceding the first tray 3', and the second tray 3'' is inserted into the auxiliary storage space 9' before the step of pulling out the first tray 3' from the storage space 9; Assume the following.

[0054] In particular, the method of storage outlined above will now be described with reference to Figures 8-13 by listing and describing each of the constituent operations.

[0055] It should be noted that the method is described and illustrated in this specification with reference to a situation in which only two trays 3, in particular a first tray 3' and a second tray 3'', are stored in the respective storage spaces 9 of the accumulation structure 6 in coplanar alignment, one after the other in the transverse direction Y.

[0056] To illustrate the method for storage, an exemplary embodiment is specified, which may also refer to more than two trays aligned with each other and housed in the same storage space 9.

[0057] With this prerequisite in mind, it should be noted that FIG. 8 shows the movement and gripping means 16 of a Cartesian robot 15 picking up a first tray 3' to be stored at a door 5 present in a storage structure 4.

[0058] Next, the moving and gripping means 16 aligns the first tray 3' with the selected storage space 9 so that its front surface is flush with the selected storage space 9, as can be seen in Figure 9, and inserts the first tray 3' into the selected storage space 9 by sliding it forward in the transverse direction Y until it is placed in the position as can be seen in Figure 10.

[0059] Next, the moving and gripping means 16 of the Cartesian robot 15 picks up the second tray 3'', as can be seen in Figure 11, and places it in alignment with the selected storage space 9 and flush with the first tray 3', as can be seen in Figure 12.

[0060] The moving and gripping means 16 then places the second tray 3'' so that it comes into contact with the first tray 3' already inserted in the selected storage space 9. Then, as can be seen in Figure 13, the second tray 3'' is pushed against the first tray 3' and slid towards the back of the same selected storage space 9 in the transverse direction Y, thereby inserting both forward into the selected storage space 9.

[0061] In another embodiment of an accumulation structure having a deeper storage space, the operations shown in Figures 11-13 can be repeated to insert any other trays into the same storage space, i.e., into the inventive system 1. Operations 8-13 can be repeated to store additional tray pairs 3', 3'' in another storage space 9.

[0062] The trays present in the accumulation structure 6 are removed at the user's discretion by the removal method already comprehensively described, which includes several operations described below with reference to Figures 14 to 28, starting from the situation represented in Figure 14 where only the first tray 3' is present in the storage space 9.

[0063] In this case, the first tray 3' to be removed is readily accessible and can be removed by the moving and gripping means 16 arranged in alignment with the storage space 9, as can be seen in Figure 15, and the first tray 3' is pulled out by installing the moving and gripping means 16, as can be seen in Figure 16.

[0064] The first tray 3' is then held in the door 5 and in a suitable position for being pulled out of the door 5, as can be seen in FIG.

[0065] If, instead of the storage space 9, there is a first tray 3' and a second tray 3'' aligned with each other, as can be seen in Figure 19, and if the user is interested in pulling out the second tray 3'', which is also immediately accessible in this case, this pulling out operation is carried out in exactly the same way as described.

[0066] On the other hand, if the tray that the user wants to pull out is the first tray 3', as can be seen in Figure 20, the Cartesian robot 15 positions the moving and gripping means 16 to align with the storage space 9, as can be seen in Figure 21, the moving and gripping means 16 pulls out the second tray 3'' and holds it in the auxiliary space 9', as can be seen in Figure 22, and the moving and gripping means 16 inserts the second tray 3'' therein, as can be seen in Figure 23.

[0067] At this point, as can be seen in Figure 24, the Cartesian robot 15 positions the moving and gripping means 16 to align with the storage space 9, as can be seen in Figures 25 and 26, removes the first tray 3', as can be seen in Figure 27, moves the tray 3' to the door 5, and as can be seen in Figure 28, the moving and gripping means 16 removes the first tray 3' through the door 5.

[0068] All movements are managed by computer means which control all movements of the trays 3' and 3'', and therefore of the associated coils 2 which they support, ensuring their traceability within the storage spaces 9 and 9'.

[0069] It will be apparent that the computer means may also manage movements of things other than those described, which may include, for example, movement of trays within the storage space to optimize the capacity of the accumulation structure 6, or other purposes.

[0070] Based on what has been described, it will be seen that the system and method of the present invention achieves the stated objects and advantages.

[0071] This description has emphasized that the present storage and retrieval systems and methods allow for more reliable retrieval and storage of coils than comparable known systems because they substantially eliminate the possibility of operator error in retrieving / positioning coils from / onto respective trays.

[0072] This description also emphasizes that compared to known systems described in which each housing houses a tray supporting a coil, the system of the present invention advantageously allows for a reduced number of storage spaces to manage, while still having the same number of housed trays.

[0073] This description also emphasized that, compared to known systems described in which each housing houses a tray with two coils placed thereon, the system of the present invention houses only one coil per tray, thereby almost completely eliminating the possibility of an operator selecting the wrong coil.

[0074] In summary, as already stated in the description, the system of the present invention has all the advantages of the known systems disclosed, but does not have their drawbacks and deficiencies.

[0075] Modifications and variations not described or shown in the drawings may be made to the systems and methods of the present invention in the steps of implementation.

[0076] However, all such modifications and variations should be considered to be covered by the present invention if they fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A system (1) for storing and retrieving objects (2) placed on a tray (3), comprising: a plurality of trays (3), each configured to accommodate one or more of said objects (2), and each having the same predetermined length (3b), said length (3b) being the same for all said trays (3); a storage structure (4) for a collection structure (6) of a plurality of said trays (3) with said objects (2), said storage structure (4) being provided with at least one door (5) communicating with the external environment and said collection structure (6) for inserting / pulling said trays (3) with said objects (2) into / from said collection structure (6), said collection structure (6) comprising: a plurality of walls (8) defining a vertical direction (Z), facing each other and spaced apart, aligned in sequence along a horizontal direction (X) perpendicular to said vertical direction (Z); A plurality of storage spaces (9) are arranged between the walls (8) facing each other, stacked one on top of the other and spaced apart in accordance with the vertical direction (Z), and delimited at the walls (8) by guide means (10), the guide means (10) being configured to define a transverse direction (Y) for inserting / pulling the trays (3) with the objects (2) into / out of the storage spaces (9), the transverse direction (Y) being perpendicular to the frontal plane (K) of the accumulation structure (6) and extending in a direction perpendicular to the frontal plane (K) of the accumulation structure (6). a plurality of storage spaces (9) in which the frontal plane (K) is parallel to the horizontal direction (X) and the vertical direction (Z), and the depth (9a) of the storage spaces (9) measured in the transverse direction (Y) is at least equal to twice the length (3b) of each of the trays (3), and thus at least equal to the length (3a) of two of the trays (3) that are flush with one another when the trays (3) are placed in alignment with one another in the respective storage spaces (9); a containment structure (4) comprising: a moving means (11) for moving the tray (3) with the object (2), Between the storage spaces (9), From the door (5) to the storage space (9), From the storage space (9) to the door (5), and a moving means (11) configured to move the Here, the system (1) is configured such that the moving means (11) At least two trays (3', 3'') aligned one after the other in the transverse direction (Y) are slidably inserted into the storage spaces (9), such that in each of the storage spaces (9), the introduction of a first tray (3') is followed by the introduction of at least one second tray (3''), which is pushed against the first tray (3'), so that the trays (3', 3'') advance towards the depth of the storage space (9) along the transverse direction (Y); to extract at least one tray (3', 3'') readily accessible from the respective storage space (9) in which said tray (3', 3'') is housed, A system (1) comprising:

2. 2. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the moving means (11) is configured to sequentially pull out at least two of the trays (3', 3") from the respective storage spaces (9) in which they are accommodated, and to pull out the first tray (3') closest to the back of the storage space (9) after pulling out at least one second tray (3") from the storage space (9) prior to the first tray (3'), and to insert the at least one second tray (3") into an auxiliary storage space (9') before starting to pull out the first tray (3') from the storage space (9).

3. 2. A system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the depth (9a) of the storage space (9), measured according to the transverse direction (Y), is equal to twice the length (3b) of each of the trays (3), and therefore equal to the length (3a) of two trays (3) that are flush with each other when the trays (3) are placed in register with each other one after the other in their respective storage spaces (9).

4. The system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide means (10) comprise a plurality of shaped channels present on mutually facing surfaces of the wall (8) and extending in the transverse direction (Y), the height of each of the shaped channels, measured in the vertical direction (Z), being at least equal to the thickness (3a) of each of the trays (3).

5. 2. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the moving means (11) comprise at least one Cartesian robot (15) arranged in the accumulation structure (6) and comprising moving and gripping means (16), the moving and gripping means (16) being configured to perform the inserting and extracting operations of the trays (3).

6. 2. A system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises computer means with memory means in which a computer product is stored and which manages and controls said system (1) when it is in a processing step.

7. 2. A system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said objects is a coil (2) of flexible tape on which an electric / electronic element is removably fixed.

8. 10. A method for storing objects (2) arranged on a tray (3) in an accumulation structure (6) and for introducing and removing them from the accumulation structure (6), using a system (1) according to claim 1, comprising: The method for storing involves slidingly inserting at least two trays (3', 3'') into the storage spaces (9), the trays being aligned one after the other in the transverse direction (Y), and in each of the storage spaces (9), the introduction of a first tray (3') is followed by the introduction of at least one second tray (3''), the second tray (3'') being pushed against the first tray (3'), so that the trays (3', 3'') advance towards the back of the storage space (9) in the transverse direction (Y); Said method for removal envisages pulling out at least one tray (3', 3'') that is readily accessible from the respective storage space (9) in which the tray (3', 3'') is housed; A method characterized by:

9. 9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the method for removing comprises sequentially removing at least two of the trays (3', 3'') from the respective storage spaces (9) in which they are accommodated, and removing the first tray (3') closest to the back of the storage space (9) is performed after removing at least one second tray (3'') from the storage space (9) prior to the first tray (3'), and the at least one second tray (3'') is assumed to be inserted into an auxiliary storage space (9') before starting to remove the first tray (3') from the storage space (9).

10. Said method for storage comprises the following operations: A. Removing the first tray (3') through the door (5) for storage in said accumulation structure (6); B. Positioning the first tray (3') in frontal and flush alignment with the selected storage space (9); C. Inserting the first tray (3') into the selected storage space (9) and advancing the first tray (3') by sliding it towards the back of the selected storage space (9) in the transverse direction (Y); D. Removing a second tray (3'') from said door (5) for storage in said accumulation structure (6); E. Aligning and positioning the second tray (3'') flush with and in contact with the first tray (3') present in the selected storage space (9); F. pushing the second tray (3'') against the first tray (3') and advancing the first tray (3') and the second tray (3'') both in the transverse direction (Y) and towards the back of the selected storage space (9) within the selected storage space (9); G. Repeating actions D, E and F for any additional trays to be inserted into the storage space (9); 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises:

11. The method for retrieving comprises the following operations: A. Identifying a storage space (9) to receive the first tray (3') to be removed; B. Pulling out the first tray (3') from the storage space (9) if the first tray (3') to be removed is immediately accessible because there is only one in the storage space (9) or because there is no second tray (3'') in front of the first tray (3') in the storage space (9) in the direction facing the back of the storage space (9) according to the transverse direction (Y); C. if the first tray (3') to be picked up is not immediately accessible because one or more second trays (3'') are in front of the first tray (3') in the direction facing the back of the storage space (9) according to the transverse direction (Y), pulling out each of the one or more second trays (3'') from the storage space (9) and inserting each of the one or more second trays (3'') into a respective auxiliary storage space (9') in the accumulation structure (6); D. Pulling out the first tray (3') from the storage space (9); 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises:

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