System and method for sorting goods

Abstract

A sorting-storage system for flexibly sorting and temporarily storing piece goods (91) comprises a first circulating conveyor (21); a second circulating conveyor (22); a plurality of first accumulating storage lines (31) which connect the first circulating conveyor (31) unidirectionally to the second circulating conveyor (22) for conveying purposes; and a plurality of second accumulating storage lines (32), which unidirectionally connect the second circulating conveyor (22) to the first circulating conveyor (31) for conveying purposes.

Description

[0001] PLANT AND METHOD FOR SORTING GOODS

[0002] field of technology

[0003] The present invention relates to sorting-storage systems for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods, order-picking systems with such sorting-storage systems, methods for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods, and methods for controlling the operation of such a sorting-storage system or such an order-picking system.

[0004] Technological background

[0005] In this description, the terms goods, commodity unit, article and piece goods are used synonymously and can include in particular individual goods objects, but also packaged goods such as parcels, and more generally individually handleable objects, in particular semi-finished products, spare parts, etc.

[0006] The general cost pressure in goods distribution and supply is being countered in logistics, especially intralogistics, by, among other things, increasing the efficiency of automated systems. In particular, the steadily increasing volumes in online commerce require retailers, suppliers, and logistics companies to handle the goods to be processed efficiently, especially with regard to production, provision, and storage of goods, as well as picking and transporting them to the customer.

[0007] In automated warehouses, large production facilities, and more generally in the conveying and transport of goods, overhead conveyor systems have proven to be an efficient means of transporting, buffering, and even long-term storage of various types of goods. In overhead conveyor systems, the goods are either suspended directly from individual conveyor elements of a conveyor system in a suitable manner, or placed in corresponding transport elements such as transport pockets, which in turn are suspended from the conveyor elements. Overhead conveyor systems can be implemented as conveyor chain systems, in which a large number of conveyor elements form links in a chain that moves along a conveyor path. Gravity-fed conveyor systems, in which individual conveyor elements move on corresponding guide rails, are also known.Such gravity-fed, rail-guided conveyor systems are known, for example, from US 2017 / 275826 A1, US 2018 / 215547 A1 and US 2017 / 282317 A1.

[0008] Another relevant aspect of an overhead conveyor system is the simple, smooth, and efficient loading of goods into empty transport elements, such as transport bags, and the simple, smooth, and efficient removal of goods from the transport elements. Manual loading of goods units into and removal of goods units from the transport elements allows for flexible handling of different goods units, but is slow and costly. Accordingly, semi-automated or fully automated systems have been developed. Examples of such automated loading systems and / or unloading systems for transport bags transported in an overhead conveyor system are shown, for example, in EP 2130968 A1, US 2018 / 072511 A1, US 2018 / 0208407 A1, EP 2418160 A1, US 2019 / 0367282 A1, US 2021 / 0171292 A1, WO 2018 / 078098 A1, US 2017 / 0369250 A1, US 2021 / 0053763 A1 and US 2022 / 0332520 A1.

[0009] For example, the goods stored and held in large warehouses, especially high-bay warehouses, must be retrieved as efficiently as possible, assembled into groups (picked), and transported to a designated destination. This picking, i.e., the assembly of specific subsets (items) from a total quantity (assortment) based on orders, is an important part of intralogistics. A typical example of such applications are the shipping centers of mail-order companies, where individual customer orders from a large assortment of items must be assembled, packaged, and shipped to the recipient.

[0010] In complex production processes, it may be necessary to take individual elements of the production process, such as semi-finished products, from the relevant production facilities or warehouses and to make them available to the correct destination for further production steps efficiently, accurately, and on time. As a rule, the quantities of individual product elements to be kept in stock, the personnel requirements, and the size of the facility should be kept as low as possible, particularly for economic reasons. Likewise, delivery delays should be avoided to prevent costly interruptions or disruptions to overall production. A typical example of such applications are highly complex production facilities in the automotive industry, in which several vehicle models in a variety of equipment variants are assembled and built step by step from a very large number of individual parts.Conventional automated picking systems typically comprise a long-term warehouse, a short-term warehouse, a sorting system, and a goods issue area. In the long-term warehouse, the various types of goods units are stored and held ready for later processing. In the short-term warehouse, also called a buffer warehouse, goods units removed from the long-term warehouse for one or more picking orders can be collected and temporarily stored for further processing. Experience has shown that frequently required goods units can also be kept ready in the short-term warehouse. Short-term warehouses generally have significantly shorter access times than long-term warehouses.Goods units of a picking order can be removed from the short-term storage facility for further processing in an undefined sequence, to be subsequently assembled and sorted in a sorting system before finally being fed to a goods issue area, where the goods units of the completed picking order can be packed and shipped.

[0011] US 2023 / 0183006 A1 shows a picking system in which goods are retrieved from a central warehouse and stored in transport bags of an overhead conveyor system. The loaded transport bags are then fed into a number of buffer storage areas. The buffer storage areas are designed as overhead conveyor storage carousels. From the buffer storage areas, the transport bags can then be discharged onto a collection line that leads to a packing area.

[0012] To optimize the achievable throughput speed of a sorting system in a picking system for picking orders of varying sizes, it can be designed as a so-called matrix sorter, for example. In a matrix sorter, items retrieved from the short-term storage area are sorted sequentially through several sorting stages, so that they are finally sorted according to picking orders and, if necessary, sorted according to a predefined sequence within the picking order, ready for collection in an output buffer.

[0013] US 5799800 describes such a sorting system for a picking system, in which incoming piece goods are sorted according to picking orders in a first step and held in a plurality of FIFO (First-In-First-Out) buffers. The maximum size of a picking order is n 3, where n is a natural number. In the disclosed example, 6 3 = 216 objects are sorted. The items of a complete picking order are then taken from a FIFO buffer and sorted into a first sorting matrix consisting of n FIFO buffers, each with a capacity of n 2 Storage locations are pre-sorted according to a desired sequence (elements 1 to n, elements n+1 to 2n, etc.). The items are then removed one after the other from the FIFO memories, with the FIFO memories being emptied in the order resulting from the first pre-sorting. Two further sorting stages follow, each with an identical sorting matrix, so that finally, the individual items can be retrieved from the FIFO memories of the third sorting matrix in the desired sequence. A similar system is known from DE 102018118244 A1.

[0014] In principle, the sorting function is not tied to a specific conveyor type. FIFO buffers as described in US 5799800 can be implemented, for example, as accumulation sections of an overhead conveyor system for garments on hangers or a horizontal conveyor system for packaged goods and containers, and as storage chutes for letters. DE 102018118244 A1 describes an analog sorting system with a matrix sorter, implemented for an overhead conveyor system with transport bags.

[0015] In the aforementioned sorting devices, a FIFO storage of a sorting matrix is ​​first completely emptied before being filled with the items of the next sorting order. To further increase the throughput of the sorting system, the removal and filling of a FIFO storage can also occur simultaneously. However, this requires precise knowledge of the boundary between the elements of two sorting orders within a FIFO storage. Such a system is disclosed, for example, in US 10538395 B2.

[0016] The specific design of a picking system, especially the sorting system within the picking system, must be tailored to the picking orders to be processed (size, required goods, frequency, etc.) in order to achieve high throughput while simultaneously keeping infrastructure and energy costs low. At the same time, disruptions such as a reduction in throughput due to capacity overruns must be avoided. Accordingly, a picking system is often designed larger than normally necessary.

[0017] In order to optimize the required construction volume or floor space requirements, the sorting system of a picking system can be modified. Instead of several sorting stages connected in series, each with its own sorting matrix, for example, the piece goods from a sorting order can be sorted and stored in the same sorting matrix for the next sorting stage. However, the resulting reduction in required infrastructure is accompanied by a correspondingly reduced throughput speed, since multiple picking orders cannot be sorted in parallel. US 10934102 B2 discloses a picking system in which the intermediate storage (short-term storage) is equipped with a pre-sorting function, so that a downstream complex matrix sorting device can be designed smaller.A corresponding order picking system T according to this state of the art is shown in Figure 1. Such an order picking system T is implemented as an overhead conveyor system with conveyor units for the hanging conveyance of coat hangers with items of clothing («Garment On Hanger», GOH) or transport bags with piece goods. It can, for example, be designed for throughputs in the order of magnitude of several thousand conveyor units per hour. The goods are transported between the individual system components via several distribution rings 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 in the form of actively driven circulating conveyors, and conveyor lines 115.1, 115.2, 116.1, 116.2, 117.1, 117.2, on which the conveyor units are conveyed, among other things, by gravity.

[0018] In the context of this description, actively driven conveyors are understood to be conveyor devices in which the objects to be conveyed are conveyed by one or more actuators. An actively driven circulating conveyor in an overhead conveyor system can, for example, be implemented using a revolving chain drive, whereby the closed drive chain has regularly arranged flights which reversibly engage with a conveyor element (e.g. a carriage or a sliding element) mounted freely on a conveyor rail and can thus drag this element along over a certain distance. Passive or gravity-driven conveying, on the other hand, takes place without an external energy supply. In an overhead conveyor system, this can be implemented, for example, by a free-running section with a certain gradient, on which the conveyor elements mounted freely on the conveyor rail slide or roll downwards under the influence of gravity.

[0019] The order picking system T comprises a first loading station 11a with six parallel loading stations 111a, at each of which clothing can be placed on clothes hangers and placed on waiting conveyor units for transport within the order picking system. A second loading station 11b with six loading stations 111b is used to fill goods that cannot be hung on a clothes hanger into waiting, suspended transport bags. The transport vehicles loaded with goods are collected on distribution rings 101, 102 and 105 and conveyed via conveyor lines 115.1, 115.2 to the intermediate storage units 12.1 and 12.2, where they can be pre-sorted. Two parallel operating intermediate storage units 12.1 and 12.2 are provided for intermediate storage. In the intermediate storage units 12.1 and 12.22, the goods belonging to a plurality of orders are initially stored in a largely random manner in the dynamic storage (five groups of buffer lines on the right) of the intermediate storage units 12.1 and 12.2 and then pre-sorted using the retrieval unit (left group of buffer lines). Behind the intermediate storage units 12.1 and 12.2 there is a matrix sorting system 13 in which the goods can be further sorted if required. The pre-sorted goods from the two intermediate storage units 12.1 and 12.2 are fed via conveyor lines 116.1, 116.2 to the distribution ring 106, which forwards the goods to the matrix sorting system 13. The matrix sorting system 13 has two sorting stages 13a and 13b arranged one behind the other. The distribution ring 107 connects the two sorting stages 13a and 13b to each other.From the output of the matrix sorting system 13, the sorted goods pass via the distribution ring 108 into an output station 14 with 28 individual, parallel-operating shipping stations 141, so that at the individual shipping stations 141 in the output station 14, all goods belonging to a specific order are present in a predetermined order. The distribution ring 109 collects the empty transport vehicles (unoccupied conveyor units, conveyor units with empty transport pockets) for return via the empty return lines 112 and 113 to the corresponding loading stations 11a and 11b. An empty storage unit 114' is inserted into the empty return line 112 for the empty transport pockets, in which empty transport pockets can be collected and temporarily stored. Analogously, an empty storage unit 114" is inserted into the return line 113 for the unoccupied conveyor units.The distribution ring 104 distributes the returned unoccupied conveyor units to the individual loading locations 111a of the loading station 11a, while the distribution ring 103 carries out a corresponding distribution of the empty transport pockets to the loading locations 36 of the loading station 11b.

[0020] WO 2012 / 163780 A1 discloses an order-picking system in which piece goods can be fed from a common infeed line into a plurality of parallel, actively driven storage carousels and discharged from the storage carousels onto a common removal line. In one embodiment, the storage carousels are arranged between two circulating conveyors and are connected to one of the two circulating conveyors at two opposite ends. The circulating conveyors allow piece goods to be moved from one storage carousel to the next. Adjacent storage carousels can be combined into islands, which can be assigned the functions of a short-term storage facility, a pre-sorting facility, and an output buffer. Simultaneous operation of the storage carousels and the circulating conveyors is only possible to a limited extent. Storage carousels have comparatively slow access times.Furthermore, they can only be implemented with active drive and are therefore energy-intensive.

[0021] A common feature of existing systems is that the technical configuration of a picking system is geared to a range of expected operating conditions. If requirements change later, for example, because the average throughput capacity required increases, extensive adaptation of the picking system may be necessary.

[0022] From US 11299350 B2 a transport bag for use in overhead conveyor systems is known, which can be conveyed along a conveyor path of the overhead conveyor system in both directions.

[0023] There is a general need for improvements in this area.

[0024] Description of the invention

[0025] An object of the invention is to provide a sorting-storage system of the type mentioned at the outset, which counteracts at least one of the above-mentioned and other disadvantages.

[0026] In particular, such a sorting and storage system should enable simple and efficient changes to the technical configuration, if necessary even during ongoing operations, in order to adapt the system quickly and cost-effectively to changing conditions. Such a sorting and storage system should be particularly suitable for use in a picking system.

[0027] Another object of the invention is to provide a method of the type mentioned above that enables efficient sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods. In particular, such a method should be easily adaptable in the event of changes in the underlying conditions.

[0028] These and other objects are achieved by a sorting-storage system according to the invention, a picking system according to the invention, a method for sorting and intermediate storage, and a method for controlling the operation of a sorting-storage system according to the invention or a picking system according to the invention, according to the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

[0029] The solution according to the invention can be further improved by various embodiments, each of which is advantageous in itself and, unless otherwise stated, can be combined with one another. These embodiments and the associated advantages are discussed below. A first aspect of the invention relates to a sorting-storage system for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods.

[0030] A first sorting-storage system according to the invention for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods comprises a first circulating conveyor; a second circulating conveyor; a plurality of m first accumulation storage lines which unidirectionally connect the first circulating conveyor to the second circulating conveyor; and a plurality of p second accumulation storage lines which unidirectionally connect the second circulating conveyor to the first circulating conveyor.

[0031] Such a sorting-storage system allows for dynamic configuration in which the various necessary functional modules are implemented virtually, simply by controlling the system components accordingly.

[0032] A sorting-storage system according to the invention can be easily expanded if required, for example by extending the circulating conveyors and adding additional accumulation lines.

[0033] Such a sorting and storage system can also be easily maintained, for example, by taking a group of accumulating and storage lines out of service for maintenance. The temporarily unavailable accumulating and storage lines can be replaced by dynamically configuring the sorting and storage system, without the need to interrupt system operation for maintenance work.

[0034] If a fault occurs on a storage and buffer line, meaning it can no longer be used, a new dynamic configuration of the sorting and buffer system is implemented without the affected storage and buffer line. The impact on ongoing operations is minimal.

[0035] A circulating conveyor as defined in this description has a closed conveyor path on which objects can be conveyed in a loop in a specific direction of rotation, with the objects being actively driven at least over part of the conveyor path. The direction of rotation can be either in the mathematically positive sense, or clockwise, or in the mathematically negative sense, or counterclockwise.

[0036] A sorting and storage system according to the invention can be implemented with various types of conveyors, in particular horizontal conveyors or overhead conveyors. Overhead conveyor systems in which piece goods are conveyed suspended from conveyor elements, for example, items of clothing on coat hangers and / or piece goods in overhead conveyor pockets, are particularly advantageous.

[0037] A circulating conveyor can be designed in such a way that an active drive is provided along the entire conveyor path. For example, a chain conveyor drive can be provided which drags conveyor elements (e.g. carriages, sliding elements) running on a guide rail with transport pockets of an overhead conveyor system suspended therefrom in the direction of circulation using a driver. In a horizontal conveyor system, such a circulating conveyor can be implemented, for example, with a circulating tilting tray conveyor. Such solutions have the advantage that the position of the conveyed objects on the circulating conveyor is defined at all times. However, it is also possible for a circulating conveyor to comprise a sequence of individual conveyor devices and, if necessary, passive conveyor sections on which the conveyed objects move by gravity.In an overhead conveyor system, this can be implemented, for example, as a sloped section, where the conveyor elements with the attached transport bags roll freely on a guide rail. In a horizontal conveyor system, slides or ramps with free-running rollers can be used.

[0038] In a sorting-storage system according to the invention, the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor is advantageously the same as the direction of rotation of the second circulating conveyor.

[0039] In a sorting-storage system according to the invention, the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor can also be opposite to the direction of rotation of the second circulating conveyor.

[0040] Likewise, in a sorting-storage system according to the invention, the first circulating conveyor and / or the second circulating conveyor can be operated with alternating conveying directions.

[0041] In an advantageous variant of a sorting-storage system according to the invention, the second circulating conveyor is arranged within the first circulating conveyor.

[0042] The fact that the second circulating conveyor is arranged within the first circulating conveyor means that the second circulating conveyor is enclosed by the first circulating conveyor. This means that the first accumulation lines, which unidirectionally connect the first circulating conveyor to the second circulating conveyor, run radially inward from the first circulating conveyor to the second circulating conveyor, and the second accumulation lines, which unidirectionally connect the second circulating conveyor to the first circulating conveyor, run radially outward from the second circulating conveyor to the first circulating conveyor.

[0043] Such a system configuration can be particularly advantageous in the context of an overall system. For example, a more compact design can be achieved. Since essentially the entire length of the circulating conveyors can be equipped with connections for the accumulating storage lines, the floor space required for the circulating conveyors is smaller compared to that required for the accumulating storage lines. Furthermore, longer distances on the circulating conveyor without functionality can be avoided.

[0044] Advantageously, in a sorting-storage system according to the invention, the length of all first accumulation storage lines and second accumulation storage lines is essentially identical.

[0045] In another advantageous embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention, the length of the first accumulation storage lines and the second accumulation storage lines increases along the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor on at least one section of the first circulating conveyor.

[0046] In a further advantageous embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention, the length of the first accumulation storage lines and the second accumulation storage lines decreases along the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor on at least one section of the first circulating conveyor.

[0047] A sorting-storage system according to the invention advantageously has a first feed line for feeding piece goods into the first circulating conveyor and / or a second feed line for feeding piece goods into the second circulating conveyor.

[0048] A sorting-storage system according to the invention also advantageously has a first removal line for discharging piece goods from the first circulating conveyor and / or a second removal line for discharging piece goods from the second circulating conveyor.

[0049] It is advantageous in a sorting-storage system according to the invention that the number m of first accumulation storage lines is equal to the number p of second accumulation storage lines.

[0050] In a further advantageous embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention, the first accumulation lines and the second accumulation lines are arranged alternately along the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor. Another advantageous embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention comprises a third circulating conveyor; a plurality of q third accumulation lines that unidirectionally connect the second circulating conveyor to the third circulating conveyor; and a plurality of r fourth accumulation lines that unidirectionally connect the third circulating conveyor to the second circulating conveyor.

[0051] Particularly advantageously, such an embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention comprises a fourth circulating conveyor; a plurality of s fifth accumulation storage lines which unidirectionally connect the third circulating conveyor to the fourth circulating conveyor; and a plurality of t sixth accumulation storage lines which unidirectionally connect the fourth circulating conveyor to the third circulating conveyor.

[0052] A further advantageous embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention has a control device supported by AI (artificial intelligence).

[0053] It is particularly advantageous for the AI-supported control device in such a sorting-storage system to include an assistance system.

[0054] Alternatively or additionally, in such a sorting-storage system, the Kl-supported control device advantageously comprises a local Kl.

[0055] Alternatively or additionally, such an AI-supported control device is advantageously connected to a cloud.

[0056] A second sorting-storage system according to the invention for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods comprises a circulating conveyor with a first section and a second section; a plurality of m first accumulation lines that unidirectionally connect the first section to the second section in terms of conveying technology; and a plurality of p second accumulation lines that unidirectionally connect the second section to the first section in terms of conveying technology. Along a direction of rotation of the circulating conveyor, there are at least two groups of first accumulation lines, between which a group of second accumulation lines is arranged.

[0057] In such a sorting-storage system according to the invention, the m first accumulating lines and the p second accumulating lines are advantageously arranged alternately along a direction of rotation of the circulating conveyor. Alternatively or additionally, in such a sorting-storage system according to the invention, the number m of first accumulating lines is advantageously equal to the number p of second accumulating lines.

[0058] Advantageously, such a sorting-storage system according to the invention comprises a feed line for feeding piece goods into the circulating conveyor, and / or a removal line for discharging piece goods from the circulating conveyor.

[0059] It is advantageous in such a sorting-storage system according to the invention that the circulating conveyor can be operated with changing conveying directions.

[0060] A third sorting-storage system according to the invention for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods comprises a circulating conveyor with a first section and a second section; and a plurality of bidirectional accumulation lines which connect the first section with the second section in terms of conveying technology.

[0061] Advantageously, such a sorting-storage system according to the invention comprises a feed line for feeding piece goods into the circulating conveyor, and / or a removal line for discharging piece goods from the circulating conveyor.

[0062] It is advantageous in such a sorting-storage system according to the invention that the circulating conveyor can be operated with changing conveying directions.

[0063] A fourth sorting-storage system according to the invention for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods comprises a first circulating conveyor; a second circulating conveyor; and a plurality of bidirectional accumulation storage lines which connect the first circulating conveyor with the second circulating conveyor.

[0064] Advantageously, such a sorting-storage system according to the invention comprises a first feed line for feeding piece goods into the first circulating conveyor, and / or a second feed line for feeding piece goods into the second circulating conveyor, and / or a first removal line for discharging piece goods from the first circulating conveyor, and / or a second removal line for discharging piece goods from the second circulating conveyor.

[0065] It is advantageous in such a sorting-storage system according to the invention that the first circulating conveyor and / or the second circulating conveyor can be operated with alternating conveying directions.

[0066] A fifth sorting-storage system according to the invention for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods comprises a first circulating conveyor; and a plurality of v storage carousels; wherein each of said v storage carousels is connected to the first circulating conveyor via a unidirectional first infeed line branching off from the first circulating conveyor and via a unidirectional first outfeed line branching off from the storage carousel.

[0067] Advantageously, such a sorting-storage system according to the invention comprises a second circulating conveyor which is connected to the first circulating conveyor via the said storage carousels.

[0068] Alternatively or additionally, in such a sorting-storage system according to the invention, each of the said v storage carousels is advantageously connected to the second circulating conveyor via a unidirectional second infeed line branching off from the second circulating conveyor and via a unidirectional second outfeed line branching off from the storage carousel.

[0069] It is advantageous in the above-mentioned sorting-storage systems according to the invention that the storage carousels can be operated with alternating conveying directions.

[0070] Advantageously, such a sorting-storage system according to the invention comprises a first feed line for feeding piece goods into the first circulating conveyor, and / or a second feed line for feeding piece goods into the optionally present second circulating conveyor, and / or a first removal line for discharging piece goods from the first circulating conveyor, and / or a second removal line for discharging piece goods from the optionally present second circulating conveyor.

[0071] It is advantageous in such a sorting-storage system according to the invention that the first circulating conveyor and / or the optionally present second circulating conveyor can be operated with alternating conveying directions.

[0072] A sixth sorting-storage system according to the invention for flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods comprises a circulating conveyor; and a plurality of w bidirectional accumulation storage lines, which are connected to the circulating conveyor by means of conveying technology.

[0073] Advantageously, in such a sorting-storage system according to the invention, each of the w bidirectional accumulation-storage lines is assigned a unidirectional infeed line branching off from the circulating conveyor and a unidirectional discharge line leading to the circulating conveyor; wherein each of said accumulation-storage lines is pivotable between an infeed position and an discharge position; and wherein the accumulation-storage line is connected in terms of conveying technology to the unidirectional infeed line in the infeed position; and is connected in terms of conveying technology to the unidirectional discharge line in the discharge position.

[0074] Advantageously, such a sorting-storage system according to the invention comprises a feed line for feeding piece goods into the circulating conveyor, and / or a removal line for discharging piece goods from the circulating conveyor.

[0075] It is advantageous in such a sorting-storage system according to the invention that the circulating conveyor can be operated with changing conveying directions.

[0076] A seventh sorting-storage system according to the invention for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods comprises a circulating conveyor; and a plurality of w unidirectional accumulation-storage lines in the form of a loop, which are connected to the circulating conveyor via an infeed line and an outfeed line.

[0077] Advantageously, such a sorting-storage system according to the invention comprises a feed line for feeding piece goods into the circulating conveyor, and / or a removal line for discharging piece goods from the circulating conveyor.

[0078] It is advantageous in such a sorting-storage system according to the invention that the circulating conveyor can be operated with changing conveying directions.

[0079] A second aspect of the invention relates to a picking system for picking piece goods.

[0080] A picking system according to the invention for picking piece goods comprises at least one loading station for feeding piece goods to be picked and / or at least one long-term storage unit for providing piece goods to be picked; at least one sorting-storage system according to the invention for the flexible sorting and storage of piece goods; and at least one delivery station for delivering groups of picked piece goods.

[0081] A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods.

[0082] In a method according to the invention for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods, a sorting-storage system according to the invention or an order picking system according to the invention is provided, wherein all accumulation-storage lines form a total quantity; from the total quantity of all accumulation-storage lines of the sorting-storage system, a first subset and a different second subset are defined; a quantity of piece goods to be sorted is fed to the sorting-storage system; the piece goods are stored in the accumulation-storage lines of the first subset; and the piece goods are removed from the accumulation-storage lines of the first subset and stored in the various accumulation-storage lines of the second subset according to a specific second sorting criterion.

[0083] In the context of this description, the term "total quantity of all storage lines" refers to a quantity that includes as elements all available storage lines of a facility, i.e. those available within the facility for the storage and sorting of general cargo.

[0084] Furthermore, in this description, the term "subset" refers to a subset of the total set. This means that a subset may include all, some, or none of the total set, with the element in this context being a storage line of the sorting and storage system.

[0085] In an advantageous variant of such a method according to the invention, a third subset is defined from the total quantity of all accumulation lines of the sorting-storage system, which subset is different from the first subset and the second subset. The piece goods are removed from the accumulation lines of the second subset and stored in the various accumulation lines of the third subset according to a specific third sorting criterion.

[0086] Particularly advantageously, in such a method according to the invention, a fourth subset is defined from the total set of all accumulation lines of the sorting-storage system, which subset is different from the first subset, the second subset, and the third subset. The piece goods from the accumulation lines are removed from the third subset and stored in the various accumulation lines of the fourth subset according to a specific fourth sorting criterion.

[0087] In a method according to the invention, the definition of one or more of the subsets can be changed at a later point in time after an initial definition of the corresponding subset.

[0088] A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a sorting-storage system according to the invention or of a picking system comprising such a sorting-storage system. In a method according to the invention for controlling the operation of a sorting-storage system according to the invention or of a picking system according to the invention, at least one virtual functional module with a designated function is defined, wherein each functional module is assigned at least one accumulation line of the sorting-storage system. The sorting-storage system is controlled such that the at least one virtual functional module fulfills its designated function.

[0089] Advantageously, in such a method according to the invention, two or more virtual function modules are defined which together can fulfill an intended overall function of the sorting-storage system; and the sorting-storage system is controlled such that the virtual function modules interact with each other in a predetermined manner so that they fulfill the intended overall function of the sorting-storage system.

[0090] In a method according to the invention, the at least one virtual functional module can have the function of a buffer or the function of a sorting stage of a matrix sorter.

[0091] In an advantageous variant of a method according to the invention, at least one virtual functional module is redefined during the operation of the sorting-storage system.

[0092] Advantageously, in a method according to the invention, the sorting-storage system is controlled in such a way that a method according to the invention for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods is carried out.

[0093] In an advantageous variant of a method according to the invention, a control module with Kl functionality is trained with simulated and / or historical operating parameters before carrying out the control of the sorting-storage system in operational operation.

[0094] Such simulated and / or historical operating parameters may in particular be sorting orders and / or picking orders to be fulfilled.

[0095] The control of a sorting and storage system according to the invention or of a picking system with a sorting and storage system according to the invention comprises various levels. At the lowest level, individual elements of the system are controlled (e.g., drives, switches, stop elements, etc.) and sensors are read (e.g., light barriers, RFID readers, barcode scanners, etc.). At the next higher level, the system is operatively controlled so that specific goals are achieved (e.g., picking and staging of goods from an order). While these two control levels are also present in a picking system from the prior art, a picking system or sorting and storage system according to the invention has an additional, higher control level. While in the prior art, the configuration of the functional modules of the picking system (e.g.,Size of the pre-storage, type of matrix sorter, size of the output storage, etc.), the configuration of a sorting-storage system according to the invention can be changed easily and quickly by a virtual configuration of the required functional modules within the sorting-storage system.

[0096] In a control method according to the invention, for example, the number of sorting stages and the number and storage size of the functional modules, in particular the sorting functional modules, can be flexibly adjusted to create the optimal conditions for a specific sorting process. This can be optimized, for example, with a view to shortening the sorting process duration or ensuring economical use of system resources.

[0097] Let / V be the number of objects to be sorted, S the number of sorting stages, Li the storage capacity of the buffer lines of a particular sorting stage / , and M-, the number of buffer lines of a particular sorting stage / . In order for all objects to be sorted in each sorting stage, L * M-, > N must hold.

[0098] In the trivial case of a single sorting stage, S = 1 , we have M-, > N, and thus L > 1. This means that the individual objects are each stored in a storage line and then retrieved from these in the desired final order.

[0099] For a sort with two sorting levels S = 2, N must be broken down into two integer factors (or a higher number N'> N if necessary or more advantageous), with N' = a*b. For a first sorting level, / Wi = a and Li = b applies, and for the second sorting level, M2 = b and L2 = a. The objects are then stored in the first sorting pass according to their desired final order in the / Wi = a storage lines of the first sorting level, with the first Li = b objects being stored in a first storage line, the second Li = b objects in the second storage line, etc. In the second sorting process, the Li = b objects of the first storage line of the first sorting level are stored in the M2 = b storage lines of the second sorting level according to their final order. This is repeated analogously for the other storage lines of the first sorting level.The objects can now be retrieved from the M2 = b accumulation lines of the second sorting stage in the desired final order.

[0100] For a sort with three sorting levels S = 3, the equation is broken down into three integer factors, with N' = a*b*c > N. For the first sorting level, / Wi = a and Li = b*c applies, for the second sorting level M2 = b and L2 = a*c, and for the third sorting level M3 = c and L3 = a*b. The objects are then stored in the first sorting pass according to their desired final order in the / Wi = a accumulation lines of the first sorting level, with the first Li = b*c objects being stored in a first accumulation line, the second Li = b*c objects in the second accumulation line, etc. In the second sorting process, the Li = b*c objects of the first accumulation line of the first sorting level are stored in the M2 = b accumulation lines of the second sorting level, with the first Li / b = c objects being stored in a first accumulation line, the second Li / b = c objects in the second accumulation line, etc.This is repeated analogously for the other accumulation lines of the first sorting stage.

[0101] In the third sorting process, the first c objects from the first buffer line of the second sorting stage are stored in the M = c buffer lines of the third sorting stage according to their final order. This is repeated analogously for the first c objects from the other buffer lines of the second sorting stage. The second c objects from the buffer lines of the second sorting stage are then stored in the c buffer lines of the third sorting stage, etc. The objects can now be retrieved in the desired final order.

[0102] Analogously, for an n-stage sorting curtain, it is decomposed into n integer factors, N' = f'*f2*...*f n s N. The sorting process is again analogous to the examples above.

[0103] The dimensioning of the various sorting stages in conventional sorting and storage systems is chosen so that for a specified maximum number / ma x objects to be sorted, efficient sorting is possible. With two separate matrix stores, each with M = 5 storage lines and a capacity of Lj = 25 objects, for example, a maximum of / ma x = 125 = 5 3 Objects can be sorted in S = 3 sorting levels, where one of the matrix stores is used twice. Similarly, with two separate matrix stores, each with M = 12 storage lines with a capacity of Li = 12 objects, a maximum of / Vmax = 144 = 12 2 Objects are sorted in S = 2 sorting levels.

[0104] With a sorting-storage system according to the invention or a control method according to the invention, however, the configuration of the functional elements and the corresponding sorting algorithm can be flexibly adapted to achieve an optimum, for example, with regard to the sorting duration or the number of occupied accumulating storage lines. For example, if M = 20 accumulating storage lines with a uniform capacity of L = 25 are available, a smaller sorting order of up to N = 25 objects can be sorted directly in one stage S = 1. A sorting order of up to N = 100 objects can be completed with two sorting stages S = 2, with L = L.2 = 10 and / Wi = M2 = 10. A three-stage sorting S = 3 of up to N = 125 objects is also possible, with / Wi = M2 = M3 = 5, and L = L.2 = L.3 = 25.While the three-stage sorting can only process 25% more objects and requires more time due to the three consecutive sorting processes, it only needs 50% of the resources because the first sorting stage can also be used as the third sorting stage, thus only occupying 10 buffer lines.

[0105] External factors can also be taken into account when controlling a sorting and storage system according to the invention. For example, if the loading station and the delivery station in a picking system are operated in two-shift operation, the sorting and storage system can be operated in a third shift, during which no operating personnel are available for the loading and delivery stations, so that the largest possible number of picking orders can be prepared and made available for the following first shift. For this purpose, the virtual pre-storage function module is designed with a corresponding number of accumulation lines large enough to store all objects of the intended picking orders. In addition, there is a sorting function module for preparing the picking orders and the final storage function module for receiving the objects of the completely sorted picking orders.In a first phase, the final storage functional module is configured with a low capacity, i.e. with few allocated storage lines.

[0106] If the virtual final storage function module approaches its capacity limit, the sorting storage system is dynamically reconfigured. Empty storage lines of the virtual pre-storage function module are used to increase the capacity of the final storage function module and, if necessary, to adjust the configuration of the virtual sorting function module.

[0107] The sorting and storage system can be dynamically reconfigured over several stages until all picking orders are finally processed. Because the dynamic configuration allows storage space (i.e., empty accumulating storage lines) to be continuously transferred from the emptying pre-storage functional module to the filling final storage functional module, the total storage requirement remains essentially constant and is largely utilized.

[0108] If the delivery station of the picking system is available again at the start of the first shift, the already sorted goods from the picking orders can be made available to the delivery station and processed in rapid succession by the sorting and storage system. The virtual final buffer of the sorting and storage system is emptied accordingly. The sorting and storage system can then be dynamically reconfigured, in particular by enlarging the pre-buffer storage. This configuration can, for example, be designed so that during operation the piece goods fed to the sorting and storage system from the infeed station and / or the long-term storage for picking orders still to be fulfilled and the piece goods from the assembled picking orders transferred from the sorting and storage system to the delivery station are roughly balanced, until finally, at the end of the second shift, all picking orders have been processed.The sorting and storage system is now dynamically reconfigured to operate the third layer described above.

[0109] The control level of the dynamic configuration of the sorting and storage system and the control level of operational operation can be treated separately. In this case, a first control module controls the virtual configuration of the sorting and storage system based on specifications and higher-level operating data. A second control module controls the operational operation of the sorting and storage system in the currently specified virtual configuration. This approach reduces the complexity of the control system.

[0110] Alternatively, the control of the virtual configuration and the operational operation of the sorting and storage system can also be implemented partially or fully integrated, which increases the complexity of the control system. However, such an approach makes it possible to also consider short-term operational needs in the dynamic configuration.

[0111] In an advantageous embodiment of the control method, a sorting-storage system according to the invention is dynamically configured and / or controlled and operated with the support of artificial intelligence (K1).

[0112] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made below to the drawings. These merely illustrate exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to the features disclosed herein.

[0113] The same or similar reference symbols are used for identical or equivalent parts in the following figures and the associated description.

[0114] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a state-of-the-art order picking system.

[0115] Figure 2 shows schematically the various parts of an order picking system according to the invention.

[0116] Figure 3 shows a schematic plan view of a loading station with optional buffer storage in an order picking system according to the invention, arranged upstream of a sorting-storage system.

[0117] Figure 4 shows a schematic plan view of a possible embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention for use in an order-picking system according to the invention.

[0118] Figure 5 shows a schematic plan view of an output station connected downstream of a sorting-storage system in an order-picking system according to the invention.

[0119] Figures 6a-6e schematically show various possible configurations of a sorting-storage system according to Figure 4, with inclined circulating conveyors (a) in plan view and (b) in side view transverse to the longitudinal direction; with the two circulating conveyors at different heights (c) in side view in the longitudinal direction and (d) in plan view; (e) with the two circulating conveyors at the same height; and (f) in side view transverse to the longitudinal direction with inclined circulating conveyors with built-in ascending sections.

[0120] Figure 7 shows a schematic perspective view of another possible embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention. Figure 8 shows a schematic plan view of another possible embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention.

[0121] Figures 9a-9c schematically show a section of a sorting-storage system according to the invention configured with a pre-storage, three matrix sorting fields and a final storage, wherein the various functional modules (a) are arranged in the sequence of operations on the accumulation storage lines, (b) with compressed, overlapping functional modules utilizing the closed loop, and (c) with distributed accumulation storage lines of the various functional modules.

[0122] Figure 10 shows schematically the virtual coupling of several storage lines.

[0123] Figure 11 shows a schematic plan view of an alternative embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention, analogous to Figure 4.

[0124] Figure 12 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention analogous to Figure 9, with first and second accumulation storage lines arranged in pairs.

[0125] Figure 13 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention analogous to Figure 9, with first and second accumulation storage lines arranged in groups of three.

[0126] Figure 14 shows a schematic side view of a sorting-storage system in which the circulating conveyors comprise a sequence of actively driven ascending sections and passively gravity-driven descending sections.

[0127] Figure 15 shows a schematic plan view of a further embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention with four separate sorting-storage groups.

[0128] Figure 16 shows schematically in plan view yet another embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention with three partially connected sorting-storage groups.

[0129] Figure 17 shows a schematic top view of yet another embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention, comprising two partially connected sorting-storage groups with variable-length accumulating lines. Figure 18 shows a schematic top view of a variant of the embodiment of the sorting-storage system from Figure 17.

[0130] Figure 19 shows schematically a picking system according to the invention with a functional connection to the cloud.

[0131] Figure 20 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention with a plurality of unidirectional accumulation storage lines and a circulating conveyor.

[0132] Figure 21 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention with a plurality of bidirectional accumulation lines and a circulating conveyor.

[0133] Figure 22 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention with a plurality of bidirectional accumulation lines and two circulating conveyors.

[0134] Figure 23 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention with a plurality of storage carousels including inlet and outlet chutes and two circulating conveyors.

[0135] Figure 24 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention with a plurality of storage carousels connected to a circulating conveyor.

[0136] Figure 25 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention with a plurality of accumulation storage lines with dead ends.

[0137] Figure 26 shows a schematic side view of the sorting-storage system of Figure 25, (a) with an accumulating storage line in an infeed position; and (b) with the accumulating storage line in an outfeed position.

[0138] Figure 27 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system according to the invention with a plurality of accumulating storage lines in the form of loops. Embodiment of the invention

[0139] A picking system 1 according to the invention, as shown schematically in Figure 2, does not require a dedicated short-term storage or a matrix sorting system. Instead, these two functions, as well as other functions such as an output buffer, can be implemented by a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention. The picking system 1 is controlled by a control device 17.

[0140] The order picking system 1 comprises a loading station 11, with which goods or other piece goods 91 can be fed into a conveyor system of the order picking system 1. For example, goods can be fed from a goods loading or production system (not shown). Two or more separate loading stations can also be provided.

[0141] The goods can be fed directly from the loading device 11 to a sorting and storage system 2 according to the invention. In the sorting and storage system 2, the goods are processed and, in particular, assembled and sorted according to the existing picking orders. The sorting and storage system 2 according to the invention performs various functions, such as a short-term storage facility for storing goods that will likely be needed again soon in a picking order.

[0142] With a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention, the function of a two-stage or three-stage matrix sorting system and, more generally, an n-stage matrix sorting system can be realized, with n > 2. The number of sorting stages can be selected as required, for example depending on the specific needs of the company and / or the complexity of the sorting orders.

[0143] Likewise, in the sorting-storage system 2, completed picking orders can be temporarily stored in an outgoing storage area.

[0144] Sorting and storage system 2 is characterized by a comparatively simple and uniform internal structure. The previously separately designed system modules with their various functions (e.g., short-term storage, matrix sorting system, output storage) are represented in the sorting and storage system as virtual functional modules, with the various elements being controlled and interconnected by a control unit. Since this can be achieved without structural changes to the sorting and storage system, the design of the functional modules can be dynamically adapted. The exact functioning of a sorting and storage system will be discussed in more detail in the following figures.

[0145] From the sorting and storage system 2, the groups of goods or unit loads corresponding to a completed picking order 92 are fed to an output station 14. At the output station 14, the picking orders 92 leave the picking system 1 again, for example, packaged in a container addressed to a destination, or via a conveyor device to a downstream production facility, as the corresponding unit loads are required in a production step. Multiple output stations can also be provided.

[0146] Instead of one sorting-storage system 2 as shown, several separate sorting-storage systems can also be provided.

[0147] Goods that are generally only needed sporadically can be transferred from the goods receiving area 11 to a long-term storage area 16, which has a high storage capacity but also requires longer access times to the stored goods. The goods can be removed from the long-term storage area 16 as needed and transferred to the sorting and storage system 2. It can also be provided that goods from the sorting and storage system 2 are transferred to the long-term storage area 16, for example, after appropriate pre-sorting. Several separate long-term storage areas can also be provided.

[0148] Advantageously, in an order-picking system 1 according to the invention, complex interfaces between different conveyor systems are avoided. This can be achieved, for example, by implementing the conveyor devices connecting the various system components, the sorting and storage system 2, and possibly also the long-term storage area 16 as part of an overhead conveyor system.

[0149] An embodiment of an order picking system 1 according to the invention is explained with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5, with a loading station 11 with optional buffer storage 15 (Figure 3), a sorting storage system according to the invention (Figure 4) and an output station 14 (Figure 5).

[0150] The schematically illustrated order picking system 1 can be implemented, as described below by way of example, with an overhead conveyor system with independently suspended transport pockets. Such an overhead conveyor system can be implemented, for example, with the gravity-fed, rail-guided conveyor systems mentioned above in US 2017 / 275826 A1, US 2018 / 215547 A1, and US 2017 / 282317 A1. However, an order picking system according to the invention can also be implemented analogously with a horizontal conveyor system.

[0151] A loading station 11 of the order picking system 1 comprises a plurality of loading stations 111, at which a transport bag can be loaded with a unit of goods by means of a loading device 1110. Empty transport bags are fed to the loading station 11 via a circulating conveyor 104 of the overhead conveyor system, which is actively driven by a drive 1040. Such a circulating conveyor can be implemented, for example, with a chain conveyor, with a closed, circulating conveyor chain having a plurality of carriers, which drag the conveyor elements, which run freely on a guide rail, with the transport bags suspended therefrom.

[0152] A conveyor element with an empty transport pocket can be taken from the circulating conveyor 104 via a switch element 1111 and guided to a conveyor line 1113 of the loading station. The loading device 1110, which is only shown generically, can involve manual filling of the transport pocket or can be configured as an automatic loading device, as known, for example, from US 2019 / 0367282 A1 or US 2021 / 0053763 A1 or one of the other documents mentioned above. The loaded transport pocket then reaches a collection line 117 after being released by a stop element 1112. The loaded transport pockets are fed to the sorting and storage system 2 according to the invention via the collection line 117.

[0153] Optionally, a buffer storage 15 can be provided, as shown. If the sorting-storage system 2 is occupied, the transport bags newly filled at the loading station 11 can be diverted into the buffer storage 15 via an input line 151 branching off from the collection line 117, and later removed from it and fed back to the collection line 117 via an output line 152. Such an optional buffer storage 15 can be designed, for example, as a carousel storage, as a single, long buffer line analogous to 114', 114", or as an intermediate storage with a plurality of parallel buffer lines. The buffer storage 15 makes it possible to functionally decouple the loading station 11 and the sorting-storage system 2 so that their operating states are independent of one another during normal operation, thereby avoiding overloading of the sorting-storage system 2.

[0154] The illustrated sorting and storage system 2 according to the invention comprises a first circulating conveyor 21 with a counterclockwise rotation direction and a second circulating conveyor 22 with a clockwise rotation direction. The circulating conveyors can be implemented, for example, with chain conveyors, which, by means of carriers, drag the freely guided conveyor elements with the transport pockets suspended from them over a certain distance.

[0155] The filled transport bags to be processed are conveyed via collection line 117 from the loading station 11 and / or a long-term storage area (not shown) to the sorting-storage system 2, where they are fed into the first circulating conveyor 21 via a first feed line 211. A stop element 2110 accumulates incoming transport bags. If a usable, free carrier is present on the circulating conveyor 21, the stop element transfers the foremost transport bag to the circulating conveyor 21 in a controlled manner.

[0156] Alternatively or additionally, the transport pockets can also be fed into the second circulating conveyor 22 via a feed line 221 with a stop element 2210. It is possible for a switch (not shown) to be placed upstream of the two feed lines 211, 221, so that transport pockets can be fed into the first circulating conveyor 21 or the second circulating conveyor 22 as desired.

[0157] A number m of first accumulation storage lines 31.1 to 31.m are arranged between the two circulating conveyors 21, 22, with a designated conveying direction from the first circulating conveyor 21 to the second circulating conveyor 22. Furthermore, a number p of second accumulation storage lines 32.1 to 32.p are arranged between the two circulating conveyors 21, 22, with a designated conveying direction from the second circulating conveyor 22 to the first circulating conveyor 21. Transport pockets can be discharged from the first circulating conveyor 21 into each of the first accumulation storage lines 31, and from the second circulating conveyor 22 into each of the second accumulation storage lines 32. A certain number of transport pockets can be stored in each of the first and second accumulation storage lines 31, 32, the specific number depending on the length of the respective accumulation storage line, which can vary, and possibly on the thickness of the transport pockets in the conveying direction.From the first accumulation storage lines 31, the foremost transport pocket in the conveying direction can be fed into the second circulating carousel 22, and from the second accumulation storage lines 32 into the first circulating conveyor 21. The accumulation storage lines 31, 32 thus correspond to a physical FIFO (First-In-First-Out) storage.

[0158] In the illustrated embodiment, first accumulating storage lines 31 and second accumulating storage lines 32 are arranged alternately. The number m of first accumulating storage lines 31 is equal to the number p of second accumulating storage lines 32. Such an arrangement has advantages with regard to the shortness of the conveying paths between first accumulating storage lines 32 and second accumulating storage lines 32. Alternative arrangements are also possible, which will be discussed in later figures. The functioning of the sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention will be discussed separately below.

[0159] Since the two circulating conveyors have opposite conveying directions, the transport pockets move overall from left to right, which advantageously allows for easy coordination of the transport pocket movements.

[0160] For a transport bag, every first accumulation line 31 on the first circulating conveyor 21 is accessible, and every second accumulation line 32 on the second circulating conveyor 22 is accessible, since the transport bags, after passing through all accumulation lines and reaching the right-hand end of the circulating conveyor, can return to the left-hand end of the circulating conveyor via the opposite side of the circulating conveyor. A sorting and storage system 2 according to the invention can thus utilize the plurality of accumulation lines 31, 32 with maximum flexibility.

[0161] Transport bags can be discharged from the first circulating conveyor 21 via a first removal line 212, and from the second circulating conveyor 22 via a second removal line 222. The removed transport bags can then be fed in particular to an output station 14 of the order picking system.

[0162] After the transport bags with the goods or piece goods stored therein have been compiled into the picking orders as desired in the sorting and storage system 2, sorted in sequence if necessary, and prepared for further processing, the transport bags are removed in the intended sequence via the first and / or second removal line 212, 222 and accumulated by means of a stop element 2120 and fed in a controlled manner to a distribution ring 108 of the output station 14. From the distribution ring 108, the transport bags are branched off to the designated output location 141, where the transport bags are unloaded manually or with a generically illustrated, automated unloading device 1410. An automatic unloading device can, for example, be designed as known from US 2022 / 0332520 A1.

[0163] The unloaded goods from a picking order are packed into a container 93, for example, a shipping package. The finished shipping package is then transported away using a horizontal conveyor 142.

[0164] The discharged transport bags are collected on a collection line 143 for empty transport bags and fed to a storage for empty transport bags (not shown), from which they can later be fed back to the distribution ring 104 of the feed station 11 as needed. Advantageously, the conveying in the accumulating storage lines 31, 32 is designed to be passively gravity-driven, which can be achieved by a corresponding gradient of the accumulating storage lines 31, 32 in conjunction with a stop element at the end of the accumulating storage line. Alternatively, some or all of the accumulating storage lines can be actively driven, although this is more expensive in terms of the costs for construction, maintenance, and operation of the system.

[0165] Figures 6a to 6f show various ways in which a sorting and storage system according to Figure 4 with alternating first and second accumulation and storage lines can be designed. In the example in Figure 6a, the two circulating conveyors 21, 22 are arranged vertically. The first accumulation and storage lines 31 and second accumulation and storage lines 32 are arranged in a zigzag pattern so that a sufficient gradient is achieved for all accumulation and storage lines. In such a case, the circulating conveyors can be designed to be passively gravity-driven in the downhill direction of circulation, if necessary with a suitable braking system, while a drive (symbolically represented by a dashed line) is provided for the ascending section of the return loop uphill. The braking system and drive system are advantageously coupled so that the overall energy consumption is minimal.For example, a revolving chain drive can be provided so that the transport bags on the downward section act as a counterweight to the transport bags on the upward section.

[0166] Instead of a completely vertical arrangement of the two circulating conveyors 21, 22, the circulating conveyors 21, 22 can also be arranged approximately vertically, i.e., inclined at a certain angle to the horizontal. Even in such a case, a gradient results for the accumulating lines, allowing passive gravity-driven conveying. Such a solution is shown in a side view in Figure 6b.

[0167] Instead of designing the circulating conveyors 21, 22 with a continuous incline, one or more rising sections 29 can also be provided in the conveyor paths, as shown in Figure 6f, along which transport elements are actively conveyed upwards against gravity by a suitable drive (symbolically represented by a dashed line). The sorting and storage system can thus be designed essentially horizontally.

[0168] If, as shown in Figures 6c and 6d, the second circulating conveyor 22 is arranged horizontally and below the horizontal first circulating conveyor 21, the first accumulating storage lines 31 have a gradient, while an active drive is required for the second accumulating storage lines 32 to overcome the incline. If both circulating conveyors 21, 22 are arranged horizontally and at the same height, as shown in Figure 6e, an active drive (symbolically represented by a dashed line) must be provided for both accumulating storage lines 31, 32. The energy requirement is relatively low, since no gradient needs to be overcome in the accumulating storage lines 31, 32, which are also horizontal.

[0169] A further embodiment of a sorting-storage system 2 is shown in Figure 7. Of the schematically shown first and second circulating conveyors 21, 22, only one section is shown, from which the first accumulating storage lines 31 and second accumulating storage lines 32 branch off.

[0170] The horizontally arranged second circulating conveyor 22 is arranged higher in relation to the vertical than the likewise horizontal first circulating conveyor 21. Due to the difference in height, the parallel second accumulation storage lines 32 have a gradient, so that the individually conveyable transport pockets 94, after being fed from the second circulating conveyor 22 onto the second accumulation storage line 32, reach the end of the second accumulation storage line 32 passively driven by gravity, where they are stopped and accumulated by a stop element (not shown).

[0171] The first accumulating storage lines 31 have, leading away from the first circulating conveyor 21, an ascending conveyor 41 on a first section 311, which ends at a height above the second circulating conveyor 22. After being fed in from the first circulating conveyor 21, the ascending conveyor 41 actively conveys the transport pockets 94 upwards against the force of gravity. A second section 312 of the first accumulating storage line 31 leads to the second circulating conveyor 22. Since this section 312 again has a gradient, the individually conveyable transport pockets 94 reach the end of the first accumulating storage line 31 passively driven by gravity, where they are stopped and accumulated by a stop element (not shown).

[0172] Advantageously, the gradient of the second section 312 of the first storage line 31 corresponds to the gradient of the second storage line 32, so that the behavior of the first storage line 31 and the second storage line 32 is essentially identical, apart from the length of the usable storage space and thus the capacity of the storage line.

[0173] The ascending conveyor 311 can, for example, be designed as a revolving chain drive, in which cam-shaped carriers actively drag the transport pockets 94, which can be individually conveyed on a conveyor rail, upwards against gravity. In the illustrated embodiment, several ascending conveyors 41 are driven by a common drive 411 via a common drive shaft 412. This allows the complexity of the system to be reduced.

[0174] In an alternative embodiment of such a sorting-storage system 2, it is also possible for the first circulating conveyor 21 and the second circulating conveyor 22 to be arranged at the same height. Because there is no height difference between the two circulating conveyors 21, 22, the height difference required to achieve a suitable gradient, which the ascending conveyor must overcome, is smaller. In contrast, in this case, the second accumulating storage line 32 also has an ascending conveyor on a first section, which conveys the transport pockets to an identical height above the two circulating conveyors 21, 22, so that the transport pockets are passively conveyed to the first circulating conveyor 21 by gravity on a subsequent second section.

[0175] Since the two ascending conveyors have to overcome essentially only half the height for an identical gradient as in the example in Figure 7, the overall height of such a sorting-storage system 2 is smaller. However, the total energy requirement of the two ascending conveyors is essentially identical to that of the ascending conveyor in Figure 7, since the total work performed in terms of potential energy is the same. In this case, too, it is possible to drive all ascending conveyors from a group of adjacent first and second accumulating storage lines with a common drive.

[0176] The exemplary embodiment of a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention shown in Figure 4 is topologically identical to two circular, concentrically arranged circulating conveyors. A version of such a sorting-storage system 2 optimized in terms of space requirements is shown in Figure 8.

[0177] The second circulating conveyor 22 is arranged within the first circulating conveyor 21. First accumulating lines 31.1 - 31.m and second accumulating lines 32.1 - 32.p run alternately from the first circulating conveyor 21 to the second circulating conveyor 22, or from the second circulating conveyor 22 to the first circulating conveyor 21. In the example shown, m = p.

[0178] The opposite sections of the first circulating conveyor 21 and the second circulating conveyor 22, between which the first and second accumulating storage lines 31, 32 run, are designed parallel, so that the accumulating storage lines 31, 32 have identical lengths. The sorting-storage system 2 shown has the advantage that the unusable area of ​​the two circulating conveyors, in which there are no outgoing or incoming accumulating storage lines, is minimized. With the same capacity of the accumulating storage lines, such a system configuration thus requires less floor space for the circulating conveyors.

[0179] Transport bags to be processed are fed to the sorting and storage system 2 via an infeed line 211, where they are accumulated by a stop element 2110 and fed in a controlled manner onto the first circulating conveyor 21. The transport bags can then be transferred to the second circulating conveyor 22 via a transfer line 213. Transport bags can thus be fed into the second circulating conveyor 22 without a separate infeed line.

[0180] Transport bags can be removed from the sorting-storage system 2 via a removal line 212, which departs from the first circulating conveyor 2. In order to remove transport bags from the second circulating conveyor 22 without a separate removal line, a transfer line 223 is provided between the second circulating conveyor 22 and the first circulating conveyor 21.

[0181] The transfer lines 213, 223 can also be used to quickly exchange transport pockets between the two circulating conveyors 21, 22. Optionally, additional transfer lines 213', 223' can also be provided for this purpose.

[0182] Instead of using dedicated transfer lines 213, 223, the exchange of transport pockets from one circulating conveyor 21, 22 to another can also be accomplished via an accumulating storage line 31, 32. In such a case, however, the accumulating storage line 31, 32 must remain empty and is thus, at least temporarily, unavailable for storage and sorting functions. Furthermore, the accumulating storage lines 31, 32 are longer than the transfer lines 213, 223.

[0183] Transfer lines can also be implemented in a sorting-storage system as shown in Figure 4, although the advantage of the shorter length compared to the accumulation storage lines is lost.

[0184] A sorting and storage system according to the invention has the advantage that it can be flexibly configured and dynamically adapted to current operating requirements without any structural changes to the system, simply by controlling the processes appropriately. This will be explained below using examples.

[0185] Figures 9a to 9c show, by way of example, how a sorting-storage system 2 according to Figure 4 or Figure 8 can be implemented with a system comprising a pre-storage area 51 for piece goods to be picked or sorted, a three-stage matrix sorter 52, 53, 54, and a final storage area for the finished sorted piece goods. For the mathematical sorting principle, reference is made to the explanations in US 10934102 B2.

[0186] Figure 9a shows a section of the sorting and storage system 2, with two sections of the first circulating conveyor 21 and the second circulating conveyor 22, respectively, between which first accumulating storage lines 31.1 - 31.15 and second accumulating storage lines 32.1 - 32.14 are arranged alternately. The directions of rotation of the circulating conveyors and the conveying directions of the accumulating storage lines are marked by arrows.

[0187] Four first accumulation lines 31.1 - 31.4 (marked with empty squares) serve as pre-storage functional module 51, in which objects (piece goods or transport bags with such piece goods) previously fed to the sorting-storage system 2 can be stored on the first circulating conveyor 21 arriving from the left. A batch of max. 3 3= 27 objects to be sorted are stored in random order. These objects are to be sorted batchwise in a specific order in sorting-storage system 2.

[0188] Three second accumulation lines 32.4 - 32.6 (marked with open circles) are provided as the first sorting stage functional module 52 of a three-stage matrix sorter. Three first accumulation lines 31.7 - 31.9 (marked with solid circles) are provided as the second sorting stage functional module 53 of the matrix sorter, and three second accumulation lines 32.9 - 32.11 are provided as the third sorting stage functional module 54.

[0189] Four first storage lines 31.12 - 31.15 (marked with solid squares) serve as final storage function module 55, in which the objects of a batch, now sorted in the intended order, are to be stored.

[0190] The objects from one of the accumulation lines 31.1 - 31.4, each representing a batch, are fed onto the second circulating conveyor 22 and stored, i.e. sorted, on the accumulation lines 32.6, 32.5, 32.4 of the functional module 52 according to their position in the sorting sequence (first third, second third, third). Subsequently, the objects from the accumulation lines of the functional module 52 are fed onto the first circulating conveyor 21 in the sequence 32.6, 32.5, 32.4 and again stored, i.e. sorted, on the accumulation lines 31.9, 31.8, 31.7 of the functional module 53 according to their position in the sorting sequence (first third, second third, third). Subsequently, the objects from the storage lines of the function module 53 are removed in the order 31.9, 31.8, 31.7 are fed onto the second circulating conveyor 22 and are again stored, i.e. sorted, on the accumulation lines 32.11, 32.10, 32.9 of the functional module 54 according to their position in the sorting sequence (first third, second third, third third).

[0191] The foremost object is then removed from the accumulation lines 32.11, 32.10, and 32.9 in this order and stored in the same accumulation line of the function module 55 until the accumulation lines 32.11, 32.10, and 32.9 are empty. The objects are now present in the specified accumulation line of the function module 55 in the desired order.

[0192] Thus, with such a sorting-storage system 2 with a homogeneous, compact structural design, a sorting system can be realized for which, from the state of the art, differently constructed, dedicated functional modules are necessary, which in turn must be connected to one another via suitable conveying elements.

[0193] With a sorting-storage system according to the invention, other configurations of matrix sorters can also be realized. While, as shown above, with three sorting stages (S=3) each with three accumulation lines (L=3), i.e. a total of S*L=9 accumulation lines, a batch of maximum L s = 27 objects can be sorted, with 6 lines (L=6) per sorting stage (total S*L=18 storage lines) batches with L s = 216 objects can be sorted. Analogously, with two sorting stages (S=2) each with eight storage lines (L=8) with a total of S*L=16 storage lines, a number of L s= 64 objects can be sorted.

[0194] The selection of the most suitable matrix sorter configuration depends, among other things, on the number of available accumulator lines and their capacity, the maximum expected batch size, and the time required for repositioning the objects during the sorting process. These latter factors depend on the specific system but can be determined in advance.

[0195] The arrangement of the functional modules 51-55 in Figure 9a in the sequence of process steps enables efficient execution of the process steps, since the transport paths of the objects on the circulating conveyors 21, 22 are short. However, the functional modules 51-55 do not necessarily have to be arranged in this sequence, since the accumulating storage lines are topologically arranged in a closed loop. This means that in the direction of rotation, a last accumulating storage line is followed by the first accumulating storage line.

[0196] With a sorting-storage system according to the invention, not only can one sorting process be performed simultaneously, as in the example shown above. Multiple sets of objects can also be sorted simultaneously and independently of one another. For example, two pre-storage function modules can be defined, each storing a set of objects yet to be sorted. Similarly, two separate first, second, and third sorting-stage function modules can be defined, as well as two separate final storage function modules, in which the completely sorted objects are stored. The sorting processes for the two sets of objects can thus be performed functionally independently of one another.

[0197] Figure 9b shows an example of a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention, analogous to Figure 9a, but with five accumulation storage lines in the pre-storage functional module 51 and five accumulation storage lines in the final storage functional module 55. The accumulation storage lines of the functional modules 51-55 are arranged in a compact manner, so that the functional modules partially overlap. This also utilizes the fact that the emptied accumulation storage lines of the functional module 51 can subsequently be used for the functional module 55. Such a sorting-storage system 2 requires eleven first accumulation storage lines 31 and eleven second accumulation storage lines 32, whereas the sorting-storage system from Figure 9a has 15 first accumulation storage lines and 14 second accumulation storage lines with the same functionality and 20% smaller storage volume.

[0198] The accumulation lines of a particular functional module do not have to follow one after the other or in a specific sequence, as shown in Figure 9c. With such a sorting-storage system 2, the same functionality can be achieved as with the previous two embodiments.

[0199] A further advantage of a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention is the possibility of virtually combining two or more accumulation lines into a larger accumulation line, as explained below with reference to Figure 10. Example I shows a section of a sorting-storage system with a first accumulation line 31, which runs between a first circulating conveyor 21 and a second circulating conveyor 22. The accumulation line 31 has a certain storage capacity, which essentially results from its length.

[0200] If a higher storage capacity is required for a specific application, a first accumulating storage line 31 and a second accumulating storage line 32 can be virtually coupled to form a accumulating storage line 31+32 that is twice as long (Example II). Virtual coupling, as opposed to physical coupling, means that a control system controls the sorting-storage system in such a way that objects for storage in the virtual accumulating storage line 31+32 are stored exclusively in the sorting-storage system 31, and objects are removed from the accumulating storage line 31 and immediately fed into the accumulating storage line 32 until its maximum capacity is reached or until the accumulating storage line 31 has capacity again. Objects are only removed from the accumulating storage line 32.During operation, the two accumulating storage lines 31, 32 then behave like a single accumulating storage line 31+32 with double the storage capacity, which starts from the first circulating conveyor 21 and returns to it. The second circulating conveyor 22 serves only to connect the two accumulating storage lines 31, 32. The storage lines 31, 32 can be directly adjacent in the sorting-storage system or, as shown, arranged at some distance from each other.

[0201] It is also possible to combine three or more accumulation storage lines 31, 32, 3T into one virtual accumulation storage line, as shown in Example III. In this case, the first accumulation storage line 31, the second accumulation storage line 32 and the first accumulation storage line 3T are alternately connected in series via the controller. In Example III, objects are stored in and removed from this combined accumulation storage line 31+32+3T by storing the objects in the accumulation storage line 31, continuously removing objects from the accumulation storage line 31 and storing them in the accumulation storage line 32, likewise continuously removing objects from the accumulation storage line 32 and storing them in the accumulation storage line 3T, and finally removing objects again from the accumulation storage line 31 for further use.The three accumulation storage lines 31, 32, 3T then behave in operational mode like a single accumulation storage line 31+32+3T with triple storage capacity, which leads from the first circulating conveyor 21 to the second circulating conveyor 22.

[0202] Since, as already explained, the accumulation lines in the sorting-storage system follow one another in a closed loop in the direction of circulation, the arrangement of the accumulation lines involved along the circulating conveyors 21, 22 does not have to correspond to the logical sequence within the virtual accumulation line. Rather, the sequence can be arbitrary, although not all solutions are equally advantageous with regard to the necessary transport paths of the objects on the circulating conveyors 21, 22.

[0203] In the previous embodiments, the directions of rotation of the first circulating conveyor and the second circulating conveyor were selected such that objects are conveyed in the same direction on the sections where the two circulating conveyors are connected by the accumulating storage lines. However, the directions of rotation can also be selected such that objects are conveyed in the opposite direction on the sections where the two circulating conveyors are connected by the accumulating storage lines. This will be explained with reference to the following figures. Figure 11 shows a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention, which is essentially constructed analogously to the previously discussed Figure 4. Therefore, only the differences will be discussed.

[0204] The second circulating conveyor 22 conveys in the same way as the first circulating conveyor 21 in a counterclockwise direction, so that on the sections of the two circulating conveyors 21, 22, which are connected by the first accumulation lines 31.1 - 31.m and the second accumulation lines 32.1 - 32.p, the objects are conveyed in opposite directions.

[0205] In the sorting-storage system 2 in Figure 11, a transport pocket can also reach every first accumulation storage line 31 on the first circulating conveyor 21, and every second accumulation storage line 32 on the second circulating conveyor 22. However, the opposite conveying directions on the sections of the two circulating conveyors that are functionally connected by the accumulation storage lines can be advantageously used to avoid, as far as possible, transport paths over the long outer side of the circulating conveyors 21, 22. For this purpose, a control device 20 can assign the individual accumulation storage lines 31, 32, which are required for the overall function of the sorting-storage system 2, in such a way that the conveying of the transport pockets takes place on the inner sides of the circulating conveyors 21, 22.

[0206] Even in a sorting-storage system 2 as shown in Figure 11, several accumulation storage lines can be coupled to form a virtual sorting-storage system. Example IV of Figure 10 shows a section of a sorting-storage system analogous to Example I, but the direction of rotation of the second circulating conveyor 22 is the same as the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor 21. In such a case too, analogous to Example II, a first accumulation storage line 31 and a second accumulation storage line 32 can be coupled to form a virtual accumulation storage line 31+32, as shown in Example V. Analogous to Example III, three accumulation storage lines 31, 32, 3T can also be coupled to form a virtual accumulation storage line 31+32+3T, as shown in Example VI.

[0207] Instead of arranging the first accumulation storage lines 31 and second accumulation storage lines 32 of a sorting storage system 2 alternately along the circulating conveyors, as in the embodiments shown so far, the first and second accumulation storage lines can also be grouped.

[0208] Figure 12 shows a sorting-storage system 2 with a first circulating conveyor 21 and a second circulating conveyor 22 with identical directions of circulation analogous to Figure 11. The first accumulation storage lines 31 are arranged next to one another in pairs, as are the second accumulation storage lines 32. The pairs of first accumulation storage lines 31 and second accumulation storage lines 32 are in turn arranged alternately along the circulating conveyors 21, 22.

[0209] The accumulation lines can also be arranged in larger groups. Figure 13 shows a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention, in which the first accumulation lines 31 and the second accumulation lines 32 are arranged in groups of three along the circulating conveyors.

[0210] Such sorting-storage systems 2 with grouped first accumulation-storage lines 31 and second accumulation-storage lines 32 can be used functionally analogously to the other sorting-storage systems 2.

[0211] The grouping of the first and second accumulating lines, in conjunction with the opposing conveying directions on the sections of the two circulating conveyors 21, 22 functionally connected by the accumulating lines, has the additional advantage that rising sections 29 can be provided in the circulating conveyors between the groups of accumulating lines. This means that the continuously actively driven circulating conveyor 21, 22 does not run on a single plane, but rather leads from a lower level to an upper level in the rising section, from where the circulating conveyor leads back to the lower level on a subsequent section. This falling section can lead linearly at an angle downwards.Alternatively, the descending section can also be S-shaped, with a first section with lesser or no gradient, from which the first three storage lines branch off, a steeper second section, and a third section with lesser or no gradient, on which the second three storage lines join.

[0212] In this way, the conveying path of the circulating conveyors 21, 22 can be guided such that all accumulation lines have a gradient. Such an example has already been discussed in Figure 6f.

[0213] Figure 14 explains an alternative embodiment for a sorting-storage system with a structure analogous to the sorting-storage system in Figure 13, based on the sections of a first circulating conveyor 71 and a second circulating conveyor 72 with accumulation storage lines 31.1 - 31.3 and 32.1 - 32.3.

[0214] While in the aforementioned exemplary embodiments of sorting and storage systems, the circulating conveyors were designed to be continuously driven, i.e., the conveyed objects were actively driven along the entire conveying path of the circulating conveyor, in the two circulating conveyors 71, 72 in Figure 14, actively driven ascending sections 29 alternate with passive, non-actively driven descending sections. Ascending sections 29 (marked with dashed lines) are each arranged in front of a group of outgoing accumulation and storage lines in the direction of circulation. An ascending conveyor (not shown), for example in the form of a chain conveyor with carriers, conveys the conveying elements with the transport pockets 94 suspended therefrom to an upper level against the force of gravity.The conveyor elements with the transport pockets 94 then run passively, driven by gravity, on a downward slope 28 to a lower level, where they are in turn conveyed back to the upper level by an ascending conveyor on the next ascending slope 29.

[0215] On the downhill section 28, the first accumulating storage lines 31.1, 31.2, 31.3 branch off in the direction of rotation from the first circulating conveyor 71. These are followed by the incoming second accumulating storage lines 32.1, 32.2, 32.3. On the second circulating conveyor 72, however, on the downhill section 28, the second accumulating storage lines 32.3, 32.2, 32.1 branch off first, followed by the incoming first accumulating storage lines 31.3, 31.2, 31.1. Due to the identical direction of rotation of the two circulating conveyors 71, 72, and thus the opposite conveying directions on the sections of the circulating conveyors functionally connected by the accumulating storage lines, a gradient results for all accumulating storage lines 31.1 - 31.3 and 32.1 - 32.3, so that the accumulating storage lines can be implemented exclusively passively by gravity.

[0216] For efficient gravity-driven operation, the storage lines should have a gradient of approximately 3-5°. The height difference between the lower and upper levels can be, for example, 1 m.

[0217] A solution as shown in Figure 14 can also be implemented for a sorting-storage system according to Figure 12 or even Figure 11, although for smaller groups of accumulating storage lines the contribution of the riser sections to the total length of the sorting-storage system becomes more relevant.

[0218] A picking system according to the invention can also be equipped with several separate sorting and storage systems 2 according to the invention. However, only those system components are advantageously provided multiple times in a sorting and storage system for which this offers a functional advantage. Such a sorting and storage system 2 is shown as an example in Figure 15. The sorting and storage system 2 comprises four sorting and storage groups 27, 27', 27", 27"'. Each of the four identical sorting-storage groups has a first circulating conveyor 21 and a second circulating conveyor 22, between which first accumulation storage lines 31 and second accumulation storage lines 32 are arranged alternately in pairs, analogous to Figure 12. The objects to be sorted are fed from a common feed (not shown) via feed lines 211, 221 into the first and second circulating conveyors 21, 22 of the four sorting-storage groups 27, 27', 27", 27"', respectively.Similarly, the completely sorted objects are discharged from the first and second circulating conveyors 21, 22 of the four sorting and storage groups 27, 27', 27", 27'" via removal lines 212, 222 and fed to a common output (not shown) of the sorting and storage system. All system components are controlled by a common central control device 20 of the sorting and storage system 2, which can also regulate the allocation to the various sorting and storage groups 27, 27', 27", 27'".

[0219] The sorting-storage system 2 in Figure 15 can be designed so that objects can also be exchanged between the four sorting-storage groups 27, 27', 27", 27'". However, the resulting conveying paths may be rather long, and additional conveying means are necessary.

[0220] An advantageous variant of a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention with three sorting-storage groups 27, 27', 27" that are partially functionally connected to one another is disclosed in Figure 16.

[0221] The sorting and storage system 2 has four circulating conveyors 21, 22, 23, 24, each conveying in a counterclockwise direction. Between a first circulating conveyor 21 and a second circulating conveyor 22, first accumulating storage lines 31.1 - 31.m and second accumulating storage lines 32.1 - 32.p are arranged alternating in pairs, analogous to Figure 12. Together, the first circulating conveyor 21, the second circulating conveyor 22, and the first and second accumulating storage lines 31, 32 form a first sorting and storage group 27.

[0222] Between the second circulating conveyor 22 and a third circulating conveyor 23, third accumulating storage lines 33.1 - 33.q and fourth accumulating storage lines 34.1 - 34.r are arranged in alternating pairs. Together, the second circulating conveyor 22, the third circulating conveyor 23, and the third and fourth accumulating storage lines 33, 34 form a second sorting storage group 27'.

[0223] Similarly, fifth accumulating storage lines 35.1 - 35.q and sixth accumulating storage lines 36.1 - 36.t are arranged alternately in pairs between the third circulating conveyor 23 and a fourth circulating conveyor 24. Together, the third circulating conveyor 23, the fourth circulating conveyor 24, and the fifth and sixth accumulating storage lines 35, 36 form a third sorting-storage group 27".

[0224] The sorting and storage system 2 has various feed lines for introducing objects to be sorted. Objects can be introduced into the first circulating conveyor 21 via a first feed line 211. Objects can be introduced into the second circulating conveyor 22 via two second feed lines 221, 22T. Objects can be introduced into the third circulating conveyor 23 via two third feed lines 231, 23T. Finally, objects can be introduced into the fourth circulating conveyor 24 via a fourth feed line 241. As in the example shown, the feed lines are advantageously arranged upstream in the direction of circulation of the accumulation and storage lines of a sorting and storage group.

[0225] The sorting and storage system 2 further comprises various removal lines for discharging objects. Objects can be removed from the first circulating conveyor 21 via a first removal line 212. Objects can be removed from the second circulating conveyor 22 via two second removal lines 222, 222'. Objects can be removed from the third circulating conveyor 23 via two third removal lines 232, 232'. Objects can then be removed from the fourth circulating conveyor 24 via a fourth removal line 242. As in the example shown, the removal lines are advantageously arranged downstream in the direction of circulation from the accumulation and storage lines of a sorting and storage group.

[0226] At a minimum, one feed line and one removal line would be sufficient for a sorting and storage system. However, it is advantageous to provide more than one feed line and / or more than one removal line for a sorting and storage system. In particular, one feed line and one removal line can be provided for each circulating conveyor. In this way, transport routes within the circulating conveyors and the sorting and storage system can be kept to a minimum, which increases the throughput of the sorting and storage system.

[0227] All elements of the sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention are controlled via a common control device 20.

[0228] The sorting and storage system 2 shown can be operated such that each of the three sorting and storage groups 27, 27', 27" functions as a separate sorting and storage system. In an advantageous operating mode, however, in this sorting and storage system 2, objects can be easily exchanged between the first sorting and storage group 27 and the second sorting and storage group 27' if they are located on the second circulating conveyor 22 common to both sorting and storage groups 27, 27'. Analogously, objects can be exchanged between the second sorting and storage group 27' and the third sorting and storage group 27" if they are located on the third circulating conveyor 23 common to both sorting and storage groups 27', 27". In the embodiments discussed so far, the length of the accumulation and storage lines was essentially identical across the entire system.However, it is also possible to provide storage lines of different lengths, as shown by way of example in Figure 17.

[0229] The sorting and storage system 2 has two sorting and storage groups 27, 27'. A first sorting and storage group 27 comprises a first circulating conveyor 21 and a second circulating conveyor 22, between which first accumulating storage lines 31 and second accumulating storage lines 32 are arranged alternating in pairs in the direction of circulation. Objects to be sorted are fed to the first circulating conveyor 21 via a first feed line 211. The objects can be removed from the first circulating conveyor 21 via a first removal line 212.

[0230] A second sorting-storage group 27' comprises the second circulating conveyor 22 and a third circulating conveyor 23, between which third accumulating storage lines 33 and fourth accumulating storage lines 34 are arranged alternating in pairs in the direction of circulation. Objects to be sorted are fed to the third circulating conveyor 23 via a third feed line 231. The objects can be removed from the third circulating conveyor 23 via a third removal line 232.

[0231] The length of the first and second accumulation storage lines 31, 32 decreases linearly along the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor 21, while the length of the third and fourth accumulation storage lines 33, 34 also decreases linearly along the direction of rotation of the third circulating conveyor 23. By arranging the second circulating conveyor 22 at a corresponding angle relative to the first circulating conveyor 21 and the third circulating conveyor 23, a substantially rectangular footprint of the sorting-storage system 2 is nevertheless achieved.

[0232] Such a sorting-storage system 2 with different lengths has the advantage that the control device 20 can assign the individual accumulating storage lines 31, 32, 33, 34 to the individual functional modules according to their respective lengths and thus storage capacities. For example, longer accumulating storage lines are advantageously used for storage functions, while the shorter accumulating storage lines can be used for sorting stages.

[0233] An alternative implementation of such a sorting-storage system 2 is shown in Figure 18. In this embodiment, the length of the first and second accumulating storage lines 31, 32 increases linearly along the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor 21, while the length of the third and fourth accumulating storage lines 33, 34 also increases linearly along the direction of rotation of the third circulating conveyor 23. By arranging the second circulating conveyor 22 at a corresponding angle relative to the first circulating conveyor 21 and the third circulating conveyor 23, a substantially rectangular footprint of the sorting-storage system 2 is also achieved in this second circulating conveyor.

[0234] In one embodiment, the picking system 1 with the sorting and storage system 2 for the flexible sorting and storage of piece goods is dynamically configured and / or controlled and operated using artificial intelligence (AI). The use of artificial intelligence for the picking system 1 and the sorting and storage system 2 allows, for example, an assistive system for support, a local AI system for autonomous control in real time, and analytical applications locally or in the cloud.

[0235] Figure 19 shows a schematic representation of an order picking system 1 with a sorting-storage system 2 and a Kl-based control system 17.

[0236] A control system supported by artificial intelligence can be achieved, for example, by training a suitably designed control system with historical data (e.g., picking orders generated in the past) or provided simulated data. For example, the various operating parameters can be varied and the effects on the operation of a simulated sorting and storage system can be taken into account. Through such machine learning, a sorting and storage system according to the invention, with its complex control system, can potentially be controlled more efficiently than with pre-programmed operating algorithms.

[0237] Other applications also have enormous potential for using AI in industrial automation and control technology for order picking system 1 and sorting-storage system 2. For example, an AI-based assistance system offers the possibility of simplifying complex processes by providing recommendations and assistance, for example during operation, commissioning or programming.

[0238] An AI-based cloud computing application is suitable for predictive maintenance or anomaly detection in processes. For example, the operation of a sorting and storage system can be monitored remotely and problems can be identified as early as possible.

[0239] A local AI solution can, for example, give sorting and storage system 2 new communication capabilities, or allow it to think, learn, and decide using its sensors. Ultimately, the goal is to increase throughput and thus boost efficiency, for example, by shortening sorting and storage times and enabling smooth operations.

[0240] A local AI application is capable of reliably controlling ongoing sorting and storage processes. For cloud AI applications, latency and potential communication interruptions must be considered.

[0241] In conventional automation, problem solutions are implemented using fixed programs. These are difficult to adapt and therefore not scalable. In contrast, an AI-based control system for a sorting and storage system is not based on a fixed program, but rather relies on data. Algorithms and neural networks are modeled and trained using historical data from the picking system 1 and the sorting and storage system 2, respectively.

[0242] Starting from this foundation, the results for flexible sorting and storage become increasingly better as the data is processed. With this ability to adapt to current data and new conditions or requirements, an AI-based controller for a sorting and storage system offers enormous scaling potential. Unlike programming code, which typically evolves linearly, progress in training an AI-based controller is exponential.

[0243] An AI-based control system ensures optimization and can stabilize fluctuations in the complex transport system. Using a combination of numerical and analytical methods, the system learns automatically and controls it in a near-optimal manner, without the AI ​​knowing the optimal solution in advance.

[0244] Using advanced analytics in the sorting and storage system, various system states can be recorded and analyzed in real time. The current sorting and storage status is monitored, impending malfunctions are detected, and immediate action recommendations are issued. This allows anomalies in sorting and storage operations to be detected in real time, providing early warning of impending problems, allowing maintenance personnel to take immediate action.

[0245] The sorting and storage system can also perform intelligent predictive maintenance. This precisely analyzes primary drive components according to actual operating conditions and provides early warning of failure or wear of parts. This reduces downtime and allows for the creation of an efficient maintenance plan. Furthermore, the technology offers simulation capabilities during the design phase of applications to predict service life and estimate annual maintenance costs. This allows the operation of the order picking system to be optimized.

[0246] 1 and the sorting and storage system 2 can be modified and adapted accordingly, for example, to extend their service life. This improves the system's availability and reduces maintenance costs.

[0247] Hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) simulations can be performed for the sorting-storage-AI-based control system. The real control system is developed, validated, and tested in conjunction with a virtual machine or system.

[0248] The control system 17 can optionally be connected to a cloud 18 (i.e. external outsourced computing capacities) via a network in order to enable cloud computing applications.

[0249] The Kl-based control system 17 of the order picking system 1 comprises a Kl-based assistance system as well as a local Kl for the system, which is able to make precise system-relevant decisions and thus increases efficiency.

[0250] Figure 20 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention with a plurality of unidirectional accumulation lines 31, 32 and a circulating conveyor 21.

[0251] Compared to a similar system shown in Figure 12, this one differs mainly in the use of only one circulating conveyor, which has two sections 218, 219.

[0252] In addition, in the illustrated embodiment of the sorting-storage system

[0253] 2 the first accumulation lines 31 and the second accumulation lines 32 are arranged in an alternating pattern.

[0254] The first accumulation lines 31 connect the first section 218 unidirectionally with the second section 219 in terms of conveying technology. The second accumulation lines 32, in turn, connect the second section 218 unidirectionally with the first section 218 in terms of conveying technology.

[0255] The circulating conveyor 22, designed, for example, as a chain conveyor, rotates clockwise and integrates an infeed line 211, via which transport bags can be introduced into the sorting-storage system 2, and a removal line 212, via which transport bags can be removed from the sorting-storage system 2. A stop element 2110 stops incoming transport bags until a free carrier is available on the circulating conveyor to pick up the transport bag and convey it further. The stop element 2110 can be designed as an electrically operated pusher controlled by a sensor system. The sensor system monitors the distance between the transport bags as well as the availability of free carriers on the circulating conveyor 21. Upon detection of a free carrier, the control system of the stop element 2110 emits a signal, whereupon the pusher retracts and clears the way for the frontmost transport bag.

[0256] The configuration shown for the sorting and storage system 2 allows for efficient feeding of transport bags into each of the first and second accumulating storage lines. The number of transport bags that can be stored in each line depends on the length of the line and the thickness of the transport bags to be stored.

[0257] The accumulating storage lines 31, 32 function as a physical FIFO (First-In-First-Out) storage system, ensuring that transport bags are forwarded and stored in a regulated sequence. This means that the foremost transport bag in the conveying direction from both the first and second accumulating storage lines 31, 32 can be fed into the circulating conveyor 21.

[0258] In this embodiment, the system's construction is designed independently of its control system. This means that the sorting-storage system 2 can, for example, be functionally configured as a multi-stage matrix system that can be modified at any time.

[0259] Figure 21 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting and storage system 2 according to the invention with a plurality of bidirectional accumulation and storage lines 37 and a circulating conveyor 21. This enables greater flexibility and efficiency in handling the transport bags. While unidirectional accumulation and storage lines each have a fixed infeed and outfeed direction, bidirectional lines allow transport bags to be fed in and out in both directions.

[0260] These bidirectional accumulation lines 37 technically connect sections 218, 219 of the circulating conveyor 21. As already mentioned, a transport pocket can be moved from an accumulation line 37 in both directions, i.e., both to the first section 218 and to the second section 219. Such a layout allows for an even more flexible, dynamic configuration of the sorting-storage system, in which, in particular, the transport paths of the transport pocket can be further minimized during a sorting process.

[0261] The transport pockets used in overhead conveyor systems can generally only be conveyed in one direction along a conveyor path of the overhead conveyor system. This means that they either cannot be conveyed backwards at all, or they cannot be correctly processed by other system components when rotated 180°. With such transport pockets, it is therefore advantageous to operate each bidirectional accumulation line in only one of the two possible conveying directions, so that transport pockets with different conveying orientations cannot block each other or return to the overhead conveyor system with an orientation reversed by 180°. Empty accumulation lines, on the other hand, are available for both conveying directions.

[0262] This problem does not arise when using transport bags that are equally functional in both conveying directions. Such transport bags are known, for example, from US 11299350 B2.

[0263] Figure 22 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention with a plurality of bidirectional accumulation-storage lines 37 and two circulating conveyors 21, 22. This configuration of the sorting-storage system 2 thus combines the features of the systems as described in Figures 4 and 21. In addition to the bidirectional functionality of the accumulation-storage lines 37, the accumulation-storage lines 37 connect the first circulating conveyor 21 to the second circulating conveyor 22, and vice versa.

[0264] The shown configuration of a sorting-storage system 2 allows the transport pockets to travel a shorter distance during infeed and outfeed, namely via the corresponding circulating conveyors 21, 22, instead of using a single circulating conveyor that serves all the accumulation lines 37, as shown in Figure 20.

[0265] Figure 23 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention with a plurality of storage carousels 38.1 - 38.v, which connect two circulating conveyors 21, 22 via infeed lines 381, 383 and outfeed lines 383, 384.

[0266] Compared to accumulating storage lines, storage carousels 38 offer the possibility of internal circulation of the stored transport bags. The accumulating storage carousel 38 thus primarily functions like two adjacent unidirectional accumulating storage lines 31, 32. However, the additional internal circulation allows the transport bags to be discharged at each discharge line 382, ​​384 in any desired order.

[0267] As soon as a transport bag is introduced into the sorting-storage system 2 via a first feed line 211 or a second feed line 221, it is first conveyed on the circulating conveyor 21 or 22, respectively, and then introduced into a storage carousel 38. For this purpose, a stop element 3810 or 3830 is provided after a switch, which clears the path when an empty space on the storage carousel is available to receive a transport bag. The transport bags can be moved within the storage carousel 38 to achieve a certain sorting through targeted storage.

[0268] Figure 24 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention with a plurality of storage carousels 38 connected to a circulating conveyor 21. In contrast to the embodiment shown in Figure 23, there is no second circulating conveyor here. Therefore, the storage carousels 38 are only connected to the rest of the sorting-storage system 2 on one side. This arrangement therefore results in a simplified structure of the system 2 while retaining the functionality according to the invention.

[0269] Figure 25 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention with a plurality of bidirectional accumulation lines 39 in the form of branch lines. The transport pockets are sorted from the circulating conveyor 21 into the accumulation lines 39. These branch lines are bidirectional and connected to the circulating conveyor 21 via infeed lines 391 and outfeed lines 392. The accumulation lines 39 are thus functionally LIFO (Last-In-First-Out) storage systems.

[0270] The special feature of the accumulating storage lines 39 in the illustrated embodiment lies in their dead-end configuration. This arrangement allows the accumulating storage lines 39 to be inclined, thus eliminating the need for driven conveying devices such as flights or chains. By appropriately inclining the accumulating storage lines 39, the transport pockets in the accumulating storage lines 39 can be conveyed solely by gravity, as explained below in Figure 26.

[0271] Figure 26A shows the accumulation line 39 in an infeed position in which it is inclined downwards and is connected in terms of conveyor technology to a permanently downwardly inclined infeed line 391, so that transport pockets 94 introduced from the circulating conveyor 21 slide by gravity to the end point 395 and are accumulated there.

[0272] If necessary, these transport pockets 94 can be discharged from the accumulation line 39 again, as shown in Figure 26B, by transferring the accumulation line 39 to a discharge position. For this purpose, a stop mechanism 390 is activated at the entrance to the accumulation line 39. The accumulation line 39 is then pivoted upward as a whole, breaking the connection with the infeed line 391. In the final position, the accumulation line 39 is then connected to the discharge line 392 by conveyor technology, but the stop mechanism 390 prevents the transport pockets 94, which are now accumulated at the stop mechanism, from sliding out uncontrollably. The stop mechanism 390 now allows a single, gravity-driven feed of the transport pockets back into the circulating conveyor 21.

[0273] The swiveling of the inlet line can, for example, be done hydraulically.

[0274] The inclination of the accumulation line 39 in the infeed and outfeed positions may be smaller than in the schematically shown example, whereby an inclination of a few degrees relative to the horizontal may be sufficient. The inclination may, for example, be less than 15°, in particular less than 5°.

[0275] Figure 27 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a sorting-storage system 2 according to the invention with a plurality of unidirectional accumulating storage lines 39 in the form of loops. The transport bags are sorted from the circulating conveyor 21 into the accumulating storage lines 39. These loops are unidirectional and connected to the circulating conveyor 21 via infeed lines 391 and outfeed lines 392. The accumulating storage lines 39 are thus functionally FIFO (First-In-First-Out) accumulators.

[0276] Functionally, the sorting-storage system 2 shown is very similar to the sorting-storage system shown in Figure 24, but without the functionality of the rotary storage. This, however, allows for a simpler structure of the accumulating storage lines 39.

[0277] The transport pockets within the accumulation storage lines 39 are advantageously conveyed passively by gravity. For this purpose, the accumulation storage line 39 can be designed with a gradient in the conveying direction, with an actively driven riser section (not shown) being provided at one point on the accumulation storage line 39, advantageously directly after the inlet line 391. The stored transport pockets then travel, driven by gravity, to a stop element 390, where they accumulate. The stop mechanism 390 now allows the transport pockets to be fed back into the circulating conveyor 21 in individual, gravity-driven steps.

[0278] To enable rapid adaptation to changing operating parameters in the aforementioned embodiments of a sorting and storage system according to the invention, the functional design of the sorting and storage system can be dynamically and flexibly adapted without the need for adjustments to the technical infrastructure itself. For example, a sorting and storage system configured as a multi-stage matrix system can be modified at any time, for example, by changing the number and size of the matrix stages.

[0279] These adjustments can be made automatically, for example based on defined criteria such as the number of filled transport bags in the sorting-storage system, the maximum capacity of the transport bags in this system, the capacity of the transport bags that can be accommodated by each accumulation line, and the number and size of different orders to be picked.

[0280] In order to deal with a variable and unknown number of orders, an adaptive algorithm is advantageous.

[0281] A first step of such an advantageous algorithm is to collect and analyze real-time data to determine the number of transport pockets assigned to each order. This data is crucial for planning the initial distribution of the transport pockets across the accumulating lines. The minimum number of required sorting matrix stages is determined from the total number of transport pockets and the number and capacity of the lines. This initial calculation determines the minimum number of stages needed to process all orders without exceeding the capacity of a single line.

[0282] The second step of the algorithm aims to optimize the merging of transport bags belonging to the same order. This iterative process is performed for each sorting stage, starting with the first sorting stage. In each iteration, the distribution of the bags across the storage lines is re-evaluated. The algorithm then adjusts the assignment of transport bags to the accumulating storage lines so that the bags for each order are arranged on consecutive lines whenever possible, thereby reducing the need for further sorting in subsequent stages. If a line becomes overcrowded, the bags are redistributed to less occupied lines. The algorithm takes into account the dynamic nature of the order volumes and can increase or decrease the number of sorting stages accordingly, depending on how efficiently the bags were sorted and grouped in the previous stages.The goal is to minimize the number of stages while maximizing the speed of the sorting process.

[0283] Such an approach to optimizing the number of stages in a matrix sorting system, although effective, can be time- and resource-intensive in practice, since the iterative adjustment and re-evaluation of the stage and line assignments can require considerable computational effort, especially for large data sets and high order variability.

[0284] An alternative is to first create a simulation of the system, in which bags containing different orders are virtually moved through the system. This simulation can be used to generate a large amount of training data representing all possible scenarios, from processing a single order to processing a large number of different orders simultaneously.

[0285] With this data, an algorithm—or, if necessary, a brute-force approach—can be used to determine the optimal number of stages for each scenario. These results can then be used to train an AI-based model, which can quickly and efficiently configure the sorting-storage system in real-world use and adapt it to the specific circumstances. Alternatively or additionally, real data from the sorting-storage system can also be used to train such an AI model.

[0286] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Rather, various further modifications of the present invention, in addition to the examples disclosed herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description and the accompanying figures, which modifications also fall within the scope of the claims.

[0287] In addition, various references are cited in the description, the disclosure content of which is hereby incorporated into the description by reference in its entirety.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Sorting-storage system (2) for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods (91), comprising a first circulating conveyor (21); a second circulating conveyor (22); a plurality of m first accumulation storage lines (31) which unidirectionally connect the first circulating conveyor (31) to the second circulating conveyor (22) in terms of conveying technology; and a plurality of p second accumulation storage lines (32) which unidirectionally connect the second circulating conveyor (22) to the first circulating conveyor (31).

2. Sorting-storage system according to claim 1, wherein the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor (21) is the same as the direction of rotation of the second circulating conveyor (22).

3. Sorting-storage system according to claim 1, wherein the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor (21) is opposite to the direction of rotation of the second circulating conveyor (22).

4. Sorting-storage system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first circulating conveyor (21) and / or the second circulating conveyor (22) can be operated with alternating conveying directions.

5. Sorting-storage system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second circulating conveyor (22) is arranged within the first circulating conveyor (21).

6. Sorting-storage system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on at least one partial section of the first circulating conveyor (21) the length of the first accumulation storage lines (31) and the second accumulation storage lines (32) increases or decreases along the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor (21).

7. Sorting and storage system according to one of the preceding claims, with a first feed line (211) for feeding piece goods into the first circulating conveyor (21), and / or with a second feed line (221) for feeding piece goods into the second circulating conveyor (21).

8. Sorting and storage system according to one of the preceding claims, with a first removal line (212) for discharging piece goods from the first circulating conveyor (21), and / or with a second removal line (222) for discharging piece goods from the second circulating conveyor (21).

9. Sorting-storage system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the number m of first accumulation storage lines (31) is equal to the number p of second accumulation storage lines (32).

10. Sorting-storage system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first accumulation storage lines (31) and the second accumulation storage lines (32) are arranged alternately along the direction of rotation of the first circulating conveyor (21).

11. Sorting and storage system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a third circulating conveyor (23); a plurality of q third accumulation storage lines (33) which unidirectionally connect the second circulating conveyor (22) to the third circulating conveyor (23) in terms of conveying technology; and a plurality of r fourth accumulation storage lines (34) which unidirectionally connect the third circulating conveyor (23) to the second circulating conveyor (22).

12. Sorting and storage system according to claim 11, with a fourth circulating conveyor (24); a plurality of s fifth accumulation storage lines (35) which unidirectionally connect the third circulating conveyor (23) to the fourth circulating conveyor (24) in terms of conveying technology; and a plurality of t sixth accumulation storage lines (36) which unidirectionally connect the fourth circulating conveyor (24) to the third circulating conveyor (23) in terms of conveying technology.

13. Sorting-storage system according to one of the preceding claims, with a KI-supported control device (17).

14. Order picking system (1) for order picking piece goods, with at least one loading station (11) for feeding piece goods (91) to be picked and / or at least one long-term storage (16) for providing piece goods (91) to be picked; at least one sorting-storage system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 13 for the flexible sorting and storage of piece goods (91); and at least one delivery station (14) for delivering groups (92) of picked piece goods.

15. A method for the flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods (91), in which a sorting-storage system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 13 or a picking system according to claim 14 is provided, wherein all accumulation storage lines (31, 32) form a total quantity (A); from the total quantity (A) of all accumulation storage lines of the sorting-storage system, a first subset (B1) and a different second subset (B2) are defined; a quantity of piece goods (91) to be sorted is fed to the sorting-storage system (2); the piece goods (91) are stored in the accumulation storage lines of the first subset (B1); and the piece goods (91) are removed from the accumulation storage lines of the first subset (B1) and stored in the various accumulation storage lines of the second subset (B2) according to a specific second sorting criterion (SK2).

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a third subset (B3) is defined from the total set (A) of all accumulation storage lines of the sorting-storage system, which subset is different from the first subset (B1) and the second subset (B2); and the piece goods (91) are removed from the accumulation storage lines of the second subset (B2) and stored in the various accumulation storage lines of the third subset (B3) according to a specific third sorting criterion (SK3).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein a fourth subset (B4) is defined from the total set (A) of all accumulation storage lines of the sorting-storage system, which subset is different from the first subset (B1), the second subset (B2), and the third subset (B3); and the piece goods (91) are removed from the accumulation storage lines of the third subset (B3) and stored in the various accumulation storage lines of the fourth subset (B4) according to a specific fourth sorting criterion (SK4).

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the definition of one or more of the subsets (B1, B2, B3, B4) is changed at a later time after a first definition of the corresponding subset.

19. A method for controlling the operation of a sorting-storage system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 13 or of a picking system according to claim 14, in which at least one virtual function module (51, 52, 53, 54, 55) is defined with a designated function, wherein each function module is assigned at least one accumulation line (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) of the sorting-storage system (2); and the sorting-storage system is controlled such that the at least one virtual function module fulfills its designated function.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein two or more virtual function modules (51, 52, 53, 54, 55) are defined which together can fulfill an intended overall function of the sorting-storage system (2); and the sorting-storage system (2) is controlled such that the virtual function modules (51, 52, 53, 54, 55) interact with one another in an intended manner so that they fulfill the intended overall function of the sorting-storage system (2).

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the at least one virtual function module (51, 52, 53, 54, 55) has the function of a buffer (51, 55) or the function of a sorting stage (52, 53, 54) of a matrix sorter.

22. Method according to one of claims 19 to 21, wherein at least one virtual functional module (51, 52, 53, 54, 55) is redefined during operation of the sorting-storage system (2).

23. Method according to one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the sorting-storage system (2) is controlled such that a method for flexible sorting and intermediate storage of piece goods according to one of claims 14 to 16 is carried out.

24. Method according to one of claims 19 to 23, wherein, before carrying out the control of the sorting-storage system (2) in operational mode, a control module with KI functionality is trained with simulated and / or historical operating parameters, in particular with sorting orders and / or picking orders to be fulfilled.

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