Order-picking system, and method for the order picking of items

Abstract

The invention relates to an order-picking system (1) having an order-picking station (2) and a feeder (3), which is arranged upstream of the order-picking station (2), in order to feed a load carrier (4) to the order-picking station (2), it then being possible for items to be picked on the load carrier (4), wherein a first load-carrier-supply device (5) is connected to the feeder (3), it being possible for load carriers (4) of a first type to be fed to the feeder (3) by this supply device, and provision is made for a second load-carrier-supply device (6) also to be connected to the feeder (3), so that, as an alternative to the load carrier (4) of the first type, load carriers (4) of a second type can also be fed via the feeder (3) to the order-picking station (2).

Description

[0001] Picking device and method for picking goods

[0002] The invention relates to an order-picking device, comprising a picking station and a feeder arranged upstream of the picking station in order to feed a load carrier to the picking station, on which load carriers goods can subsequently be picked, wherein a first load carrier provision device is connected to the feeder, from which load carriers of a first type can be fed to the feeder.

[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for picking goods on a load carrier at a picking station.

[0004] Picking devices of the type mentioned above are known from the state of the art. However, it has been shown that such picking devices often do not meet customer requirements. In particular, it has been shown that different load carrier types are used in many cases, and in particular, changing a load carrier type from one picking order to the next frequently leads to problems.

[0005] This is where the invention comes in. The object of the invention is to provide a picking device of the type mentioned above, which is particularly well suited for executing picking orders with changing load carriers.

[0006] Furthermore, such a procedure should be specified.

[0007] The first object is achieved according to the invention by a picking device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which a second load carrier provision device is connected to the feeder in order to be able to supply the picking station with load carriers of a second type via the feeder as an alternative to the load carrier of the first type.

[0008] Usually, the first load carrier supply device is for sorting

[0009] Provision of load carriers of a first type, for example roll containers, and the second load carrier provision device is designed for the single-type provision of load carriers of a second type, for example pallets. Load carriers of different types can now be picked up via the feeder and fed to the picking station in order to pick goods on these load carriers. With corresponding prior art picking devices, a change from one load carrier to another could only take place by feeding load carriers via the feeder in a sequence that corresponded to the sequence of the load carriers corresponding to the individual picking orders. Consequently, a change to this sequence was not possible at short notice, which sequence change can occur particularly in the event of picking errors, faulty or missing goods, or the like.This disadvantage is thus avoided with a picking device according to the invention in that load carriers of different types can be fed in at any time via the feed system, so that necessary sequence changes can be responded to quickly.

[0010] Although this refers to a first load carrier provision device or load carriers of a first type and a second load carrier provision device or load carriers of a second type, it is understood that the invention can also be implemented with three or more different types of load carriers. For example, the invention can be used for Euro pallets, roll containers, half pallets, and / or plastic pallets. Accordingly, one or more additional load carrier provision devices can also be provided in addition to the second load carrier provision device.

[0011] In order to be able to react particularly quickly to changing load carrier type requirements in picking orders, it has proven useful for the feed system to have two load carrier locations, which are usually designed for different types of load carriers. Load carriers can be fed to the picking station from either load carrier location, usually even if both load carrier locations are occupied. The movement of a load carrier from one load carrier location to the picking station therefore does not usually take place via another load carrier location in the feed system. This creates buffer storage for load carriers of the individual types in the feed system, from which buffer storage load carriers can be moved to the picking station with particularly short transport routes, thus enabling a particularly rapid change from one load carrier type to another.

[0012] In particular, if the device is used for more than two types of load carriers, additional load carrier positions can of course also be provided, for example three or four load carrier positions.

[0013] It is advantageous if the feeder can be brought into a first working position and a second working position, whereby a load carrier can be fed to the picking station in the first working position of the feeder from a first load carrier location directly or via a buffer location, and whereby a load carrier can be fed to the picking station in the second working position of the feeder from a second load carrier location directly or via a buffer location. If there are more than two load carrier locations in the feeder, it is understood that a corresponding number of working positions can also be provided. If the load carrier locations are arranged vertically one above the other, for example, the individual working positions of the feeder correspond to different vertical positions of the feeder.

[0014] Particularly preferably, a load carrier can be fed to the picking station in the first working position of the feed exclusively from the first load carrier location, and a load carrier can be fed to the picking station in the second working position of the feed exclusively from the second load carrier location. This enables a particularly rapid change between load carriers at the picking station and ensures a simple structure.

[0015] The load carrier locations can be arranged in a variety of ways relative to one another, for example vertically one above the other and / or horizontally next to one another. Goods can be transported between the load carrier locations or from one or each of the load carrier locations to the picking location in a variety of ways, for example using a transverse carriage or a robot with a gripper or gripper arm. The feeder can be located directly upstream of the picking location. However, it can also be provided that a buffer location for at least one, in particular for exactly one, load carrier is provided between the feeder and the picking location. If a picking order following a current picking order specifies the same load carrier as the current picking order, the buffer location can be filled with the load carrier of the type that corresponds to the current picking order.If, for example, an error occurs during the current picking order, the load carrier located in the buffer location can be used as an alternative, especially since the buffer location is usually located directly in front of or adjacent to the picking location. If no error occurs, the correct load carrier is already available for the next picking order, namely in the buffer location.

[0016] If a load carrier type changes, i.e., if a picking order following a current picking order has a different load carrier type than the current picking order, the buffer location can be kept free. This means that, regardless of whether an error occurs in the current picking order and another identical load carrier is required, or whether the next picking order with different load carriers is started as planned, the corresponding load carrier can be quickly made available via the feeder and the buffer location. In other words, the buffer location typically only remains free if a picking order following a current picking order has a load carrier of a different type than the current picking order.

[0017] Preferably, the load carrier locations are arranged vertically one above the other. This enables a particularly space-saving design while simultaneously achieving short transport routes from the storage locations to the picking location or an upstream buffer location.

[0018] It is advantageous if at least one load carrier location is equipped with rollers to facilitate easy loading and unloading of load carriers. For example, a load carrier location can be equipped with roller tracks with an incline and a stop, so that load carriers can be easily transferred to the feeder or load carrier location via the corresponding load carrier provision device, in particular a chain conveyor, and are held there in a defined position.

[0019] The supply of different load carrier types can be designed in a variety of ways. However, to achieve a particularly compact design, it has proven advantageous if the supply is designed as a vertically movable lift. The lift or a vertically movable carriage can then have the load carrier locations required for the individual load carrier types, in which load carriers of the different types can be temporarily stored separately. Depending on which load carrier type is currently required at the picking station or an upstream buffer location, a vertical position of the lift or a lifting carriage is then selected, which enables the load carrier of the respective type to be removed from the respective load carrier location and transferred to the picking station or the upstream buffer location.

[0020] It is therefore particularly advantageous if the feed system has a vertically movable lifting carriage with load carrier positions arranged vertically one above the other for load carriers of the individual types. The load carrier supply devices can be designed in any manner known from the prior art. In particular, it can also be provided that one or both load carrier supply devices provide the load carriers of the individual types by moving the load carriers from corresponding load carrier storage devices or warehouses manually or mechanically to the feed, in particular using forklift trucks. However, it is particularly advantageous if the first load carrier supply device and / or the second load carrier supply device are designed as roller conveyors or chain conveyors.

[0021] It is advantageous if the first load carrier provision device is set up to provide roll containers. It has been shown that, in addition to pallets, roll containers are often used as load carriers, in particular for picking goods intended for supermarkets and the like and for easily transporting them to target shelves at a destination using the roll containers. Roll containers generally have a base, casters connected to the base, and optionally two or four side walls. To prevent the roll containers from making uncontrolled movements within the order-picking device, it is preferably provided that the roll containers are provided by the first load carrier provision device on adapters, which adapters have form-fitting elements, in particular recesses, for the form-fitting fixation of the roll containers to the adapters.The adapters are typically designed without bottom rollers, allowing them to be transported easily and reliably, for example, via chain conveyors, roller conveyors, or conveyor belts. The adapters are preferably designed as adapter plates, which can be made of wood, for example, and have a flat base. To secure the roll containers to the adapters, the form-locking elements can be designed, for example, as recesses or cutouts corresponding to the positions and sizes of the roll containers, into which the roll container's rollers can easily engage. At the same time, the roll containers can also be easily removed or lifted off the adapters.

[0022] The adapters typically remain within the picking device and are not shipped with the picking order. Accordingly, it is advantageous to provide a separating device by means of which the adapters can be separated from the roll containers. This separating device is typically located downstream of the picking station, allowing the roll containers to be transported on the adapters to the picking station in a stable manner. Afterward, the goods are picked on the load carriers at the picking station. The picking order, comprising the load carrier and the goods picked on it, is removed from the picking station, usually to a transport vehicle, which transports the picking order to a destination.The separating device then separates the load carrier from the adapter before the picking order is moved to a corresponding transport vehicle, so that the adapter remains within the picking device and can be used for subsequent picking orders. For example, it can be provided that the load carrier, along with the goods picked on it, is lowered from the picking station. In particular, during the lowering process, the load carrier, along with the goods picked on it, can also be wrapped.

[0023] The lowering movement can also cause the adapter to be separated from the load carrier.

[0024] For example, the separating device can be provided with a holding device, by means of which the roll container can be secured independently of the adapter, and a removal device, by means of which the adapter can be removed independently of the roll container. Thus, the picking order, including the adapter, can be lowered by a floor-mounted lifting table that engages the adapter. A holding device then grips the roll container independently of the adapter, while the removal device, designed as a lifting table, continues to remove the adapter and feeds it back into the picking device.

[0025] It is particularly advantageous if a return conveyor is provided adjacent to the removal conveyor, with which the adapter can be returned to the first load carrier supply device.

[0026] The further object is achieved according to the invention by a method of the type mentioned above, in which the picking station is supplied with load carriers of a first type or load carriers of a second type via a feeder, onto which the goods are subsequently picked. Preferably, the method according to the invention is implemented with a picking device according to the invention, and a picking device according to the invention is suitable for carrying out a method according to the invention.

[0027] It is advantageous to provide a buffer space for a load carrier between the feeder and the picking station. This ensures a particularly rapid load carrier changeover, even when the feeder is currently being moved to fill a load carrier location.

[0028] It is advantageous if the buffer location is filled with the load carrier of a picking order following a current picking order, provided that this subsequent picking order has the same load carrier type as the current picking order. For example, a current picking order may specify a roll container as the load carrier type, while a subsequent picking order may specify a pallet as the load carrier type. In this case, the buffer location would not be filled when the first picking order is completed, especially since there is always a risk of an error occurring during processing of the picking order. However, if both the current picking order and the subsequent picking order have a roll container as the load carrier type, the picking location can already be filled when the first picking order is processed.Regardless of whether an error occurs during the processing of this picking order or the following picking order is processed as planned, a roll container is required as the next load carrier, which is why it can be kept in stock in the buffer space.

[0029] Accordingly, it is also preferably provided that the buffer space is left free if a picking order following a current picking order does not have the same load carrier type as a current picking order.

[0030] Any errors can then be easily addressed. Upon successful completion of the first picking order, the picking station is then supplied with a load carrier of the appropriate type from the feeder, if necessary via the buffer location. The buffer location can be located between the feeder and the picking station. However, it is also possible to have one or more buffer locations located next to the picking station and filled via the feeder while a picking order is being completed.

[0031] Further features, advantages, and effects of the invention will become apparent from the following exemplary embodiments. Reference is made to the drawings, which show:

[0032] Fig. 1 and 2 show a picking device according to the invention in side view and top view;

[0033] Fig. 3 shows a further order picking device according to the invention in an isometric view;

[0034] Figs. 4 and 5 show an adapter and an adapter with a rolling container; Fig. 6 shows a detail of a picking device according to the invention;

[0035] Fig. 7 and 8 show a detail of an order-picking device according to the invention in different working states;

[0036] Fig. 9 shows a lifting carriage of an order-picking device according to the invention; Figs. 10 to 16 show further details of an order-picking device according to the invention.

[0037] 1 and 2 show a first order-picking device 1 according to the invention, specifically in Fig. 1 in a side view and in Fig. 2 in a plan view of a lower level of the order-picking device 1. As can be seen in the plan view of the lower level, a first load carrier provision device 5 and a second load carrier provision device 6 are provided, both of which are connected to a feed 3 designed here as a vertically movable lift. The first load carrier provision device 5 provides load carriers 4 of a first type, here roll containers 9, and the second load carrier provision device 6 provides load carriers 4 of a second type, here pallets 10.

[0038] Load carriers 4 of both types can be fed via the lift to a picking station 2 and a buffer station 8 located upstream of the picking station 2. For this purpose, the lift has a lifting carriage 16 with two levels, each level forming a load carrier station 7 in which a load carrier 4 can be arranged. An upper load carrier station 7 is designed here as a load carrier station 7 for a roll container 9, and a lower load carrier station 7 is designed as a load carrier station 7 for a pallet 10, which is why the upper load carrier station 7 requires more vertical space than the lower load carrier station 7.Depending on the vertical position of the lifting carriage 16, i.e., depending on whether the upper or lower load carrier location 7 is at the level of a picking level 17 arranged above the load carrier provision devices 5, 6, either the load carrier 4 of the first type or the load carrier 4 of the second type can be removed from the lifting carriage 16, resulting in a flexible load carrier feed. These different vertical positions thus form different working positions of the feed 3, in which load carriers of different types can be fed to the picking station 2. As can be seen, in the first working position shown, the feed 3 of the roll container 9 is possible, but not the feed 3 of the pallet 10, and the feed 3 here takes place directly from the load carrier location 7 to the downstream buffer location 8.In particular, there is no movement of a load carrier from one load carrier location 7 via another load carrier location 7 of the feed 3, so that a particularly rapid change is possible.

[0039] The buffer location 8 is located directly in front of the picking location 2, at which picking is carried out, for example, by a robot, so that the buffer location 8 and / or the picking location 2 can be quickly supplied with a load carrier 4 even when the feeder 3 or the lifting carriage 16 is currently being moved.

[0040] Fig. 3 shows a further order-picking device 1 according to the invention in an isometric view. Here, too, the supply 3 of the load carriers 4 takes place via the load carrier provision devices on a different level than the order-picking, and here, too, the supply 3 is designed as a lift with a vertically movable lifting carriage 16. In contrast to the order-picking device 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, here the first load carrier provision device 5 is designed with a roller conveyor, while the second load carrier provision device 6, via which pallets 10 can be supplied, is formed by a pallet buffer station to which pallets 10 are supplied from a warehouse, for example, with a forklift truck.

[0041] Fig. 4 shows an adapter designed as an adapter plate 11 for transporting roll containers in an order picking device 1 according to the invention. The adapter is essentially plate-shaped so that it can be easily transported with a conveying device such as a roller conveyor, but has recesses 12 on an upper side for rollers of the roll container 9, in which the roll container 9 can easily engage and thus be transported stably with the adapter.

[0042] Fig. 5 shows the adapter together with the roll container 9 arranged on it in an arrangement in which the adapter together with the roll container 9 is moved by the order picking device 1. Fig. 6 shows a lifting carriage 16 of a lift of the order picking device 1 of Fig. 3 in detail. As can be seen, two load carrier positions 7 are provided here, wherein, analogous to the order picking device 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a lower load carrier position 7 is provided for a pallet 10 and an upper load carrier position 7 is provided for a roll container 9. The upper load carrier position 7 is designed with roller tracks 18 which have a slight incline and a stop 19 so that a roll container 9 located on an adapter can be easily stored in the upper load carrier position 7 and remains in a defined position.At a lower end of this roller track 18, a stop 19 is arranged, against which the adapter plate 11 together with the roller container 9 located thereon rests, so that a position of the roller container 9 is clearly defined during transport with the lifting carriage 16.

[0043] Figs. 7 and 8 show different process states of a storage process for such a roll container 9 located on an adapter in different states. Fig. 7 shows a state in which the adapter is pushed onto the roller tracks 18 by means of a pusher 20. The roller tracks 18 here have an incline of, for example, 1 or 2 degrees. Furthermore, a backstop 21 is usually provided, which prevents an adapter pushed into the load carrier location 7 from rolling out again.

[0044] Furthermore, a stop 19 is provided at the end, against which the adapter together with the rolling container 9 finally rests, as can be seen in Fig. 8. In this position, the pusher 20 is also retracted again, so that the lifting carriage 16 can be moved vertically from this position.

[0045] A lower load carrier location 7 is filled with pallets 10. This filling can be done automatically or manually.

[0046] Fig. 9 shows the lifting carriage 16 in detail. As can be seen, roller conveyors with stops and backstops 21 are provided in the upper area, and a holder for a pallet 10 is formed in the lower area. Fig. 10 shows the buffer position 8 and the picking station 2 and adjacent the lifting carriage 16 of the feed system 3 designed as a lift, together with a roll container 9 and a pallet 10. Movement of the pallet 10 or the roll container 9 on the adapter from the lift via the buffer position 8 to the picking station 2 is carried out here, for example, using telescopic rails 22, which can thus engage both the pallets 10 and the adapters when the lifting carriage 16 is at the appropriate height. The telescopic rails 22 can, for example, be rubberized and / or designed with a car tire tread in order to create appropriate friction and to be able to transport the individual load carriers 4 from the lifting carriage 16 to the buffer position 8 and picking station 2.

[0047] Fig. 11 shows in detail how corresponding telescopic rails 22 engage an adapter arranged at the upper load carrier location 7 in order to remove it from the lifting carriage 16.

[0048] Fig. 12 shows a separating device 13 adjoining the picking station 2, with which the adapter is separated from the roll container 9 after the picking order has been completed. As can be seen, this separating device 13 is arranged below the picking station 2. Load carriers 4 are thus lifted from a lower level to the picking level 17 by means of the feed 3 formed by the lift with the lifting carriage 16, after which the load carriers 4 are moved to the picking station 2, at which goods are moved onto the load carriers 4 according to a picking order, after which the load carriers 4 are lowered together with the goods and moved to the separating device 13. This up and subsequent down movement of the load carriers 4 is shown in Fig. 12 by corresponding arrows.

[0049] The separating device 13 has a holding device 14, shown in detail in Fig. 13, which has movable fingers 4, by which the rolling container 9 can be held independently of the adapter. During a downward movement of the adapter, the fingers 4 thus hold the rolling container 9 in position, while the adapter plate 11 is moved further downward. Furthermore, the separating device 13 has a removal device 23, with which the adapter can be conveyed independently of the rolling container 9.

[0050] Fig. 14 shows in detail an aspect of this removal device 23, with which the adapter is removed from a vertical travel range of the roll container 9 by means of a pivoting movement and moved to a return conveyor device 15, so that the roll container 9, which is held with the holding device 14 for separation from the adapter plate 11, can subsequently be released from the holding device 14 and removed from the order picking device 1 by a further vertical movement downwards and transported to a final destination.

[0051] By means of a return conveyor 15 connected to the pivoting unit, which can be seen in Figs. 15 and 16, the adapters are conveyed back to the first load carrier supply device 5, where the adapter plates 11 are finally reloaded with roll containers 9. This final step of loading the adapters with roll containers 9 in the first load carrier supply device 5 is shown in Figs. 15 and 16.

[0052] With a picking device 1 according to the invention and a picking method that can be implemented accordingly, rapid and efficient picking of goods is reliably possible, even for picking orders with load carriers 4 of different types.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Order-picking device (1), comprising a picking station (2) and a feed (3) upstream of the picking station (2) in order to feed a load carrier to the picking station (2), on which load carriers goods can subsequently be picked, wherein a first load carrier provision device (5) is connected to the feed (3), from which load carriers of a first type can be fed to the feed (3), characterized in that a second load carrier provision device (6) is also connected to the feed (3) in order to be able to feed load carriers of a second type to the picking station (2) via the feed (3) as an alternative to the load carrier of the first type.

2. Order-picking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed (3) has two load carrier locations (7), wherein load carriers can be fed to the order-picking location (2) from each load carrier location (7).

3. Order-picking device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the feed can be brought into a first working position and into a second working position, wherein a load carrier can be fed to the order-picking station in the first working position of the feed from a first load-carrier location (7) directly or via a buffer location (10) and wherein a load carrier can be fed to the order-picking station in the second working position of the feed from a second load-carrier location (7) directly or via a buffer location (10).

4. Order-picking device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a load carrier can be fed to the order-picking station in the first working position of the feed exclusively from the first load carrier position and a load carrier can be fed to the order-picking station in the second working position of the feed exclusively from the second load carrier position.

5. Order-picking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the load carrier locations (7) are arranged vertically one above the other.

6. Order-picking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one load carrier location (7) is designed with rollers to enable easy storage and retrieval of load carriers.

7. Order-picking device (1) according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that a buffer space (8) for at least one, in particular for exactly one, load carrier is provided between the feed (3) and the order-picking station (2).

8. Order-picking device (1) according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that the feed (3) is designed as a vertically movable lift.

9. Order-picking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first load carrier provision device (5) and / or the second load carrier provision device (6) are designed as roller conveyors or chain conveyors.

10. Order-picking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first load carrier provision device (5) is designed to provide roll containers (9).

11. Order-picking device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the roll containers (9) are provided by the first load carrier provision device (5) on adapters, which adapters have form-locking elements, in particular recesses (12), for the form-locking fixing of the roll containers (9) to the adapters.

12. Order-picking device (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that a separating device (13) is provided by means of which the adapters can be separated from the roll containers (9).

13. Order-picking device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the separating device (13) has a holding device (14) by means of which the roll container (9) can be fixed independently of the adapter, and a removal device (23) by means of which the adapter can be removed independently of the roll container (9).

14. Order-picking device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that a return conveyor device (15) is provided adjacent to the removal conveyor device (23), with which return conveyor device (15) adapters can be returned to the first load carrier provision device (5).

15. A method for picking goods on a load carrier at a picking station (2), characterized in that load carriers of a first type or load carriers of a second type are optionally fed to the picking station (2) via a feeder (3), onto which the goods are subsequently picked, in particular with a picking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14.

16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that a buffer space (8) for a load carrier is provided between the feed (3) and the picking station (2).

17. Method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the buffer space (8) is filled with the load carrier of a picking order following a current picking order if this following picking order has the same load carrier type as the current picking order.

18. Method according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the buffer space (8) is left free if a picking order following a current picking order does not have the same load carrier type as a current picking order.

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