Packing apparatus for small piece goods, kit for enabling a packing station for small piece goods to be stored, and method for storing packing stations

Abstract

The invention relates to a packing apparatus for small piece goods, to a kit for enabling a packing station to be stored, and to a method for storing packing stations. The packing apparatus (1) comprises a packing station (5) for small piece goods, having a housing (10) and a holding device (40), wherein the housing (10) has an outer maximum housing contour (15), having a base structure (50) which is arranged below the housing (10) and has two side regions (51a, 51b) and two end regions (52a, 52b). The packing apparatus further comprises an adapter means (100) having at least two contact means (110a, 110b), which are detachably arranged on the base structure (50) and which are designed in such a way that, in the fastened state, each contact means provides a contact section (111a, 111b) adjacent to the side regions, which contact sections are designed and oriented in such a way that the contact sections can be gripped by clamping jaws of the jaw gripper.

Description

[0001] Storage device for small-unit goods, kit for making a storage station for small-unit goods storable and method for storing storage stations

[0002] The invention relates to a storage device for small piece goods, a kit for making a storage station ready for storage in a picking device operated with a jaw gripper and a method for storing storage stations.

[0003] Modern blister packaging machines, such as those disclosed in WO 2013 / 034504 A1, comprise, depending on their level of expansion, several hundred storage and dispensing stations. In these, for example, several portions of a medicinal product or individual portions of a dietary supplement of a certain type are stored and individual portions are dispensed on demand. The blister packaging machine assembles and blisteres the portions stored in the storage and dispensing stations for each patient individually according to the administration times prescribed by the doctor. How exactly the medicinal product portions or individual portions of a dietary supplement stored in the storage and dispensing stations are blistered is disclosed in the cited publication, but is not relevant for the present invention.

[0004] The storage and dispensing stations used in a blister machine usually comprise two component groups, namely a storage station in which the medication portions or individual portions of a dietary supplement are stored, and a dispensing station which is used to control the storage station. To make refilling and cleaning the storage stations easier, they are usually mounted removably on the dispensing stations. The dispensing stations usually remain on the blister machine when the storage stations are refilled or cleaned. However, they are not usually formed as one piece with the blister machine, but are also detachably attached to a frame of the blister machine, e.g. screwed, and coupled to a control device of the blister machine.

[0005] Due to the way in which the medication portions or individual portions of a dietary supplement stored in a storage and dispensing station (hereinafter referred to as small item goods, where this term is intended to include all small items that can be stored and separated in such a station) are separated (individual components of the storage station must be adapted to the size of the small item goods to be separated), a blister machine is usually operated with a number of storage stations that far exceeds the number of dispensing stations of the blister machine. The storage stations that are not currently in use must be stored regardless of whether they are already full or not. For this purpose, they are usually arranged by the user in a shelving system. This type of storage is complex and not space-optimized.

[0006] The present invention is based on the object of making the known storage stations storable and of providing a method for storing storage stations which are not storable per se.

[0007] A variety of blister machines are known from the prior art that operate with the aforementioned storage and dispensing stations. Due to the design of the blister machines and the lack of standardization requirements, the storage stations used by the various manufacturers are inconsistent, and it is not possible to handle all of these storage stations with an actuator of the same type; the shapes and contours of the storage stations are too inconsistent for this. This problem is therefore solved by a storage device for small-unit goods, which storage device is suitable for storage in a picking device.The storage device comprises two main assemblies, namely any storage station (which cannot be stored automatically) and an adapter means, which are detachably connected to one another, wherein the adapter means is adapted and designed in such a way that the combination of the two main assemblies provides an automatically storable storage device.

[0008] In detail, the object is achieved by a storage device for storage in a jaw gripper-operated order picking device with a plurality of horizontal storage locations, comprising a storage station for small piece goods with i) a housing with an upper housing section, a lower housing section and a base plate with a discharge opening, wherein the upper and lower housing sections define a receiving space with a lower, inner circular cylindrical receiving space section and an upper receiving space section extending above it, and with a separating device arranged in the lower circular cylindrical receiving space section and a holding device, wherein the housing has an outer maximum housing contour, and with ii) a base structure arranged below the housing and supporting the housing, each with two opposite side regions and two opposite end regions,wherein the side regions and the end regions together define a basic structural contour, further comprising an adapter means with at least two,

[0009] Contact means which are detachably arranged on the base structure and which are designed such that each contact means, in the fastened state, provides a contact section adjacent to the side regions, wherein the contact sections are designed and aligned such that the contact sections can be gripped by clamping jaws of the jaw gripper.

[0010] According to the invention, an existing and known storage station is combined with an adapter means which provides contact sections which are designed such that they can be gripped by the clamping jaws of a jaw gripper, as a result of which the storage station as such can be stored automatically. The precise design of the adapter means depends on the design of the storage station as such. It is essential that the contact means of the adapter means are adapted or designed depending on the basic structure of the storage station so that grippable contact sections are provided. The contact means are usually designed such that parallel, vertical contact sections are provided.Depending on the exact design of the clamping jaws of the jaw gripper, this is not absolutely necessary; what is essential is that the contact sections enable the automatic handling of the storage device.

[0011] The precise design of the adapter means depends, as already mentioned, in particular on the basic structure of the storage station which is to be made storable using the adapter means. For example, it is conceivable for the adapter means to have "only" two structurally separate contact means which are designed according to the invention and are, for example, detachably fastened to the side regions of the basic structure and accordingly provide the contact sections. To assist in the positioning of the adapter means and its fastening, a preferred embodiment provides for the adapter means to be U-shaped and to have a base section to which the contact means are fastened.

[0012] According to the invention, the adapter means is detachably attached to the base structure. The detachable attachment of the adapter means to the base structure of the storage station can be achieved in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, it is provided that at least one contact means has an elastic clamping section and the contact means and the at least one clamping section are arranged and designed such that the adapter means is detachably attached to the base structure by means of a frictional connection. In this embodiment, it is therefore provided that the base structure of the storage station is clamped by the contact means of the adapter means and the connection is thus made by frictional connection. The elastic clamping section is to be designed such that the clamping force is sufficient to move the storage device over the contact sections.

[0013] Alternatively, for the detachable fastening of the adapter means, it can be provided that at least one contact means has, at its end section facing away from the base section, an inwardly facing, at least partially elastic gripping section which is designed such that the adapter means is detachably fastened to the base structure via the base section and the gripping section by means of a clamping force.

[0014] Another alternative is that each

[0015] Contact means a first fastening means and each

[0016] Side region has a second fastening means, wherein the first fastening means and the second fastening means are coordinated with one another such that the contact means are detachably fastened to the base structure. The exact design of the fastening means is not important. It is conceivable, for example, that in the side regions, as the second fastening means, a bore is simply provided, into which a locking lug of the first fastening means engages.

[0017] As explained above, the object of the present invention is to provide a storage device which can be stored automatically and which can be moved using a jaw gripper of a picking device. In modern picking devices, there is a tendency to increase the storage depth of the storage locations as much as possible so that a plurality of, for example, drug packages can be stored one behind the other. For this purpose, it can be advantageous to arrange a plurality of (identical) drug packages (hereinafter referred to as piece goods) on a storage area of ​​a storage device of the picking device during storage, to move these together into the picking device and to grip them together using the jaw gripper.Known storage stations are generally designed in such a way that they have an upper housing section which defines an upper receiving space section intended for the storage of small piece goods. Below this there is usually a housing section which is circular and cylindrical on the inside and in which the separating device is arranged. Below this housing section there is in turn arranged a base structure which supports the housing. Accordingly, a storage station does not usually have a cuboid shape, but rather a vertically tapered outer contour. It is therefore usual for the contour of the base structure to be "smaller" than the maximum outer housing contour, i.e. the housing projects outwards beyond the base structure at least in sections. This applies in particular to the front areas of the storage station.If a theoretical vertical contact surface is applied to the outer maximum housing contour on the one hand and the front areas of the basic structure contour on the other, a gap results between the contact surfaces in the case of known supply stations "front" and / or "rear". If the supply stations are arranged one behind the other so that the housings touch, a gap arises between the basic structures of the two supply stations. If it were theoretically possible to move the two supply stations together, this could result in the rear of the two supply stations straightening up and possibly hindering further movement.

[0018] To avoid such behavior in the storage devices according to the invention, a preferred embodiment provides that the adapter means has at least one contour compensation section which, in the fastened state, is arranged in an end region of the base structure and which is designed such that an adapter means contour in the region of the end regions of the base structure is vertically adapted to the maximum housing contour. The at least one contour compensation section thus ensures that the aforementioned gap is not present and that two (or more) storage devices arranged one behind the other can be moved together without any problems.

[0019] The task is further solved by a kit for making a storage station for small items in a jaw gripper-operated

[0020] Order picking device, the kit comprising: a storage station for small piece goods with a housing with an upper housing section, a lower housing section and a base plate with a discharge opening, the upper and lower housing sections defining a receiving space with a lower, inner circular cylindrical receiving space section and an upper receiving space section extending above it, and with a separating device arranged in the lower circular cylindrical receiving space section and a holding device, the housing having an outer maximum housing contour, and with a basic structure arranged below the housing and supporting the housing, each with two opposite side regions and two opposite end regions, the side regions and the end regions together defining a basic structure contour;and an adapter means for releasably fastening to the basic structure of the storage station, wherein the adapter means comprises two contact means each having a contact section.;

[0021] According to the invention, the contact means are designed such that each contact means is arranged adjacent to the side regions in the fastened state, wherein the contact sections are designed such that the contact sections can be gripped by clamping jaws of a jaw gripper in the fastened state of the adapter means.

[0022] The kit can be developed in a number of preferred embodiments, as described below. Unless technical advantages are mentioned, these correspond to those of the corresponding embodiments of the storage device.

[0023] The adapter means is preferably U-shaped and has a base section to which the contact means are fastened. The at least one contact means can preferably have an elastic clamping section and the contact means and the at least one clamping section are arranged and designed such that the adapter means is detachably fastened to the base structure by means of a frictional connection. Alternatively, it can be provided that at least one contact means, at its end section facing away from the base section, has an inward-facing, at least partially elastic gripping section which is designed such that the adapter means is detachably fastened to the base structure via the base section and the gripping section by means of a clamping force.

[0024] Furthermore, it can alternatively be provided that each contact means has a first fastening means and each side region has a second fastening means, wherein the first fastening means and the second fastening means are coordinated with one another in such a way that the contact means are detachably fastened to the basic structure.

[0025] In order to avoid the aforementioned gap, it is provided that the adapter means has a contour compensation section which can be arranged in an end region of the basic structure and is designed such that an adapter means contour in the fastened state is adapted vertically to the maximum housing contour in the region of the end regions of the basic structure.

[0026] According to the invention, a method for storing storage stations in a picking device with a plurality of horizontal storage locations, a storage device and a jaw gripper is further proposed, wherein a storage station to be stored is provided with a housing with an outer maximum housing contour and with a housing arranged below the housing and supporting the housing

[0027] A basic structure is provided, each having two opposite side regions and two opposite end regions, wherein the side regions and the end regions together define a basic structure contour; an adapter means having at least two contact means is determined and provided, wherein each contact means comprises a contact section, wherein the adapter means is determined such that the contact means are designed such that the fixed adapter means is releasably fastened to the basic structure of the storage stations to be stored via the contact means and the contact sections can be gripped by clamping jaws of a jaw gripper; the adapter means is releasably fastened to the basic structure of the storage stations to be stored, thus providing a storage device that can be gripped by the jaw gripper; the grippable storage device is arranged in a storage area of ​​the storage device;the graspable storage device arranged in the storage area is moved with the storage device in a storage direction, and the graspable storage device is gripped with the jaw gripper at the contact sections and moved to a horizontal storage location;

[0028] In the following, preferred embodiments of the storage device for small-unit goods according to the invention, the kit for making a storage station for small-unit goods ready for storage and a method for storing storage stations are described with reference to the drawing, in which:

[0029] Figures 1A - 1C show various views of the first preferred embodiment of the storage device,

[0030] Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the supply station as part of the first preferred embodiment of the kit,

[0031] Figures 3 - 5 different views of the supply station as

[0032] Part of the first preferred embodiment of the kit, wherein Figure 3 is an oblique view, Figure 4 is a plan view and

[0033] Figure 5 shows a sectional view,

[0034] Figures 6A and 6B show different views of the adapter means of the first embodiment of the kit,

[0035] Figure 7 shows a bottom view of an adapter means of the second preferred embodiment of the kit,

[0036] Figure 8 shows a bottom view of the second preferred embodiment of the storage device,

[0037] Figures 9A and 9B show views of two storage stations arranged one behind the other according to the first embodiment of the kit, wherein Figure 9A shows a side view and Figure 9B shows a schematic top view,

[0038] Figures 10A and 10B show views of two storage devices arranged one behind the other according to the first embodiment, wherein Figure 10A shows a side view and Figure 10B shows a schematic plan view,

[0039] Figure 11 shows a schematic plan view of a picking device in which the method according to the invention is operated,

[0040] Figures 12A and 12B show schematic side views of a method for storing a further embodiment of the storage devices according to the invention,

[0041] Figures 13A and 13B show schematic side views of the process according to the invention.

[0042] Figures 1A - 1C show various views of the first preferred embodiment of the storage device 1, Figure 1A being an oblique view, Figure 1B being a plan view and Figure 1C being a view from below. The storage device 1 comprises a storage station 5 and an adapter means 100. The storage station 5 comprises a housing 10 with an upper housing section 11 and a lower housing section 12. The housing 10 has an outer maximum housing contour 15 which, in the embodiment shown, is defined by the upper housing section 11. Below the housing 10, the storage station 5 has a basic structure 50 which can only be seen partially in Figure 1A since it is largely hidden by the adapter means 100. A handle 13 extends from the basic structure 50 to the upper housing section 11. This handle simplifies the handling of the storage station 5 or. the storage device 1 .

[0043] In the embodiment shown, the adapter means 100 is U-shaped and comprises a base section 101, from which two parallel contact means 110a, 110b extend. In the first embodiment shown, the base section 101 comprises a contour compensation section 120, the function of which has already been indicated above and is described in more detail with reference to subsequent figures. As can be seen in Figure 1B, the housing 10 comprises, in the lower housing section 12, a base plate 18 with a central opening 17 and a discharge opening 19. A coupling means of a separating device is arranged in the central opening 17, which is described in more detail with reference to a subsequent figure. In particular, in Figures 1B and 1C it can be seen that each contact means 110a, 110b comprises a contact section 111a, 111b which serves as a contact surface for the jaws of a jaw gripper.

[0044] Figure 1C shows a bottom view of the first embodiment of the storage device. In particular, it can be seen that the basic structure 50 comprises two opposite side regions 51a, 51b and two opposite end regions 52a, 52b. The contact means 110a, 110b rest against the side regions 51a, 51b, and the base section 101 of the adapter means 100 is arranged at the end region 52a. Figure 1C shows that the side regions 51a, 51b of the basic structure 50 are penetrated by a first fastening means 115a, 115b in their section facing away from the base section 101. The first fastening means 115a, 115b extend inwardly from the contact means 110a, 110b of the U-shaped adapter means 100, as will be described in more detail with reference to the following figures. In the embodiment shown, the side regions 51a, 51b and the end regions 52a, 52b are designed to be full-surface.However, this is not essential; at least partial areas can also be open. It is also conceivable that the end region 52b opposite the base section is completely free of material.

[0045] Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the first embodiment of the supply station 5, i.e., compared to Figure 1C, the adapter means 100 has been omitted. In Figure 2, it can be seen that the side regions 51a, 51b and the end regions 52a, 52b define a basic structural contour 55 of the basic structure 50. It can also be seen that, in the embodiment shown, the outer maximum housing contour 15 of the housing 10 extends over the basic structural contour 55 of the basic structure 50, specifically at the side regions 51a, 51b and the end region 52a.

[0046] Figures 3 - 5 show various views of the storage station 5 as part of the first preferred embodiment of the kit (and of the storage device), wherein Figure 3 shows an oblique view, Figure 4 a plan view and Figure 5 a sectional view. In the description of Figures 3 - 5, those components of the storage station 5 which have already been described with reference to previous figures will not be explained in more detail; however, the reference numerals are included in the figures for the sake of clarity. In Figure 3 it can be seen that the housing 10 is provided with a cover 14 which is always arranged on the housing 10 when the storage station is "in operation". Of the basic structure 50, the front area 52a and the side area 51b can be seen in particular.The side region 51b comprises a second fastening means 53b and a fourth fastening means 54b, which in the illustrated embodiment are designed as through-holes in the side region 51a. Fastening means of the adapter means 100 engage in these fastening means, wherein the fastening means of the adapter means are described in more detail with reference to subsequent figures.

[0047] As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the lower housing section 12 encloses or defines a lower circular-cylindrical receiving space section 21, in which a separating device 30 is arranged, which in the embodiment shown has the shape of a rotor. The separating device 30 comprises a base body 31, on which a plurality of vertical webs 33 are arranged, with a channel 32 being defined between each two webs 33. The webs 33 or channels 32 are adapted to the small piece goods to be separated in such a way that only a certain number of small piece goods can be arranged in a defined channel.A plurality of projections 34 are arranged on the conical surface of the base body 31 and, during operation, ensure that the rotating separating device 30 moves the small piece goods so that any wedges that may be present are released and the small piece goods are guided to the channels 32. As can be seen in Figure 5, the separating device 30 does not extend over the entire height of the inner circular cylindrical receiving section 21, which is defined by the lower housing section 12. Since the channels 32 must be adapted to the small piece goods to be separated and their shape, a separating device 30, in another embodiment (with which other small piece goods are to be separated), can also extend through the entire height of the lower circular cylindrical receiving section 21. An upper receiving space section 22 extends above the inner circular cylindrical receiving section 21.The inner circular cylindrical receiving section 21 and the upper receiving space section 22 form a receiving space 20. The section of the receiving space 20 not occupied by the separating device 30, i.e., the area above the cover surface of the separating device 30, serves for the random storage of small-unit goods to be separated. As already mentioned above, this storage area can vary depending on the vertical extent of the separating device 30.

[0048] Figure 5 shows a coupling means 70 which extends through the central opening in the base plate 18 and couples the separating device 30 to a drive (not shown) in a delivery station (not shown). Figure 5 also shows that the webs 33 of the separating device 30 are divided into an upper section and a lower section by a horizontally running slot 35. A retaining section 41 of a holding device 40 is guided in the slot 35. The holding device 40 itself is fixed to the lower housing section 12 by a fastening section 42. The retaining section 41 is guided into the inner circular cylindrical receiving space section through a slot in the lower housing section 12.The function of the holding device 40 and in particular of the retaining section 41 is to separate small piece goods that are arranged in a channel section that is defined by the upper sections of the webs, from small piece goods in the lower channel section. This is necessary in order to prevent an undefined number of small piece goods from being dispensed in a channel that is rotated above the dispensing opening 19. By holding the retaining section 41 in the slot 35 above the dispensing opening 19, only the small piece goods (or goods) that are arranged in the lower channel section are dispensed; this is usually just one small piece goods.

[0049] Figures 6A and 6B show different views of the adapter means 100 of the first embodiment of the kit, with Figure 6A showing an oblique view and Figure 6B a view from below. In the first embodiment, the adapter means 100 is U-shaped and comprises a base section 101, from which two contact means 110a, 110b extend. In this embodiment, the contact means are not completely parallel, but the angle between the base section and the contact means 110a, 110b is < 90°, so that the contact means 110a, 110b converge slightly at their end sections 113a, 113b. At the end sections 113a, 113b, a first fastening means 115a, 115b in the form of a locking lug is arranged on each contact means 110a, 110b, which protrudes into the interior of the U-shape of the adapter means 100.In the central region, the contact means 110a, 110b in the embodiment shown further comprise a third fastening means 116a, 116b. The first and third fastening means of the adapter means 100 cooperate with the second and fourth fastening means 53a, 53b, 54a, 54b in the side regions 51a, 51b of the base structure to releasably fasten the adapter means 100 to the base structure 50 of the storage station 5.

[0050] In order to be able to easily bend the contact means 110a, 110b apart for the fastening (and detaching) process, the contact means 110a, 110b each comprise an elastic clamping section 112a, 112b. As can be seen in Figure 6B, each contact means 110a, 110b in this embodiment comprises two sliding areas 117a, 117b, which ensure that a storage device does not cause any disturbing noises during a pulling or pushing movement and that the pulling and pushing as such also causes less friction, so that less clamping force needs to be exerted on a storage device.

[0051] On the outwardly facing surfaces of the contact means 110a, 110b, contact sections 111a, 111b are arranged, at which clamping jaws of a gripper engage and via which the frictional connection between the storage device and the gripper is generated to move the storage device. In the embodiment shown, the contact sections 111a, 111b are formed vertically, but this can vary depending on the clamping jaws used.

[0052] Figure 7 shows a bottom view of an adapter means 100 of the second preferred embodiment of the kit. In this embodiment, the contact means 110a, 110b do not comprise first and third fastening means, but rather elastic gripping sections 114a, 114b are arranged at the end sections 113a, 113b of the contact means 110a, 110b. As can be seen in Figure 8, which shows a bottom view of the second preferred embodiment of the storage device, these elastic gripping sections 114a, 114b engage around sections of the end region 52b, thereby achieving a releasable attachment of the adapter means 100 to the storage station 5.

[0053] Figures 9A and 9B show views of two storage stations 5(1), 5(2) arranged one behind the other according to the first

[0054] Embodiment of the kit, Figure 9A showing a side view and Figure 9B a schematic top view. The two supply stations 5(1), 5(2) are arranged one behind the other, i.e. the front area of ​​the supply station 5(2) borders directly on the back area of ​​the supply station 5(1). The outer maximum housing contour 15 and the basic structure contour 55 of the illustrated supply stations 5(1), 5(2) have identical front vertical contact surfaces 15f, 55f, which are indicated in Figure 9A by vertical dashed lines. This means that the basic structure 50 and the housing 10 extend the same distance forward, i.e. the contours of the housing 10 and the basic structure 50 are identical in their front areas in this area. In the case of rear contact surfaces 15b, 55b, however, these are not identical, but there is a distance A[15b, 55b] between them, as can be clearly seen in Figure 9A.The rear contact surfaces 15b, 55b are not identical, since the housing 10 extends further rearward in the rear region of the supply station 5 than the base structure 50 does. The maximum contours of the housing 10 and the base structure 50 in this region are therefore different. Due to the fact that the two supply stations are located directly behind one another and touch each other in the area of ​​the housings, there is not only a gap between the rear contact surfaces 15b, 55b, but also between the rear contact surface 55b of the base structure contour 55 of the supply station 5(1) and the two (identical) front contact surfaces of the supply station 5(2). In Figures 9A and 9B, this gap is labeled A[55b, (15f, 55f)]. While the supply stations lie directly against one another in the area of ​​the housings, there is a gap between the base structures of the supply stations.In the theoretical case that storage stations arranged in this way are removed or moved with a jaw gripper, this can lead to jamming of the storage station 5(1). This jamming is explained in more detail in the following figures. This gap is schematically illustrated in Figure 9B, with the basic structure contour 55 indicated by an inner dashed line and the outer maximum housing contour 15 by an outer line. In the area of ​​contact between the two storage stations, the gap A[55b, (15f, 55f ) ] is again illustrated in the lower section.

[0055] Figures 10A and 10B show views of two storage devices 1 (1), 1 (2) arranged one behind the other according to the first embodiment, wherein Figure 10A shows a side view and Figure 10B a schematic plan view. In Figure 10A, in contrast to Figure 9B, the storage stations (as part of the kit) are not shown, but rather storage devices each comprising a storage station and an adapter means. As described with reference to previous figures, each adapter means comprises two contact means 110a, 110b and, in the described embodiment, a base section 101 and a contour compensation section 120. According to the invention, this contour compensation section 120 is selected such that a rear contact surface 120b to the adapter means contour 125 is identical to the rear contact surface 15b to the outer maximum housing contour 15 of the housing 10.Due to the identity of the rear contact surface 15b to the outer maximum housing contour 15 and the rear contact surface 120b to the adapter center contour 125, it follows that there is also no gap between the rear contact surface 120b to the adapter center contour 125 of the storage device 1 (1) and the front contact surfaces 15f, 55f of the storage device 1 (2), which has an impact on how the.

[0056] Storage devices can be removed or moved, as described with reference to a subsequent figure. Figure 10B shows a schematic view corresponding to Figure 9B, wherein it can be seen that the contour compensation section 120 of the adapter means fills the space which, in the embodiment according to Figures 9A, 9B, had the gap A [55b, (15f, 55f)].

[0057] Figure 11 shows a schematic plan view of an order-picking device 200 in which the method according to the invention is operated and in which the storage devices according to the invention can be stored. A corresponding order-picking device is disclosed, for example, in EP 3 141 497 A1, the disclosure content of which with regard to the order-picking device is hereby incorporated into this application. The order-picking device 200 comprises a plurality of horizontal storage locations 201 on which, among other things, storage devices according to the invention can be stored. The order-picking device further comprises a storage device 220, which is usually designed as a storage belt. The storage device 220 comprises a deposit area 221 which extends outwards and which serves to receive piece goods to be stored.The order-picking device further comprises a gripper 210, with which piece goods can be removed from the storage device 220 and fed to a horizontal storage location. In the embodiment shown, the gripper is designed as a jaw gripper, which has a storage table 211 and two clamping jaws 212a, 212b. The clamping jaws 212a, 212b are fastened to a clamping jaw guide 213, by means of which the clamping jaws can be moved horizontally over the storage table 211. Furthermore, the clamping jaw guide 213 serves to pivot the clamping jaws in order to grip piece goods, as indicated in Figure 11. A further detailed description of the order-picking device is omitted here; reference is made to the above-mentioned publication.

[0058] To carry out the method according to the invention, a storage station to be stored is first provided, said station having the aforementioned structural features. In order to establish the storability of this storage station, it is to be connected according to the invention to an adapter means corresponding to the features described above, thereby creating a storable, tangible storage device. This tangible storage device 1 (10) is arranged in the deposit area 221 of the storage device 220 and moved with the storage device in a storage direction into the storage area of ​​the order-picking device (in the figure, two storage devices arranged one behind the other are always shown in order to align Figure 11 with subsequent figures). In relation to Figure 11, this means that the tangible storage devices 1 (10) are moved to the right.Subsequently, the tangible storage devices, designated 1 (11) in Figure 11, are grasped with the gripper and moved to a horizontal storage location 201 (see storage devices 1 (12)). By connecting the storage station to the adapter means, which is positioned precisely on this storage station to be stored, the actually non-storable storage station becomes a storable (because tangible) storage device, which can be handled with a conventional order-picking device.

[0059] With reference to Figures 9A - 10B, it was indicated that when two storage stations (or two storage devices according to the invention with adapter means without a contour compensation section) are arranged one behind the other, a gap arises in the lower region which can lead to problems when these piece goods arranged one behind the other are moved simultaneously. This is illustrated with reference to Figures 12A - 13B. Figures 12A, 12B show a process view in which two storage devices 1 (1), 1 (2) according to the invention are arranged on a storage device 220 and are to be moved by the storage device 220 using clamping jaws of a clamping gripper.In the third embodiment of the storage device according to the invention shown in Figures 12A, 12B, the adapter means 100 does not comprise a contour compensation section, so that a gap is created between the adapter means 100, which is designated here as A100 for the sake of simplicity. Due to this gap between the two adapter means or the gap in the lower region of the storage devices arranged one behind the other, when the two storage devices are moved down from the storage device 220, the left storage device 1 (Figure 1) can stand up and wedge itself, so that further movement of the two storage devices is not possible or could possibly lead to damage to the storage device. However, the absence of the contour compensation section is only relevant if the possibility of moving two storage devices arranged one behind the other at the same time is even considered.If this is not the case, the provision of the contour compensation section is superfluous, because the storage station does not receive the grippability or the storage capacity through the contour compensation section as such.

[0060] Figures 13A and 13B show schematic side views of the method according to the invention when using adapter means with a contour-compensating section. Since there is no gap A100, the storage device 1 (1) cannot tilt during movement, and no damage to the storage device or faulty movement of the two storage devices can occur.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A storage device (1) for storage in a picking device (200) operated with a jaw gripper (210) having a plurality of horizontal storage locations (201), comprising a storage station (5) for small-unit goods with a housing (10) with an upper housing section (11), a lower housing section (12) and a base plate (18) with a discharge opening (19), wherein the upper and lower housing sections (11, 12) define a receiving space (20) with a lower, inner circular-cylindrical receiving space section (21) and an upper receiving space section (22) extending thereabove, and with a separating device (30) arranged in the lower circular-cylindrical receiving space section (21) and a holding device (40), wherein the housing (10) has an outer maximum housing contour (15),and with a base structure (50) arranged below the housing (10) and supporting the housing, each having two opposite side regions (51a, 51b) and two opposite end regions (52a, 52b), wherein the side regions (51a, 51b) and the end regions (52a, 52b) together define a base structure contour (55); and an adapter means (100) with at least two contact means (110a, 110b) which are detachably arranged on the base structure (50) and which are designed such that each contact means (110a, 110b) in the attached state provides a contact section (111a, 111b) adjacent to the side regions (51a, 51b), wherein the contact sections (111a, 111b) are designed and, are aligned so that the contact sections (Illa, 111b) can be gripped by clamping jaws of the jaw gripper.

2. Storage device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter means (100) is U-shaped and has a base portion (101) to which the contact means (110a, 110b) are attached.

3. Storage device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one contact means (110a, 110b) has an elastic clamping section (112a, 112b) and the contact means (110a, 110b) and the at least one clamping section (112a, 112b) are arranged and designed such that the adapter means (100) can be connected to the adapter by means of a Force connection is releasably attached to the base structure (50).

4. Storage device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one contact means (110a, 110b) has, at its end section (113a, 113b) facing away from the base section (101), an inwardly facing, at least partially elastic gripping section (114a, 114b) which is designed such that the adapter means (100) is detachably fastened to the base structure (50) via the base section (101) and the gripping section (114a, 114b) by means of a clamping force.

5. Storage device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each contact means (110a, 110b) has a first fastening means (115a, 115b) and each side region (51a, 51b) has a second fastening means (53a, 53b), wherein the first fastening means (115a, 115b) and the second fastening means (53a, 53b) are arranged on one another in such a way are adapted so that the contact means (110a, 110b) are detachably attached to the base structure (50).

6. Storage device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter means (100) has a contour compensation section (120) which, in the fastened state, is arranged in an end region (52a, 52b) of the basic structure (50) and which is designed such that an adapter center contour (125) in the region of the end regions (52a, 52b) of the basic structure (50) is adapted vertically to the maximum housing contour (15).

7. A kit for making a storage station for small-unit goods storable in a picking device (200) operated with a jaw gripper (210), comprising a storage station (5) for small-unit goods with a housing (10) with an upper housing section (11), a lower housing section (12) and a base plate (18) with a discharge opening (19), wherein the upper and lower housing sections (11, 12) define a receiving space (20) with a lower, inner circular-cylindrical receiving space section (21) and an upper receiving space section (22) extending thereabove, and with a separating device (30) arranged in the lower circular-cylindrical receiving space section (21) and a holding device (40), wherein the housing (10) has an outer maximum housing contour (15), and with a base structure (50) arranged below the housing (10) and supporting the housing, each with two opposite side areas (51a,51b) and two opposite end regions (52a, 52b), wherein the, Side regions (51a, 51b) and the end regions (52a, 52b) together define a basic structural contour (55); and an adapter means (100) for releasably fastening to the basic structure (50) of the supply station (5), wherein the adapter means (100) comprises two contact means (110a, 110b), each having a contact section (111a, 111b); wherein the contact means (110a, 110b) are designed such that each contact means (110a, 110b) is arranged adjacent to the side regions (51a, 51b) in the fastened state, wherein the contact sections (111a, 111b) are designed such that the contact sections (111a, 111b) can be gripped by clamping jaws of a jaw gripper in the fastened state of the adapter means (100).

8. A kit for making a storage station for small piece goods ready for storage according to claim 7, characterized in that the adapter means (100) is U-shaped and has a base section (101) to which the contact means (110a, 110b) are attached.

9. A kit for making a storage station for small piece goods ready for storage according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one contact means (110a, 110b) has an elastic clamping section (112a, 112b) and the contact means (110a, 110b) and the at least one clamping section (112a, 112b) are arranged and designed such that the adapter means (100) can be detachably fastened to the base structure (50) by means of a force fit.

10. A kit for making a storage station for Small piece goods according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one contact means (110a, 110b) at its end section (113a, 113b) facing away from the base section (101) an inwardly facing, at least partially elastic gripping portion (114a, 114b) which is designed such that the adapter means (100) can be releasably fastened to the base structure (50) via the base portion (101) and the gripping portion (114a, 114b) by means of a clamping force.

11. A kit for making a storage station for small piece goods ready for storage according to claim 7, characterized in that each contact means (110a, 110b) has a first fastening means (115a, 115b) and each side region (51a, 51b) has a second fastening means (53a, 53b), wherein the first fastening means (115a, 115b) and the second fastening means (53a, 53b) are coordinated with one another in such a way that the contact means (110a, 110b) can be detachably fastened to the base structure (50).

12. A kit for making a storage station for small piece goods storable according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter means (100) has a contour compensation section (120) which can be arranged in an end region (52a, 52b) of the basic structure (50) and which is designed such that an adapter means contour (125) in the fastened state in the region of the end regions (52a, 52b) of the basic structure (50) is adapted vertically to the maximum housing contour (15).

13. Method for storing storage stations in a picking device (200) with a plurality of horizontal storage locations (201), a storage device (220) and a jaw gripper (210), wherein a storage station (5) to be stored is provided with a housing (10) with an outer maximum housing contour (15) and with a basic structure (50) arranged below the housing (10) and supporting the housing, each having two opposite side regions (51a, 51b) and two opposite end regions (52a, 52b), wherein the side regions (51a, 51b) and the end regions (52a, 52b) together define a basic structure contour (55); an adapter means (100) with at least two contact means (110a, 110b) is determined and provided, wherein each contact means (110a, 110b) comprises a contact section (111a, 111b), wherein the adapter means is determined such that the contact means are designed such that the fixed adapter means (100) can be releasably fastened to the base structure (50) of the storage stations to be stored via the contact means and the contact sections (111a, 111b) can be gripped by clamping jaws of a jaw gripper;the adapter means (100) is detachably fastened to the base structure (50) of the storage stations (5) to be stored, thus providing a storage device (1) that can be gripped with the jaw gripper (210); the grippable storage device (1) is arranged in a storage area (221) of the storage device (220); the grippable storage device (1) arranged in the storage area (221) is moved with the storage device (220) in a storage direction, and the grippable storage device (1) is gripped with the jaw gripper at the contact sections (IIIa, IIIb) and moved to a horizontal storage location;

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