Automated storage system having a safety-oriented transfer position

Abstract

The invention relates to an automated storage system (1) comprising: at least one rack (2), each having at least one storage location (5), a plurality of storage aids (6), and a plurality of shuttles (7), each having a load-receiving means (8); and a control device which is connected to the shuttles (7) and is designed to specify movement of the shuttles (7), wherein the storage system (1) has at least two mutually adjacent operating zones (B, B'), and at least one transfer position (11) for transferring at least one storage aid (6) between the operating zones (B, B'), wherein at least one barrier (10) having an idle state and a safety state is provided between the operating zones (B, B'), wherein the barrier allows the shuttles (7) to completely pass between the operating zones (B, B') when the barrier is in the idle state and prevents the same when the barrier is in the safety state, and wherein the shuttles (7) are designed to place a storage aid (6) into the transfer position (11), proceeding from each of the operating zones (B, B'), and to remove the same from the transfer position, when the barrier (10) is in the safety state.

Description

[0001] Automated storage system with safety-oriented transfer position

[0002] The invention relates to an automated storage system according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a method for controlled shutdown of an operating area of ​​such an automated storage system and a method for picking articles from a storage aid into a target container with such an automated storage system.

[0003] Automated storage systems are well-known in the field of warehouse logistics for automatically storing and retrieving items from storage locations within a warehouse. Such systems are used in modern logistics to enable the rapid, efficient, and customized fulfillment of order picking. These systems typically include picking mechanisms to handle orders comprising a wide variety of products. However, such systems are also used, for example, in the automotive industry, where numerous components are stored in a single warehouse and must be readily available on demand.

[0004] In the prior art, storage systems are known that are designed as racking systems with at least one rack mounted on a base. In these systems, items are stored in storage locations using storage aids, with the racking forming the storage locations. Such systems typically include shuttles for transporting the storage aids to and from the storage locations. The shuttles are movable on the base and load the storage aids into and out of the storage locations using load handling devices. Storage systems are also known in which a transfer area is provided between the base and the lowest storage level of the rack. This allows the shuttles to travel underneath the rack, thereby significantly reducing the distances that the individual shuttles have to travel within the system.Since large storage systems store a wide variety of products in varying quantities, and the number of items of a particular type stored in the system at any given time is subject to fluctuations, this is particularly advantageous because optimal system performance requires that items of every type are readily available for retrieval from their storage locations at all times. Furthermore, in an optimally functioning storage system, each storage location is accessible at all times via a route optimized for shuttles for both storage and retrieval. Due to the essentially autonomous operation of such systems, human intervention in the processes within the system is generally unnecessary during conventional operation.However, malfunctions of individual shuttles or their load-handling devices can lead to error situations that cannot be resolved by the automated troubleshooting measures of the storage system, negatively impacting operations and thus the performance of the entire system. In such cases, it is necessary for a service technician to enter the storage system and repair or manually remove the affected shuttle.

[0005] Due to the high mass of the individual shuttles, their high speeds within the storage system, and thus their high kinetic energy, service technicians are exposed to a significant risk of injury when entering the system. Therefore, according to current best practices, it is absolutely necessary to shut down the storage system before anyone enters it. However, this reduces the system's availability and brings the entire warehouse logistics operation to a standstill for a certain period. Consequently, this results in high costs for every instance in which a person needs to enter the storage system.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a bearing system which avoids these disadvantages of the prior art.

[0007] This problem is solved by an automated storage system comprising at least one rack with several rack supports erected on a base, several vertically arranged storage levels, each with at least one storage location, and several storage aids that can be stored in the storage locations. The storage system according to the invention also comprises several shuttles, each with a drive unit and a load-handling device, wherein the shuttles are independently movable on the base and along the rack supports by means of the drive unit. Furthermore, the shuttles of the storage system according to the invention are designed to each pick up a storage aid by means of the load-handling device, and the load-handling device is designed to place the storage aid from the shuttle into the storage location and from the storage location onto the shuttle.Between the floor and the lowest storage level of the rack, a transfer area is provided with a height that corresponds at least to the height of one of the shuttles with a storage aid picked up by the shuttle. The storage system according to the invention further comprises a control device connected to the shuttles, which is configured to specify a movement of the shuttles. According to the invention, the storage system also has at least two adjacent operating areas, with at least one shuttle assigned to each of the operating areas. The storage system according to the invention also has at least one transfer position for transferring at least one storage aid between the operating areas, which is accessible from each of the operating areas for the load-handling devices. In addition, at least one interlock is provided between the operating areas, which has a rest state and a safety state.In its resting state, the barrier allows complete shuttle movement between the operating areas, while in its safety state, it prevents complete shuttle movement between the operating areas. Furthermore, in the safety state of the barrier, the shuttles are designed to store and retrieve a storage aid from each of the operating areas, placing it in the transfer position and retrieving it from there.

[0008] The locking mechanism, which can be switched between a standby and a safety state, combined with the transfer position, offers the advantage that one of the two operating areas can be converted into a safety zone, isolated from the rest of the storage system, by switching the locking mechanism to the safety state. However, this does not completely isolate the safety zone from the rest of the storage system in terms of warehouse logistics. Shuttles assigned to the operating area converted into the safety zone can still store storage aids in the transfer position. These storage aids can then be picked up by shuttles located outside the safety zone.The storage system according to the invention thus enables the shuttles located within the safety zone to have their speed reduced, for example, to allow them to brake safely before encountering a person. Furthermore, this enables a controlled shutdown process for all shuttles within the safety zone, whereby the shuttles can still place their load-handling devices, currently attached to their load-handling devices, into the transfer position before coming to a complete stop, or be moved to separate service positions within the safety zone. During this process, however, the operation of the remaining storage system according to the invention is not disrupted, and the overall performance of the storage system is affected only minimally.

[0009] Preferably, the control device is configured, in the safe state of the lock, to instruct the shuttles assigned to at least one of the operating areas to place the storage aids picked up by the shuttles into the transfer position, and to switch off all shuttles assigned to this operating area after the storage aids have been placed into the transfer position. This achieves the advantage that the shuttles can still place the storage aids they have picked up into the transfer position before the shuttles come to a standstill. This allows the storage aids to be removed from the transfer position by other shuttles and prevents them from being lost during the time the switched-off shuttles remain switched off.

[0010] According to the preferred embodiment of the storage system according to the invention, the shuttles assigned to the respective operating area are those that are currently located within the respective operating area. This achieves a dynamic assignment of the shuttles to the operating areas within the storage system.

[0011] Preferably, the transfer position is also designed to accommodate several storage aids arranged one behind the other, side by side, and / or one above the other. This increases the capacity of the transfer position and optimally utilizes the available space within the storage system according to the invention.

[0012] The barrier preferably includes a light barrier connected to the control device, and the control device is designed to bring the shuttles to an immediate standstill when the light barrier is interrupted in the barrier's safety state. This achieves the advantage that if a shuttle crosses the light barrier, for example due to a faulty pathfinding mechanism, all shuttles in the storage system are immediately brought to a standstill. This protects a person working within the storage system from collisions with a shuttle and thus from injury.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the bearing system according to the invention, the barrier can include a mechanical barrier. This ensures, mechanically and independently of software, that no shuttle crosses between the operating areas when the barrier is in its safe state. The mechanical barrier is also preferably designed to prevent the shuttles from crossing between the operating areas on the substrate. This restricts the shuttles' freedom of movement on the substrate and defines a safety zone on the substrate.

[0014] According to the preferred embodiment of the storage system according to the invention, at least one barrier is arranged between the operating areas in each of the storage levels. This barrier is designed to prevent the transfer of load-handling devices between the operating areas. This prevents a service technician working in the storage levels from being injured by a load-handling device. Advantageously, the at least one transfer position is located in the transfer area. This allows the transfer position to be made particularly large, so that several storage aids can be simultaneously stored and / or retrieved from the transfer position. Furthermore, this makes it possible for several shuttles to simultaneously store and / or retrieve storage aids from the transfer position.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the storage system according to the invention, a transfer position is arranged in at least one of the storage levels. This allows for a direct transfer of storage aids between the operating areas within the storage level.

[0016] Furthermore, one or at least one barrier can be arranged in an area outside the racking. This allows the operating areas to be defined even outside the transfer area located beneath the racking. Additionally, at least one transfer point can be arranged in an area outside the racking. This enables the transfer of storage aids between the operating areas outside the racking. According to one embodiment, the transfer point located outside the racking can also include a pedestrian walkway. This pedestrian walkway provides safe access to the operating areas of the storage system according to the invention.

[0017] The load handling device preferably comprises a transfer unit for storing the storage aid in, and for retrieving the storage aid from, the storage location and / or the transfer position. This offers the advantage that the load handling device does not need to be moved, or at least not completely moved, into the area of ​​the storage location in order to store the storage aid in, and / or retrieve it from, the storage location.

[0018] According to the preferred embodiment, the storage system comprises at least one picking station, wherein the picking station is arranged within one of the operating areas, preferably connected to the racking. This offers the advantage that storage aids can be delivered directly to the picking station via the racking or the transfer area. This allows for a reduction in transport distances within the storage system according to the invention.

[0019] Other workstations of a storage system, known to those skilled in the art, for mapping logistical processes are arranged in an analogous configuration within a single operating area. These include, in particular, the goods receiving workstation, the goods dispatch workstation, the inventory workstation, and various repacking workstations where consolidation and trash removal are carried out. Preferably, the storage system and the control device are designed so that several of these processes can be mapped simultaneously or sequentially at the same workstations.

[0020] The object of the present invention is furthermore solved by a method for the controlled shutdown of an operating area of ​​the automated storage system according to the invention, wherein the method according to the invention comprises the following steps: Sending a shutdown command to the shuttles of the storage system assigned to at least one of the operating areas by means of the control device;

[0021] The procedure of at least one shuttle, which has received the shutdown command, moving a storage aid picked up by the shuttle at the time the shutdown command was sent to the transfer position;

[0022] The placement of the storage aid in the transfer position; and

[0023] Switching off the shuttle after the storage aid has been placed in the transfer position.

[0024] In contrast to an immediate shutdown of all shuttles in an operating area, the method according to the invention ensures that all storage aids currently in transport within this operating area are stored in the transfer position and are ready for collection by shuttles assigned to the adjacent operating area.

[0025] The object of the present invention is furthermore solved by a method for picking articles from a storage aid into a target container with an automated storage system according to the invention, comprising the steps: retrieving the storage aid from a storage location in one of the operating areas with a load handling device of a shuttle assigned to the respective operating area;

[0026] Transporting the storage aid to the transfer position using the shuttle and / or the shuttle's load handling device;

[0027] Storing the storage aid in the transfer position;

[0028] Retrieval of the storage aid from the transfer position using a load handling device of a shuttle, which is assigned to the operating area adjacent to the operating area in which the storage location of the storage aid is located;

[0029] Transporting the storage aid to a picking station;

[0030] Picking at least one item located in the storage aid into the target container at the picking station.

[0031] This inventive method offers the advantage that order picking can still be carried out using the inventive storage system even when the barrier is in a secure state. Target containers are preferably stored in the storage system, regardless of whether they are already completed, and are retrieved at a later time for removal or to complete order picking. The storage and retrieval of target containers is analogous to the storage and retrieval of storage aids.

[0032] Advantageous embodiments of the automated storage system according to the invention, as well as the method according to the invention for controlled shutdown, and the method according to the invention for picking articles, as well as alternative embodiment variants, are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0033] Figure 1 shows a section of an automated storage system according to the invention with two adjacent operating areas.

[0034] Figure 2 shows the automated storage system according to the invention in a larger section with a shelf.

[0035] Figure 3 shows a front view of the rack of the automated storage system according to the invention.

[0036] Figure 4 shows transfer positions of the storage system according to the invention arranged on a substrate, which are located in an area outside the rack.

[0037] Figure 5 shows the transfer positions according to Figure 4 with an additional fence.

[0038] Figure 1 shows a detailed view of an automated storage system 1 according to the invention, comprising two racks 2, each with several rack supports 3 mounted on a base U. According to the invention, the automated storage system 1 comprises at least one rack 2. For clarity, the racks 2 are shown only partially in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows a larger section of the storage system 1 according to the invention with several racks 2, and Figure 3 shows one of the racks 2 in a frontal view. The at least one rack 2 of the storage system 1 according to the invention comprises several vertically arranged storage levels 4, each with at least one storage location 5, and several storage aids 6 that can be stored in the storage locations 5. The storage aids 6 can, for example, be in the form of boxes or pallets.

[0039] Alternative embodiments of storage aids 6 can be found in this exemplary reference. The storage system 1 according to the invention also comprises several shuttles 7, each with a drive unit (not shown separately in the figures) and a load-handling device 8. The shuttles 7 are independently movable on the floor U and along the rack uprights 3 by means of the drive unit and are designed to pick up a storage aid 6 by means of the load-handling device 8. The load-handling device 8 is designed to place the storage aid 6 from the shuttle 7 into the storage location 5 and to remove it from the storage location 5 onto the shuttle 7. The load-handling devices 8 can be designed, for example, as gripping arms, conveyor belts, or slides.Preferably the load-handling devices 8 are designed as satellite vehicles, which preferably have a separate drive unit and are movable within the storage levels 4.

[0040] Between the base U and the lowest storage level 4 of the rack 2, a transfer area 9 is provided with a height that corresponds at least to the height of one of the shuttles 7 with a storage aid 6 picked up by the shuttle 7. This can be seen in Figure 1, in which the right shuttle 7 is shown with a storage aid 6 picked up by the shuttle 7.

[0041] The storage system 1 according to the invention also includes a control device connected to the shuttles 7, which is configured to specify the movement of the shuttles 7. The control device is not shown separately in the figures and can, for example, be provided in the form of a central control computer, which is connected to the shuttles 7 via a wireless data connection. According to one embodiment of the storage system 1 according to the invention, the control computer defines target coordinates for the individual shuttles 7, with the path finding within the storage system 1 being carried out by the shuttles 7 themselves. For this purpose, the positions of the individual shuttles 7 can, for example, be exchanged among the shuttles 7, preferably in real time, via the data connection. Alternatively, the control device can also take over the complete control of the individual shuttles 7.

[0042] According to the invention, the storage system 1 has at least two adjacent operating areas B, B', each of which is assigned at least one shuttle 7. In the preferred embodiment of the storage system 1, the shuttles assigned to each operating area B, B' are those that are currently located within that area. This achieves a dynamic assignment of the shuttles 7, enabling the fastest possible controlled shutdown of one of the operating areas B, B'. In an alternative embodiment, fixed assignments of the shuttles 7 to one or more operating areas B, B' are possible. The storage system 1 also has at least one transfer position 11 for transferring at least one storage aid 6 between the operating areas B, B'. This transfer position is shown in detail in Figure 1.The transfer position 11 is accessible from each of the adjacent operating areas B, B' for the load-handling devices 8. According to the invention, at least one locking device 10 is provided between the operating areas B, B', which has a rest state and a safety state at least in sections.

[0043] In its resting state, the locking mechanism 10 allows complete movement of the shuttles 7 between operating areas B and B', while in its safety state, it prevents complete movement of the shuttles 7 between these areas. This enables the selective separation of operating areas B and B'. By switching the locking mechanism 10 to the safety state, at least one of the operating areas B is repurposed as a safety zone. Within this safety zone, targeted modifications to the movement sequences of the shuttles 7 can then be made without affecting the processes within the adjacent operating area B'. According to the invention, the shuttles 7 are designed, in the safety state of the locking mechanism 10, to insert and retrieve at least one storage aid 6 from each of the operating areas B and B' into the transfer position 11.This ensures that the complete isolation of operating area B by barrier 10 does not prevent storage aids 6 from being removed from and introduced into operating area B'.

[0044] According to the preferred embodiment of the automated storage system 1 according to the invention, the control device is configured, in the safety state of the lock 10, to instruct the shuttles 7 assigned to at least one of the operating areas B, B' to place storage aids 6 picked up by the shuttles 7 into the transfer position 11, and to switch off all shuttles 7 assigned to this operating area B after the storage aids 6 have been placed in the transfer position 11. This ensures that the storage aids 6 picked up by the shuttles 7 at the time the control device receives the command are still placed in the transfer position 11, so that they can be picked up from the transfer position 11 by other shuttles 7 of the adjacent operating area. This prevents these storage aids 6 from being lost for the period during which the switched-off shuttles 7 remain switched off.

[0045] According to a variant embodiment not shown in the figures, the transfer position 11 is designed to accommodate several storage aids 6 arranged one behind the other, side by side, and / or one above the other. The transfer position 11 can therefore have the size of several storage locations 5, which are arranged one behind the other, side by side, and / or one above the other. This increases the capacity of the transfer position 11.

[0046] Preferably, the barrier 10 comprises a light barrier connected to the control device, and the control device is configured to bring the shuttles 7 to an immediate standstill when the light barrier is interrupted in the safety state of the barrier 10. This prevents individual shuttles 7 from moving between operating areas while the barrier 10 is in its safety state. This increases the operational safety of the storage system 1 according to the invention. The barrier 10 can also include, instead of or in addition to the light barrier, any other device that enables the detection of an object when it crosses the barrier 10. Examples include motion sensors, ultrasonic sensors, laser barriers, magnetic sensors, inductive sensors, etc. According to a further embodiment, the barrier 10 can also include a mechanical barrier in addition to or as an alternative to the light barrier.A mechanical barrier is shown in Figure 1. The mechanical barrier can be designed, for example, as a rigid fence, a movable flap, a gate, or a barrier. This mechanically prevents the shuttles 7 from crossing between operating areas B and B', independently of the receipt of control signals by the respective shuttles 7.

[0047] According to an embodiment shown in Figure 1, the mechanical barrier can be designed to prevent the shuttles 7 from moving between operating areas B and B' on the floor U in the safety state. For this purpose, the mechanical barrier can be arranged on the floor U itself, as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, the mechanical barrier can be connected to the rack 2. Preferably, at least one barrier 10 is also arranged in each of the storage levels 4 between the operating areas B and B', which is designed to prevent the load-handling devices 8 from moving between the operating areas B and B' in the safety state. This is shown in Figure 1. This prevents the load-handling devices 8 from moving between the operating areas B and B'.

[0048] Preferably, as shown in Figure 1, at least one transfer position 11 is arranged in the transfer area 9. This allows for optimal use of the available space below the lowest storage level 4 of the rack 3 in the transfer area 9. Alternatively or additionally, a transfer position 11 can also be arranged within the storage levels 4. This enables a direct transfer of storage aids 6 within the storage level 4 between the operating areas B and B'. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the barrier 10 can also be arranged outside the rack 2. Furthermore, preferably at least one transfer position 11 is arranged in an area outside the rack 2. In the embodiment of the storage system 2 according to the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5, several transfer positions 11 are arranged in a row in an area outside the rack 2.This enables the transfer of storage aids 6 between operating areas B and B' even outside the rack 2. According to one embodiment, the transfer position 11, which is located outside the rack, can also include a pedestrian-accessible area 12, as shown in detail in Figure 4. This pedestrian-accessible area 12 allows safe access to operating areas B and B' of the storage system 1 according to the invention. In the embodiment of the storage system 1 according to the invention shown in Figure 5, an additional fence is also provided, which functions as a barrier 10 or as a mechanical barrier.

[0049] According to an embodiment not shown in the figures, the load handling device 8 can include a transfer unit for storing the storage aid 6 in and retrieving it from storage location 5 and / or transfer position 11. The transfer unit can, for example, include a telescopic arm or a transport belt by means of which the storage aid 6 is transferred between storage location 5 and / or transfer position 11 and the shuttle 7. This provides a safe and robust means for handling the storage aid 6.

[0050] According to an embodiment not shown in the figures, the automated storage system according to the invention can comprise at least one picking station, which is arranged within one of the operating areas B, B', preferably connected to the rack 2. This achieves the advantage that storage aids 6 can be delivered directly to the picking station via the rack 2 or the transfer area 9. This enables a reduction in transport distances within the storage system 1 according to the invention.

[0051] The inventive method for the controlled shutdown of an operating area B, B' of the inventive automated storage system 1 comprises several steps. These include sending a shutdown command to the shuttles 7 of the storage system 1 assigned to at least one of the operating areas B, B' by means of the control device. These can be, for example, those shuttles 7 that are currently located within the respective operating area B, B', or shuttles 7 that are permanently assigned to one of the operating areas B, B'. Furthermore, the inventive method comprises the process of moving at least one shuttle 7, which has received the shutdown command, with a storage aid 6 picked up by the shuttle 7 at the time the shutdown command is sent, to the transfer position 11, and storing the storage aid 6 in the transfer position 11. This makes the storage aid 6 available for collection from the transfer position.The shuttle 7 is then switched off after the storage aid 6 has been inserted into the transfer position 11. This makes it possible to complete all work processes currently being carried out within the operating area B, B' to be switched off by means of a controlled shutdown process before the shuttle 7 is switched off.

[0052] The inventive method for picking articles from a storage aid 6 into a target container using the inventive automated storage system 1 comprises the step of retrieving the storage aid 6 from a storage location 5 in one of the operating areas B, B' using a load handling device 8 of a shuttle 7 assigned to the respective operating area B, B'. Furthermore, the inventive method comprises transporting the storage aid 6 to the transfer position 11 using the shuttle 7 and / or the load handling device 8 of the shuttle 7, as well as storing the storage aid 6 in the transfer position 11.Furthermore, the procedure includes retrieving the storage aid 6 from the transfer position 11 with a load handling device 8 of a shuttle 7, which is assigned to the operating area B, B' in which the storage location 5 of the storage aid 6 is located, and transporting the storage aid 6 to a picking location.

[0053] Furthermore, the method includes picking at least one item located in the storage aid 6 into the target container at the picking station. This method according to the invention offers the advantage that picking can be carried out with the storage system according to the invention even when the locking mechanism is in the safety state.

[0054] Within the scope of the inventive method, order picking can also encompass processes such as quality assurance, inventory, container consolidation, etc. These processes typically also take place across different departments, making the inventive method applicable to them as well. In certain embodiments of these processes, the storage aid 6 and the target container can also be the same storage aid 6.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Automated storage system (1) comprising at least one rack (2) with several rack uprights (3) erected on a base (U), several vertically arranged storage levels (4) each with at least one storage location (5), and several storage aids (6) that can be stored in the storage locations (5), wherein the storage system (1) comprises several shuttles (7) each with a drive unit and each with a load handling device (8), and the shuttles (7) are independently movable on the base (U) and along the rack uprights (3) by means of the drive unit, and are configured to each pick up a storage aid (6) by means of the load handling device (8), and the load handling device (8) is configured to place the storage aid (6) from the shuttle (7) into the storage location (5) and to unload it from the storage location (5) onto the shuttle (7).wherein a transfer area (9) with a height corresponding at least to the height of one of the shuttles (7) with a storage aid (6) picked up by the shuttle (7) is provided between the floor (U) and a lowest storage level (4) of the rack (2), and wherein the storage system (1) comprises a control device connected to the shuttles (7) which is configured to specify a movement of the shuttles (7), characterized in that the storage system (1) has at least two adjacent operating areas (B, B'), each of which is assigned at least one shuttle (7), and wherein the storage system (1) has at least one transfer position (11) for transferring at least one storage aid (6) between the operating areas (B, B'), which is accessible from each of the operating areas (B, B') for the load handling devices (8), and wherein at least one lock (10) is provided between the operating areas (B,B') is provided, which has a rest state and a safety state, and wherein the lock (10) in the rest state allows complete movement of the shuttles (7) between the operating areas (B, B'), and in the safety state prevents complete movement of the shuttles (7) between the operating areas (B, B'), and wherein the shuttles (7) are configured, in the safety state of the lock (10), to store a storage aid (6) from each of the operating areas (B, B') into and out of the transfer position (11).

2. Automated storage system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device is designed to instruct, in the safety state of the lock (10), the shuttles (7) assigned to at least one of the operating areas (B, B') to place storage aids (6) picked up by the shuttles (7) into the transfer position (11), and to switch off all shuttles (7) assigned to this operating area (B) after the storage aids (6) have been placed into the transfer position (11).

3. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the shuttles (7) which are currently located within the respective operating area (B, B') are assigned to the respective operating area (B, B').

4. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transfer position (11) is designed to accommodate several storage aids (6) arranged one behind the other, next to each other and / or one above the other.

5. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lock (10) comprises a light barrier connected to the control device, and the control device is designed to bring the shuttles (7) to an immediate standstill in the safety state of the lock (10) when the light barrier is interrupted.

6. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the barrier (10) comprises a mechanical barrier, wherein the mechanical barrier is preferably designed to prevent the shuttles (7) from crossing between the operating areas (B, B') on the floor (U) in the safety state of the barrier (10).

7. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one barrier (10) is arranged in each of the storage levels (4) between the operating areas (B, B'), which is designed to prevent the load handling means (8) from passing between the operating areas (B, B') in the safety state.

8. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one transfer position (11) is arranged in the transfer area (9).

9. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a transfer position (11) is arranged in at least one of the storage levels (4).

10. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a barrier (10) is arranged in an area outside the rack (2).

11. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one transfer position (11) is arranged in an area outside the rack (2).

12. Automated storage system (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that transfer positions (11) which are arranged outside the rack (2) comprise a person-accessible area (12).

13. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the load handling device (8) comprises a transfer unit for storing the storage aid (6) in, and for removing the storage aid (6) from the storage location (5) and / or the transfer position (11).

14. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the storage system (1) comprises at least one picking station, wherein the picking station is arranged within one of the operating areas (B, B'), preferably connected to the rack (2).

15. Method for controlled shutdown of an operating area (B, B') of an automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by the steps: - Sending a shutdown command to the shuttles (7) of the storage system (1) assigned to at least one of the operating areas (B, B') by means of the control device; - Method of at least one shuttle (7) which has received the shutdown command, with a storage aid (6) picked up by the shuttle (7) at the time of sending the shutdown command to the transfer position (11); - Storing the storage aid (6) in the transfer position (11); - Switching off the shuttle (7) after the storage aid (6) has been placed in the transfer position (11).

16. Method for picking articles from a storage aid (6) into a target container with an automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by the steps: - Retrieval of the storage aid (6) from a storage location (5) in one of the operating areas (B, B') using a load handling device (8) of a shuttle (7) assigned to the respective operating area (B, B'); - Transporting the storage aid (6) to the transfer position (11) using the shuttle (7) and / or the load handling device (8) of the shuttle (7); - Storing the storage aid (6) in the transfer position (11); - Retrieval of the storage aid (6) from the transfer position (11) with a load handling device (8) of a shuttle (7) which is assigned to the operating area (B, B') in which the storage location (5) of the storage aid (6) is located, adjacent operating area (B, B'); - Transporting the storage aid (6) to a picking station; - Picking at least one item located in the storage aid (6) into the target container at the picking station.

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