Automated storage system comprising a shuttle having an energy storage unit
By enabling energy exchange between shuttles and load handling devices with higher capacity units, the system addresses the need for external charging, enhancing operational continuity and storage capacity while maintaining system availability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KNAPP AG
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
AI Technical Summary
State-of-the-art automated storage systems require shuttles to be removed or the entire system to be shut down for regular energy storage unit recharging, reducing system availability and performance.
The system integrates shuttles and load handling devices with energy storage units that can charge each other, allowing dynamic energy distribution and eliminating the need for external charging, with load handling devices having higher capacity to ensure continuous operation.
This configuration extends operational time, increases system availability, and enhances storage capacity by enabling in-system charging without interrupting operations.
Smart Images
Figure AT2025060367_23072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Automated warehouse system
[0002] The invention relates to an automated storage system according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a method for operating an automated storage system according to the preamble of claim 15.
[0003] Automated storage systems are well-known in the field of warehouse logistics for the automated storage and retrieval of items. Such systems are used in modern logistics to enable the rapid, efficient, and customized fulfillment of order picking orders. These systems typically include picking mechanisms to process orders, which usually involve a large number of different products. However, such systems are also used, for example, in the automotive industry, where numerous components are stored in a common warehouse and must be available quickly and on demand.
[0004] In the prior art, storage systems are known that include autonomously moving shuttles. These systems also feature storage aids within which one or more items, usually of the same type, are stored. During operation, these storage aids are transferred by the shuttle between storage locations within the system, and / or from the storage locations to a picking station and back again.
[0005] To place the storage aids into and retrieve them from the storage locations, so-called load handling devices can also be used, which can each pick up at least one storage aid, place it in one of the storage locations and retrieve it from there, and transfer it between the storage location and the shuttle.
[0006] The shuttles within the storage system are equipped with a drive system, which may include a chain drive and / or a wheel drive. Electric motors are typically used to power the shuttles, which are equipped with an energy storage unit, such as a battery, to store the necessary energy. In state-of-the-art storage systems, this energy storage unit must be recharged regularly to ensure continuous operation. This is usually done by removing the individual shuttles from the storage system or by shutting down the entire system. However, this has the disadvantage that the shuttles are no longer available in the storage system, thus reducing the overall performance and / or availability of the system.
[0007] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an automated storage system and a method for operating an automated storage system, with which these disadvantages of the prior art are avoided.
[0008] The automated storage system according to the invention comprises at least two storage locations, as well as several storage aids that can be stored in the storage locations. The storage system also includes at least one shuttle that can move independently within the storage system. Furthermore, the storage system according to the invention comprises several load-handling devices that can each be picked up by the shuttle and transferred by the shuttle between the storage locations, wherein the load-handling devices are configured to each pick up at least one storage aid and store it in one of the storage locations, retrieve it from there, and transfer it between the storage location and the shuttle.
[0009] According to the invention, the shuttle and the load handling devices each comprise at least one energy storage unit, wherein the load handling devices and the shuttle are configured to charge the energy storage unit of the shuttle using the energy storage unit of a load handling device picked up by the shuttle and / or to charge the energy storage unit of the load handling device picked up by the shuttle using the energy storage unit of the shuttle. This achieves the advantage that the stored energy can be dynamically distributed between the energy storage unit of the shuttle and the energy storage unit of the load handling device. This extends the period during which the shuttle and / or the load handling device is operational, thus increasing the availability of the shuttle and / or the load handling device in the automated storage system according to the invention.
[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the inventive automated storage system, the energy storage unit of the load handling device has a higher storage capacity than the energy storage unit of the shuttle. This offers the advantage that the load handling device can be used to ensure continuous operation of the shuttle. This allows for the continuous operation of the shuttle to be easily achieved by replacing one load handling device with another whose energy storage unit has at least a certain minimum charge level, and preferably, the energy storage unit of this load handling device is at least substantially fully charged.
[0011] This avoids the need to charge the shuttle's energy storage unit separately via an external charging station, or to remove the shuttle from the automated storage system.
[0012] Preferably, the storage system according to the invention also comprises at least one rack with several rack supports erected on a base, and several vertically arranged storage levels. The shuttle is independently movable along at least one of the rack supports, with each storage level having at least one storage location. This significantly increases the storage capacity of the automated storage system according to the invention.
[0013] Preferably, the storage system further comprises at least one charging station for charging the energy storage unit of the load handling devices. This offers the advantage that the load handling devices can be charged within the storage system, thus eliminating the need to remove them for charging. This improves the availability of the load handling devices within the storage system and reduces the distances that the load handling devices and / or shuttles have to travel. Particularly when using an energy storage unit for the load handling devices that has a higher storage capacity than the energy storage unit of the shuttle, this significantly increases the availability of the shuttle within the storage system. Preferably, the shuttle is also designed to move on a surface, and the charging station is located on this surface.The base is preferably located within the storage system and can, for example, be the base on which the rack uprights are erected. According to one embodiment, the shuttle can also be designed to move along the base, and the charging station can be located between the base and the lowest storage level of the rack. This offers the advantage that the charging station is directly on the same plane as the load handling device when the shuttle moves along the base. Furthermore, this allows the space within the storage system between the lowest storage level and the base to be used for positioning the charging station, thus providing more storage space. Alternatively or additionally, the charging station can also be located on one of the storage levels, or at least one of the storage locations can incorporate the charging station.This allows the charging station to be reached quickly by the load handling equipment without having to provide additional areas for the charging station within the storage system.
[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the storage system according to the invention, the charging station comprises several receptacles, each for at least one load-handling device. This allows multiple load-handling devices to be loaded at a single station. Preferably, the receptacles are also arranged horizontally and / or vertically offset from one another, and are preferably movable horizontally and / or vertically. This offers the advantage that the charging station can accommodate one load-handling device and, after the load-handling device has been accommodated, can make available an unoccupied receptacle for another load-handling device by means of a horizontal and / or vertical movement of the receptacle. This increases the storage capacity of the charging station.
[0015] According to a further embodiment, the automated storage system according to the invention preferably comprises a loading rack with several loading rack supports erected on a base and several vertically arranged loading rack levels, wherein the shuttle is independently movable along at least one of the loading rack supports, and wherein at least one loading station is provided in each of the loading rack levels. The loading station can also include at least one receptacle for a load handling device. This provides a separate loading rack within the storage system according to the invention, thereby enabling several charging stations to be provided in a space-saving manner in an area independent of the storage locations.This reduces the likelihood that malfunctions during charging, such as mechanical malfunctions when connecting the load handling devices to the charging station, will negatively impact the overall performance of the storage system. Preferably, stacked loading points are grouped together to form a single charging station, with a loading rack comprising several adjacent charging stations. Such loading racks are preferably arranged along a boundary of the storage system, with the rack supports, along which the shuttle travels, being located within a safety zone, and the opposite section forming a separate area accessible for maintenance of the charging stations.
[0016] The load handling device is preferably movable from the shuttle to the charging station and designed to dock with the charging station. The load handling device can also be designed to move independently. This ensures a docking process at the charging station that is independent of the shuttle. Furthermore, the shuttle and the load handling device it picks up can have a data connection. This allows the movements of the shuttle and the load handling device to be coordinated. The data connection is preferably a wireless connection, preferably a Bluetooth connection.
[0017] According to the inventive method for operating the inventive automated storage system, when the energy storage unit of the load handling device picked up by the shuttle falls below a minimum charge level, the load handling device is transported to the charging station. The load handling device connects to the charging station to charge its energy storage unit, and the shuttle then picks up another load handling device with an energy storage unit that has a charge level above the minimum charge level. This ensures continuous operation of the shuttle without the need for separate charging.
[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the inventive method, the shuttle travels between the transport of the load handling device, whose minimum charge level of the energy storage unit has been undershot, to the area of the charging station,
[0019] and the inclusion of the additional load-bearing device with the energy storage unit, which has a charge level above the minimum charge level,
[0020] from the area of the charging station to the area of another charging station in the storage system. This allows the shuttle to deliver the load handling device, whose minimum charge level of the energy storage unit has been undershot, to a charging station where no other load handling device is present at that time.
[0021] This improves the flexibility of the entire storage system. Preferably, when moving from one charging station to another, the shuttle performs a vertical movement within the storage system, preferably downwards. This offers the advantage that the shuttle's energy storage unit can be nearly empty before performing this downward vertical movement, as it requires very little energy. Alternatively, or in addition, the shuttle can perform a substantially horizontal movement within the storage system when moving from one charging station to another.
[0022] Preferably, the shuttle and the additional load handling device, along with the energy storage unit (which has a charge level above the minimum), establish a data connection with each other. This allows for precise coordination of the shuttle and the additional load handling device. After the load handling device is connected to the charging station to charge its energy storage unit, the data connection between the shuttle and the load handling device can preferably be disconnected. The data connection is preferably wireless, ideally a Bluetooth connection. This allows the use of a widely available and proven connection standard within the scope of the invention.
[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the storage system according to the invention, the additional charging station is selected from several further charging stations of the storage system, each connected to at least one load handling device which has an energy storage unit with a charge level above the minimum charge level. Preferably, the additional charging station is selected based on at least one of the following criteria: the charge level of the energy storage unit of the shuttle, the distance between the charging station and the additional charging station, the traffic density of shuttles between the charging station and the additional charging station, and the charge level of the additional load handling device. This allows the additional charging station to be selected such that the discharge of the load handling device and the pickup of the additional load handling device by the shuttle have the least possible impact on the overall performance of the storage system.
[0024] Advantageous embodiments of the automated storage system and the method according to the invention, as well as alternative embodiment variants, will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.
[0025] Figure 1 shows a section of an automated storage system according to the invention with several shuttles, several load handling devices and several storage aids in a preferred embodiment.
[0026] Figure 2a shows a shuttle of the storage system according to the invention in a preferred embodiment with a load-handling device picked up by the shuttle and a storage aid picked up by the load-handling device.
[0027] Figure 2b shows the shuttle according to Figure 2a without the storage aid.
[0028] Figure 2c shows a load-bearing device of the bearing system according to the invention.
[0029] Figure 3 shows a section of the storage system according to the invention in an embodiment with a charging station for several load-handling devices.
[0030] Figure 4 shows a section of a storage system according to the invention with several storage areas accessible by persons and a charging station for several load handling devices.
[0031] Figure 5 shows the charging station for multiple load handling devices according to Figure 4 in detail.
[0032] An automated storage system 1 according to the invention is shown in Figure 1 in an exemplary embodiment and comprises at least two storage locations 2, as well as several storage aids 3 that can be stored in the storage locations 2. Figure 1 shows only a section of the entire automated storage system 1, thus showing only a portion of the total number of storage locations 2. The storage system 1 also comprises at least one shuttle 4 that can move independently within the storage system 1, as well as several load-handling devices 5 that can be picked up by the shuttle 4 and transferred by the shuttle 4 between the storage locations 2. Four shuttles 4 of the storage system 1 according to the invention are shown in Figure 1. The shuttle 4 is shown in detail in Figures 2a to 2b in a preferred embodiment. Figure 2c shows the load-handling device 5 in detail.The shuttle 4 can, for example, include several drive wheels 6 for moving the shuttle 4 on a surface 7 within the bearing system 1, which are driven by a drive unit of the shuttle 4 not shown in the figures. The drive unit can, for example, include one or more electric motors.
[0033] As can be seen in the figures, the load-handling devices 5 are designed according to the invention to each receive at least one storage aid 3 and store it in one of the storage locations 2, retrieve it from there, and transfer it between the storage location 2 and the shuttle 4. Depending on the dimensions of the storage aid 3 and the load-handling devices 5, for example, two storage aid 3 can also be received by the load-handling device 5.
[0034] The shuttle 4 and the load handling devices 5 each further comprise at least one energy storage unit, which is not shown separately in the figures. The load handling devices 5 and the shuttle 4 are configured to charge the energy storage unit of the shuttle 4 using the energy storage unit of a load handling device 5 picked up by the shuttle 4 and / or to charge the energy storage unit of the load handling device 5 picked up by the shuttle 4 using the energy storage unit of the shuttle 4. This achieves the advantage that the energy stored in the energy storage units of the shuttle 4 and the load handling device 5 can be dynamically distributed between the shuttle 4 and the load handling device 5. This increases the operating time of the shuttle 4 and the load handling device 5.According to the preferred embodiment of the storage system 1 according to the invention, the energy storage unit of the shuttle 4 is designed as a battery for storing electrical energy. The energy storage unit of the shuttle 4 can, for example, be used to supply drive energy to the drive unit of the shuttle 4. Likewise, the energy storage unit of the load handling device 5 is preferably designed as a battery for storing electrical energy. According to the preferred embodiment of the automated storage system 1 according to the invention, the energy storage units of the load handling devices 5 each have a higher storage capacity than the energy storage unit of the shuttle 4. This ensures continuous operation of the shuttle 4 when the load handling device 5 is regularly replaced. Furthermore, this eliminates the need to separately recharge the energy storage unit of the shuttle 4.As shown in Figure 1, the storage system 1 according to the invention, in its preferred embodiment, comprises at least one rack 8 with several rack supports 9 erected on the base 7. The rack 8 also includes several vertically arranged storage levels 10, wherein the shuttle 4, as shown in Figure 1, is independently movable along at least one of the rack supports 9. The storage levels 10 each also have at least one storage location 2. This significantly increases the storage density of the storage system 1 according to the invention. Due to the independent movement of the shuttle 4 along the rack support 9, it is not necessary to provide additional, for example, mechanical or electromechanical devices in the storage system 1 to transport the storage aids 3 along the rack supports 9.
[0035] According to the preferred embodiment of the storage system 1 according to the invention, the storage system 1 has at least one charging station 11 for charging the energy storage unit of the load-handling devices 5. The charging station 11 is shown in Figure 1 and in Figures 3 to 5. The charging station 11 is preferably designed to accommodate one or more load-handling devices 5 and charge their energy storage units. Furthermore, the charging station 11 is preferably arranged within the storage system 1 such that it is accessible by the shuttle 4 and / or the load-handling device 5. Preferably, the load-handling device 5 is movable from the shuttle 4 to the charging station 11 and is designed to dock with the charging station 11. Preferably, the shuttle 4 is also designed to move on a surface 7, and the charging station 11 is preferably arranged on the surface 7.The base 7 can be the surface on which the uprights 9 of the rack 8 are arranged. However, the base 7 can also be located outside the area of the rack 8 and be accessible by the shuttle 4. The charging station 11 can, for example, also be located on one of the uprights 9, between the base 7 and a lowest storage level 10. This is shown in Figure 1. According to this embodiment, the shuttle 4 is designed to move on the base 7, and the charging station 11 is located between the base 7 and a lowest storage level 10 of the rack 8. This achieves the advantage that the charging station 11 is located directly in the same plane as the load handling device 5 when the shuttle 4 moves on the base 7.Furthermore, this allows the space located between the lowest storage level 10 and the subsoil 7 within the storage system 1 to be used for positioning the charging station 11, thus providing more storage space within the storage system 1.
[0036] According to an alternative embodiment of the storage system 1 according to the invention, which is not shown in the figures, the charging station 11 can also be arranged in one of the storage levels 10. In addition to the previously described embodiment of the charging station 11, an additional charging station 11 can also be provided within the storage system 1, which is arranged in one of the storage levels 10. Furthermore, at least one of the storage locations 2 can also include the charging station 11. This offers the advantage that the charging station 11 can be provided at different positions within the storage system 11, thereby optimizing the availability and performance of the storage system 1 according to the invention.
[0037] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the charging station 11 can also include several receptacles 12, each for at least one load handling device 5. The receptacles 12 can be arranged horizontally and / or vertically offset from one another. In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 5, the receptacles 12 are arranged vertically offset from one another. Furthermore, the receptacles 12 can be horizontally and / or vertically movable. This offers the advantage that the charging station 11 can accommodate several load handling devices 5, thus saving space. In addition, this allows a load handling device 5, whose energy storage unit is empty or nearly empty, to be transported from the shuttle 4 to the charging station 11 and immediately exchanged for a new load handling device 5 whose energy storage unit is full or substantially full.The charging stations 11 shown in Figures 4 and 5 are provided within a series of storage locations 2, which are accessible to people, according to the embodiment of the storage system 1 shown therein. The storage locations 2 are arranged such that they can be driven under by a shuttle 4, and the storage locations 2 are situated below a surface 13 accessible to people.
[0038] According to an embodiment not shown in the figures, the automated storage system 1 according to the invention comprises a loading rack with several loading rack supports erected on a base 7, and several vertically arranged loading rack levels. According to this embodiment, the shuttle 4 is independently movable along at least one of the loading rack supports, and at least one loading station 11 is provided in each of the loading rack levels. This provides a separate loading rack which can have a large number of loading stations 11 in a small space. This offers the advantage that the operation of the storage system 1 according to the invention does not have to be interrupted during service work on the charging stations 11.In addition, load handling devices 5 present at the charging stations 11 in the loading rack can be removed from the individual charging stations 11, for example for service work on them, without affecting the operation of the storage system 1.
[0039] According to the preferred embodiment of the storage system 1 according to the invention, the shuttle 4 and the load-handling device 5 received by the shuttle 4 have a data connection with each other, which is not shown separately in the figures. The data connection can be a wireless data connection, preferably a Bluetooth connection.
[0040] This achieves the advantage that a widely used, stable and fast connection standard can be used within the framework of the inventive bearing system 1.
[0041] According to the inventive method for operating the inventive automated storage system 1, when the energy storage unit of the load handling device 5 picked up by the shuttle 4 falls below a minimum charge level, the shuttle 4 transports the load handling device 5 picked up by the shuttle 4 to the charging station 11. The load handling device 5 establishes a connection with the charging station 11 to charge the energy storage unit of the load handling device 5. A further load handling device 5 with an energy storage unit that has a charge level above the minimum charge level is also picked up by the shuttle 4.
[0042] This achieves the advantage that it is not necessary to charge the energy storage unit of shuttle 4 separately. By exchanging the load handling device 5 with the additional load handling device 5, it is ensured that a load handling device 5 with a fully or substantially fully charged energy storage unit is picked up by shuttle 4, whereby the energy storage unit of shuttle 4 can be charged by means of the energy storage unit of this load handling device 5.
[0043] According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the shuttle 4 travels between transporting the load handling device 5, whose minimum charge level of the energy storage unit has been undershot, to the area of the charging station 11, and picking up the next load handling device 5 with the energy storage unit, which has a charge level above the minimum charge level, from the area of the charging station 11 to the area of another charging station 11 of the storage system. This allows the shuttle 4 to pick up a load handling device 5 that is available at the other charging station 11. This eliminates the need to keep a load handling device 5 with a substantially fully charged energy storage unit available at every charging station 11 of the storage system according to the invention at all times.
[0044] Preferably, when moving from the area of charging station 11 to the area of the next charging station 11 of the storage system 1, the shuttle 4 performs a vertical movement, preferably downwards, within the storage system 1. This offers the advantage that only braking energy needs to be provided for this downward movement. The downward vertical movement can therefore also be performed by the shuttle 4 even if its energy storage unit is essentially empty. Alternatively or additionally, when moving from the area of charging station 11 to the area of the next charging station 11 of the storage system 1, the shuttle 4 can also perform a substantially horizontal movement within the storage system 1.
[0045] Preferably, the shuttle 4 and the additional load handling device 5 establish a data connection with the energy storage unit, which has a charge level above the minimum charge level. This enables communication between the shuttle 4 and the load handling device 5. After the load handling device 5 is connected to the charging station 11 to charge the energy storage unit of the load handling device 5, the data connection between the shuttle 4 and the load handling device 5 can be disconnected. The data connection is preferably a wireless connection, in particular a Bluetooth connection.
[0046] According to the preferred embodiment of the inventive method, the additional charging station 11 is selected from several additional charging stations 11 of the storage system 1, each connected to at least one load handling device 5 which is an energy storage unit with a charge level above the minimum charge level. The additional charging station 11 is also preferably selected based on at least one of the following factors: the charge level of the energy storage unit of the shuttle 4, the distance between the charging station 11 and the additional charging station 11, the traffic density of shuttles 4 between the charging station 11 and the additional charging station 11, and the charge level of the additional load handling device 5.
Claims
Patent claims:
1. Automated storage system (1) comprising at least two storage locations (2) and several storage aids (3) that can be stored in the storage locations (2), wherein the storage system (1) comprises at least one shuttle (4) that can move independently within the storage system (1), and wherein the storage system (1) comprises several load handling devices (5) that can each be picked up by the shuttle (4) and transferred by the shuttle (4) between the storage locations (2), wherein the load handling devices (5) are configured to each pick up at least one storage aid (3) and store it in one of the storage locations (2) and to retrieve it from there, and to transfer it between the storage location (2) and the shuttle (4), characterized in that the shuttle (4) and the load handling device (5) each comprise at least one energy storage unit, wherein the load handling device (5) and the shuttle (4) are configured to charge the energy storage unit of the shuttle (4) by means of the energy storage unit of a load handling device (5) picked up by the shuttle (4) and / or to charge the energy storage unit of the load handling device (5) picked up by the shuttle (4) by means of the energy storage unit of the shuttle (4).
2. Automated storage system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy storage unit of the load handling means (5) has a higher storage capacity than the energy storage unit of the shuttle (4).
3. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the storage system (1) comprises at least one rack (8) with several rack supports (9) erected on a base (7), and several vertically arranged storage levels (10), wherein the shuttle (4) is independently movable along at least one of the rack supports (9), wherein the storage levels (10) each have at least one storage location (2).
4. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the storage system (1) comprises at least one charging station (11) for charging the energy storage unit of the load handling means (5).
5. Automated storage system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the shuttle (4) is designed to move on a surface (7) and the charging station (11) is arranged on the surface (7).
6. Automated storage system (1) according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the shuttle (4) is designed to move on the surface (7) and the charging station (11) is arranged between the surface (7) and a lowest storage level (10) of the rack (8).
7. Automated storage system (1) according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the charging station (11) is arranged in one of the storage levels (10).
8. Automated storage system (1) according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that at least one of the storage locations (2) comprises the charging station (11).
9. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the charging station (11) comprises several receptacles (12) for at least one load handling device (5) each.
10. Automated storage system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the receptacles (12) are arranged horizontally and / or vertically offset from one another, and are preferably movable horizontally and / or vertically.
11. Automated storage system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the storage system (1) comprises a loading rack with several loading rack supports erected on a base (7), and several vertically arranged loading rack levels, wherein the shuttle (4) is independently movable along at least one of the loading rack supports, and wherein at least one loading station (11) is provided in each of the loading rack levels.
12. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the load handling device (5) is movable from the shuttle (4) to the charging station (11) and is designed to dock with the charging station (11).
13. Automated storage system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the shuttle (4) and the load handling device (5) picked up by the shuttle (4) have a data connection with each other.
14. Automated storage system (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the data connection is a wireless data connection, preferably a Bluetooth connection.
15. Method for operating an automated storage system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the shuttle (4) transports the load handling device (5) to the area of the charging station (11) when the energy storage unit of the load handling device (5) picked up by the shuttle (4) falls below a minimum charge level, and the load handling device (5) establishes a connection with the charging station (11) for charging the energy storage unit of the load handling device (5), wherein a further load handling device (5) with an energy storage unit which has a charge level above the minimum charge level is picked up by the shuttle (4).
16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the shuttle (4) between the transport of the load handling device (5), whose minimum charge level of the energy storage unit has been undershot, to the area of the charging station (11), and the pickup of the further load handling device (5) with the energy storage unit, which has a charge level above the minimum charge level, from the area of the charging station (11) to the area of another charging station (11) of the storage system (1).
17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the shuttle (4) performs a vertical movement in the storage system (1), preferably downwards, when moving from the area of the charging station (11) to the area of the further charging station (11) of the storage system (1).
18. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the shuttle (4) performs a substantially horizontal movement in the storage system (1) when moving from the area of the charging station (11) to the area of the further charging station (11) of the storage system (1).
19. Method according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the shuttle (4) and the further load handling device (5) establish a data connection with the energy storage unit, which has a charge level above the minimum charge level.
20. Method according to one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that after establishing the connection of the load handling device (5) with the charging station (11) for charging the energy storage unit of the load handling device (5), a data connection between the shuttle (4) and the load handling device (5) is disconnected.
21. A method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the data connection is a wireless connection, preferably a Bluetooth connection.
22. A method according to claim 16, characterized in that the further charging station (11) is selected from several further charging stations (11) of the storage system (1), each connected to at least one load-handling device (5) which is an energy storage unit having a charge level above the minimum charge level.
23. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that the further charging station (11) is selected on the basis of at least one of the following: state of charge of the energy storage unit of the shuttle (4), distance between the charging station (11) and the further charging station (11), traffic density of shuttles (4) between the charging station (11) and the further charging station (11), and state of charge of the further load handling device (5).