Central Belt Order Picking with Parallel Chute Time Windows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing central belt systems are limited in throughput when handling many small orders from a large product range, particularly in fields like electronic trading in pharmaceuticals, due to ejection times from article chutes, leading to performance bottlenecks.
Innovation Solution
A central belt system with synchronized time windows for ejecting articles from different chutes onto separate belt areas, allowing parallel processing of orders, and using a separating device to prevent mixing, with synchronized tray stop positions for simultaneous order-picking into distinct order packages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If articles are ejected serially from article chutes onto a central belt, then the system structure remains simple, but the throughput is limited due to ejection times
Solution Approach 1:
The central belt is divided into multiple belt areas (first belt area, second belt area, etc.) that operate independently. Articles are ejected into different belt areas simultaneously for different orders, enabling parallel processing while maintaining a relatively simple overall system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from serial processing in time to parallel processing by adding a spatial dimension - multiple belt areas operate simultaneously. The control synchronizes ejection time windows across different belt areas, effectively using time-space coordination to increase throughput without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple orders are processed in parallel on a single central belt, then throughput increases, but articles may mix between different order areas
Solution Approach 1:
The central belt is segmented into distinct belt areas (first belt area, second belt area) that are spatially separated. Each belt area handles specific orders independently, preventing article mixing while enabling parallel processing of multiple orders simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
A control system acts as an intermediary that coordinates the operation of multiple article chutes and belt areas. It synchronizes ejection time windows and ensures articles are deposited into the correct belt areas, maintaining order accuracy while enabling parallel processing.
3Productivity
If article chutes eject articles continuously, then the belt remains continuously occupied, but ejection times create bottlenecks for small orders
Solution Approach 1:
The control implements periodic ejection cycles for different belt areas, creating synchronized time windows. During these time windows, articles are ejected into specific belt areas in a coordinated manner, allowing the system to efficiently handle small orders without continuous ejection bottlenecks.
Solution Approach 2:
While one belt area is being filled with articles for one order, another belt area simultaneously processes a different order. This continuous parallel operation ensures that the system maintains high utilization without idle downtime, as multiple orders are processed concurrently across different belt areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a central belt system for order-picking articles into order packages transported with a container conveyor, having a central belt which has a conveying direction toward the container conveyor, with the central belt having first and second belt areas in the transverse direction to the conveying direction, and having first and second article chutes associated with the first and second belt areas for ejecting articles into the first and second belt areas. The central belt system has a control in order to eject articles from the first article chutes during a first time window according to a first order and to eject articles from the second article chutes during a second time window according to a second order.