Order-Picking System with Transverse Carriages and Direct Shelf Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing order-picking devices require significant effort and resources for tray preparation and storage, and their complex conveyor systems are prone to disruptions and collisions, necessitating high personnel involvement despite automation efforts.
Innovation Solution
An order-picking device with a multiplicity of shelves and transverse carriages that move between shelves, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval via separate loading and retrieval levels, with adjustable load handling devices to prevent collisions and optimize goods distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If complex conveyor systems are used for tray storage and preparation, then automated picking can be achieved, but the system becomes prone to disruptions and collisions requiring high personnel involvement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic conveyor system and replaces it with a simplified architecture where shelves are directly accessible from the storage room. This eliminates the intermediate conveyor infrastructure that caused disruptions and collisions, while maintaining automated picking through direct shelf access mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing storage and retrieval machines to directly access shelves without requiring conveyor-mediated transfer. The shelves serve themselves by being positioned within direct reach of the storage and retrieval machines, eliminating the need for external conveyor assistance and reducing points of failure.
2Extent of automation
If conveyor systems are used to transport trays between storage and picking stations, then automated operation is enabled, but the cost and complexity of the system increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex conveyor system from the architecture entirely. Instead, shelves are positioned within the storage room to be directly accessible by storage and retrieval machines, extracting the problematic intermediate transport infrastructure while preserving automated operation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the storage function and the picking function into a single integrated space. The shelves are located within the storage room itself, combining what were previously separate functions (storage in one location, picking in another) into one unified system, thereby eliminating the need for complex interconnecting conveyors.
3Productivity
If trays are prepared and stored in advance, then picking efficiency is improved, but significant effort and resources are required for tray preparation and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dedicated tray preparation and storage infrastructure and replaces it with a simplified approach where goods are stored directly on shelves within the storage room. This eliminates the separate tray preparation system while maintaining picking efficiency through direct shelf access.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelves serve multiple functions: they store goods, serve as the picking surface, and are directly accessible to both storage and retrieval machines. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate tray preparation and storage infrastructure, as the shelves themselves fulfill all necessary roles.
4Adaptability or versatility
If unstable containers are used on conveyor systems, then flexibility in handling various goods is achieved, but disruptions and blockages occur frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the conveyor system that was causing stability problems with unstable containers. By eliminating the conveyor infrastructure, the system avoids the disruptions and blockages that occurred when unstable containers were transported on conveyors, while maintaining handling flexibility through direct shelf access.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelves and storage/retrieval machines handle containers directly without requiring stable placement on conveyor surfaces. The direct access mechanism allows flexible handling of unstable containers without the stability requirements imposed by conveyor systems, as containers are manipulated in a controlled, stationary environment.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an order-picking system comprising racks which have a plurality of shelves. In order to transfer or pick goods, a rack operating device can be brought to the shelves of the racks. The rack operating device can move both horizontally and vertically along the longitudinal axis of the racks and takes the goods out of transfer compartments, in which the goods are placed by transverse carriages which can move transversely to the longitudinal axis of the racks. In the loading plane, these transverse carriages are used for transferring the goods to the rack operating devices, whereas in the removal plane, said carriages can be moved in order to pick goods.