Picking Station Single Conveyor Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing order-picking systems face inefficiencies due to large conveyor systems with different planes for source and destination loading aids, leading to long transport paths and ergonomic challenges, which decrease picking efficiency and throughput.
Innovation Solution
A compact order-picking station design where source and destination loading aids are coordinated by a control device to be conveyed on a single picking conveyor, allowing them to be presented together to the order picker, reducing the need for additional buffers and minimizing the distance between picking positions, thus enhancing ergonomic design and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If source and destination loading aids are conveyed on different conveyor planes, then the system can handle multiple loading aids simultaneously, but the transport paths become long and the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the conveying of source loading aids and destination loading aids onto a single conveyor plane, allowing both types of loading aids to be transported and positioned in close proximity to each other. This eliminates the need for separate conveyor planes and reduces the overall transport path length, directly addressing the contradiction between handling multiple loading aids and minimizing transport distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions source and destination loading aids at different locations along the same conveyor plane, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the conveyor to arrange loading aids in a sequence that minimizes picking distance. This dimensional arrangement allows simultaneous access to multiple loading aids without requiring vertical separation into different planes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buffers are used to coordinate source and destination loading aids, then the system can handle varying throughput rates, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the buffer function from the conveyor system by using the natural positioning capability of the single-plane conveyor to hold source and destination loading aids in designated areas. This eliminates the need for separate buffer devices while maintaining the ability to coordinate throughput rates, thereby reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single-plane conveyor serves multiple functions: it transports source loading aids, transports destination loading aids, positions them for picking, and acts as a buffer area. This multi-functionality replaces what would traditionally require separate buffers and conveyors, simplifying the overall system while maintaining adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If the conveyor system uses tilting and switching mechanisms, then loading aids can be directed to different positions, but the system complexity and potential failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical tilting and switching mechanisms with a simplified conveyor control system that directs source and destination loading aids along a single-plane path. The control system manages routing through software coordination rather than mechanical intervention, reducing device complexity and potential failure points while maintaining operational flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and to a picking station (5) for picking of articles from source loading aids (2) by an order picker into destination loading aids (6), wherein the loading aids (2, 6) are conveyed via a first conveyor system (18) to the picking station (5) and at the picking station (5) are provided for picking the articles and after a picking operation are discharged from the picking station (5) again via a second conveyor system. A control device can co-ordinate the conveying movements of the source loading aids (2) and destination loading aids (6) in such a manner that the source loading aids (2) and destination loading aids (6) required for processing a picking order are brought together before the picking operation in the picking station (5) onto a common picking conveyor (25) of the first conveyor system (18) passing through a working area (30) for the order picker, and are presented to the order picker arranged next to one another as a picking group on the picking conveyor (25).