Rotatable Goods Receiving Sectors for Faster Order Picking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing order picking systems using automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are inefficient in terms of error rate and time required, as well as excessive walking distances for the picker.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a driverless industrial truck with a rotatable goods receiving device that aligns order-specific goods sectors to face the order picker, reducing walking distances and error rates by ensuring the correct goods sector is always accessible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the order picker manually retrieves goods from shelves and places them in boxes on the AGV cart, then the picking process can be completed, but the walking distances are excessive and the time required is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The goods receiving device is made rotatable on the AGV cart, allowing dynamic repositioning of goods sectors. The device can rotate to bring the required goods sector facing the order picker, transforming a static storage structure into a dynamic one that adapts to different picking requirements, thereby reducing walking distance and picking time
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable goods receiving device acts as an intermediary between the shelves and the order picker. Instead of the picker walking to different shelves, the device rotates to present the needed goods sector at a fixed location, mediating the interaction and eliminating excessive movement
2Productivity
If the order picker retrieves goods from multiple shelves, then all required goods can be collected, but the error rate increases due to difficulty in tracking order-specific items
Solution Approach 1:
The goods receiving device is divided into multiple goods sectors, with each sector assigned to a specific order. This segmentation allows the order picker to clearly identify which goods belong to which order, reducing confusion and errors when collecting items from different shelves
Solution Approach 2:
Different goods sectors are marked with different colors corresponding to different orders. This visual coding system helps the order picker quickly identify the correct sector for each item, reducing errors in order-specific goods placement
3Ease of operation
If the AGV cart is positioned near the order picker, then goods transfer is facilitated, but the picker still needs to walk excessive distances to access all shelves
Solution Approach 1:
The goods receiving device rotates dynamically to present different goods sectors to the order picker while the AGV cart remains stationary. This allows the picker to access all required goods from a single location, maintaining ease of transfer while dramatically improving overall picking efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the AGV cart to different locations (horizontal movement), the solution introduces rotation of the goods receiving device (angular movement in another dimension). This dimensional change allows access to multiple goods sectors without relocating the cart, preserving transfer convenience while boosting productivity
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for picking goods (5) assigned to different orders using a picking system (1) with a forklift truck (2) and a goods receiving device (3) rotatably mounted thereon for receiving goods (5) in order-specific goods sectors (7). The method comprises the following steps: - providing the first goods to be picked, assigned to a first order, at a first transfer position, - receiving the first goods at the first transfer position by a picker (10), - positioning the picking system (1) near the picker (10), - rotating the goods receiving device (3) relative to the forklift truck (2.1) such that a first goods sector (7.1) of the goods receiving device (3) assigned to the first order faces the picker (10).