A system and method for picking items from storage containers located in stacks within a grid-based storage system are described. The system can include a movable structural member, movable from a first position to a second position such that when in the second position it is possible for an operative to access at least one row of storage containers such that items can be manually picked therefrom.

The invention relates to a picking device (1) for arranging between at least one automatic placement point (95) and at least one picking workstation (91), comprising at least one container holder (3) movable along a travel path (V) from the picking workstation (91) to the placement point (95), and comprising a rotation unit (5) for moving the at least one container holder (3) along the travel path (V). The invention further relates to a storage system (89), which enables a fast picking of goods and simultaneously increases safety and ergonomics for an operator (93), the picking device (1) has a tilt device (13) for the at least one container holder (3) by means of which the at least one container holder (3) can be tilted toward the at least one picking workstation (91) during a movement along the travel path (V).

A method for storing and/or order-picking product units in a storage and/or order-picking installation (P1), in which incoming transporting units are stored on an interim basis in a store, are supplied, if required, to a depalletizing station (4) and are individually stored on an interim basis in a buffer store (6) for product units. Thereafter, branch-specific mixed pallets (16) are automatically set up, supplied to the delivery zone (11) and loaded onto lorries. The system solution is distinguished, in particular, in that it can dispense entirely with transporting aids such as shelves for product units, rows of product units or for entire layers of transporting units. The transport shuttles (8) provided and the rail installation (8a) perform largely the functions of transporting aids, storage means and conveying systems.

A warehousing system for storing and retrieving goods disposed in containers is provided. The system includes a multilevel storage array including an array of storage shelves for holding containers thereon, at least one substantially continuous lift for transporting containers to and from at least one level of the storage array, at least one transport vehicle located on the at least one level and configured to traverse a transport area transporting containers between the at least one continuous lift and container storage locations so that the at least one continuous lift communicates non-deterministically, via the transport vehicle, with storage locations of each of the storage shelves on the at least one level, an infeed transport system linked to the at least one continuous lift, and an order fulfillment station for generating order containers corresponding to customer orders where the order containers are entered onto the storage shelves of the storage array.

A method picks products from at least one storage container in a picking zone of a picking station of an automated storage and retrieval system. The picking is controlled by a picking system controller communicating with a warehouse management system, WMS. The picking is performed by a picking device in the picking zone by placing picked products in one or more consolidation containers according to orders. The picking system controller is adapted for controlling the picking device and picking station for executing the method. The method includes a) receiving and ranking product orders in the warehouse management system, b) moving, by means of a transport system, storage containers with ordered products towards the picking zone according to the ranking of product orders, and c) checking which storage containers are available and ready to be picked from in the picking station and which storage containers and consolidation containers will be available within a timeframe, as well as determining a current position of the picking device relative to the positions of the at least one storage container that are ready to be picked from and the consolidation containers that are ready to receive the picked products. The method further includes d) establishing different picking sequences for completing each product order from the ranked product orders. Each picking sequence lists the products to be picked from the storage containers and which consolidation containers to place the products in within the timeframe. Each picking sequence is established by estimating the following: shortest travel distance for moving the picking device for picking from one storage container to picking from another storage container; fastest completion of picking from storage containers in the picking station for enabling new storage containers to enter the picking zone of the picking station; and fastest completion of the consolidation containers for replacing with new consolidation containers. The method further includes e) ranking the picking sequences and selecting the picking sequence providing higher throughput of picked products according to ranked product orders; f) executing picking of products by letting the picking system controller control the picking device to pick products from the storage containers and place them within the consolidation containers according to the selected picking sequence within the timeframe; and g) repeating steps a) to f) above.

A system for automatic delivery of an order in bags to a pick-up location outside a building. Such a system includes: a device for signalling and/or detecting presence of a customer in the vicinity of the pick-up location; and a height-mounted transport module, which includes: a plurality of elements for suspending the bags from a track; an automatic displacement device for automatically moving the suspension elements on said track; and an actuator for actuating said automatic displacement device to displace the bags in which the various parts of said order have been deposited, to said pick-up location when said signalling and/or detection device emits a signal confirming the presence of said user in the vicinity of said pick-up location.

A system for automatically delivering an order to a pick-up location outside a building. Such a system includes: pouches adapted to receive a bag, associated with the control; a device for signalling and/or detecting presence of a customer in the vicinity of a pick-up location; and a height-mounted transport module, which includes: a suspension element for suspending the pouches from a travel track, the suspension elements being moved automatically on the track; and an actuator to displace the pouches in which the different parts of the order have been deposited, to the pick-up location when the device for signalling and/or detecting emit a signal confirming the presence of the user in the vicinity of the pick-up location.

A system calculates for each frontage space which is held by a plurality of shelves and in which commodities are placed, a recommended capacity value of the commodity based on a predicted shipment volume from demand prediction of the commodity placed in the frontage space. The system determines exchange pairs (frontage space pairs) in each of which exchange of the commodities are performed based on a current capacity value and the recommended capacity value of each frontage space. Each exchange pair satisfies the following: The current capacity of a first frontage space is smaller than the recommended capacity, or the current capacity of a second frontage space is larger than the recommended capacity. The recommended capacity of the second frontage space satisfies the current capacity of the first frontage space. The recommended capacity of the first frontage space satisfies the current capacity of the second frontage space.

A warehousing system for storing and retrieving goods disposed in containers is provided. The system includes a multilevel storage array including an array of storage shelves for holding containers thereon, at least one substantially continuous lift for transporting containers to and from at least one level of the storage array, at least one transport vehicle located on the at least one level and configured to traverse a transport area transporting containers between the at least one continuous lift and container storage locations so that the at least one continuous lift communicates non-deterministically, via the transport vehicle, with storage locations of each of the storage shelves on the at least one level, an infeed transport system linked to the at least one continuous lift, and an order fulfillment station for generating order containers corresponding to customer orders where the order containers are entered onto the storage shelves of the storage array.

A warehousing system for storing and retrieving goods disposed in containers is provided. The system includes a multilevel storage array including an array of storage shelves for holding containers thereon, at least one substantially continuous lift for transporting containers to and from at least one level of the storage array, at least one transport vehicle located on the at least one level and configured to traverse a transport area transporting containers between the at least one continuous lift and container storage locations so that the at least one continuous lift communicates non-deterministically, via the transport vehicle, with storage locations of each of the storage shelves on the at least one level, an infeed transport system linked to the at least one continuous lift, and an order fulfillment station for generating order containers corresponding to customer orders where the order containers are entered onto the storage shelves of the storage array.