WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, ORDER PICKING AND WAREHOUSE SYSTEM AND ORDER PICKING METHOD WITH EYECATCHING TRANSMITTERS WHOSE COLORS ARE CHANGEABLE IN AN AUTOMATIC MANNER

Abstract

The invention refers to a warehouse management system (6), an order picking and warehouse system (1) as well as an order picking method and a computer program product (77). According to the invention, in order to make the picking of items intuitive and flexibly modifiable, a warehouse management system (6) is provided for controlling a picking operation by means of at least one order picking trolley (11) for storing items (9) of a set (45) of picking orders (43) and by means of at least one storage unit (5) with storage areas (27) for storing the items (9) and with at least one access station (29) for accessing the items (9) by an order picker (7), wherein the order picking trolley (11) and the access station (29) are each provided with an eye-catching transmitter (35, 51) and at least one of the eye-catching transmitters (35, 51) has a display area (37, 55) with remotely switchable color (A, B), the warehouse management system (6) being configured to automatically detect whether at least one item (9) of the set (45) is positioned in the access station (29) ready for access by the order picker (7), and to automatically switch the color (A, B) of the at least one remotely switchable eye-catching transmitter (35, 51) to the color (A, B) of the other eye-catching transmitter (35, 51) when it has been detected that the item (9) is positioned ready for access. For the order picking and warehouse system (1), it is provided that it comprises a warehouse management system (6) according to the invention and further comprises at least one order picking trolley (11) provided with an eye-catching transmitter (51) having a colored display area (55), and at least one storage unit (5) which is provided with a further eye-catching transmitter (35) with a colored display area (37), at least one display area (37, 55) having a color (A, B) which can be switched over remotely controlled by the warehouse management system (6).

Claims

1. Warehouse management system (6) for controlling order picking by means of at least one order picking trolley (11) for storing items (9) of a set (45) of picking orders (43) and by means of at least one storage unit (5) with storage areas (27) for storing the items (9) and with at least one access station (29) for access to the items (9) by an order picker (7), wherein the order picking trolley (11) and the access station (29) are each provided with an eye-catching transmitter (35, 51) and at least one of the eye-catching transmitters (35, 51) has a display area (37, 55) with remotely switchable color (A, B), wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to automatically detect whether at least one item (9) of the set (45) in the access station (29) is positioned ready for access by the order picker (7), and to automatically switch the color (A, B) of the at least one remotely switchable eye-catching transmitter (35, 51) to the color (A, B) of the other eye-catching transmitter (35, 51) when it has been detected that the item (9) is positioned ready for access within a predetermined time.

2. Warehouse management system (6) according to claim 1, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured, in the case of a plurality of access stations (29) which are each provided with a remotely switchable eye-catching transmitter (35), to automatically switch the display areas (37) of the eye-catching transmitters (35) of those access stations (29) which are determined to be ready for accessing items (9) of the set (45) of an order picking trolley (11) to the color (A, B) of the display area (55) of the eye-catching sensor (35) of this order picking trolley (11).

3. Warehouse management system (6) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured, in the case of a plurality of order picking trolleys (11) each having an eye-catching transmitter (51) with a display area (55) of different color (A, B), and in the case of a plurality of access stations (29) each provided with a remotely switchable eye-catching transmitter (35), to automatically switch the display areas (37) of the eye-catching transmitters (35) of those access stations (29) which are determined to be ready for access to items (9) of the set (45) of an order picking trolley (11) to the color (A, B) of the display area (55) of this order picking trolley (11).

4. Warehouse management system (6) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to automatically switch the color (A, B) of the eye-catching transmitter (35) of an access station (29) after accessing all items (9) of a set (45) provided for access from this access station (29).

5. Warehouse management system (6) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to automatically control one or a plurality of storage units (5) such that individual items (9) of a set (45) are provided in more than one access station (29) simultaneously.

6. Warehouse management system (6) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to determine the position (63) of the at least one order picking trolley (11) and/or the eye-catching transmitter (51) of the at least one order picking trolley (11).

7. Warehouse management system (6) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to control one or a plurality of storage units (5) in a predetermined zone (65) around a determined position (63) of an order picking trolley (11) in such a way that individual items (9) of the set (45) of this order picking trolley (11) are provided simultaneously in more than one access station (29) of the zone (65).

8. Warehouse management system (6) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to switch the color (A, B) of a display area (37, 55) of an eye-catching transmitter (35, 51) depending on the location.

9. Warehouse management system (6) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to automatically switch the colors (A, B) of display areas (55) of the eye-catching transmitters (51) of a plurality of order picking trolleys (11) to different colors (A, B) in each case.

10. Warehouse management system (6) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured, as a function of an assignment of the order picker (7) to an order picking trolley (11), to automatically set the same color (A, B) at a display area (17) with remote-controlled switchable color (A, B) of an information transmitter (15), which can be worn on the body of the order picker (7), and at a display area (55) of an eye-catching transmitter (51) of an order picking trolley (11).

11. Warehouse management system (6) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to automatically determine the position (61) of an information transmitter (15) wearable on the body of an order picker (7) and to change the color (A, B) of a display area (17) of the information transmitter (15) depending on the position (61).

12. Warehouse management system (6) according to claim 11, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to automatically adjust the color (A, B) of the display area (17) of an information transmitter (15) to the color (A, B) of an eye-catching transmitter (35) of an access station (29) when the information transmitter (15) is in a predetermined position relative to the access station (29).

13. Warehouse management system (6) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to determine an access zone (59) in front of an access station (29) by means of geofencing and to automatically set the color (A, B) of the display area (17) of an information transmitter (15) located within the access zone (59) to the color (A, B) of the display area (37) of the eye-catching transmitter (35) of the access station (29) of this access zone (59).

14. Warehouse management system (6) according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to reset the color (A, B) of the display area (17) of the information transmitter (15), which is set to the color (A, B) of the eye-catching transmitter (35) of the access station (29), to a previously set color (A, B) when all the items (9) of the set (45) of the order picking trolley (11), whose display area (55) has the same color (A, B) as the display area (17) of the information transmitter (15) before switching back, have been taken from the access station (29).

15. Warehouse management system (6) according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the warehouse management system (6) is configured to output an optical signal (21) at a wearable (19) carried by an order picker (7), wherein the signal (21) is representative of a position of a handling unit (41) on the order picking trolley (11) into which an item (9) taken from an access station (29) is to be stored and/or a number and/or type of the items (9) to be stored in the handling unit (41) of the order picking trolley (11).

16. Order picking and warehouse system (1) having a warehouse management system (6) according to one of claims 1 to 15, having at least one order picking trolley (11) which is provided with an eye-catching transmitter (51) having a colored display area (55), and having at least one storage unit (5) which is provided with a further eye-catching transmitter (35) having a colored display area (37), at least one display area (35, 51) having a color (A, B) which can be switched over remotely controlled by the warehouse management system (6).

17. Order picking and warehouse system (1) according to claim 16, comprising an information transmitter (15) configured as a wearable (19), which has a display area (17) with remote-controlled switchable color (A, B) and is connected in a data-transmitting manner via the warehouse management system (6) to the eye-catching transmitters (35, 51) of the at least one order picking trolley (11) and the at least one storage unit (5).

18. Order picking and warehouse system (1) according to claim 16 or 17, comprising an access zone (59) determined by the warehouse management system (6) by means of geofencing, accessible to an order picker (7) for accessing the access station (29) of a storage unit (5) and arranged in front of the access station (29), and with a position transmitter (25) portable by the order picker (7) for determining the position (61) of the order picker (7) relative to the access zone (59).

19. Order picking method, wherein an order picking trolley (11) is assigned a set (45) of picking orders (43) comprising a plurality of items (9), in which it is automatically determined that at least one item (9) of the set (45) is ready for access by an order picker (7) at at least one access station (29) of at least one storage unit (5), wherein the order picking trolley (11) and the access station (29) each have an eye-catching transmitter (35, 51) with a colored display area (37, 55) and the color (A, B) of at least one display area (37, 55) can be switched over remotely, wherein the color (A, B) of the at least one remotely switchable display area (37, 55) is automatically switched to the color (A, B) of the other display area (37, 55) after access readiness is determined.

20. A computer program product (77) or computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 19.

Description

[0063] In the drawings, the same reference numerals are always used for elements with the same function and/or the same structure.

[0064] FIG. 1 shows an advantageous embodiment of a warehouse with an order picking and warehouse system according to the invention;

[0065] FIG. 2 shows an order picker with a portable information transmitter;

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a storage unit with an access station;

[0067] FIG. 4 shows an order picking trolley; and

[0068] FIG. 5 shows the steps of a method according to the invention.

[0069] In the following, an advantageous embodiment of an order picking and warehouse system 1 according to the invention is explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 1.

[0070] The order picking and warehouse system 1 can be used in particular for a warehouse 3 comprising at least one storage unit 5. The order picking and warehouse system 1 preferably comprises at least one warehouse management system 6, which is configured for monitoring and/or controlling at least a part of the order picking and warehouse system 1. The warehouse management system 6 is preferably connected to the components to be monitored and/or controlled, in particular connected in a data-transmitting manner. The warehouse management system may in particular comprise one or a plurality of computers and/or software, in particular linked with each other.

[0071] The warehouse management system 6 is preferably provided with a computer program product 77 that includes instructions by which the warehouse management system 6 is at least partially controllable.

[0072] The storage units 5 can be, for example, warehouse systems such as storage lifts, racks, paternoster warehouse systems, carousel warehouse systems or other units. An access point of a transport track or a transport path can also be considered a storage unit 5. The only prerequisite is that an operator 7, i.e. an order picker 7, can remove items 9 from or transfer items 9 to a storage unit 5. In the field of warehouse logistics, this is often referred to as the loading and/or removal of stored goods. An operator 7 is also frequently referred to as a “picker” 7. Items 9 are often referred to as “stored goods”. The loading and/or removal of items 9 into or out of a storage unit 5 is referred to below as “access”.

[0073] A picking order 43 can be assigned to an order picker 7. A picking order usually contains a listing of items 9. These items 9 are to be removed from one or more storage units 5, i.e., to be “picked” and collected in a collection container, a so-called order picking trolley 11. Conversely, it is equally possible for a picking order 43 to contain a listing of items 9 that are to be transferred, in particular from an order picking trolley 11 to one or more storage units 5.

[0074] A picking order 43 usually contains, in addition to an indication of the item type, an indication of the number of items 9 to be stored and/or removed. One or a plurality of picking orders 43 can be combined in a set 45.

[0075] An order picker 7 may process a set 45 or a picking order 43 by going to one or a plurality of storage units 5 and accessing the access stations 29 of these storage units 5. If the order picker 7 must thereby go to a plurality of storage units 5, the movement of the order picker 7 within the warehouse 3 may result in a picking path 13.

[0076] To facilitate order picking, an order picker 7 can be guided by technical aids when processing a set 45 or a picking order 43. The order picking and warehouse system 1 uses color marking to visually guide the order picker 7. Color marking is advantageous because it can be intuitively understood compared to text or numbers.

[0077] For example, a color can be assigned to each set 45. Alternatively, a color can also be assigned to a picking order 43. Preferably, however, colors are to be assigned to sets 45. Thus, different colors may identify different sets 45. The color identifying a set 45 may be displayed at various locations in the warehouse 3 to assist an order picker 7 in picking.

[0078] The color associated with a set 45 can be displayed, in particular, at eye-catching transmitters 35, 51. An eye-catching transmitter 35, 51 is preferably a light source visible from a distance, the light source preferably being self-luminous. Alternatively, an eye-catching transmitter may be a passive light source, i.e. a light source stimulated to glow by an active light source. However, the color associated with a set 45 may also be displayed by other devices, such as displays.

[0079] A storage unit 5, an order picking trolley 11 and an order picker 7 with a portable information transmitter 15 are shown schematically in FIGS. 2 to 4. These are briefly discussed below.

[0080] The order picker 7 is equipped with at least one portable information transmitter 15. The portable information transmitter 15 has at least one display area 17 whose color can be switched remotely.

[0081] The information transmitter 15 is preferably integrated in a wearable 19, which is shown in FIG. 2 merely as an example of a device that can be worn on the arm. Preferably, the wearable 19 is also configured to output an optical signal 21 for the order picker 7. By way of example only, the optical signal 21 is shown as part of the display area 17 of the information transmitter 15. In this case, the display area 17 may display the signal 21. Alternatively, the optical signal 21 may be displayed on another device, in particular a display device on the information transmitter 15. A further alternative is to provide a separate wearable 19, which is wearable separately from the information transmitter 15 and which is configured to output the optical signal 21. For example, the separate wearable (not shown) can have a spectacle shape.

[0082] The information transmitter 15 preferably also has at least one acknowledgement transmitter 23, at which the removal and/or placement of an item can be acknowledged. The acknowledgement transmitter 23 can be a mechanical switch, a touch-sensitive switch, for example as part of a touch display, or also a barcode reader or other input device. Likewise, it may be possible to make the display area 17 of the information transmitter 15 touch-sensitive, so that it can simultaneously be the acknowledgement transmitter 23. The acknowledgement transmitter 23 can also be formed on a separate device, in particular a device that can be worn on the body.

[0083] Preferably, the order picker 7 carries at least one position transmitter 25. The position transmitter 25 may be part of the information transmitter 15. Alternatively, it can also be formed separately from the information transmitter 15. Preferably, the position transmitter 25 can be worn on the body of the order picker 7.

[0084] The information transmitter 15, the acknowledgement transmitter 23 and/or the position transmitter 25 can be connected to the warehouse management system 6 in a data-transmitting manner, in particular in a wireless data-transmitting manner.

[0085] An example of a storage unit 5 is shown schematically in FIG. 3. The storage unit 5 can have a plurality of storage areas 27, which are only indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 3. Items 9 from the storage areas 7 can be moved to an access station 29, or moved from the access station 29 toward the storage areas 27. The access station 29 can in particular be a loading and/or removal station 31.

[0086] The storage unit 5, in particular a control device 33 of the storage unit 5, is preferably connected to the warehouse management system 6 in a data-transmitting manner.

[0087] The access station 29 is provided with an eye-catching transmitter 35. The eye-catching transmitter 35 is arranged in the vicinity of the access station 29 so that it can be visually assigned to the access station 29.

[0088] The eye-catching transmitter 35 has a display area 37 whose color can be switched over remotely by the warehouse management system 6. For this purpose, the eye-catching transmitter 35 can be connected directly to the warehouse management system 6 or indirectly via the control device 33 of the storage unit 5 in a data-transmitting manner.

[0089] The display area 37 may be a color changeable illuminant or a display, in particular a display, which is configured to display different colors.

[0090] The storage unit 5 may be provided with a position detection system 39, which is configured to detect the positions of position transmitters 25, 49. The position detection system 39 is only shown as an example on a storage unit 5. The position detection system 39 may be part of the order picking and warehouse system 1 independently of storage units 5 and may be arranged within the warehouse 3.

[0091] The position detection system 39 may comprise a plurality of transmitting and/or receiving devices adapted to detect at least one position transmitter 25, 49 and determine its position. For example, the position detection system 39 may use triangulation for this purpose. The position detection system 39 may be used to define zones within the order picking and warehouse system 1 and/or the warehouse 3 by means of geofencing. In particular, picking zones and access zones can be defined. This will be discussed later.

[0092] FIG. 4 schematically shows an order picking trolley 11. The order picking trolley 11 is used to collect and transport items 9. For this purpose, the order picking trolley 11 has storage goods containers, so-called handling units 41. In FIG. 4, the handling units 41 are shown as compartments in the order picking trolley 11 by way of example only.

[0093] Preferably, a handling unit 41 is assigned to exactly one picking order 43. The picking order 43 is only shown schematically as a set of items 9 in FIG. 4. Alternatively, a picking order 43 may extend over several handling units 41 if the capacity of one handling unit 41 is not sufficient for one picking order 43.

[0094] Several, different picking orders 43 may be combined into a set 45 of picking orders 43. Preferably, an order picking trolley 11 is assigned to exactly one set 45. The two different picking orders 43 are indicated in FIG. 4 by the different items 9 contained in them. Each of the handling units 41 may be provided with a display device 47 which can indicate to the order picker 7 in which handling unit 41 items 9 are to be stored, or from which handling unit 41 items 9 are to be removed. The display devices 47 may preferably represent a color and/or characters.

[0095] The order picking trolley 11 is preferably provided with a position transmitter 49, by means of which the position of the order picking trolley 11 within the warehouse 3 can be determined. By means of the position transmitter 49, an identification of the picking trolley 11 can preferably also be communicated to the warehouse management system 6. The position transmitter 49 can preferably be detected by the position detection system 39.

[0096] The order picking trolley 11 is provided with an eye-catching transmitter 51, which is formed in particular by an eye-catching lamp 53 that can be attached repeatedly and without tools. The eye-catching transmitter 51 has a display area 55 whose color can be switched over remotely. In particular, the color can be switched remotely by the warehouse management system 6. For this purpose, the eye-catching transmitter 51 is connected to the warehouse management system 6 in a data-transmitting manner. In particular, this can be done wirelessly.

[0097] The eye-catching transmitter 51, in particular its display area 55, is preferably visible from each side of the order picking trolley 11. This enables the order picker 7 to quickly locate or recognize an order picking trolley 11 assigned to him.

[0098] The eye-catching transmitter 51 preferably has a reading device for an identification means of the order picking trolley 11. The eye-catching transmitter 51 can thereby read an identification of the order picking trolley 11 to which the eye-catching transmitter 51 is attached and forward it to the warehouse management system 6. As a result, the order picking trolley 11 and the eye-catching transmitter 51 may form a single unit for the warehouse management system 6. The reading device may be, for example, a bar code reader or a reader for reading RFID tags. Accordingly, the identification means on the picking trolley 11 may be formed by a bar code, RFID tag, or other suitable means.

[0099] The order picking trolley 11, in particular the eye-catching transmitter 51 of the order picking trolley 11 may be provided with at least one projection device (not shown) configured to generate a light image suitable to indicate a direction. For example, an arrow may be generated. In particular, the projection device may project downwards, i.e., onto a ground. Thus, depending on a communication with the warehouse management system 6, the direction to the next access station 29 ready for access may be indicated. This may be particularly useful in large warehouses, where long distances may have to be covered and an eye-catching transmitter 35 of the access station 29 may not be readily apparent from a distance. The order picking zone 57 may then be divided into various sections distributed over the area of the warehouse and interconnected by the picking path 13.

[0100] In the following, the use of a warehouse management system 6 according to the invention and an order picking and warehouse system 1 according to the invention is described on the basis of the warehouse 3 shown in FIG. 1, with reference being made here to the components of the order picking and warehouse system 1 described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0101] The order picking path 13 already mentioned at the beginning can be determined by a chronological sequence of so-called order picking zones 57, in which items 9 of a set 45 are simultaneously made available for access. Such an order picking zone 57 is indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1.

[0102] An access zone 59 is associated with each access station 29. Preferably, an access zone 59 is arranged in front of the access station 29 so that an order picker 7 located in the access zone 59 has access to the access station 29.

[0103] For the sake of clarity, storage units 5 are shown in FIG. 1, each storage unit 5 having exactly one access station 29. For example, the storage units 5 in FIG. 1 may be similar in structure to the storage unit 5 described with reference to FIG. 3. However, a storage unit 5 may also have multiple access stations 29 and/or access zones 59.

[0104] The access zones 59 may be virtual zones. In other words, they may be determined by geofencing, for example. For example, one or a plurality of position detection systems 39 can determine the access zones 59, in particular by connection with the warehouse management system 6.

[0105] Since preferably each order picker 7 is provided with a position transmitter 25, it can be detected whether an order picker 7 is inside or outside a certain access zone 59. This makes it possible to determine the position 61 of an order picker. Furthermore, it is also possible to determine the position 61 of an order picker 7 absolutely, i.e. without relation to a specific access station 59. Position detection systems 39, in particular those which use triangulation, can be configured for this purpose.

[0106] Since each order picking trolley 11 is preferably also provided with a position transmitter 49, the position 63 of an order picking trolley 11 can preferably also be determined. Here, too, it may be possible in the simplest case to detect only the presence or absence of an order picking trolley 11 within an access zone 59. In addition, however, it may also be possible to determine the position 63 within the warehouse 3.

[0107] According to the invention, it is provided that at least one of the eye-catching transmitters 35 or 51, i.e. at the access station 29 or at the order picking trolley 11, has a display area 37 or 55 with a switchable color. For the sake of simplicity, this is explained below using two different colors A and B. Of course, other colors can also be used or, especially in the case of a plurality of order pickers 7, more than two colors.

[0108] In FIG. 1, color A is indicated by a simple hatching and color B by crossed hatching. It is advantageous if the two colors A and B are clearly distinguishable from each other. For example, color pairs red and green or yellow and blue can be used for this purpose. Here it can also be an advantage if, when only two colors A and B are used, these two colors are complementary to each other. For example, the complementary colors blue and yellow, red and cyan, or green and magenta can be used as the colors A and B. This allows a very fast and clear differentiation of the two colors A and B by an order picker 7.

[0109] Preferably, both eye-catching transmitters 35 and 51 each have a display area 37 and 55 with automatically switchable color A, B. In addition, the order picker 7 also carries an information transmitter 15 with a display area 17 whose color can be switched over remotely by the warehouse management system 6.

[0110] In the order picking and warehouse system 1 of FIG. 1, as preferred embodiments, the eye-catching transmitters 35, the eye-catching transmitters 51 and the information transmitters 15 are each provided with display areas whose color can be switched automatically.

[0111] The eye-catching transmitters 35 and 51 as well as the information transmitters 15 are only indicated in FIG. 1 and filled with the hatching representing the respective color. For the sake of clarity, the access zones 59 are also filled with the hatching that corresponds to the color of the eye-catching transmitter 35 of the corresponding access station 29.

[0112] At the beginning of a pick, that is, when an order picker 7 is to process a set 45 or a picking order 43, or even at the beginning of a workday, an order picker 7 is assigned an order picking trolley 11.

[0113] In FIG. 1, an order picker 7 with an order picker trolley 11 is shown in the upper left corner, with both showing the color A. At the bottom right, an order picker 7 is shown with an associated order picking trolley 11, with the information transmitter 15 and the eye-catching transmitter 51 both showing the color B.

[0114] Thus, an order picker 7 can quickly and easily identify the order picking trolley 11 assigned to him when visually comparing his information transmitter 15, or its display area 17, with the display area 55 of the eye-catching transmitter 51 on his order picking trolley 11. He can then use the order picking trolley 11 to head for access stations 29 of the storage units 5 in order to access them. Various scenarios are conceivable here.

[0115] In a simple scenario, an item 9 is provided for a set 45 or picking order 43 at an access station 29 of a storage unit 5.

[0116] The eye-catching transmitter 35 of the corresponding access station can then indicate A or B by a color representing the set 45 or a picking order 43. The order picker 7 can match the displayed color A or B on the eye-catching transmitter 35 with the colors of his information transmitter 15 and/or the eye-catching transmitter 51 of his order picking trolley 11.

[0117] If the colors match, as is the case with color A at the top left of the image, the order picker 7 can access the access station 29 and remove item 9 from it and place it in a handling unit 41 of his order picking trolley 11. Likewise, the order picker 7 can remove item 9 from a handling unit 41 of his order picking trolley 11 and store it in the access station 29.

[0118] As already described above, each handling unit 41 can also be provided with a display device 47 for this purpose. Once access is complete, the order picker 7 can acknowledge this, for example, via an acknowledgement transmitter 23. He can then move to an access station 29 and continue processing his set 45 or picking order 43.

[0119] As an alternative to the procedure described above, it is also possible that the position 61 of the order picker 7 and/or the position 63 of the order picking trolley 11 is detected. For example, a virtual zone 65 around the order picking trolley 11 can be determined.

[0120] If the zone 65 overlaps with an access zone 59 or if one of the access stations 29 is within the zone 65 around the order picking trolley 11, this may cause the corresponding access station 29 to provide item 9 to the set 45 associated with the order picking trolley 11.

[0121] As soon as the item or items 9 are provided, the color of the eye-catching transmitter 35 is switched to the color of the eye catching transmitter 51 or vice versa. In other words, in this case, the storage units 5 react to the presence of the order picking trolley 11 and provide the corresponding item(s) 9 for this order picking trolley 11, or for its picking orders 43 or its set 45.

[0122] The invention also offers other advantages. For example, the assignment of an order picker 7 and/or an order picking trolley 11 to a particular set 45 or to a particular picking order 43 can be changed, at least temporarily. This can be indicated by a change of color on the eye-catching transmitter 51 and/or on the information transmitter 15.

[0123] To illustrate this, the following situation is indicated in FIG. 1:

[0124] The order picker 7 shown at the lower right of FIG. 1, which is assigned a set 45 or a picking order 43, accesses an access station 29. The information transmitter 15, the eye-catching transmitter 51 and the eye-catching transmitter 35 all display the color B, respectively.

[0125] The order picker 7 accesses the access station of the storage unit 5. At the same time, the storage unit 5 shown above the aforementioned storage unit 5 in FIG. 1 is also ready for access by this order picker 7. Consequently, the eye-catching transmitter 35 of this storage unit 5 also displays the color B.

[0126] Due to the size of the set 45 or picking order 43, the weight of the items 9, or the urgency of the set 45 or picking order 43, the order picker 7 needs assistance.

[0127] He can now ask the second order picker 7 shown in FIG. 1 to help him. Alternatively, the second order picker 7, to whom color A is assigned, can also recognize that order picker 7, to whom color B is assigned, needs help. Of course, it is also possible that this is detected by the warehouse management system 6 and communicated to the order picker 7 to whom color A is assigned.

[0128] The order picker 7, which is assigned the color A, can then move, at least temporarily, to the access zone 59, whose access station 29 is also marked with the color B by the eye-catching transmitter 35, but which is not accessed. This change of the order picker 7 from one access zone 59 to another access zone 59 is indicated by the arrow 67 in FIG. 1.

[0129] At the moment when the order picker 7, to which color A was previously assigned, enters the other access zone 59, this is detected by the warehouse management system 6, in particular via at least one position detection system 39, and the color in the display area 17 of its information transmitter 15 is switched from A to B. This is shown in FIG. 1 for the storage unit 5 at the top right by the dotted line. The order picker 7 is then also assigned, at least temporarily, to the set 45 or picking order 43 of the order picker provided with color B from the beginning.

[0130] In this way, both order pickers 7 can process the combination 45 marked with the color B or the picking order 43. Both order pickers 7 can also use the order picking trolley 11 marked with the color B.

[0131] Once the set 45 or picking order 43 marked with color B has been completely or sufficiently processed, the order picker 7 whose color has been switched can return to his originally served access station 29, with the color of his information transmitter 15 being switched back to color A as soon as he enters the access zone 59 to the access station 29 marked with color A. The order picker 7 can then return to his original access station 29. Now both order pickers 7 can again process their respective sets 45 or picking orders 43.

[0132] Thus, by means of the warehouse management system 6 according to the invention, order pickers 7, order picking trolleys 11 and access stations 29 can be flexibly assigned to specific sets 45 or picking orders 43 and/or to each other.

[0133] The information transmitter 15 and/or the wearable 19 can be configured to generate an acoustic signal. The acoustic signal can be triggered in particular by the warehouse management system 6. Instead of or in addition to an acoustic signal, a tactile signal, for example a vibration alarm, may also be generated. Such a signal can be triggered by the warehouse management system 6, for example, when a color change occurs at the display area 17 of the information transmitter 15.

[0134] This can be useful, for example, in the case described above in which an order picker 7 enters another access zone 59 and thus triggers a change in the color of the display area 17 of his information transmitter 15. A corresponding signal can also be generated when an order picking trolley 11 associated with the order picker 7 undergoes a color change, or the color of the display area 55 of the eye catching transmitter 51 of this order picking trolley 11 is switched. In this way, the order picker 7 can be intuitively informed that he should now process a different set 45 or a different picking order 43.

[0135] In the following, some optional improvements of the warehouse management system 6 and/or the order picking and warehouse system 1 are described. In particular, the warehouse management system 6 may be configured to prevent color collisions. In other words, it may be ensured that colors are not duplicated unless, as described above, an assignment is to be temporarily changed so that multiple order pickers 7 or even order picking trolleys 11 are additionally used to process a set 45 or picking order 43 that is already in process. Preventing color collisions is particularly advantageous within a picking zone 57. For example, if there are several picking zones 57 in a warehouse, the same colors can be used in different picking zones 57.

[0136] The eye-catching transmitters 51 of the order picking trolley 11 are preferably configured in such a way that the color can be detected as soon as a view of the order picking trolley 11 is possible. The orientation of the order picking trolley 11 should preferably not play a role here. This is different from the optional display devices 47 of the handling units 41, which can generally only be detected visually if the order picker 7 is positioned in the vicinity of the handling units 41 on the one hand and the handling units 41 with their display devices 47 are oriented towards the order picker 7 on the other hand.

[0137] The warehouse management system 6 is preferably connected at least via data transmission, in particular wirelessly, to all eye-catching transmitters 35, 51 and information transmitters 15. In addition, it is also preferably connected directly or indirectly to the position transmitters 25 and 49 and/or to one or more position detection systems 39. Finally, the warehouse management system 6 is also preferably connected in a data-transmitting manner to the acknowledgement transmitters 23 and the control devices 33 of the storage units 5.

[0138] The following describes an order picking method according to the invention with reference to the block diagram in FIG. 5.

[0139] In a first method step 69, an order picking trolley 11 is assigned a set 45 of picking orders 43 including a plurality of items 9.

[0140] In a further method step 71, the warehouse management system 6 determines whether at least one item 9 of the set 45 is ready for access at an access station 29.

[0141] If this is the case, the method step 73 is executed, whereby the color A, B of at least one display area 37 and/or 55 is switched. This can ensure that the eye-catching transmitter 35 of the control device 33 and the eye-catching transmitter 51 of the order picking carriage 11 display the same color A, B.

[0142] Subsequently, at least one optional method step 75 can be carried out, wherein the color of at least one further display area 17, 37 and/or 55 is switched depending on the location.

[0143] The various situations in which this can be done, for example, are described above with reference to FIG. 1. Likewise, the uses of the warehouse management system 6 and/or the order picking and warehouse system 1 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 can be understood as optional process steps.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0144] 1 Order picking and warehouse system [0145] 3 Warehouse [0146] 5 Storage unit [0147] 6 Warehouse management system [0148] 7 Order picker [0149] 9 Item [0150] 11 Order picking trolley [0151] 13 Order picking path [0152] 15 Information transmitter [0153] 17 Display area [0154] 19 Wearable [0155] 21 Optical signal [0156] 23 Acknowledgement transmitter [0157] 25 Position transmitter [0158] 27 Storage areas [0159] 29 Access station [0160] 31 Loading and/or removal station [0161] 33 Control device [0162] 35 Eye-catching transmitter [0163] 37 Display area [0164] 39 Position detection system [0165] 41 Handling unit [0166] 43 Picking order [0167] 45 Set of picking orders [0168] 47 Display device [0169] 49 Position transmitter [0170] 51 Eye-catching transmitter [0171] 53 Eye-catching lamp [0172] 55 Display area [0173] 57 Order picking zone [0174] 59 Access zone [0175] 61 Position of an order picker [0176] 63 Position of an order picking trolley [0177] 65 Zone [0178] 67 Arrow [0179] 69-75 Procedural steps [0180] 77 Computer program product