PICKING DEVICE WITH AN IMAGE VIRTUALLY LOCATED IN A WORK AREA

Abstract

The invention refers to a picking device (1) for picking articles, in particular for a storage lift (3), with at least one operating area (5) for an operator (7), with at least one work area (9) for picking, and with at least one projection device (15) for at least temporarily marking a location (17) at least in the work area (9). The invention also refers to a method for picking. In order to improve the ergonomics for the operator and the efficiency of picking, it is provided according to the invention that the picking device (1) has, during operation, at least one image (19) which can be viewed from the operating area (5) and is virtually located in the work area (9).

Claims

1. A picking device for picking articles for an automatic storage system, comprising: at least one operating area for an operator; at least one work area for picking; and at least one projection device for at least temporarily marking a location (17) in the at least one work area, wherein the picking device has, during operation, at least one image which can be viewed from the operating area and is located virtually in the work area.

2. The picking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection device is connected to at least one storage element containing an image database.

3. The picking device of claim 1, wherein, the at least one projection device is connected to at least one storage element containing an order database.

4. The picking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection device is connected to at least one control unit which is adapted to calculate the arrival time of an article.

5. The picking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection device is captively fixedly connected to a stationary part of the picking device.

6. The picking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection device comprises at least one generator for a light-generating plasma.

7. The picking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection device comprises at least one autostereoscopic projector.

8. The picking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection device is arranged above the at least one work area.

9. The picking device of claim 1, wherein the picking device is an automatic storage, a storage lift, a paternoster storage, a non-continuous conveyor, a picking trolley or a system of conveyor tracks.

10. The picking device of claim 1, wherein the picking device is provided with at least two projection devices spaced apart horizontally from one another, at least one conveyor track connected to the picking device running between the at least two projection devices.

11. A method for picking articles for a storage lift including at least one work area from which articles are removed and/or into which articles are stored, comprising: marking at least one location in the work area is marked with at least one image which is visible from at least one operating area and is virtually located in the work area.

12. (canceled)

13. The picking device of claim 10, wherein each of the at least two projection devices is configured for generating an image for one eye of the operator.

Description

[0031] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by means of advantageous embodiments with reference to the drawings. The combinations of features shown in the embodiments can be supplemented by further features for a specific application in accordance with the above explanations. Also, in accordance with the above explanations, individual features can be omitted from the described embodiments if the effect of these features in a specific application is not important.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a storage lift as a picking device according to the invention in a perspective view;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows the storage lift of FIG. 1 in a sectional view;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a picking device according to the invention with a conveyor track in a perspective view;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows the picking device from FIG. 3 in a top view;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a picking trolley as a further embodiment of the picking device according to the invention in a perspective view; and

[0037] FIG. 6 shows the picking trolley from FIG. 5 in a sectional view.

[0038] In the following, a first advantageous embodiment of a picking device 1 according to the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. For the sake of brevity, only the differences to the first embodiment are mentioned in the description of the other embodiments with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

[0039] The picking device 1 is used to pick articles (not shown). The first embodiment of the picking device 1 is a storage lift 3. The picking device has an operating area 5 for an operator 7. In the Figures, the operating area 5 is only indicated by dashed lines. The picking device 1 also has a work area 9. The operator 7 preferably has access to the work area 9 from the operating area 5. The operator 7 also preferably has an unobstructed view of the work area 9 from the operating area 5. The work area 9 can be used for picking articles. This means that in the work area 9, articles can be delivered for removal by the picking device 1, or they can be fed to picking device 1 for storage.

[0040] In the storage lift 3 the work area 9 is part of the service opening 11 or accessible through the service opening 11. The work area 9 can be delimited by a work surface, a table or a container carrier.

[0041] In the picking device 1, storage goods containers 13 can be used to hold articles. The storage goods containers 13 can be moved by picking device 1. In this case, the storage goods containers 13 can be moved directly by the picking device 1 or together with storage good carriers or similar devices. However, the use of storage goods containers 13 is only shown here as an example and is not mandatory.

[0042] The picking device 1 is equipped with a projection device 15. The projection device 15 can be used to mark a location 17 at least in the work area 9. The location 17 can be the place where an article to be picked is located or where an article is to be deposited.

[0043] Preferably, the location 17 coincides with one of the storage goods containers 13. However, the location 17 can also be a location or section of the work area 9. Alternatively, the location 17 can also be only a section of a storage goods container 13.

[0044] To mark the location 17, the picking device 1 has at least one image 19, which can be viewed from the operating area 5 and is virtually located in the work area 9. Preferably the at least one image 19 is virtually located at the location 17.

[0045] As an example for an image 19, FIG. 1 shows an arrow which virtually floats above the location 17 or the storage food container 13. Image 19 also shows a number which represents, for example, the number of articles to be removed. As an alternative to the arrow, which is only mentioned as an example, any other meaningful representation can be chosen. Only exemplary are mentioned here: A photo of the article to be removed, a three-dimensional image of the article, a symbol image matching the article or the insertion of text.

[0046] In order to display corresponding images 19, the at least one projection device 15 may be connected to at least one storage element 21 containing an image database. Such a storage element 21 is indicated in FIG. 2. The at least one storage element 21 may be part of the picking device 1, part of the projection device 15 or an external control device. The control device (not shown) may be a personal computer.

[0047] In order to display further information, for example the number of articles to be removed, in image 19, the at least one projection device 15 can be connected to at least one storage element 23, which contains at least one order database. The storage element 23 is indicated in FIG. 2. Like the storage element 21, the storage element 23 can be part of the picking device or part of the projection device 15. Alternatively, it can also be part of an external control device.

[0048] The at least one projection device 15 can also be connected to at least one control unit 25, which is designed to calculate an arrival time of an article in the work area 9. In this way the at least one projection device 15 can display the time remaining until the arrival of an article, i.e. a countdown.

[0049] The at least one projection device 15 is preferably captively connected to at least one stationary part 27 of the picking device 1. Such a stationary part 27 can be, for example, a frame (not shown) of picking device 1.

[0050] In addition, the stationary part 27 can also be a housing of picking device 1. It is also possible that the at least one projection device 15 is held independently of picking device 1. For example, the at least one projection device 15 may be supported by a rack or held by a suspension device. It is advantageous in this case if the at least one projection device 15 is held immovably relative to order picking device 1.

[0051] To produce the image 19, the at least one projection device 15 may include, for example, an autostereoscopic projector 29. The autostereoscopic projector 29 can produce an image 19 with a spatial impression without the need for stereoscopic glasses, for example. In particular, where the projection device 15 includes an autostereoscopic projector 29, an additional disk 31 may be placed between the projector 29 and work area 5.

[0052] For example, the disk 31 may have beam splitters that split images generated by the projector 29 between the two eyes of operator 7. In autostereoscopic projection, light 33 is directed directly onto the field of view of the operator 7 or onto his eyes. In the case of the operator 7, the separate provision of image information for each eye creates the impression that the image 19 is located in the work area 9. From the viewpoint of operator 7, the image 19 is preferably located above location 17.

[0053] As an alternative to autostereoscopic projection, a generator 35 can be used instead of projector 29. The generator 35 is shown in FIG. 2 only as a dashed line. The generator 35 can generate a light-generating plasma. For example, the generator 35 can direct laser beams to where an image 19 is to be created. The laser radiation can bring air molecules into a plasma state so that they emit light in the visible range. In this way, a luminous image 19 can be generated in the work area 9.

[0054] In the following, a second advantageous embodiment of a picking device 1 according to the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. For the sake of brevity, only the differences to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 have been mentioned.

[0055] The picking device 1 has conveyor tracks 37, which are only exemplary T-shaped. The picking device 1 of the second type is essentially formed by the work area 9, which can be a sorting station.

[0056] Conveyor tracks 37 can be part of the picking device 1. In this case, or also in the case that the conveyor tracks 37 are not part of picking device 1, they are at least connected to the picking device 1 in order to transport the storage goods containers 13 to or from the work area 9 via conveyor tracks 37. The conveyor tracks 37 can also be used to transport other objects. Only examples of this are storage goods without containers, storage goods trays or storage goods carriers of any suitable shape.

[0057] One of the conveyor tracks 37 extends away from the work area 9, while two other conveyor tracks 37 run at right angles to the first mentioned conveyor track 37. One of the conveyor tracks 37 extends between two horizontally spaced projection devices 15. The projection devices 15 may cooperate to allow each projection device 15 to emit light to one of the eyes of the operator 7. This arrangement makes it possible, for example, to dispense with an additionally mounted disk 31 with beam splitters.

[0058] Preferably, the work area 9 is at a height that is essentially between the two projection devices 15. This has the advantage that when the operator 7 is near the work area 9, he is positioned centrally between the two projection devices 15 and thus maintains a substantially equal distance to both projection devices 15. This ensures the quality of the spatial representation.

[0059] The two projection devices 15 together form an autostereoscopic projector 29. The image 19, which is generated by the projector and perceived by the operator 7, is located in the work area 9 and marks a location 17. The image 19 can, for example, mark one of the storage goods containers 13. Alternatively or additionally it can also mark a location 17 within the storage goods container 13. It is also possible that the image 19 moves at least a little bit with a storage goods container when it is moved along one of the conveyor tracks 37.

[0060] The system consisting of two projection devices 15 can also be used for the picking device 1 of the first embodiment, which is designed as storage lift 3.

[0061] In the following, a third embodiment of the picking device 1 according to the invention is discussed with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0062] The third embodiment of the picking device 1 according to the invention is a picking trolley 39, which is movable on rollers 41. Instead of a picking trolley 39, the picking device 1 can also be another movable transport system, for example a lift truck.

[0063] The picking trolley 39 has a plurality of shelf levels 43 in which storage goods containers 13 can be picked. The picking trolley 39 is equipped with a rack 45 for this purpose. The rack can hold the storage goods containers 13 and is connected to the rollers 41. The rack 45 forms the stationary part 27 of picking trolley 39.

[0064] A projection device 15 is arranged above shelf level 43. The projection device 15 is preferably fixed to the rack 45. In this case, a disk 31 with beam splitters extends between the rest of the projector 29 and the work area 9 in such a way that the light generated by the projector 29 can reach the eyes of the operator 7. Alternatively, a plurality of projectors 15 can be arranged so that each projector emits 15 light 33 to one eye of the operator 7.

[0065] The picking trolley 39 with two horizontally opposite rows 47 of shelf levels 43 is only shown as an example. Preferably the picking trolley 39 has at least one projection device 15 for each of the rows 47.

[0066] It is also preferable that the at least one projection device 15 is designed to generate an image 19 at the height of each of the shelf levels 43. Alternatively, each level 43 may also be provided with at least one projection device 15 which is designed to generate images 19 in the respective underlying level 43 or in a plurality of the levels 43.

[0067] Preferably the projection device 15 of the third embodiment is battery operated, so that the trolley 39 can be moved and used without connection to a power supply.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0068] 1 picking device

[0069] 3 storage lift

[0070] 5 operating area

[0071] 7 operator

[0072] 9 work area

[0073] 11 service opening

[0074] 13 storage goods container

[0075] 15 projection device

[0076] 17 location

[0077] 19 image

[0078] 21 storage element

[0079] 23 storage element

[0080] 25 control unit

[0081] 27 stationary part

[0082] 29 autostereoscopic projector

[0083] 31 disk

[0084] 33 light

[0085] 35 generator

[0086] 37 conveyor track

[0087] 39 picking trolley

[0088] 41 roller

[0089] 43 shelf level

[0090] 45 rack

[0091] 45 row