Abstract
A device for commissioning goods (2) with a goods feed (3), the device including an unloading device (10) with at least one unloading point (11) for unloading goods (2), and an unloading handling module (20), to which the goods (2) are transferred from the unloading device (10), the unloading handling module (20) including at least one goods receiving element (21, 31, 81) and a moving element (22, 32) for transferring the goods (2) to a downstream conveying unit (30).
Claims
1. A device (1) for commissioning goods (2), with a goods supply (3), comprising: a) an unloading device (10) with at least one unloading point (11) for unloading goods, and b) an unloading handling module (20) to which the goods (2) are transferred from the unloading device (10), the unloading handling module (20) comprising at least one goods receiving element (21, 31, 81) and at least one moving element (22) for transferring the goods to a downstream conveying unit (30).
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the unloading point (11) includes a first feeding unit (12) for delivering the goods from the goods supply (3) to the unloading device (10).
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the unloading device (10) comprises a second feeding unit (12) for transferring the goods (2) to the unloading handling module (20).
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the goods supply (3) comprises a conveyor installation (100), in particular a conveyor system (60) and a conveyor belt (70), which is connected by means of conveying technology to the unloading device (10) that is connected by means of conveying technology to the unloading handling module (20), wherein the unloading device (10) comprises at least one fill unit (80).
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one moving element (22) is formed as a passive moving element.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one moving element (22) is formed as an active moving element.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the unloading handling module (20) includes adjusting means (23) with which the unloading of the goods (2) from the unloading device (10) and the transfer of the goods (2) to the conveying unit (30) are adjustable.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the unloading handling module (20) comprises a control unit (25) with communication means and at least one control means (24) for the goods (2).
9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the unloading handling module (20) is formed as a buffer system (200) comprising a buffer carousel.
10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit (30) comprises a mobile support unit (33) and at least one manipulation device (32) for transferring the goods to a shipping room (40) and/or a shipping point (50).
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein at least one manipulation device (32) is formed as a passive moving element.
12. The device according to claim 10, wherein at least one manipulation device (32) is formed as an active moving element.
13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit (30) comprises one or more autonomous vehicles.
14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit (30) in the holding area for the commissioned goods (2) comprises elongated, fixed or movable holding elements (38), in particular ribbed lines, in order to hold the goods (2) in position throughout the conveying path.
15. The device according to claim 13, wherein at least one autonomous vehicle contains an information processing unit (34) which, depending on information generated by the control unit (25), controls one or more unloading handling modules (20) and there takes over the goods (2) from these and transports them to a shipping room (40) and/or a shipping point (50).
16. The device according to claim 13, wherein at least one autonomous vehicle contains an information processing unit (34) which, depending on information generated by software, controls one or more unloading handling modules (20) and there takes over the goods (2) from these and transports them to a shipping room (40).
17. The device according to claim 4, wherein the fill unit (80) has at least one goods receiving element (21, 31, 81) and is formed as a transport conveyor.
18. The device according to claim 4, wherein a buffer unit (13) is integrated into the fill unit (80) or is allocated to it as a separate module.
19. A method for commissioning goods (2) comprising the steps of: providing a goods supply (3) with a sorting and conveying installation; unloading goods (2) through an unloading point (11) of an unloading device (10); transferring the goods (2) from the unloading device (10) to an unloading handling module (20); and passing the goods (2) from the unloading handling module (20) to a downstream conveying unit (30) by at least one moving element (22) of the unloading handling module (20).
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the unloading of the goods (2) by the unloading point (11) is carried out by a first feeding unit (12).
21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the transferring of the goods (2) to the unloading handling module (20) is carried out by a second feeding unit (13).
22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the unloading device (10), the unloading handling module (20) and at least one conveying unit of the goods supply (3) are connected by conveying technology, and that the method can be controlled by a control unit (25) of the unloading handling module (20).
23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the goods (2) are passed on to a downstream conveying unit (30) by passive moving elements (22), in particular due to gravity, or active moving elements (22).
24. A system (400) for commissioning goods (2) comprising: a goods input unit (410) with a goods control unit (411) for providing the goods (2); a first conveying device (420) for removing the goods (2) from the goods supply unit (403); a second conveying device (440) for transferring the goods (2) to a shipping room (40) and/or a shipping point (50); and at least one interface (430) for dynamic commissioning of the goods (2) arranged between the first and second conveying device.
25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the first conveying device (420) comprises a conveyor installation (100) having a conveying system (60), a conveyor belt (70) and a fill unit (80).
26. The system according to claim 24, wherein the interface (430) is formed as an unloading handling module (20) comprising at least one goods receiving element (21, 31, 81) and at least one moving element (22) for transferring the goods to a downstream conveying unit (30).
27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the second conveying device (440) is formed as a conveying unit (30).
28. The system according to claim 24, wherein the system (400) comprises a goods output unit (450) for the return transport of faulty, damaged and/or marked goods (2).
29. The system according to claim 24, wherein the system (400) comprises at least one storage system (460) and/or an additional buffer unit (470).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0077] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made below to the figures. These show individual embodiments of the subject matter of the invention, which are not to be understood as limiting the invention to the specific features disclosed herein.
[0078] Identical or analogous reference signs are used in the following figures and the accompanying description for parts which are identical or have the same effect.
[0079] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a device for the commissioning of goods according to the invention.
[0080] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an unloading device, an unloading handling module and a conveying unit of the device according to the invention.
[0081] FIG. 3 shows an advantageous embodiment of a device according to the invention and a conveying unit connected to the device.
[0082] FIG. 4 shows an advantageous embodiment of a device according to the invention with an alternative unloading handling module and a conveying system connected to the device.
[0083] FIG. 5 shows an advantageous embodiment of a device according to the invention with a further alternative unloading handling module and a conveying system connected to the device.
[0084] FIG. 6 shows an advantageous embodiment of a device according to the invention with an unloading handling module in the form of a buffer carousel.
[0085] FIG. 7(a) shows an advantageous embodiment of a device according to the invention with a unloading handling module in the form of a tilting table with proximity sensor and/or an actuating device for controlling the tilting table.
[0086] FIG. 7(b) shows a further operation of the device shown in FIG. 7(a).
[0087] FIG. 7(c) shows a still further operation of the device shown in FIG. 7(a).
[0088] FIG. 8(a) shows an advantageous design of a device according to the invention with an unloading handling module in the form of a tilting table with a return spring which can be activated by the AGV.
[0089] FIG. 8(b) shows a further operation of the device shown in FIG. 8(a).
[0090] FIG. 9 shows schematically a system according to the invention for the commissioning of goods in connection with various subsystems.
[0091] FIG. 10 shows a conveying unit with a height-adjustable frame.
[0092] FIG. 11 shows a conveying unit with a lift-off pin matrix.
[0093] FIG. 12 shows a conveying unit with lowerable rollers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0094] For the person skilled in the art, various further modifications of the present invention, which also fall within the scope of protection of the claims, are apparent from the description and the associated figures in addition to the examples disclosed here. These may in particular consist in replacing individual components by elements or process steps known to the skilled person and having the same effect. In addition, reference is made in the description to publications, the disclosure content of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference in the description. Likewise, constructive system connections known to the person skilled in the art are to be understood as included in the invention.
[0095] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 1 according to the invention for the commissioning of goods 2, whereby FIG. 1 schematically shows the essential system components described in more detail in the further figures. In the embodiment shown, the device 1 according to the invention comprises an unloading device 10, which has at least one unloading point 11 for unloading or taking over goods. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the commissioned goods 2 (FIG. 2) are fed to the unloading device 10 via a known goods supply 3 mentioned at the beginning or via other conventional goods feeds. In terms of system technology, this can consist of a simple or complex conveying system or, if desired, also have more than one individual feed in the area of the unloading point 11 (e.g., two separate belt conveyors or two different conveying systems for different goods, in the case of separate conveyor paths for such different goods). It is known to the skilled person that such goods supply systems preferably comprise recumbent or overhead conveyors, or alternatively other conveying elements, such as an operating robot for delivering particular individual goods to the unloading point 11. The unloading point 11 advantageously has a feeding unit 12 which ensures that the goods are correctly transferred from the unloading point 11 to the unloading device 10. This can preferably be a sliding ramp, a transition roller conveyor or a guide plate. The goods can be transferred to the unloading device 10 as a collection of goods that has already been picked or can be fed to it sequentially so that a collection of goods is provided on or in the unloading device 10. The collection of goods (or only a partial collection of goods or individual goods) is then transferred from the unloading device 10 to a downstream unloading handling module 20, as will be described in more detail below.
[0096] The unloading device 10 may be a belt conveyor, as shown for example in FIG. 2, or it may be an unloading table with optional pushers 14 (or one or more grippers/gripping arms or rotating carriers or similar means known to the skilled person) for the movement and/or the optimized arrangement (e.g. preferably compression) of the goods in the area of the unloading device 10. Furthermore, an unloading device 10 according to the invention in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has a sensor 26, in particular a proximity sensor. This proximity sensor 26 can be used to determine whether goods 2 are in a suitable position for transfer to the unloading handling module 20. Advantageously, information is exchanged between the sensor 26 and a central control unit, or the control unit 26 of the unloading handling module 20. After determining that goods 2 are at a suitable transfer point, a signal can be transmitted from the sensor 26 to the control unit and from the control unit to the unloading handling module 20, whereupon a transfer of the goods 2 to the unloading handling module 20 takes place.
[0097] The unloading handling module 20, which is significant for the invention, is now connected downstream of the unloading device 10. This is designed to perform various functions suitable for the commissioning of the goods 2 and at the same time to enable an interface function for the further transport of the goods 2 by means of the conveying units 30. These functions can, as shown in the example according to FIG. 4, comprise only a comparatively simple adaptation functionality (there a height adjustability for adaptation to the unloading handling modules 20) up to substantial additional functions, as for example shown in FIG. 2, a buffer solution with circulating goods receptacles 21.1-21.4. Various functions of the unloading handling modules 20 described in connection with the embodiment examples here can be combined with each other in a preferred manner, which is evident to the skilled person.
[0098] In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the goods are transported in goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 of the unloading handling module 20. The unloading handling module 20 has at least one goods receiving element 21, 31, 81 for receiving the goods 2 and a moving element 22 for transferring the goods 2 to a downstream conveying unit 30. The unloading point 11 of the unloading device 10 can further comprise diverters, which enable an additional sorting of the goods 2 before unloading by the unloading handling module 20.
[0099] The unloading handling module 20 is used for order-oriented commissioning, sorting and buffering of the goods 2 after unloading by the unloading point 11 of the unloading device 10 and before onward conveyance of the goods 2 to a shipping room 40 by the onward conveying device 30 and subsequently to a shipping point 50, in particular a shipping vehicle. In an advantageous embodiment, the unloading handling module 20 is equipped with adjusting means 23, wherein the adjusting means 23 enable the unloading handling module 20 to be adjusted (vertically and/or horizontally) to the unloading point 11 of the unloading device 10 and to the conveying unit 30 connected downstream of the unloading handling module 20. In further alternative embodiments, the unloading handling module 20 and/or the conveying unit 30 comprise control means 24, in particular identification means for identifying the goods 2.
[0100] After the unloading handling module 20, the goods are transferred to a downstream conveying unit 30, wherein the conveying unit 30 serves to convey the goods to a shipping room 40. The conveying unit 30 can also have goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 for the goods 2. Advantageously, the conveying unit 30 is implemented as an autonomous vehicle, which enables a dynamic, order-oriented conveying of the goods 2 from and to the unloading handling module 20 or to a shipping room 40.
[0101] The shipping room 40 can be a storage area that serves as an intermediate storage or buffer for the transfer to the actual forwarding of the commissioned goods 2 to transport vehicles or shipping companies (shipping company 50 in FIG. 1). The shipping room 40 has packing places or stations for packing the piece goods into shipping boxes and, in particular embodiments, preferably its own sorting unit for sorting and/or grouping the commissioned goods 2 so that they are prepared for the shipping company and assembled for the destination. This ensures that the shipping of the commissioned goods 2 is already efficiently and optimally grouped in the area of the shipping room 40 for different destinations or for loading onto different transport vehicles. The shipping room 40 can consist of a mere buffer section (such as a loading conveyor) or, alternatively and preferably, be designed as a comprehensive storage area which serves for the intermediate storage of quantities of goods for several or a large number of transport vehicle loads or also for the staggered loading of commissioned goods 2.
[0102] FIGS. 3 to 5 show a device 1 according to the invention, wherein the goods supply 3 comprises a conveying system 60 and a circulating conveyor belt 70, which together form a conveying system. The example of a conveying system shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is disclosed, for example, in WO 2018/142243 A1 of the applicant.
[0103] FIGS. 3 to 5 further show an unloading handling module 20 according to the invention, wherein the height of the goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 and thus the transfer point can be adapted to the height of the unloading point 11 of the unloading device 10 and to the height of the conveying unit 30 by the adjusting means 23 of the unloading handling module 20. Furthermore, several goods 2 of an order can be taken over in a goods receiving element 21, 31, 81 of the unloading handling module 20 by the unloading device 10 and buffered until conveyed away by the conveying unit 30.
[0104] The unloading handling module 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 has several goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 which are vertically adjustable. The goods 2 can thus be buffered vertically until they are transferred to the conveying unit 30. In an alternative embodiment, the goods 2 are transferred to the conveying unit 30 by means of moving elements 22 in the form of sliders.
[0105] FIGS. 3 and 4 show an unloading handling module 20 according to the invention, which has at least one goods receiving element 21, 31 81 and at least one moving element 22, 32, the moving element 22, 32 in the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 being in the form of an adjustable receiving surface. The conveying unit 30 comprises moving elements 22 as well as a support unit 33.
[0106] The unloading device in FIG. 3 also has a stopping element 15. This stopping element 15 stops the goods after they have been fed through the unloading point 11, so that the goods do not randomly hit the unloading handling module 20, but can be transferred specifically at a suitable transfer point. In addition, the stopping element 15 prevents the goods from falling off the unloading device. In possible embodiments, the stopping element can be designed as a simple stopper, a pin, a rubber coating on the surface, a lowerable and liftable edge or other stopper solutions known to the skilled person.
[0107] FIG. 5 shows an advantageous variant of a device 1 according to the invention, wherein the conveying unit is realized as an autonomous vehicle 30 with integrated roller conveyor 302. The integrated roller conveyor 302 comprises a motor 303 with an impeller 304, which drives a first conveyor roller of the roller conveyor 302 via a V-belt and is arranged in the vehicle housing 301. The remaining conveyor rollers of the roller conveyor 302 are driven by the first driven conveyor roller, for example via a V-belt. When a good 2 sliding over the feeding unit 12 in the form of a feed chute reaches the autonomous vehicle 30, which is located at a transfer point at the end of the feed chute, the driven conveyor rollers move the received good 2 to the center of the support surface provided by the plurality of conveyor rollers. Advantageously, the autonomous vehicle 30 comprises sensor elements for detecting the position of a good 2 on the roller conveyor 302. This data enables integrated control of the autonomous vehicle 30 and/or the roller conveyor 302, as well as control of the actuated conveyor rollers and positioning of the good 2 on the autonomous vehicle 30. The autonomous vehicle 30 with roller conveyor 302 with the goods 2 resting on the conveyor rollers can subsequently travel to a designated shipping room 40, whereby the (motorized) roller conveyor 302 at this shipping room 40 can also be used to unload the goods 2. In the simple embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the goods receiving elements 31 are suitable surfaces on which the goods are placed directly. In the embodiment shown, the moving elements 22 are inclination elements with which the goods receiving elements 31 can be inclined downwards so that the goods slide onto the downstream conveying unit 30 due to gravity.
[0108] FIG. 6 shows an advantageous embodiment of a device according to the invention with an unloading handling module 20 in the form of a buffer system 200, namely a vertical buffer carousel. In the embodiment shown, the goods supply system 3 comprises a conveyor installation 100 with a rail-guided conveying system 60, and the unloading device 10 comprises an unloading point 11 and a fill unit 80. FIG. 6 shows two possible feed variants of goods 2 to the fill unit 80, which collects the goods 2 in an order-oriented manner in goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 before passing them on to the unloading handling module 20 and sorts them accordingly. A first possible feed variant is a direct unloading of the goods 2 from the conveying system 60 to the fill unit. A second possible variant is the unloading of goods 2 by the fill unit 80 from the unloading point 11 of the unloading device 10. The fill unit 80 is shown here as a horizontal conveyor. The goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 filled with goods 2 are then transferred to the buffer carousel. The buffer carousel buffers the goods and holds them ready until a conveying unit, advantageously in the form of an AGV, picks up the goods and conveys them further. The buffer carousel in FIG. 6 has adjusting means 23 in the form of deflection rollers. Furthermore, an external control unit of the unloading handling module can be seen.
[0109] FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) show an advantageous embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention with an unloading handling module 20 in the form of a tilting table with control means 24 in the form of a proximity sensor. Shown is a goods conveying sequence according to the invention from unloading by the unloading device 10, comprising an unloading point 11 with feeding unit 12, a conveyor installation 100 with a conveying system 60 and a fill unit 80, to transfer of the goods 2 to the unloading handling module 20, comprising adjusting means 23 and proximity sensor 24 as well as a control unit 25, up to transfer of the goods 2 to a conveying unit 30.
[0110] Empty goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 can, in one possible embodiment, be transported from a conveying unit 30 back to the fill unit 80 after conveying the goods 2 to a shipping room 40 and/or shipping point 50. The fill unit 80 designed as a conveyor conveys the empty goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 after delivery of the empty goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 by a conveying unit 30 to the unloading point 11 and/or conveyor installation 100 of the unloading device 10. Here, by means of the already mentioned feed variants, the goods 2 are unloaded into goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 in an order-oriented manner, whereupon the goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 filled with goods 2 are conveyed in the direction of the unloading handling module 20.
[0111] In preferred solutions for the fill unit 80, the latter has an added or attached buffer for the empty goods receiving elements 81 (buffer unit for the empty goods receiving elements 81). This is shown in FIG. 7(a) in a simplified way by the several available goods receiving elements 81. This avoids waiting times at the unloading point 11 when continuous goods acceptance is required there.
[0112] The unloading handling module 20 of FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) is designed as a tilting table. The tilting table is actuated in FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) by means of a control means 24 in the form of a rotary motor. The rotary motor 24 comprises a contact point which, when the conveying unit 30 on the unloading handling module 20 is actuated, contacts a corresponding contact point on the conveying unit and couples with the latter. Thereupon, the rotary motor is released by the control unit 25 of the unloading handling module 20. The rotary motor 24 is operatively connected to the adjusting means 23 so that the tilting table is tilted and the goods 2 slide in the goods receiving element 21, 31, 81 onto the conveying unit 30. After the goods 2 have been transferred to the conveying unit 30, the conveying unit 30 decouples from the rotary motor 24 after prior resetting of the tilting table. In another possible embodiment, a control means 24 in the form of at least one approach sensor can trigger the adjusting means 23 upon arrival of a conveying unit 30, so that the tilting table is tilted in downward direction. The goods receiving element 21, 31, 81 filled with goods 2 then slides along the moving elements 22 of the unloading handling module 20 onto the manipulation device 32 of the conveying unit 30. As soon as the conveying unit 30 leaves the unloading handling module 20, the tilting table is returned to a horizontal position for further unloading of goods 2 from the unloading device 10.
[0113] In order to keep the goods positioned during the conveying path on the conveying unit 30 during its path transport (up to the shipping room 40 or to the shipping company 50), the latter preferably has elongated, fixed or movable holding elements in the holding area for the commissioned goods 2 or goods receiving element 21, 31, 81. These can be, in particular, ribbed lines or frames, as shown in a particular embodiment in FIG. 10. The goods 2 or goods receiving elements 81 are thereby held or fixed in their conveying position during the conveying path.
[0114] Alternatively or also with the ribbed lines preferably combinable conveying unit 30 in the holding area for the commissioned goods arresting elements are arranged. These are preferably movable holding pins or latching means, rubberized braking elements, which are arranged height-adjustable between rollers and/or other moving elements, which can be overcome or released by force during the transfer of the goods 2 to the shipping room 40 and/or the shipping point 50, and further.
[0115] FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) show an advantageous embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention with an unloading handling module 20 in the form of a tilting table with control means 24 in the form of a spring release. A conveying unit 30 contacts the spring trigger upon arrival at the unloading handling module 20, which is mechanically connected to the adjusting means 23 of the unloading handling module 20. A compress of the spring causes tilting of the tilting table in the downward direction, so that the goods receiving element 21, 31, 81 filled with goods 2 slides along the moving elements 22 of the unloading handling module 20 onto the manipulation device 32 of the conveying unit 30. The spring also serves as a return spring. It moves the table back to the starting position when the AGV moves away from the takeover position.
[0116] In FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), the fill unit 80 of the unloading device 10 has a ramp which makes it possible to take over goods receiving elements from a lower conveying unit 30. In this way, the unloading device 10 can be adapted to different conveying units 30 and different existing logistics systems.
[0117] A goods supply 3 with a conveyor installation 100, comprising a conveying system 60 and a conveyor belt 70, is not shown completely in FIGS. 6 to 8, instead only a part of the goods supply is shown. However, it is apparent to the person skilled in the art that the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) can also comprise an extended goods supply system 3, in particular with the sorting, storage and conveying systems known to him in the field of logistics.
[0118] FIG. 9 shows schematically a system 400 according to the invention for the commissioning of goods 2 in connection with various subsystems. Goods are fed into the system via the goods input unit 410 and are taken over by the first conveying unit 420. The goods input unit 410 includes a goods control unit 411, which can be used to control the flow of materials into the first conveying device 420. In further embodiments, it is possible that the goods control unit 411 is formed separately and independently from the goods input unit 410. The first conveying device 420 takes over goods 2 from the goods input unit 410 and conveys the goods 2 further to the interface 430 in an order-oriented manner. The first conveying device 420 is advantageously an overhead conveying system according to WO 2018/142243 A1 of the applicant. In one possible embodiment, such a conveying system comprises a conveying system 60, a circulating conveyor belt 70 and a fill unit 80. The interface 430 receives the goods from the first conveying device 420 and is connected thereto in terms of conveying, the interface 430 being arranged between the first 420 and the second conveying device 440. In a preferred embodiment, the interface 430 is configured as an unloading handling module 20 according to the invention and the second conveying device 440 is configured as a conveying unit 30 according to the invention. In this advantageous embodiment, the goods 2 are transported from the conveying unit 30 to a shipping room 40 and/or a shipping point 50. Advantageously, a system 400 according to the invention for the commissioning of goods 2 further comprises various subsystems, in particular a goods output unit 450, a storage system 460 and a buffer unit 470. The subsystems are also connected to the other components of the system by conveying technology, so that an exchange of information can take place between the system and the subsystems. This can promote optimum dynamic operation of a conveying system according to the invention.
[0119] In particular embodiments of the invention, the conveying units 30 can feed individual or multiple goods 2 to the unloading handling modules 20 or transfer such from one unloading handling module 20 to another. In this way, preferentially, fault ejections can be directly remedied by a conveying unit 30, or individual goods 2 that are not conveyable or are difficult to convey by means of the goods supply 3 can be directly fed to a specific unloading handling module. It is apparent to the skilled person that the conveying units 30, if desired, can also already carry along individual goods 2 and thus, when commissioned goods 2 are transferred from an unloading handling module 20 to these conveying units, a final (supplementary) commissioning is achieved according to the invention. Hereby, for example, merchandising articles, packing slips or other goods or information can be added to the commissioned goods and thereby a final commissioning can be achieved.
[0120] Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, it is possible for a conveying unit 30 to sequentially or in parallel drive two or more unloading handling modules and in this way combine two groups of commissioned goods. This is particularly advantageous if (e.g., due to the types of goods) the unloading devices 10 or the downstream unloading handling modules 20 are only fed with specific goods 2, but these must be combined with each other for a desired commission. In such particular embodiments that use other conveying units 30 as an alternative to AGVs, e.g., movable conveyor tables, two unloading handling modules 20 can simultaneously or quasi-parallel transfer commissioned goods 2 to them.
[0121] According to the invention, the shipping room 40 already described above allows the commissioned goods 2 to be made available to the shipping company in a shipping-optimized manner. If, according to the invention, the conveying units 30 are designed as autonomous vehicles, this makes it possible to fill the shipping room 40, which can also be designed as only a simple buffer store, asynchronously or in a sorting of the commissions which only takes place here, or to provide in the shipping room 40 a suitable sequence or grouping of the commissions directly for the shipping company. This is particularly advantageous if a dedicated sequence is to take place for different transport vehicles or for a desired temporal forwarding of the commissioned goods 2.
[0122] Within the scope of the invention, it is also possible to realize the goods unloading elements 21, 31 81 in different embodiments. In one embodiment already described for FIG. 5, the goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 comprise a suitable supporting surface. In further advantageous embodiments, the goods receiving elements 21, 31 81 are embodied as baskets, open/semi-open containers, boxes or the like. In still further embodiments, the goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 have two or more sections for sorting the goods on the goods receiving elements 21, 31 81. For example, one section may be provided for large goods and one section may be provided for small goods, or one section may be provided for packaged goods and one section may be provided for non-packaged goods, etc.
[0123] In a simple embodiment, the moving elements 22 are inclination elements, as shown for example in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. However, in further preferred embodiments, they may also be gripper/gripper arms, hooks or carriers. In still further preferred embodiments, the moving elements 22 are support surfaces, conveyors, conveyor belts, pushers/pushers, sliders, pins, robotic units, for example a robotic arm, magnets, compressed air nozzles or other solutions known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, the manipulation device 32 of the conveyor unit 30 can be realized as a conveyor, conveyor belt, slotter/pusher, slider, pin, robot unit, for example a robot arm, magnet, compressed air nozzle or comparable solutions known to the skilled person.
[0124] FIGS. 10 to 13 show different variants of a conveying unit 30 according to the invention with manipulation device 32 and various preferably possible holding and locking elements 35-39.
[0125] FIG. 10 schematically shows a conveying unit 30 according to the invention for transferring goods 2 in a goods receiving element 31 to a shipping room 40 and/or a shipping point 50, wherein the conveying unit 30 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 has an active manipulation device 32 in the form of a roller conveyor. The roller conveyor 32 is driven by means of a motor 304 having an impeller 305. Furthermore, the conveying unit 30 in FIG. 10 has a locking element in the form of a height-adjustable frame 35. After the goods 2 have been transferred and positioned, the height-adjustable frame 35 can be used to ensure that the goods 2 in or without goods receiving elements 31 (or individual goods) do not change their position during transport on the conveying unit 30 or even fall off the conveying unit 30. The frame is also motorized movable and in an alternative embodiment controllable by means of the control unit 25 of the unloading handling module 20. In another alternative embodiment, instead of the height-adjustable frame 35, the conveying unit 30 may have a circumferential rib structure which holds the goods receiving element 31 or the goods 2 in place during transport on the conveying unit 30. When the conveying unit 30 arrives at a destination, an acting force, for example a slider, a gripper arm or compressed air, can be used to overcome the resistance to movement of the goods 2 on the ribbed structure. In addition, for special, extended embodiments, it is preferably possible to provide, in conjunction with or instead of an edge-running frame or edge-running rib structure, a rib structure with at least two intersecting, elongated ribs, which engages under the bearing surface of the goods receiving element 31 and engages releasably (also by the action of force) in form-fitting groove recesses of the goods receiving element 31, so that, prior to the delivery of the goods, a corresponding fixing of the goods receiving element is provided during the movement of the vehicle. Such a preferred cross-structure of ribs in connection with corresponding recesses on the goods receiving element 31 enables a particularly simple fixation or holding during transport. It is obvious to the skilled person that a constructive reversal, i.e. recesses on the supporting surface of the conveying unit, is also possible. Alternatively, or in combination with rib structures, knobs or truncated cone-shaped projections can also preferably be arranged on the cooperating surfaces.
[0126] FIG. 11 shows a conveying unit 30 according to the invention for transferring goods 2 in a goods receiving element 31 to a shipping room 40 and/or a shipping point 50, wherein the conveying unit 30 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 has a manipulation device 32 in the faun of a roller conveyor. The roller conveyor 32 is driven by means of a motor 304 having an impeller 305. Furthermore, the conveying unit 30 in FIG. 11 has a liftable and lowerable pen matrix 36 on which the goods 2 are placed in the goods receiving element 31. The liftable and lowerable pen matrix 36 is also motorized movable and is in a lifted position during the transport of the goods 2 on the conveying unit 30. As a result, the goods 2 in the goods receiving element 31 lie directly on the pen matrix 36 and are no longer resting on the conveyor rollers of the roller conveyor 32. Only when the conveying unit 30 arrives at a destination location is the pen matrix 36 lowered so that the goods 2 in the goods receiving element 31 can be passed on by means of the roller conveyor 32. In further alternative embodiments, instead of the pen matrix 36, a liftable and lowerable grate, rods or also rubberized non-slip supports, a grid or other suitable solution can be provided as a locking element.
[0127] FIG. 12 shows a conveying unit 30 according to the invention for transferring goods 2 in a goods receiving element 31 to a shipping room 40 and/or a shipping point 50, wherein the conveying unit 30 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 has a manipulation device 32 in the form of a roller conveyor. The roller conveyor 32 is driven by means of a motor 304 having an impeller 305. Furthermore, the conveying unit 30 in FIG. 12 has liftable and lowerable rollers 37, in particular liftable and lowerable conveyor rollers of the roller conveyor 32. Between the individual rollers 37 of the roller conveyor 32, rib elements 38 are arranged so that when the rollers 37 are lowered, the goods 2 on the goods receiving element 31 rest directly on the rib elements 38 and are thereby held in their position (analogous to the description with respect to FIG. 10). When the conveying unit 30 arrives at a destination, the rollers 37 are raised again, which allows the goods 2 or the goods receiving element 31 to be passed on.
[0128] FIG. 13 shows a conveying unit 30 according to the invention for transferring goods 2 in a goods receiving element 31 to a shipping room 40 and/or a shipping point 50, wherein the conveying unit 30 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 has a manipulation device 32 in the form of a roller conveyor. The roller conveyor 32 is driven by means of a motor 304 having an impeller 305. Furthermore, a slider 39 of the conveying unit 30 can be seen in FIG. 13, which is used for transferring goods to a destination, for example the shipping room 40. The slider 39 pushes the goods 2 or the goods receiving element 31 from the conveying unit 30 to the unloading point of the shipping room 40. Here, it is provided that the slider pushes the goods 2 from the conveying unit 30 with sufficient force to overcome the resistance to movement of the goods 2 or the goods receiving element 31. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the conveying unit 30 includes passive manipulation devices 32, such as non-motorized rollers. In alternative embodiments, the slider 39 may also be a hook, follower, magnet, latching element, robotic arm, or other suitable friction-actuated means known to those skilled in the art. It is also possible to integrate a gripper device or another unloading device into the unloading point of the shipping room, in which case the goods 2 and/or the goods receiving elements 21, 31, 81 are moved away from the conveying unit 30 by means of the grippers or the unloading device.
