Method for order-picking goods and order-picking system for carrying out the method

Abstract

A method for order-picking goods in which individual goods are removed from store from a goods collection, are combined in accordance with stipulations to form goods groups and, in the form of these goods groups, are output for further processing. A simple and flexible type of order picking is achieved in that the combining of goods to form goods groups is carried out in pockets suspended on a suspension conveyor.

Claims

1. An order-picking facility (20, 30) wherein the order-picking facility (20, 30) comprises: at an input side an items collection (22, 28) having items (18a-c) intended for picking, and at least one adjacent filling device (19, 19a-c, 23, 33, 50) for pouches (17, T, T1 -T5, Ta, Tb) and/or baskets 80; at an output side an emptying device (26, 60) for the pouches (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or baskets 80 that are filled with the groups of items (WG); and between the at least one filling device (19, 19a-c, 23, 33, 50) and the emptying device (26, 60) there is arranged a hanging conveyor (25, 42, 52, 59) for the pouches (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) and/or baskets 80 which connects the at least one filling device (19, 19a-c, 23, 33, 50) to the emptying device (26, 60) which is configured to fill the items into a container arranged in the pouch (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or basket (80), wherein a group of items (18a, 18b, 18c) is filled into one container (90) or divided across several containers (90).

2. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the order-picking facility (50) includes at least one filling device (43, 44) which moves along the hanging conveyor (42) which is guided past underneath and fills items (P) from moved filling compartments (45) into the pouches (T) or baskets 80 which are moved past underneath.

3. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the emptying device (60) includes a removal device (53) which pivots the filled pouches (T) or baskets 80 suspended on the hanging conveyor (52) into an emptying position and at the same time in the emptying position receives the items (P) coming out of the pouches (T) or baskets 80 and transports the items onward.

4. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 3, wherein the removal device (53) includes a circulating removal belt (54) which is guided over a predetermined path parallel to the hanging conveyor (52), on which path a transfer region (56) for the items (P) contained in the pouches (T) or baskets (80) is located.

5. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein the combination of the items to form groups of items is effected into a container (90), a bag, or a sack, into the baskets (80) suspended on the hanging conveyor.

6. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 5, wherein the container is held in an open state in the basket by a retention member.

7. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanging conveyor (25, 42, 52, 59) connects the at least one filling device (19, 19a-c, 23, 33, 50) to the emptying device (26, 60) in a closed circuit.

8. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hanging conveyor (25, 42, 52) is guided past a plurality of filling devices (19a-c) arranged one behind an other.

9. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hanging conveyor (25) comprises an additional closed circuit on which partially filled pouches (TT) or baskets 80 are returned again to the at least one filling device (19, 19a-c, 23, 33, 50) without being emptied in the emptying device (26, 60).

10. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hanging conveyor (25) is configured as a circulating storage (35) in which filled and/or partially filled and/or empty pouches and/or baskets 80 can be temporarily stored.

11. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 10, wherein the circulating storage (35) comprises a plurality of storage units (S1-Sx) which can be approached individually one after an other and in which filled and/or partially filled and/or empty pouches and/or baskets 80 circulate in a separate circuit.

12. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shared controller (24) is provided for the controller of the filling device (19, 19a-c, 23, 33, 50), emptying device (26, 60) and hanging conveyor (25, 42, 52, 59).

13. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 12, wherein the shared controller (24) is configured to assign the items (18a-c) of a group of items (WG) to individual or a plurality of pouches or baskets 80.

14. The order-picking facility as claimed in claim 12 wherein the shared controller (24), in order to transmit order-picking data, in particular data of the groups of items, is connected to an ERP system (21).

15. A method for order-picking items (18a-c) comprising: removing individual items (18a-c) from an items collection (22, 28); combining individual items (18a-c) into groups of items (WG) in accordance with specifications and output in the form of these groups of items (WG) for further processing; effecting the combination of the items (18a-c) into groups of items (WG) into pouches (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or baskets 80 suspended on a hanging conveyor (42, 52, 59); and filling the items into a container arranged in the pouch (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or basket (80), wherein a group of items (18a, 18b, 18c) is filled into one container (90) or divided across several containers (90).

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one individual pouch (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or an individual basket 80 is assigned to each group of items (WG).

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one pouch (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or at least one basket 80 is filled with a group of items (WG) comprising a plurality of items (18a-c).

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the groups of items (WG) are placed in the pouches (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or baskets 80 provided for them in a single filling operation.

19. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the group of items contains multiples of one item (18a-c).

20. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein, in a first step prior to being filled with items (18a, 18b, 18c), the container (90) is introduced into a pouch (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or basket (80), and subsequently filled.

21. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein a plurality of containers are located in the pouch (17, T, T1 -T5, Ta, Tb) or basket (80) and a container in a first step prior to being filled with items (18a, 18b, 18c) is opened and subsequently filled.

22. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the group of items (18a, 18b, 18c) is emptied together with the container(s) (90) out of the basket (80).

23. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the pouches (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or baskets 80 are completely emptied of the contained groups of items (WG).

24. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein, in a plurality of successively carried out filling operations, the items (18a-c) belonging to a group of items (WG) are filled into the provided pouches (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or baskets 80, and the group of items (WG) is formed.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein an individual filling operation is carried out for each individual item (18a-c).

26. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the pouch (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or basket 80 for filling is guided one after the other past different filling devices (19a-c, 43, 44).

27. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the pouch (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or basket 80 is guided past the same filling device (19) multiple times for filling.

28. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the pouches (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or baskets 80, after being filled with the provided group of items (WG), are first stored temporarily before the groups of items (WG) contained therein are output for further processing.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the filled pouches (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or baskets 80 are temporarily stored in a circulating storage (35) in which they each circulate in a closed circuit.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the filled pouches (17, T, T1-T5, Ta, Tb) or baskets 80 in the circulating storage (35) are divided across different storage units (S1-Sx) based on content.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to embodiments in connection with the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic of the sequence during order-picking according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exemplary pouch of a hanging conveyor which is filled in one step with a group of items;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the pouch of FIG. 2 which is filled in several sequential steps by means of different filling devices with the items of a group of items;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the pouch from FIG. 2 which is filled in several sequential steps by one and the same filling device with the items of a group of items;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an order-picking facility according to an embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an order-picking facility having a circulating storage according to another embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIG. 7a shows a pouch suitable for the invention with an opening bracket in one opening phase;

(9) FIG. 7b shows the pouch of FIG. 7a with an opening bracket in another opening phase;

(10) FIG. 7c shows the pouch of FIG. 7a with an opening bracket in yet another opening phase;

(11) FIG. 8a shows another pouch suitable for the invention with a pouch frame in the form of a parallelogram and rollers for a slotted guiding member in the open state;

(12) FIG. 8b shows the pouch of FIG. 8a with a pouch frame in the form of a parallelogram and rollers for a slotted guiding member in the closed state;

(13) FIG. 9 shows the main elements of a filling device by means of which in the context of the invention the picked items can be continuously placed in the pouches which are suspended on a hanging conveyor;

(14) FIG. 10 shows the main elements of an emptying device, by means of which in the context of the invention the picked items can be continuously emptied from the pouches suspended on a hanging conveyor;

(15) FIG. 11 is a side view of a basket suitable for the invention for receiving containers for receiving items, wherein the basket in FIG. 11a is illustrated in a folded-in space-saving position and in FIG. 11b is illustrated in the folded-open position for receiving the container;

(16) FIG. 12 shows a container in the form of a bag with two carrier loops, for use with a basket according to FIG. 11;

(17) FIG. 13 shows a basket according to FIG. 11 which transports an open sack which is filled with items according to FIG. 12; and

(18) FIG. 14 shows the filled bag according to FIG. 14 which has been removed from the basket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(19) In the context of the invention, items or articles are generally picked by being selectively combined in suspendedly transported pouches by filling the pouches to form groups of items. A group of items may thereby include various different items, but it may also contain multiples of an item. In an extreme case, a group of items may also consist of only one item or article.

(20) FIG. 1 is a schematic of the sequence during order-picking according to the invention. The order-picking process begins with an items removal operation 10 during which the items required for the order-picking are removed individually or also, if the order-picking requires it, several times from an items collection or an item storage, or from an item storage facility, for example a high-bay warehouse, and transported to a location where the actual order-picking and filling operation 12 is carried out. At the same time, pouch provision 11 is carried out, whereby the suspendedly conveyed pouches (empty or partially filled) are likewise transported to the location of the order-picking and filling operation 12.

(21) The actual order-picking and filling operation 12 can now be carried out in different ways. In one case (FIG. 2), the group of items WG, which in the example consists of a plurality of different items, 18a-c is picked outside of the pouch 17 and then placed in the pouch 17 in a filling operation.

(22) In another case (FIG. 3), the items 18a-c of the picked group of items are placed in separate filling procedures in the pouch 17 for which purpose separate filling devices 19a-c (indicated in FIG. 3 with an arrow) are used. The filling devices 19a-c are in particular arranged behind each other in the conveying direction along a hanging conveyor (not shown) for the pouches 17, and the pouch 17 is guided by means of the hanging conveyor successively past the filling devices 19a-c and filled there. The filling devices 19a-c may thereby be arranged linearly behind each other and also in a circle.

(23) In another case (FIG. 4), although the items 18a-c of the picked group of items can also be placed in separate filling procedures one after the other in the pouches, no separate filling devices as in the case of FIG. 3 are used to this end, but instead the filling is carried out using one and the same filling device 19, in that the same pouch 17 is guided in a transport loop multiple times past the filling device 19 and is there filled with one of the items. This case is indicated by the dashed arrow in FIG. 1, which leads from the pouch transport 13 back to the order-picking and filling operation 12 (see also FIG. 5).

(24) Where the pouch is filled with the picked group of items WG during the course of order-picking, it is suspendedly transported, if not temporarily stored, by means of pouch transport 13 on a hanging conveyor to a location where a pouch emptying operation 14 takes place. The group of items WG emptied from the pouches is then, during the course of an item removal 15, released for further processing (for example, dispatch) which may, for example, involve combining to form larger units (for example, for a target region in accordance with postcodes or a recipient) for subsequent transport.

(25) During the course of a pouch return 16, the emptied pouches are conveyed back to the pouch provision 11 for filling again by means of order-picking.

(26) The locations for filling and emptying the pouches are not to be equated with individual loading stations, but instead constitute, for example, conveying paths in which it is possible to order-pick into the pouches by means of a plurality or a multitude of loading stations and/or in which the pouches can be emptied by means of emptying devices. This may, for example, be carried out along an aisle or even in different rooms.

(27) In FIG. 5, an order-picking facility 20 according to an embodiment ofthe invention is shown in a schematic illustration. In the order-picking facility, items are removed from an items collection 22 and prepared by transferring them to a receiving station configured as a filling device 23. A sorting system 25 operating with a hanging conveyor successively guides pouches T1-T5 (exemplary) to the filling device 23, which are then filled in the filling device 23 with the items according to the order-picking. Depending on the history and type of filling, the pouches T1-T5 may be empty pouches TL that are returned from an emptying device or transfer station 26, or partially filled pouches TT, which during the order-picking for filling with a group of items are supplied one after the other several times in a circuit to the filling device 23. There, they are filled only with individual items or partial quantities of the group of items and are transferred to the emptying device 26 only when completely filled with the picked group of items. An items output 27, which in particular includes the dispatch of the picked items, may be arranged downstream of the emptying device or transfer station 26.

(28) The sorting facility 25 with the hanging conveyor and, in association, providing the empty and/or partially filled pouches TL or TT for filling, along with the emptying device 26, are controlled by a central controller 24 that ensures automatic assignment of groups of items and pouches in addition to their filling and emptying. At a higher level than the controller 24 is an ERP system 21. The ERP system 21, generally tasked with enterprise resource planning (ERP), ensures that, in the manner of material requirement planning, all the items required for the order-picking are available at the correct location, at the correct time and in the correct quantity. This particularly includes providing the items in the items collection 22, collecting the items from the items collection (for example, a high-bay storage) 22, monitoring and directing the controller 24 and transmitting data to the items output 27, which data, if it is an item dispatch, may contain dispatch data, such as an address, weight, postage, box size, etc.

(29) Where the pouches T1-T5 or TT and TL are equipped with optical (for example, barcode) information carriers or information carriers that can be electromagnetically read in or read out (for example, RFID), the ERP system 21 can also coordinate or adjust the pouch content (the picked groups of items) in accordance with the information content ofthe information carriers (dashed arrow in FIG. 5).

(30) FIG. 6 shows, in a schematic illustration, an order-picking facility with a circulating storage according to another embodiment of the invention. The order-picking facility 30 is again based on an items collection 28, from which the items intended for picking are collected by means of a collection device 29 and then separated in a separation station 31 and individually transported onward to a distribution station 32. A circulating storage 35 including a large number of storage units S1-Sx of the same-type operating in parallel is connected to the distribution station 32. In each storage unit Sx, a closed circuit with a hanging conveyor 59 is provided whose length is increased by meandering design such that a large number of empty, partially filled or filled pouches can circulate therein.

(31) In the upper region of each storage unit Sx, a filling device 33 is provided in which the picked items can be filled into corresponding pouches of the storage unit Sx via the distribution station 32. The filling device 33 may be avoided with an auxiliary conveyor path 34 in the manner of a bypass. The auxiliary conveyor path 34 is (reversibly) used when pouches shall be moved on without filling during the circulation of the storage unit (because a subsequent pouch is just about to be filled), or when a pouch returned from a shared emptying device 26 shall be moved on the return path past specific storage units S1-Sx arranged one after the other.

(32) The storage units S1-Sx in particular serve to pick “for stock” (or to keep empty pouches on stand-by), meaning that when no or only a few picked items are output, pouches in the storage units S1-Sx are filled with picked items or articles which are supplied only at a later time to the at least one emptying device 26 and which are then emptied at that location as part of an items output. The storage units S1-Sx are for this purpose connected via a shared discharge path (having a hanging conveyor 59) to the emptying device 26. The hanging conveyor 59 also transports the emptied pouches back to the storage units, whereby, when the target storage unit is arranged further back in the conveying direction, the storage units in front are passed on the auxiliary conveying path 34.

(33) Within the framework of the present invention, various types of pouches are considered as suspendedly conveyed pouches. Two examples are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, wherein the section figures show the respective pouch in different opening states. These pouches are particularly suitable for sorting and distribution tasks of the items or groups of items.

(34) The pouch Ta of FIG. 7 is distinguished in that the bag-like pouch body 38 fitted at the bottom to a suspension fitting 36 is surrounded in the upper region, which at the same time includes the opening, by a bracket member 37 supported on the front and rear side of the pouch member 38 in loops in such a manner that, as a result of gravity, it tilts (FIG. 7(b)) from a horizontal opening position (FIG. 7(c)) and thereby increasingly folds the pouch member 38 together until it takes up only little space in the closed final position (FIG. 7(a)). A behavior of this kind is particularly advantageous when a large number of empty pouches have to be kept on stand-by for order-picking while at the same time having the smallest possible space requirement.

(35) The pouch Tb of FIG. 8 shows a similar behavior in that, as a result of a foldable pouch frame 39 in the form of a parallelogram, the filled pouch (FIG. 8(a)) independently progresses into a flat configuration following emptying (FIG. 8(b)). The pouch frame 39 additionally affords the possibility of providing rollers 40, 41 at preferred corners, which rollers are advantageous during filling and emptying by means of a sliding guide (see FIG. 10).

(36) Other types of pouches which can also be used in the context of the invention and which are open at the sides are known, for example, from the document WO2016/120030A1 or WO2016/120031A1.

(37) FIG. 9 shows the main elements of a filling device 50, by which, in the context of the invention, the picked items can be continuously placed in the pouches T suspended on a hanging conveyor 42. The hanging conveyor 42 comprises a running rail 49 extending in the conveying direction and on which individual carriages 51 are displaceably supported and retained in the conveying direction. On each of the carriages a pouch T, which according to FIG. 7 is equipped with a bracket member, is suspendedly fixed. The running rails 49 and carriages 51 may have the same form, as known from the documents WO2016/030275A1, WO2016/030274A1 and WO2016/030273A1.

(38) Above the horizontally extending hanging conveyor 42, there is arranged a filling device 43 which moves synchronously with the hanging conveyor 42 and which along its circumference is sub-divided into sectoral filling compartments 45. These filling compartments 45 may each receive an item, in this example a parcel P, which in the contact area between the filling device 43 and hanging conveyor 42 is taken from the filling compartment and placed into the open pouch T moving underneath.

(39) The items P are introduced into the filling device 43, at the upper apex of the drum by means of two adjacent interconnecting conveyor belts 47 and 48. So that the items located in the filling compartments 45 cannot slide in an undesirable manner out of the filling compartments 45 when the device is further rotated, filling flaps 46 are pivotably articulated at the open end of the filling compartments 45 which in the pivoted-in state prevent the items from sliding out, but which are then pivoted out in order to transfer the items to the pouch T suspended on the hanging conveyor 42. Other filling devices 44 of the same kind (not indicated in greater detail in FIG. 9) can be arranged in the conveying direction one behind the other in order to realize filling method according to FIG. 3.

(40) FIG. 10 shows the main elements of an emptying device 60 by which, in the context of the invention, the picked items can be continuously emptied from the pouches T suspended on a hanging conveyor 52. The hanging conveyor 52 is to this end guided downward in a bend. In this bend, below the hanging conveyor 52, there is arranged a removal device 53 which includes a circulating removal belt 54 guided over a predetermined path parallel to, and with a fixed spacing to, the hanging conveyor 52. On this stretch of the parallel guide, there results a transfer region 56 for the items P contained in the pouches T, which fall out of the pouches T onto the removal belt 54 and are stopped there by means of retention elements 55 arranged with respective spacing on the removal belt 54. The items P are conveyed with the belt to a lower redirection position, where they are transferred to a subsequent slide 57.

(41) The arrangement and the cooperation of the hanging conveyor 52 and removal belt 54 result in the (filled) pouches T suspended on the hanging conveyor 52 being pivoted upward in a backward direction from the vertically suspended position until they assume a position at the transfer region 56 in which the upper opening of the pouch faces obliquely downward and allows the item P located in the pouch to fall out of the pouch by gravity.

(42) After the transfer onto the slide 57, the item P falls onto a transversely arranged belt conveyor 58 which supplies the item to a further processing operation (not specified in greater detail).

(43) For reasons of simplicity, the group of items picked in the pouch T is indicated in FIGS. 9 and 10 by a single parcel P. It is self-evident that this is a special case of order-picking and that generally the group of items of a pouch includes a plurality of mostly different items.

(44) FIG. 11 is a side view of a basket 80 which according to another embodiment of the invention is advantageously used with containers such as transport bags or sacks. Such a container in the form of a sack 90 is illustrated in FIG. 12. Similar to the pouches shown in FIG. 8 as a result of a foldable compartment or grid frame 81 in the form of a parallelogram, the basket 80 can be moved from a flat configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 11a, to a folded-open configuration according to FIG. 11b. A stop 82 stabilizes the compartment or grid frame 81 in the open position and prevents folding together by gravity. Rollers may in turn be provided at preferred corners, which rollers are advantageous during filling and emptying by means of a sliding guide.

(45) In the folded-open basket according to FIG. 11b in a step upstream of the filling operation, a sack 90 can be introduced, as illustrated in FIG. 12. The sack 90 comprises sufficient inherent stability to remain in the basket in an open configuration. Two carrier loops 92 arranged at the upper side on the opposing side walls of the sack 90 facilitate the removal of the sack 90 filled with items 18a-18c from the basket 80, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

(46) Following removal of the filled sack 90, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the sack can be further processed together with the items 18a-18c, preferably supplied to the ordering party or the consumer of the items. Advantageously, the sack carries a label which is provided with an identifier facilitating further processing and/or delivery. The sack may, for example, be provided with an address label and/or carry a list of the items 18a-18c intended for filling. Such a label, not illustrated in the figures, may be configured to be optically and/or electronically imprinted, written to and readable. In order to configure the identifier of the sack in the basket as simply as possible, the label according to an advantageous embodiment is configured as an RFID tag.

(47) If loose containers such as textile or film bags are used together with the baskets, it has been found advantageous to arrange a plurality of flaps at the upper side of the bags which can be suspended on suitable retention members of the baskets. If the flaps are to be avoided, the upper bag edge can be retained in a clamping manner on suitable retention members of the basket or placed over the upper edge of the basket.

(48) The containers in which the items to be dispatched remain after the order-picking can preferably be closed at the upper side.