HANGING-BAG WAREHOUSE SYSTEM FOR STORING, PICKING, SORTING AND RETRIEVING STORAGE GOODS

Abstract

A hanging bag storage system serves to store, pick, sort and retrieve storage articles. A method includes providing a control device, by which the storing, picking and sorting of the storage articles can be controlled and/or a sequence of the storage articles for the retrieval can be specified. A plurality of roll adapters and hanging bags suspendible on the plurality of roll adapters, wherein the roll adapters or the hanging bags comprise respectively one cotraveling longitudinal and transverse dynamics control and a communication device and wherein at least one of the storage articles can be received and retrieved again in the hanging bags. The hanging bag storage includes a first level, a network, and at least one block, in which the hanging bags can be deposited, stored without movement, and fetched again.

Claims

1. A hanging bag storage system for storing, picking, sorting and retrieving storage articles, comprising: a control device, by which the storing, picking and sorting of the storage articles can be controlled and/or a sequence of the storage articles for a retrieval of the storage articles can be specified, a plurality of roll adapters, and hanging bags suspendible or suspended on the roll adapters, wherein the roll adapters or the hanging bags each comprise a cotraveling longitudinal and transverse dynamics control and a communication device and wherein at least one of the storage articles, respectively, can be received and retrieved again in the hanging bags, a hanging bag storage, which cooperates with the plurality of hanging bags for storing, picking and sorting the storage articles, with: a level, and a network, on which the hanging bags can be displaced autonomously or at least partially autonomously using the respective cotraveling longitudinal and transverse dynamics control, at least one block, into which the hanging bags can be deposited, stored without movement using the cotraveling longitudinal and transverse dynamics control and in a manner controlled by the control device, and fetched again for the retrieval by a fetch command which can be received by the communication device.

2. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 1, wherein the fetch command can be sent to the communication device of the respective hanging bag by the control device using a route or a wireless route.

3. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 1, wherein: at least one second level, in which the hanging bags and thus the storage articles can be received, respectively, wherein the hanging bags with the storage articles can be provisioned in the respective level of the hanging bag storage for the imminent retrieval or in a respective subsequence, and a conveying plant, vertical conveying plant and/or circular conveying plant arranged between the levels for conveying the storage articles between the levels.

4. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 1, wherein the network, or the block of the network, is designed so as to be horizontal.

5. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 3, wherein the specifiable or specified sequence of the storage articles for the retrieval can be created and/or is created across the level and the at least one second level using at least five elements of the hanging bag storage of the following group: at least one of the blocks arranged in the level, at least another one of the blocks arranged in the at least one second level, at least one handover configuration for creating and provisioning the hanging bags for the retrieval in a subsequence of the handover configuration of the level, and/or which is arranged downstream of the one of the blocks, at least one second handover configuration arranged in the at least one second level for creating and provisioning the hanging bags for the retrieval in a subsequence of the second handover configuration of the second level, and/or which is arranged downstream of the at least one other one of the blocks, the conveying plant, vertical conveying plant and/or circular conveying plant arranged between the levels and/or arranged downstream of the handover configurations for conveying the storage articles between the levels.

6. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 5, wherein the sequence can be created and/or put together and/or assembled from the subsequences of the provisioning devices using the conveying plant, vertical conveying plant and/or circular conveying plant.

7. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 1, wherein the hanging bags are configured for being brought into a power-saving rest state in the at least one block.

8. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 1, wherein the block of the hanging bag storage comprises at least one or a plurality of closed routes, wherein the closed routes can be endlessly traveled on by the hanging bags or by the roll adapters with suspended hanging bags, an entry or the entry and an exit as well as a stopping point or an imaginary stopping point, at which one of the hanging bags can be stopped and/or be provisioned for a leaving of the closed routes depending on the control device and all other hanging bags in the respective closed route can also be stopped only depending on the state of the one of the hanging bags or only depending on the state of the one of the hanging bags and on respectively cotraveling longitudinal dynamics control of the roll adapters of the other hanging bags.

9. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 8, wherein the hanging bags or roll adapters with suspended hanging bags located in the block are configured for taking the states of the following group and comprise at least one of them in the block: stored without movement by halting if a front hanging bag blocks the network of the block depending on the cotraveling longitudinal dynamics control, stored without movement and halted at the stopping point or the imaginary stopping point depending on the non-cotraveling control device and/or stopped and provisioned there for leaving the closed route, ready to receive from the non-cotraveling control device, addressed for a retrieval operation depending on the non-cotraveling control device, in motion for entering the closed route depending on the non-cotraveling control device, in motion for leaving the closed route, in motion for leaving the stopping point or the imaginary stopping point depending on the non-cotraveling control device, supplied with an electrical energy, in motion for the endless traveling on the closed route after the entering only depending on the cotraveling longitudinal and transverse dynamics control.

10. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 8, wherein the imaginary stopping point can be transmitted to the roll adapter as a destination point of an intermediate travel instruction or can be transmitted to the roll adapter as a destination point of the intermediate travel instruction using the control device and/or the stopping point is part of the network and can be controlled by the control device, and/or wherein the exit has a distance that is as great as possible, preferably a maximal distance, downstream of the entry and a distance that is as small as possible, preferably a minimal distance to the entry, upstream.

11. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 8, wherein the closed route comprises a storage route, a shunting route crossing the storage route, another storage route crossing the shunting route, and another storage route.

12. A roll adapter for a hanging bag, which cooperates with a hanging bag storage system according to claim 8, wherein the longitudinal dynamics control of the roll adapter comprises a distance control, which controls a speed of the roll adapter depending on an object and/or front roll adapter located in front of the roll adapter viewed in a direction of travel and/or controls a distance to the other roll adapter, and/or regulates the speed to zero if the front roll adapter has a speed of zero and an actual distance of the roll adapter to the front roll adapter is below a specifiable or specified minimum distance.

13. The roll adapter according to claim 12, wherein the roll adapter has at least one of the following states and/or one of the following states can electively be taken by the roll adapter: automatic halting or decelerating if the front roll adapter blocks the network, storing an endless travel instruction for a specified or specifiable closed route and/or endless traveling on the specified or specifiable closed route, halting at a specifiable or specified stopping point of the closed route or halting at the stopping point depending on the controller, leaving the closed route, preferably starting from the stopping point, in a direction of a specifiable or specified destination point depending on the controller or crossing one of the shunting routes and/or turning into one of the express routes for leaving the closed route, or entering the closed route depending on the control device.

14. A method for controlling a hanging bag storage system with a roll adapter, comprising: entering a closed route by a roll adapter, transmitting an endless travel instruction to the roll adapter which says that the closed route is to be traveled on endlessly, endless traveling on the closed route, transmitting a retrieval travel instruction to a retrieval destination to the roll adapter for a retrieval, and leaving the closed route and traveling toward the retrieval destination according to the retrieval travel instruction for the retrieval of the roll adapter.

15. The method according to claim 14, including at least one of: interrupting the endless traveling if the front roll adapter is located in front of the roll adapter and has a speed of zero, resuming the endless traveling if the front roll adapter has a speed greater than zero again.

16. The method according to claim 14, including at least one of: scheduling the roll adapter for the retrieval, transmitting a intermediate travel instruction to the scheduled roll adapter with a stopping point as a destination, moving the roll adapter to the stopping point, halting the roll adapter at the stopping point.

17. The method according to claim 14, including at least one of: scheduling the roll adapter for a retrieval, transmitting a retrieval travel instruction to a retrieval destination to the scheduled roll adapter after transmitting an intermediate travel instruction, leaving a stopping point and then leaving the closed route while traveling toward the retrieval destination according to the retrieval travel instruction.

18. The method according to claim 14, including at least one of: transmitting an intermediate travel instruction to a random roll adapter traveling on the closed route if no scheduling for the retrieval has been or is currently being executed, and/or transmitting the intermediate travel instruction to a stopping point as a destination, and/or transmitting the endless travel instruction to the random roll adapter if the roll adapter is scheduled for the retrieval, and/or leaving the stopping point by the random roll adapter, and/or endless traveling on the closed route with the random roll adapter according to the endless travel instruction.

19. The method according to claim 14, including at least one of: repeating the method for a plurality of retrievals, transmitting the intermediate travel instruction to the random roll adapter traveling on the closed route or to the roll adapter scheduled for the retrieval, transmitting the endless travel instruction to all remaining roll adapters traveling on the closed route.

20. A method for retrieving storage articles from a hanging bag storage having hanging bags or a hanging bag storage of a hanging bag storage system according to claim 1, including at least one of: provisioning a first handover buffer in a first level of the hanging bag storage, provisioning at least one second handover buffer in a second level of the hanging bag storage, specifying a sequence of the storage articles for an imminent retrieval, provisioning the storage articles in the handover buffers of the respective level of the hanging bag storage for the imminent retrieval, provisioning a series of storage locations for receiving at least one of the storage articles, directing the series of storage locations past the handover buffers while handing over the storage articles provisioned in the handover buffers from the respective handover buffer into the storage locations and in the specified sequence, respectively.

21. The method according to claim 20, including at least one of: assigning ordinal sequencing criteria of the sequence to the empty storage locations of the series, assigning the same sequencing criteria to the individual storage articles, sorting the storage articles into the series when being directed past as soon as the sequencing criteria of a storage location traveling past and of the storage article waiting in the respective handover buffer match.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: presorting the storage articles waiting in the respective handover buffers according to the ordinal sequencing criteria.

23. The method according to claim 20, including at least one: provisioning the storage articles respectively located in one of the hanging bags of the hanging bag storage, handing over the entire hanging bag along with the respective storage article from the respective handover buffer into the storage locations, and/or autonomous driving, controlling and/or moving of the entire hanging bag before the provisioning, during the provisioning and/or handing over of the hanging bag.

24. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: interlinking the series using a circular conveying plant.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein: vertically conveying the series using the circular conveying plant, and arranging the handover buffers on top of one another in the levels of the hanging bag storage.

26. The method according to claim 20, including at least one of: handing over more than one of the storage articles from the respective handover buffer into the corresponding one of the storage locations of the series, and/or presorted handing over of the more than one of the storage articles.

27. A hanging bag storage system, configured, designed and/or programmed for executing a method according to claim 20.

28. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 27, including at least one of: a first handover buffer in a first level of the hanging bag storage, at least one second handover buffer in a second level of the hanging bag storage, wherein the storage articles can be provisioned for an imminent retrieval in the handover buffers of the respective level of the hanging bag storage, a control device, by which a sequence of the storage articles provided for the retrieval can be specified, a circular conveying plant for provisioning a series of storage locations for receiving at least one of the storage articles, wherein the series of storage locations can be directed past the handover buffers while the storage articles provisioned in the handover buffers can be handed over into the storage locations from the respective handover buffer and in the specified sequence, respectively.

29. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 28, wherein the hanging bags along with the storage articles located therein can be received and transported using the circular conveying plant, wherein the handover buffers are arranged in an imaginary line to one another, preferably in a vertical line.

30. A handover configuration for retrieving storage articles from a hanging bag storage of a hanging bag storage system, which hanging bag storage has hanging bags, according to claim 1, including at least one of: a first in, first out buffer arranged downstream of the hanging bag storage for receiving the storage articles, a pick buffer arranged downstream of the first in, first out buffer for receiving the storage articles from the first in, first out buffer, a handover buffer arranged downstream of the first in, first out buffer for removing the storage articles from the pick buffer in a specified sequence and for provisioning the storage articles for a removal from the hanging bag storage.

31. The handover configuration according to claim 30, wherein a preferably vertically conveying conveying plant, for removing the storage articles from the hanging bag storage is arranged downstream of the handover buffer.

32. The handover configuration according to claim 30, wherein the pick buffer comprises a reciprocating track, on which the storage articles can be slidably relocated between two end positions, wherein the reciprocating track has a branch-off ending in the handover buffer between the two end positions.

33. The handover configuration according to claim 32, wherein the first in, first out buffers comprise sections of rails arranged in parallel, in which respectively one entry rail of a level of the hanging bag storage or entry rail of the hanging bag storage adjoining the level ends at the input side and ends in a joint exit rail at the output side, wherein the joint exit rail comprises the reciprocating track between the end positions of the pick buffer.

34. A method for retrieving storage articles from a hanging bag storage of a hanging bag storage system, which hanging bag storage has hanging bags, according to claim 1, including at least one of: provisioning a first in, first out buffer arranged downstream of the hanging bag storage, presorted receiving of the storage articles from the hanging bag storage in the first in, first out buffer, provisioning a pick buffer arranged downstream of the first in, first out buffer, complete or at least partial receiving of the storage articles buffered in the first in, first out buffer in the presorted state in the pick buffer, provisioning a handover buffer arranged downstream of the pick buffer, picking out the storage articles stored in the pick buffer into the handover buffer in the specified or specifiable sequence.

35. The method according to claim 34, including at least one of: provisioning a preferably vertically conveying conveying plant, arranged downstream of the handover buffer, removing the storage articles from the hanging bag storage by handing over the storage articles into the conveying plant.

36. The method according to claim 34, wherein: relocating the storage articles between two end positions inside the pick buffer while removing and handing over respectively one of the storage articles into the handover buffer for creating the sequence.

37. The method according to claim 34, including at least one of: specifying the sequence, assigning the sequence to the storage articles, subdividing the sequence into subsequences, unsorted depositing of all storage articles of one of the subsequences in the first in, first out buffer for presorting the storage articles.

38. A hanging bag storage system, configured, designed and/or programmed for executing a method according to claim 34.

39. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 38, wherein the hanging bag storage has a plurality of the handover configurations which are arranged on top of one another upstream of a joint, for removing the storage articles from the hanging bag storage.

40. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 1 for storing storage articles received in hanging bags, with a hanging bag storage including at least one of: a handover configuration for sorting and handing over the storage articles located in the hanging bags in a specified or specifiable sequence, a preferably vertically conveying conveying plant arranged downstream of the handover configuration for removing the storage articles received in the hanging bags from the handover configuration in the sequence, an express track for retrieving individual ones of the storage articles independent of the specified or specifiable sequence.

41. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 40, wherein a vertically conveying other conveying plant arranged downstream only of the express track for transporting away the storage articles coming from the express track independent of the sequence.

42. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 40, wherein the express track is arranged upstream of the conveying plant, or is arranged upstream of the conveying plant as required, for transporting away the storage articles coming from the express track independent of the sequence.

43. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 40, wherein the handover configuration itself comprises the express track.

44. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 42, wherein the handover configuration comprises a first in, first out buffer arranged downstream of the hanging bag storage for receiving the storage articles, a pick buffer arranged downstream of the first in, first out buffer for receiving the storage articles from the first in, first out buffer and a handover buffer arranged downstream of the first in, first out buffer for removing the storage articles from the pick buffer in a specified sequence and for provisioning the storage articles for a removal from the hanging bag storage, wherein the first in, first out buffer, the handover buffer and/or the pick buffer comprise the express track as required and/or can be temporarily emptied and thereby used as the express track.

45. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 40, wherein the express track and the handover configuration are arranged in parallel.

46. A method for picking storage articles preferably received in hanging bags using a hanging bag storage system according to claim 40, including at least one of: provisioning a handover configuration arranged downstream of the stored storage articles, receiving a plurality of the storage articles in the handover configuration, sorting the plurality of the received storage articles into a specified or specifiable sequence using the handover configuration, selecting at least one other one of the storage articles, at least partially or completely bypassing the plurality of the storage articles received in the handover configuration, and directly picking the selected at least one of the storage articles.

47. The method according to claim 46, including at least one of: provisioning a downstream conveying plant, receiving and conveying the storage articles from the handover configuration into the conveying plant for the direct picking of the selected at least one of the storage articles.

48. The method according to claim 46, including at least one of: provisioning the conveying plant and an express conveying plant, conveying the plurality of the storage articles sorted in the handover configuration using the conveying plant, receiving and conveying the at least one of the storage articles using the express conveying plant for directly picking the selected at least one of the storage articles.

49. The method according to claim 46, including at least one of: emptying at least one component of the handover configuration, using the emptied at least one component as the express track or as an additional express track.

50. A method for operating a hanging bag storage of a hanging bag storage system according to claim 1 with storage articles received in hanging bags, including at least one of: storing the storage articles received in the hanging bags in a series on a storage route of the hanging bag storage, scheduling one of the storage articles of the series for a retrieval, vacating a retrieval path for the scheduled one of the storage articles by relocating other ones of the storage articles of the series into a shunting route of the hanging bag storage, and retrieving the scheduled one of the storage articles along the vacated retrieval path.

51. The method according to claim 50, including at least one of: reversing a direction of motion of the other ones of the storage articles of the series, relocating the other ones of the storage articles of the series into the storage route in the reverse direction of motion.

52. The method according to claim 50, wherein: encircling the storage route of the hanging bag storage with the other ones of the storage articles in the direction of motion, relocating the other ones of the storage articles of the series into the storage route in the same direction of motion after the encircling.

53. The method according to claim 50, including at least one of: circulating or reciprocating the other ones of the storage articles of the series using the storage route, the shunting route, another storage route adjoining the shunting route and another shunting route adjoining the storage route and other storage route, and/or singling out the scheduled one of the storage articles during the circulating or reciprocating along the retrieval path vacated thereby.

54. The method according to claim 50, including at least one of: crossing the shunting route with the scheduled one of the storage articles, entering the express route by the scheduled one of the storage articles after the crossing, and/or relocating the scheduled one of the storage articles from the retrieval path vacated on the storage route using the express route of the hanging bag storage, a handover buffer of the hanging bag storage and a preferably vertically conveying conveying plant for retrieving the scheduled one of the storage articles.

55. The method according to claim 50, including at least one of: storing a plurality of identical ones of the storage articles distributed over the entire hanging bag storage, selecting one of the storage articles from the plurality of identical ones of the storage articles, scheduling the selected one of the storage articles as the one of the storage articles of the series for the retrieval.

56. The method according to claim 50, including at least one of: repeating the method for a plurality of scheduled ones of the storage articles and in a plurality of levels of the hanging bag storage, specifying a sequence for the plurality of the scheduled ones of the storage articles, presorting the plurality of the scheduled ones of the storage articles in the handover buffers of the levels, finally sorting the plurality of the scheduled ones of the storage articles in the sequence by handing over the plurality of the scheduled ones of the storage articles from the handover buffers of the levels into the conveying plant, and/or autonomously or at least partially autonomously traveling by the hanging bags of the hanging bag storage on a network of the hanging bag storage comprising the storage routes, shunting routes and the express route and/or the retrieval path.

57. The method according to claim 50, including at least one of: putting the hanging bags autonomously or at least partially autonomously displaceable on the network into a sleep mode during the storage of the storage articles, waking up the hanging bags for the autonomous or at least partially autonomous traveling and retrieving of the storage articles.

58. A hanging bag storage system, configured, designed and/or programmed for executing a method according to claim 50.

59. The hanging bag storage for storing and sorting storage articles which can be received in hanging bags according to claim 58, including at least one of: a plurality of levels, each with: a network, on which the hanging bags can be displaced autonomously or at least partially autonomously, a plurality of routes of the network arranged in parallel for storing the storage articles received in the hanging bags, at least one shunting route, in which the plurality of the storage routes end and/or circularly surrounds the plurality of the storage routes, at least one express route, which is arranged downstream of the plurality of storage routes and/or of the at least one shunting route, a handover buffer arranged downstream of the network and/or of the express route of the network for presorting the storage articles, a preferably vertically conveying conveying plant arranged downstream of the handover buffers of the levels for finally sorting the storage articles in a specified or specifiable sequence.

60. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 1 for storing and sorting storage articles which can be received in hanging bags, with a hanging bag storage including at least one of: a network, on which the hanging bags can be displaced autonomously or at least partially autonomously, wherein the network comprises at least one express route, which can be traveled on by the hanging bags in a direction-based manner and with priority, at least one shunting route arranged parallel to the express route, which can temporarily be used for sorting tasks of the hanging bags, a plurality of storage routes arranged at an angle to the express route and to the shunting route and adjoining the express route and the shunting route by a retrieval path for storing the storage articles received in the hanging bags in a series.

61. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 60, wherein the at least one storage route and the at least one express route are interconnected by a plurality of cross connections which can be traveled on by the hanging bags.

62. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 60, wherein respectively one of the shunting routes is arranged bilaterally of the at least one express route and the plurality of storage routes are arranged so as to abut on the respective one of the shunting routes and end in the respective one of the shunting routes at the angle, respectively.

63. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 60, wherein the hanging bag storage comprises a plurality of the express routes, which are arranged at an angle to one another and crossing one another, wherein the express routes are arranged grid-like and preferably with alternating specifications of the direction of motion to one another.

64. A method for operating a hanging bag storage system according to claim 60 with storage articles received in hanging bags, including at least one of: storing the storage articles received in the hanging bags in a series on a storage route of the hanging bag storage, scheduling one of the storage articles of the series for a relocating, relocating the scheduled one of the storage articles, and inserting the scheduled one of the storage articles into an additional storage route of the hanging bag storage in a specified or specifiable sequence.

65. The method according to claim 64, including at least one of: vacating a retrieval path for the scheduled one of the storage articles by relocating other ones of the storage articles of the series into a shunting route of the hanging bag storage, relocating the scheduled one of the storage articles along the vacated retrieval path into the other storage route of the hanging bag storage.

66. The method according to claim 64, including at least one of: repeating the method for a plurality of scheduled ones of the storage articles and for a plurality of other storage routes, specifying a sequence for the plurality of the scheduled ones of the storage articles, respectively inserting the plurality of the scheduled ones of the storage articles in the plurality of other storage routes according to the sequence.

67. The method according to claim 64, including at least one of: crossing over or crossing the shunting route with the scheduled one of the storage articles, entering the express route by the scheduled one of the storage articles after the crossing.

68. The method according to claim 64, including at least one of: storing a plurality of identical ones of the storage articles distributed over the entire hanging bag storage, selecting one of the storage articles from the plurality of identical ones of the storage articles, scheduling the selected one of the storage articles as the one of the storage articles of the series for the sorting.

69. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 1 with at least partially autonomously or autonomously displaceable hanging bags, wherein: a network, on which a plurality of hanging bags can be displaced autonomously or at least partially autonomously, characterized by: a control device, by which the hanging bag storage can be controlled and/or monitored, a first communication configuration, using which a communication path A between the control device and an addressee such as a random, individual one of the hanging bags can be set up, a second communication configuration, using which another communication path B, which is independent of the communication path A, can be set up between the control device and the addressee.

70. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 69, wherein the communication configurations comprise at least one or a plurality of elements from the following group: a hanging bag with a cotraveling first transceiving device configured for the communication path A and a cotraveling second transceiving device configured for the communication path B, a control device for centrally controlling the hanging bag storage, generating, sending and/or receiving messages using the communication paths A and B, a plurality of intermediate controllers, which are arranged downstream of the control device, each equipped with an independent computing capacity and configured for the communication path A, a cluster of two to 10, preferably two to six, preferably four, beacons I, which are arranged downstream of one of the intermediate controllers and wherein the beacons I are respectively configured for the communication path A, a cluster of two to 10, preferably two to six, preferably three, beacons II, which are arranged downstream of one of the beacons I and wherein the beacons I are configured for the communication path A, or a plurality of beacons III, which are arranged downstream of the control device and configured for the communication path B.

71. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 69, wherein the communication path A from the control device to the addressee can be set up using one of the intermediate controllers, one of the beacons I, one of the beacons II, or directly from one of the beacons I, using which respectively one route to the addressee and/or the beacon II can be set up, and/or a plurality of the hanging bags can be directed to the addressee, and, independent of that, the communication path B can be directed from the control device via one of the beacons III to the addressee, wherein the communication paths A and B have different communication protocols and/or routes and/or radio frequencies.

72. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 69, wherein the hanging bag storage is designed for and/or comprises at least 500,000 hanging bags, wherein the hanging bags can be electively addressed, communicated with and/or controlled by the control device by and using the two communication paths A and B.

73. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 69, wherein the beacons I, the beacons II and the hanging bags each comprise a first transceiving device configured for the communication path A, which are electively configured for receiving, sending or relaying messages, wherein a number of the transceiving devices used for transmitting an individual message via the communication path A is flexible.

74. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 69, wherein the intermediate controllers are arranged hard-wired downstream of the control device, the clusters of the beacons I are arranged hard-wired downstream of the respective intermediate controller, the clusters of the beacons II are arranged or arrangeable downstream of the respective beacon I using a preferably establishable one of the routes or hard-wired and the addressee can be addressed and/or communicated with using one of the beacons II or from the beacon II using any number of other ones of the hanging bags.

75. The hanging bag storage system according to claim 69, wherein the beacons III and the second transceiving devices of the hanging bags have Bluetooth Low Energy standard and the communication path B can be established according to this standard.

76. A method for operating a hanging bag storage of a hanging bag storage system, which hanging bag storage is equipped with at least partially autonomously or autonomously displaceable hanging bags according to claim 69, including at least one of: at least partially autonomous traveling of the hanging bags, wireless handing over of messages to the hanging bags for controlling the at least partially autonomous traveling using a communication path A and a communication path B independent thereof.

77. The method according to claim 76, including at least one of: executing a handshake as soon as a respective one of the hanging bags is within a range of one of the beacons III, taking over the control of the respective one of the hanging bags using the communication path B for executing a sorting operation, retrieval operation and/or storage operation of the hanging bag storage.

78. The method according to claim 76, further including: additionally using the second transceiving devices of the hanging bags configured for the communication path B for a travel dynamic control, a distance control and/or collision avoidance among one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0141] Below, the disclosure is explained in more detail on the basis of an exemplary embodiment represented in the figures. These show:

[0142] FIG. 1 a schematic three-dimensional lateral oblique view from the top front of a hanging bag storage system having a hanging bag storage;

[0143] FIG. 2 a schematic lateral view of a hanging bag for the hanging bag storage shown in FIG. 1;

[0144] FIG. 3 a schematic lateral view of multiple of the hanging bags shown in FIG. 2 on a rail network;

[0145] FIGS. 4A to 4H a schematic view of a circular conveying plant in phases A to D during a sorting operation of storage articles;

[0146] FIG. 5 a flow chart of a method for retrieving storage articles from the hanging bag storage shown in FIG. 1;

[0147] FIG. 6 another flow chart of a method for retrieving storage articles from the hanging bag storage shown in FIG. 1,

[0148] FIG. 7 a block diagram of a handover configuration of the hanging bag storage shown in FIG. 1 to illustrate a material flow when sorting and retrieving storage articles;

[0149] FIGS. 8A-8C a schematic view of the handover configuration in different operating phases to illustrate a sorting operation when retrieving storage articles from the hanging bag storage shown in FIG. 1;

[0150] FIG. 9 a flow chart of a method for retrieving storage articles from the hanging bag storage shown in FIG. 1;

[0151] FIG. 10 the block diagram represented in FIG. 7 but in combination with another handover configuration for retrieving individual storage articles;

[0152] FIG. 11 the handover configuration shown in FIG. 10 in interaction with another handover configuration analogous to the block diagram from FIG. 8;

[0153] FIG. 12 a handover configuration analogous to the one described in FIGS. 5 and 6 with a preferably flexibly assignable express track;

[0154] FIG. 13 a flow chart of a method for picking storage articles received in hanging bags, a schematic view of a level of a hanging bag storage to illustrate a retrieval FIG. 14 with a reversal of a direction of motion;

[0155] FIG. 15 a schematic view of the level of the hanging bag storage to illustrate a retrieval with an encircling of a storage route;

[0156] FIG. 16 a schematic view of the level of the hanging bag storage to illustrate a retrieval with an encircling/a reciprocating;

[0157] FIG. 17 a schematic view of the level of the hanging bag storage to illustrate a rearranging of a storage article;

[0158] FIGS. 18, 19 flow charts of a method for operating the hanging bag storage shown in the preceding figures,

[0159] FIG. 20 a view of a part of a level of the hanging bag storage shown in the preceding figures with a first and second communication configuration for realizing two communication paths A and B;

[0160] FIG. 21 a partial view of the level represented in FIG. 20,

[0161] FIG. 22 a tree diagram of a hierarchical structure of the first and second communication configurations of the hanging bag storage shown in the preceding figures,

[0162] FIG. 23 a partial view of the tree diagram shown in FIG. 22 with the communication path B; and

[0163] FIG. 24 a flow chart of a method for operating a hanging bag storage equipped with at least partially autonomously or autonomously displaceable hanging bags.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0164] The disclosure will now be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the enclosed drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments are only examples, which are not to limit the inventive concept to a particular configuration. Before describing the disclosure in detail, it should be noted that the disclosure is not limited to the respective components of the device and the respective method steps, as these components and methods may vary. The terms used here are merely intended to describe particular embodiments and are not used restrictively. If in addition the singular or indefinite articles are used in the description or in the claims, this also refers to the plural of these elements, unless the overall context unambiguously illustrates otherwise.

[0165] FIG. 1 shows a schematic three-dimensional lateral oblique view from the top front of a hanging bag storage system 2 with a hanging bag storage 1.

[0166] Depending on the use case, the hanging bag storage 1 can have precisely one level, in particular have at least one level or preferably at least two levels 9, 13, represented here is a total of four, wherein a first level 9 and a second level 13 are provided with reference numbers by way of example. More or fewer levels are conceivable, for example 10 levels or more, which are arranged vertically on top of one another.

[0167] Each of the levels 9, 13 of the hanging bag storage 1 respectively have a handover buffer 7, 11, of which also only a first handover buffer 7 and a second handover buffer 11 are provided with reference numbers.

[0168] The hanging bag storage 1 serves to receive, store, sort and/or retrieve storage articles 3, electively as a pure storage or sorting device. The handover buffers 7, 11 are preferably arranged vertically on top of one another, which is symbolized by a line 27. However, it is also conceivable to arrange only at least two of the handover buffers 7, 11 on top of each other and/or arrange them obliquely to a perpendicular direction in space along the line 27.

[0169] Along the imaginary line 27 along which the handover buffers 7, 11 are arranged extends also a circular conveying plant 23, preferably a plurality of circular conveying plants 23. The handover buffers 7, 11 are arranged adjacent to the circular conveying plant 23 such that the storage articles 3 can be handed over into the circular conveying plant 23 by the handover buffers 7, 11 and/or can be stored in the levels 9, 13 and/or in the handover buffers 7, 11 of the levels 9, 13 by the circular conveying plant 23.

[0170] In one exemplary embodiment, the storage articles 3 are handed over directly into the circular conveying plant 23. Preferably, the storage articles 3 are handed over into the circular conveying plant 23 while located in a hanging bag 5 of the hanging bag storage system 2. Particularly preferably, there is an autonomous driving, in particular using a cotraveling electrical drive, controlling and/or moving of the entire hanging bag 5 before the provisioning, during the provisioning and/or handing over of the hanging bag 5. The method is preferably executed using electrical drives, in particular without trail chains and/or pusher dogs. To that end, the hanging bag storage 1 is structured without trail chains and/or pusher dogs for example at least in regions or entirely, preferably at least inside the levels 9, 13.

[0171] To that end, the hanging bag storage 1 has a network 49, for example a rail network with connecting sections and ramifications such as crossings and/or switches. Preferably, the network 49 is a grid with straight-lined rails that are interconnected by the crossings and/or switches. For example with rectangular network meshes.

[0172] To store the storage articles 3 in the hanging bag storage, the hanging bag storage has a handover point 53, at which the individual storage articles are handed over into individual hanging bags 5. Preferably, only respectively one of the storage articles 3 per hanging bag 5 is handed over. However, multiples ones are also conceivable, provided that there is sufficient space for them in the corresponding hanging bag 5. In the handover point, the storage articles 3 can electively be buffered and handed over directly into the hanging bags 5, which travel toward the handover point 53 to that end and then travel onward, preferably autonomously, to a storage location of the hanging bag storage 1.

[0173] At an unloading station 55 of the hanging bag storage 1, the storage articles 3 are removed from the circular conveying plant 23 again and are available there, preferably in a specified or specifiable sequence 15. It is conceivable that a convoy of hanging bags 5, in the desired sequence 15, enter the unloading station 55 from the circular conveying plant 23 and/or are handed over into the unloading station 55 by the circular conveying plant 23, unloaded at the unloading station 55 and then travel back to be loaded again. The unloading station 55 can be arranged inside or outside one of the levels 9, 13, preferably in a lowest level.

[0174] However, it is alternatively also conceivable that the hanging bags 5 are conveyed using the circular conveying plant 23 and unloaded at the unloading station 55 in the desired sequence and immediately transported back into the hanging bag storage 1 empty using the circular conveying plant 23, i.e. without the respective hanging bags 5 remaining in the unloading station or being available there, for example to travel or be transported onward to the handover point 53 after the unloading.

[0175] Particularly preferably, the hanging bags 5 are designed such that they travel autonomously on the network 49. Hanging bag storages 1 with autonomously traveling hanging bags 5 are known and described in DE10 2018 128 417 A1, for example, so that a detailed description is relinquished here. Preferably, a control device 25 of the hanging bag storage system 2 is provided for a monitoring and controlling of the hanging bag storage 1, in particular for specifying the desired sequence 15 and controlling the circular conveying plant 23, which control device exchanges information with the functional units of the hanging bag storage 1.

[0176] FIG. 2 shows a schematic lateral view of such a hanging bag 5 for the hanging bag storage 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0177] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of multiple of the hanging bags 5 shown in FIG. 2, hooked into the network 49 for example designed as a rail network.

[0178] To that end, the hanging bags 5 have wheels 57 and can be driven by a drive energy merely indicated by reference number 59 and by a drive using this drive energy. The hanging bags 5 can be configured having two parts and can comprise a roll adapter 61 and a bag material, in particular flexible and/or foldable material, in which a storage article 3 can be received and which is and/or can be suspended on the roll adapter 61 and released again, in particular nondestructively. In FIG. 3, a double arrow 51 indicates possible directions of motion of the hanging bags 5 in the network 49. The hanging bags 5, in particular their roll adapters 61, are configured, programmed and/or designed for the autonomous or partially autonomous traveling on the network 49. To that end, the hanging bags 5, in particular the roll adapters 61, can have the independent drive, preferably electrical drive, and respectively one independent longitudinal and transverse dynamics control. The hanging bag storage system 2 therefore comprises the roll adapters 61 and the hanging bags 5 suspended or suspendible on the roll adapters 61. For reasons of simplification, the word hanging bag or roll adapter can be used on its own in this application to describe states of motion, wherein this may simultaneously also refer to the traveling combination and/or unit of a roll adapter 61 with the hanging bag 5 suspended on it.

[0179] Preferably at least two states of motion of the following group can be set using the longitudinal controller: stopping and traveling forward. Preferably from the group: traveling backward, stopping and traveling forward. Particularly preferably, respectively different speeds and/or transient states of motion can be set here, in particular in combination with a longitudinal acceleration regulator/controller. In one particular configuration, the longitudinal dynamics control can comprise an electric motor, in particular as an independent drive, and set at least one state of motion of the group: traveling forward, traveling backward, stopping, accelerated traveling forward, accelerated traveling backward, braked traveling forward, braked traveling backward.

[0180] The transverse dynamics control can in particular comprise electrically controllable steering elements and set at least one state of motion of the group: traveling straight, turning left, turning right.

[0181] Preferably, the network 49 can be designed passive, i.e. without adjustment elements. Without adjustment elements can be understood to mean that the network 49 comprises no active adjustment elements which impact a transverse dynamic of the roll adapters 61 and/or hanging bags 5 and on which wheels or contact surfaces can be supported transverse to the direction of travel for causing a change of direction adjustable on the network side, such as they are known from classic adjustable switches, for example.

[0182] Particularly preferably, the network 49 is structured so as to be horizontal or essentially horizontal. Essentially horizontal can be understood to mean here that the roll adapters 61 traveling on the network 49 do not roll away automatically, induced by gravity, during a standstill, i.e. they can preferably be structured without parking brakes. Therefore, the drive and/or the drive energy 59 is/are in this case gravity free, hence not gravity-induced. What is more, the drive can be designed as an electrical drive, wherein the longitudinal dynamics control and/or the drive can be executed/provided without trail chains, gravity and/or pusher dogs.

[0183] In FIG. 2, the hanging bag 5 is represented with a storage article 3 received therein. The storage article 3 is located inside a material, in particular flexible material, suspended in a U-shape. A loading and unloading can in particular take place from above or laterally.

[0184] To the extent that the terms x-direction, y-direction and z-direction are used in this application, they can be understood to mean a Cartesian coordinate system cotraveling with the hanging bags 5 and/or roll adapters 61, in particular their drive, wherein the x-direction can mark a direction of travel, the y-direction can mark a direction transverse to the direction of travel extending horizontally in case of a level travel motion and the z-direction can mark a direction perpendicular to the remaining axes extending vertically and/or vertical axis of the roll adapter 61 and/or of the hanging bag 5.

[0185] FIGS. 4A to 4H show a schematic view of a circular conveying plant 23 analogous to the one described in FIG. 1 in phases A to H to illustrate a sorting operation of storage articles 3. FIG. 4 shows a part of the hanging bag storage 1 in a schematic representation with four handover buffers, distributed over four levels, respectively designated first to fourth from top to bottom. To improve clarity, reference numbers, which correspond to the ones in FIG. 1, are provided only in the phases A and E, wherein reference numbers for the third and fourth level were also relinquished for simplification.

[0186] The storage articles 3 are handed over into the circular conveying plant 23 by the handover buffers 7, 11 of the levels 9, 13 and conveyed into the unloading station 55 by the circular conveying plant 23.

[0187] Simultaneously, a sorting of the storage articles 3 according to a sequencing criterion 21, in this case for example numbers from 1 to 10, takes place.

[0188] The circular conveying plant 23 comprises storage locations 19, which are arranged in succession along a series 17, for conveying, receiving and transferring storage articles 3. Here preferably interlinked and driven circumferentially using a drive not represented in more detail, which is indicated in FIG. 4 by straight and curved arrows. Preferably, the series 17 of the storage locations 19 of the circular conveying plant 23 is arranged vertically, similar to a paternoster. However, it is also conceivable to arrange the series 17 obliquely.

[0189] Preferably, the sequencing criteria 21 are assigned both to the individual storage articles 3, which is symbolized by digits in FIG. 4, and to the storage locations 19 of the series 17. This assignment is a possibility to control and can also be executed in a purely virtual manner and/or by a random assignment. This enables the storage articles 3 to be sorted into the storage locations 19 in the specified sequence 15. The designations #1 to #10 are used to describe the sequencing criterion. As soon as a, in particular empty, storage location 19 with the same sequencing criterion 21 as in one of the handover buffers 7, 11 is directed past the one of the handover buffers 7, 11, a handover into the corresponding storage location 19 takes place. In FIG. 4, handovers are symbolized by arrows.

[0190] In phase A, the storage article #1 is sorted into the storage location #1 by the first handover buffer 7 on the first level 9.

[0191] In phase B, #2 is sorted in direct succession, starting from the second level 13. To that end, the circular conveying plant 23 has moved onward by two positions, so that there is an empty storage location 19 in the first level and the storage article #5 waits there. There is no handover, as the storage location 19 of the first level in phase A is provided for receiving the #3, i.e. there is no match.

[0192] This becomes clear also in phase C, where the series 17 has moved onward by one position. In the first level, the storage location #4 is now located in front of storage article #5. Again, there is no handover. In the second level, however, the sequencing criteria match and #3 is handed over.

[0193] Partial representation D of FIG. 4 shows three actions, #5 is handed over in the first level, and #4 in the second level. In the third level, there is no action, as the storage location #3 is already filled and also the storage article #6 waits there. This means that there is also no match. When the provisioning and assigning of the sequencing criteria 21 of the storage articles in the handover buffers are executed correctly, a check as to whether the storage location 19 is already occupied as well as a corresponding sensor system can therefore electively be relinquished. However, such a checking step can alternatively be provided for good measure.

[0194] In the fourth level, there is a handover and/or a transfer of the #1 into the unloading station 55. The unloading station 55 can be arranged as part of the fourth level or outside the levels of the hanging bag storage.

[0195] In phase E, a handing over is only resumed after the series 17 has moved onward by three positions, as the sequencing criteria of the handover buffers then match the storage locations. Irrespective of this, there is a continuous transfer into the unloading station in the fourth level, in which unloading station #1 to #5 are already stored after phase E. #8 is received in the first level and #6 in the third level. In the second level 13, there is no action, as the second handover buffer 11 is already empty. It is noticeable that storage location #7 has remained empty due to the assigned sequencing criteria 21.

[0196] As can be seen in phase F of FIG. 4, storage location #7 is filled from the third level and from the third handover buffer. Also the storage articles #8 to #10 which remained in the third handover buffer are handed over from the third level, which is represented in phases G and H. It can be seen in phase H that the storage articles 3 have arrived in the unloading station in the sequence #1 to 10.

[0197] It can be seen that a storing and/or handover into the series 17 does not necessarily take place every time the series 17 moves onward by one position, so that storage locations 19 electively remain empty at first but are then continuously filled up in levels located below. This means that a capacity utilization of 100% of the storage locations 19 arriving at the unloading station 55 is possible.

[0198] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method for retrieving storage articles 3 from the hanging bag storage 1 shown in FIG. 1. Also the preceding figures are referenced.

[0199] In the first step 29, the first handover buffer 7 is provisioned, which is located in the top first level 9 of the hanging bag storage. Below the first handover buffer 7in particular vertically below, along the imaginary line 27the second handover buffer 7 is located in the second level 13, which handover buffer 7 is also provisioned in a second step 31.

[0200] In a third step 33, the sequence 15 of the storage articles 3 for the imminent retrieval is specified. The sequence 15 can have any sequencing criterion 21, for example a series of numbers or letters, in particular be virtually assigned.

[0201] A fourth step 35 comprises a provisioning of the storage articles 3 in the handover buffers 7, 11 of the respective level 9, 13 of the hanging bag storage 1 for the imminent retrieval. Preferably, the storage articles 3 in the handover buffers 7, 11 are presorted according to the sequence 15 and/or at least presorted there and/or provisioned in the sequence 15 so as to be pickable.

[0202] As a fifth step 37, a series 17 of storage locations 19 for receiving at least one of the storage articles 3 is provisioned. This may be an interlinked series 17. In particular an annular and circumferentially drivable chain with the storage locations 19 of the circular conveying plant 23.

[0203] Then, a directing of the series 17 of storage locations 19 past the handover buffers 7, 11 is executed as a sixth step 39 and a simultaneous handing over of the storage articles 3 provisioned in the handover buffers 7, 11 from the respective handover buffer 7, 11 into the storage locations 19 in the specified sequence, respectively, is executed as a seventh step 41. Here, the desired sequence 15 is mapped in the series 17 of the storage locations 19.

[0204] FIG. 6 shows another flow chart of a method for retrieving storage articles 3 from the hanging bag storage 1 shown in FIG. 1. The exemplary embodiment is based on the method shown in FIG. 5, to which reference is also made. Only the differences are explained.

[0205] In contrast, the method of FIG. 6 additionally has an eighth step 43, a ninth step 45 and a query 47, which are arranged before steps 39 and 41. There is a double assigning of the ordinal sequencing criteria 21. This enables pairs for the handovers to be formed. The empty storage locations 19 of the series 17 are assigned the ordinal sequencing criteria 21 in the eighth step 43, in particular virtually, using the control device 25. In the ninth step 45, the ordinal sequencing criteria 21 are likewise assigned to the individual storage articles 3 which are waiting and/or arriving in the respective handover buffer 7, 11.

[0206] The query 47 follows, which branches back on itself if a storage location 19 is directed past a waiting storage article 3 and the sequencing criteria do not match. If the sequencing criteria match, however, the query branches out into the steps 39 and 41, and the storage article 3 or storage articles 3 waiting in the respective handover buffer 7, 11 are sorted into the series 17. This results in a continuous filling of the storage locations of the series 17.

[0207] FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a handover configuration 10 of the hanging bag storage 1 shown in FIG. 1 to illustrate a material flow when sorting and retrieving the storage articles 3; The four levels 9, 13 of the hanging bag storage 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be seen as four blocks represented on top of one another. Viewed in a direction of the material flow of the storage articles 3, a handover configuration 10 is arranged downstream of the levels 9, 13, respectively. For simplification, FIG. 7 shows only one of the handover configurations 10. It is conceivable that only one of the levels 9, 13 comprises a handover configuration. Also, more than one, in particular one handover configuration per level, can be provided. Finally, multiple of the handover configurations 10 can be provided in one or multiple of the levels.

[0208] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7, a total of five first in, first out buffers 317 are arranged downstream of the second level 13, in which the storage articles 3 coming from the level 13 can be stored. The sequence 15 can be specified for the storage articles, which sequence 15 can be subdivided into a plurality of subsequences 341. In FIG. 7, the material flow taking place on the basis of the sequence 15 and subsequences 341 is symbolized by arrows. Preferably, all storage articles 3 of one of the subsequences 341 are stored in one of the first in, first out buffers 317. This is symbolized in FIG. 7 at one of the first in, first out buffers 317, which is arranged on the right. The subsequence 341 can also be sorted ordinally, wherein it is irrelevant for the method whether this ordinal order is maintained inside the first in, first out buffers 317. The storage articles 3 of one of the first in, first out buffers 317 can electively be transferred into a pick buffer 319 arranged jointly downstream of the first in, first out buffers 317. The maintaining of the subsequence is therefore not relevant. The depositing of the storage articles 3 of the subsequences 341 from the respective first in, first out buffer 317 into the downstream pick buffer 319 is executed in the ordinal sequence of the subsequences, but preferably respectively intrinsically unsorted.

[0209] The respective subsequence 341 of the storage articles 3 can be created using the pick buffer 319 in combination with the second handover buffer 11 arranged downstream of the pick buffer 319. The storage articles 3 stored in the pick buffer 319 particularly preferably reciprocate back and forth and, in doing so, are handed over into the handover buffer 11 in the subsequence 341. After removing the last storage article 3, the subsequence 341 is then provided there. It is conceivable that the handover buffer 11 can receive multiple of the subsequences 341 or fewer of them. This depends electively on an overall design of the hanging bag storage 1.

[0210] It can be seen that a presorting using the subsequences 341 is first executed by the first in, first out buffers 317. The subsequences 341 are then finally brought into the superordinate sequence 15 of all storage articles 3 by the handover into the pick buffer 319, which handover is sequenced according to the ordinal sequence of the subsequences, and the picking from the pick buffer 319 into the handover buffer 11, which picking is sequenced according to the respective subsequence.

[0211] It can be seen that the superordinate sequence 15 is not limited, can electively have multiple thousand, for example up to 1,000, preferably up to 5,000, in particular up to 30,000 of the storage articles per hour. This is possible as the first in, first out buffers 317 enable an arrival of the storage articles 3 that is scattered over time. The storage articles 3 can then be collected and thereby presorted independent of the arrival time within an interval of the sequence 15 specified by the subsequence 341.

[0212] Using the first in, first out buffers 317, it is also conceivable to respond flexibly to disruptions and/or severely delayed arrivals of individual ones of the storage articles 3. In such a case, a subsequence 341 that was actually to be dispatched later can be given priority. To that end, it is advantageous according to one exemplary embodiment if the sequence 15 and/or the subsequences 341 are subdivided into batches, not represented in more detail, which preferably consist of a packing unit of ones of the storage articles 3 to be packaged jointly. The splitting of the sequence 15 can be executed such that the batches are specified as the smallest storage unit inside one of the first in, first out buffers 317, i.e. batches are always provided complete inside the first in, first out buffers 317. This can result in an under-occupancy of the first in, first out buffers 317, wherein, however, the improved robustness against delayed arrivals of individual ones of the storage articles 3, i.e. the exchangeability of the contents of the first in, first out buffers 317, can be achieved without incomplete batches having to be delivered at the unloading station 55. Furthermore, it is conceivable to hand over the first in, first out buffers 317 only partially into the pick buffer 319, wherein it is ensured that complete batches are specified as the smallest quantity of storage articles 3 to be retrieved. Thus, too, a flexibility can be increased without incomplete batches having to be delivered at the unloading station 55. An emergency buffer otherwise required there is not required. This means that batches then electively reach the unloading station 55 with a reduced sorting quality but in a desired intrinsic batch sequence.

[0213] The circular conveying plant 23 is arranged downstream of the handover buffer 11. The handover buffer provisions the storage articles in the desired sequence. It is conceivable to relinquish the handover buffer 11 and pick the storage articles 3 directly into the circular conveying plant 23 as described above. The handover buffer 11 enables an improved temporal robustness in relation to a handover time into the circular conveying plant 23, in particular if the circular conveying plant 23 picks off the storage articles 3 electively across the levels 9, 13 and completes the sequence across the levels 9, 13 in a time-coordinated manner. Therefore, storage articles 3 of a batch can then be stored distributed across the levels 9, 13. The handover buffer 11 preferably also has a first in, first out structure.

[0214] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the handover configuration in different operating phases A to C to illustrate a sorting operation when retrieving storage articles from the hanging bag storage shown in FIG. 1. Lines in FIG. 8 symbolize the hanging bags conveying the storage articles 3. The network 49, on which the hanging bags 5 travel preferably autonomously or at least partially autonomously, is symbolized by lines.

[0215] In phases A to C, a sorting operation using the handover configuration 10 is explained in more detail below by way of example. First, the path of a hanging bag 343 with a received storage article 3 represented by dashed lines is shown. In phase A, the hanging bag 343, coming from the level 13, moves toward and turns into an entry rail 337 of the handover configuration 10, which is symbolized by a curved arrow 361. The entry rail forms an inflow for the first in, first out buffers 317 arranged downstream of the handover configuration 10. FIG. 8 shows a total of five of the first in, first out buffers 317, which are respectively designated with the same reference number but as first to fifth first in, first out buffer 317 from left to right. The handover configuration 10 is therefore segmented into at least two, in this case five, first in, first out buffers 317 arranged in parallel. Each of the segments has a section of rail 335, in particular part of the network 49, that can be seen in FIG. 8. In phase B, the hanging bag 343 travels onward in a direction of the fourth first in, first out buffer 317. In doing so, the hanging bag 343 passes a junction leading into the second and third first in, first out buffers 317, respectively. A junction is arranged upstream of each of the first in, first out buffers 317 of the handover configuration 10. The journey of the hanging bag 343 on the entry rail 337 is symbolized in phase B by an arrow 365.

[0216] Finally, the hanging bag 343 then turns into the fourth first in, first out buffer 317 at a junction 345, which is symbolized in phase C of FIG. 8 by a curved arrow 367. There, another one of the hanging bags, which belongs to a fourth subsequence 341 assigned to the fourth first in, first out buffer 317 in phases A to C, is already waiting. In phase C, it can furthermore be seen that another one of the hanging bags is already approaching the handover configuration 10. The other one of the hanging bags also belongs to the fourth subsequence and is accordingly stored in the fourth first in, first out buffer 317. The presorting described above is thus executed, independent of an arrival sequence of the hanging bags at the entry rail 337. It can be seen in phase C that other hanging bags have meanwhile arrived in phase C, which belong to a sixth subsequence 341 of the first first in, first out buffer 317, although the fourth first in, first out buffer 317 in this example is still waiting for other hanging bags, which are not depicted.

[0217] Parallel to this presorting, the creating of the sequence 15 takes place. In phase A, it is shown by a curved arrow 369 that all hanging bags belonging to a first subsequence 341 have traveled onward from the first first in, first out buffer 317 into an exit rail 339 using a first junction 345. A junction 345 leading into the exit rail 339 is respectively assigned to and/or arranged downstream of each of the first in, first out buffers 317.

[0218] What is more, it is shown in phase A by a double arrow 371 that the hanging bags belonging to the first subsequence 341 and removed from the first first in, first out buffer 317 are stored slidably and/or can be moved back and forth between a first end position 329 and a second end position 331 on the exit rail 339. The exit rail is part of a reciprocating track 321, on which the hanging bags 3 are movably relocatable and/or displaceable back and forth between the end positions 329 and 331. This can enable the functionality of the pick buffer 319.

[0219] Here, the hanging bags of the first subsequence 341 travel past a branch-off 333 starting at the pick buffer 319 and ending in the handover buffer 11. As soon as one of the hanging bags is next in line, i.e. fulfills the sequence 15 in the handover buffer 11 and arrives at the branch-off 333 during the reciprocating motion, the hanging bag branches off into the handover buffer 11, which is demonstrated in phase B by a curved arrow 373. A part of the hanging bags travels electively onward in a direction of the second end position 331 in order to make room for the turn-off maneuver into the handover buffer 11, arrow 375.

[0220] In phase C, it is shown that, after the turning, the remaining hanging bags advance again, arrow 377, and the hanging bag handed over into the handover buffer 11 advances to hanging bags already waiting there, arrow 363. The hanging bags already waiting belong to another subsequence, which is adjoined by the first subsequence.

[0221] This enables the specified or specifiable sequence 15 to be ensured in the handover buffer 11 in a continuous and time-buffered manner and handed over to the circular conveyor 23, arrow 395, in particular such as requested by the control device 25.

[0222] FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of a method for retrieving storage articles 3 from a hanging bag storage 1 having hanging bags 5, in particular a hanging bag storage 1 with a handover configuration 10 described above. To the extent that it serves a better understanding, reference is additionally made to the preceding figures.

[0223] In a first step 379, a provisioning of a first in, first out buffer 317 arranged downstream of the hanging bag storage 1 is first executed. The first in, first out buffer 317 can comprise at least one section, in particular rail section, of the network 49. Preferably segmented into multiple rail sections arranged in parallel, which preferably each comprise an inflow and an outflow, in particular a joint inflow and outflow. In this respect, a parallelized first in, first out principle can be realized, in which the storage articles 3 can electively be supplied and discharged at least in sections and/or in relation to the entirety of the respective individual first in, first out buffers 317.

[0224] In a second step 381, the storage articles 3 are received in the first in, first out buffer 317 presorted from the hanging bag storage 1. Presorted can be understood to mean here that the storage articles are assigned to the intervals and/or subsequences 341 and stored in a respective one of the individual first in, first out buffers 317, in particular in a respective segment of the first in, first out buffer 317, according to the affiliation to a respective one of the subsequences 341.

[0225] What is more, a pick buffer 319 arranged downstream of the first in, first out buffer 317 is provisioned, which is represented in FIG. 9 as a third step 383.

[0226] As a fourth step 385, a complete or at least partial receiving of the storage articles 3 buffered in the first in, first out buffer 317 in the pick buffer 319 in the presorted state is executed.

[0227] Further, the handover buffer 7, 11 arranged downstream of the pick buffer 319 is provisioned, fifth step 387. The handover buffer adjoins the pick buffer 319 and can receive and time buffer the storage articles 3 from the pick buffer 319 in the sequence 15.

[0228] This is executed in a sixth step 389 by picking out the storage articles 3 stored in the pick buffer 319 into the handover buffer 7, 11 in the specified or specifiable sequence 15. From there, the storage articles 3 can be processed further, for example transported onward and/or packaged and shipped.

[0229] In a seventh step 391, a conveying plant arranged downstream of the handover buffer 7, 11 and preferably vertically conveying, in particular the circular conveying plant 23, can be provisioned.

[0230] This serves to remove the storage articles 3 from the hanging bag storage 1 by handing over the storage articles 3 into the conveying plant, which can be executed as an eighth step 393.

[0231] This results in a sorting method which is robust preferably at the input side and at the output side against delays of individual ones of the storage articles and can also be executed simply and quickly for very long, in particular continuous, sequences. The seventh and eighth step are arranged downstream, explained here by way of example, and can preferably also be achieved alternatively, for example by a targeted picking out of the storage articles 3 from the provisioning buffer using a picking device, releasing the sorted storage articles 3 into an inclined outfeed track or similar.

[0232] FIG. 10 shows the block diagram represented in FIG. 7 but in combination with an express handover configuration 105 for retrieving individual ones of the storage articles 3. Below, the differences are explained and reference is furthermore made to the description of FIG. 4.

[0233] In contrast, other than the sorting and dispatching of the storage articles 3 in the sequence 15, individual ones of the storage articles 3 are dispatched and/or picked using the express handover configuration 105. To that end, these storage articles 3, in derogation from the sequence referred to as individual articles and/or also as single items, which can be shipped in a separate packing unit 107 can be identified.

[0234] The express handover configuration 105 merely comprises an express handover buffer 109 arranged upstream of the express circular conveying plant 103. The ones of the storage articles 3 identified as individual articles are handed over from the second level 13 directly into the express handover buffer 109 and/or enter it autonomously. Alternatively, it is conceivable to also relinquish the express handover buffer 109, wherein the individual articles travel directly toward the express circular conveying plant 103 and are conveyed into a downstream express unloading station 113 using the express circular conveying plant 103. The representation in FIG. 5 is exemplary for retrievals from the second level 13 of the hanging bag storage 1. The individual articles can electively be picked and dispatched independently. Packing units 107 are symbolized in FIG. 5 by dashed rectangles by way of example.

[0235] The configurations represented in FIGS. 7 and 10 can analogously be provided for at least one other, preferably for all levels 9, 13, of the hanging bag storage 1.

[0236] FIG. 11 shows the handover configuration 10 shown in FIG. 8 in interaction with the express handover configuration 105, analogous to the block diagram from FIG. 10 according to phase A. For simplification and like in the preceding figures, the situation of only one of the levels 9, 13 of the hanging bag storage 1 is represented. Only the differences are shown and reference is otherwise made to the preceding figures.

[0237] As can be seen in FIG. 11, the express circular conveying plant 103 has an inflow in the form of a section of rail 335 of the network 49. One of the storage articles 3, preferably received in a hanging bag which is not represented in more detail, is in the inflow, which is indicated by an arrow 111. Four other ones of the storage articles 3 are already waiting in front of the express circular conveying plant 103. It can be seen that the express handover buffer 109 is formed by a subsection of an express track 101 itself which is arranged upstream of the express circular conveying plant 103. If the subsection of the express track 101 runs empty, the storage articles 3 can also be conveyed directly and without waiting times, i.e. wait-free and buffer-free, into the express circular conveying plant 103. To that end, the individual articles can travel on the network 49 at such times that they arrive at and are conveyed by the express circular conveying plant 103 at a specified or specifiable time and/or time interval.

[0238] FIG. 12 shows a handover configuration 10 analogous to the one described in FIGS. 8 and 11 with a preferably flexibly assignable express track. Only the differences are explained. In contrast to the handover configuration 10 shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, one of the total of five first in, first out buffers 317 of the handover configuration 10 has run empty and serves as the express track 101. In the operating mode represented in FIG. 12, a total of four of the storage articles 3 and/or of the hanging bags 5 are in the inflow, which is symbolized by the arrows 111. It can further be seen that the section of rail 335 is continuously vacant and can be used as the express track 101 and electively as the express handover buffer 109 as required, which is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 12, or as one of the first in, first out buffers 317 and the adjoining handover buffer 7, 11, as shown on the left in FIG. 11 and in FIG. 12. As soon as one of the first in, first out buffers 317 has run empty, it can be used as the express track 101. This can therefore take place as an alternative, or electively also in addition to, the express track 101 represented in FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0239] FIG. 13 shows a flow chart of a method for picking storage articles 3 preferably received in hanging bags 5. The method can preferably be executed using a hanging bag storage 1 described above. Reference is made also to the preceding figures as well as their description.

[0240] As a first step 479, there is a provisioning of a handover configuration 10 arranged downstream of the stored storage articles 3. The handover configuration 10 can take over different tasks, in particular the storage articles 3 can be sorted, presorted and finally sorted and/or buffered there.

[0241] To fulfill these tasks, a plurality of the storage articles 3 are received in the handover configuration 10 and/or the plurality of the storage articles 3 travel there from the remaining hanging bag storage 1 in a second step 481.

[0242] As a third step 483, the plurality of the received storage articles 3 are sorted in the specified or specifiable sequence 15 using the handover configuration 10.

[0243] What is more, at least one other one of the storage articles 3 is selected in a fourth step 485, preferably in parallel to the third step 483. The selected one of the storage articles 3 can be an individual article which is to be retrieved particularly quickly and/or can be transported onward separately in a packing unit, for example.

[0244] The selected one of the storage articles 3 bypasses at least partially or completely the plurality of the storage articles 3 received in the handover configuration 10 and processed and/or waiting there, which is symbolized as a fifth step 487. This can be executed using and/or traveling on the express track 101 described above. The selected storage article 3 can therefore be transported onward more quickly without the waiting and processing time of the handover configuration 10.

[0245] Without this waiting and processing time, as an eighth step 493, a direct picking of the selected at least one of the storage articles 3 can take place.

[0246] In FIG. 13, two alternatives for the direct picking are represented.

[0247] In a first possibility, which is represented by solid lines, a conveying plant arranged downstream of the handover configuration 10 is provisioned in a sixth step 489. The direct picking of the selected at least one of the storage articles 3 in the eighth steps 493 is then executed by receiving and conveying the storage articles 3 from the handover configuration 10 into the conveying plant. This operation is marked in FIG. 13 as a seventh step 491. The conveying plant can comprise or be provisioned as a circular conveying plant 23 described above.

[0248] In the alternative second embodiment, which is represented by dashed lines in FIG. 13, the other conveying plant, for example the express circular conveying plant 103, is additionally also provisioned in a ninth step 490. This means that the conveying plant and the express conveying plant are provisioned. Therefore, there are two possibilities for picking the storage articles 3. The plurality of the storage articles 3 are picked using the handover configuration 10. For direct picking of the selected at least one of the storage articles 3 (tenth step 492), the selected at least one of the storage articles 3 is received in and conveyed using the express conveying plant. The express track 101 is arranged upstream of, preferably arranged directly upstream of, the express conveying plant.

[0249] The at least one of the storage articles 3 enters the express track 101 and is separated from the remaining, i.e. the plurality of, the storage articles 3 and supplied to the express conveying plant, preferably wait-free or at least with a reduced waiting time, using the express track 101.

[0250] FIG. 14 shows a schematic view of a level of a hanging bag storage, for example the level 9 of the hanging bag storage 1 described above. The level 9 is only partially represented, wherein dimensions and number of individual elements of the level 9 described here can be varied depending on requirements for the hanging bag storage 1. Also the number of the levels itself can be varied.

[0251] To the extent that this has not been explicitly mentioned, reference is made also to the following figures. The only partially represented level 9 comprises the network 49 with a plurality of rails. By way of example, the network 49 has rectangular meshes formed by the rails and crossings, wherein corresponding four-way switches can be provided at mesh nodes. The wheels 57 of the hanging bags 5 can roll on the rails of the network 9. Here, a motion of the hanging bags 1 can take place autonomously or at least partially autonomously. To that end, each of the hanging bags 5 can comprise an independent drive acting on the wheels 57 and a corresponding controller.

[0252] The network 49 can generally be traveled on randomly by the hanging bags 5, wherein preferably the switches are configured passive and the hanging bags 5 cooperate with the switches through corresponding steering devices, which are not represented in more detail, such that desired reversals can be caused. Motions of hanging bags 5 are represented in the figure by bold dashed lines.

[0253] Preferably, however, the network 49 is used and traveled on by the hanging bags 5irrespective of the possibilities of free traveling and use described aboveaccording to specified or specifiable rules. To that end, for example directions, speeds and preferably types of use can be specified for particular sections of the network 5. In the present case, the network 49 can comprise at least one storage route 62 for storing the hanging bags 5. In the storage routes 62, one or multiple of the hanging bags 5 can be stored in a series 60, which is symbolized by a curly bracket by way of example. To that end, the one or multiple of the hanging bags 5 remain, preferably in a power-saving rest state, at rest and parked in succession, in the series 60 of the corresponding one of the storage routes 62.

[0254] For retrieval, all hanging bags 5 of the hanging bags 5 which are to be moved can be woken up and moved again accordingly.

[0255] In this exemplary embodiment, storage routes 62 are all arranged in parallel in the entire level 9 and marked in the figure by horizontal and solid lines. The rules and the configuration offer the advantage that material flows during storage and retrieval are unified and can thus run faster, more simply and freer from resource conflicts on the network 49.

[0256] The hanging bags 5 are symbolized by rectangles in the figure. In comparison to other regions of the hanging bag storage 1, in particular express routes and/or shunting routes, the storage routes 62 of the hanging bag storage 1 comprise a crossing-free length, in particular one by a factor of at least 1.5, preferably of at least 3, in particular at least 10, for example between 3 and 25, preferably of approximately 20. The crossing-free length can be, for example, between 3 and 20 meters, preferably approximately 15 meters. The length of the storage routes 62 can be made dependent on a use and/or optimization of the hanging bag storage 1, for example rather shorter for quick access and short dwell times of the storage articles 3 and longer for a relatively slow turnaround.

[0257] Furthermore, the hanging bag storage 1 has shunting routes 66, preferably at least one shunting route 66. The shunting routes 66 are arranged at an angle to the storage routes 62, preferably orthogonally to the storage routes 62. In the figure, the shunting routes 66 are marked by vertical and also solid lines. Preferably, at least one of the storage routes 62 ends in at least one of the shunting routes 66 at the angle, preferably orthogonally. In comparison to the storage routes 62, there must be no stopping for storage purposes on the shunting routes 66.

[0258] Wherein a reversal of the direction of motion is electively possible. In the present case, the storage routes 62, which are combined in blocks 76, end in two of the shunting routes 66, at least unilaterally, preferably respectively bilaterally and at the angle, in particular orthogonally. The blocks 76 each comprise a plurality of ones of the storage routes 62 arranged in parallel. In the present case respectively five. The number can vary, for example be between 2 and 30, preferably between 5 and 20, in particular approximately 15. The number can also be adapted to a task of the hanging bag storage 1.

[0259] It is electively conceivable that the blocks 76 are surrounded by a ring of shunting routes 66. In the present case, however, express routes 72 are provided at a top and/or at a bottom end of the respective blocks 76 and parallel to the storage routes 62, preferably respectively directly adjacent.

[0260] To achieve a good and quick outflow of the storage articles 3 and/or hanging bags 5, the express routes 72 allow for a relatively high speed and in particular a continuous traveling is provided, i.e. halting without a reason is not provided and/or to be avoided. Reasons for a halting can therefore preferably be limited to avoiding collisions. Particularly preferably, the express routes 72 can comprise a direction-based motion of the hanging bags 5 as a rule. Further, it is electively possible for the express routes 72 to be arranged in parallel at a certain distance, wherein the blocks 76 are arranged therebetween. Here, it is conceivable that ones of the express routes 72 arranged in parallel have opposite specifications for the direction of travel, i.e. at least one pair of the express routes 72 arranged in parallel with an opposite specification of the direction of motion is provided. What is more, the express routes 72 can be arranged at an angle to one another, preferably cross at the angle, for example be arranged orthogonally to one another. In this case, the express routes 72 can be arranged grid-like and preferably with alternating specifications of the direction of motion to one another. In this manner, ring routes surrounding at least one or multiple of the blocks 76 can be configured, which ring routes can be traveled on in one direction and particularly fast. The alternating directions are represented in the figure by arrows 78 and the express routes 72 by dashed lines.

[0261] It can be seen in the figure that particularly preferably the storage routes 62 are crossed at least unilaterally by one of the shunting routes 66, and one of the express routes 72 arranged at the angle to the storage routes 62 extends parallel to the respective one of the shunting routes 66. As marked in the figure, it is possible that one of the shunting routes 66 is arranged in parallel bilaterally of each of the express routes 72, with respectively one of the blocks 76 abutting thereon, wherein a plurality of connections and junctions connects the one of the shunting routes 66 with the respective express route 72 and again with the storage routes 62 of the respective blocks 76. Therefore, a grid-like arrangement of at least two, preferably three rails of the network 49 is configured, which rails extend in parallel, which network 49 comprises switches and/or crossings at a distance of the storage routes 62 to the hanging bags 5, which switches and/or crossings can be traveled on at least partially autonomously or autonomously, and limits the blocks 76 orthogonally to the alignment of the storage routes 62 and/or connects the blocks 76 to the remaining network 49 of the hanging bag storage 1. The configuration is divided into the shunting routes 66 and the express routes 72 by the traffic rules, wherein a physical structure can comprise identical parts of switches and rail sections in order to enable a favorable and easily mountable structure.

[0262] Below, possibilities of use for this grid-like configuration of the storage routes 62, shunting routes 66 and express routes 72 will be explained on the basis of the figure using the example of a relocating operation. One of the storage articles 3 stored in the hanging bag storage 1 is scheduled for the relocating, for example a retrieval, preferably first into the unloading station 55. The hanging bag 5 with the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 is represented by dotted lines in the figure, wherein the storage article 3 received in the hanging bag 5 itself cannot be seen. The scheduled one of the storage articles 3 can be identically provided at one or multiple locations of the hanging bag storage 1, wherein a selection on the basis of a criterion can take place before the scheduling.

[0263] As can be seen in the figure, there is a retrieval of the one of the hanging bags 5 represented by dotted lines, which is symbolized by a dashed and bold-print arrow 74.

[0264] Before this can take place, however, the one of the storage articles 3 represented by dotted lines is first scheduled for the retrieval. This can be executed using the control device 25.

[0265] To vacate a retrieval path 70 on which the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 can leave the series 60, other ones of the storage articles 3 are relocated into a shunting route 66, 68 of the hanging bag storage 1 represented by solid lines. The shunting route 66 is arranged orthogonally to the storage route 62 and intersects with the storage route 62 at a four-way switch at an end of the storage route 62. As soon as the retrieval path 70 is vacant, the relocating and/or retrieval of the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 along the retrieval path 70 can take place, which is symbolized in the figure by the bold-print dashed arrow 74. The scheduled one of the storage articles can then electively be stored temporarily or electively travel onward and/or be conveyed directly into the unloading station 55, preferably enter the circular conveying plant 23 and be conveyed into the unloading station using the circular conveying plant 23.

[0266] As can be seen in FIG. 14, there is a reversal of a direction of motion of the other ones of the storage articles 3 of the series 60 in order to vacate the retrieval path 70 and subsequently displace the other ones of the storage articles 3 back into the series 60 again. In the present case, three of the storage articles 3, are moved out of the series 60 into the storage route 62, preferably in a convoy. After the relocating of the scheduled one of the storage articles 3, there is a relocating of the three of the storage articles 3 of the series 60 in the opposite direction of motion back into the storage route 62. This operation with the reversal of the direction of motion is symbolized in FIG. 14 by a dashed bold-print arrow 80. A sequence of the three of the storage articles 3 remains in place. The shunting routes 66 can be traveled on in a consistent direction, whereby a more fluid traffic can be achieved.

[0267] FIG. 15 shows a variant for the vacating of the retrieval path 70 and relocating of the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 on the retrieval path 70, wherein an encircling of the storage route 62 of the hanging bag storage 1 with the other ones of the storage articles 3 takes place while maintaining the direction of motion. The relocating of the other ones of the storage articles 3 of the series 60 is executed after the encircling into the storage route 62, i.e. in the same direction of motion. This enables the sequence of the other ones of the storage articles 3 to be reversed. The arrow 80 in FIG. 15 symbolizes the encircling of the storage route. It can be seen that the entire block 76 in which the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 is located, with a plurality of storage routes 62, is encircled here. This takes place on a total of four of the shunting routes 66, which are arranged so as to cross one another and surround the block 76. In this exemplary embodiment, at least one of the blocks 76, preferably the blocks 76, respectively, is/are therefore surrounded by a ring of shunting routes, i.e. the shunting route 66 and at least one other shunting route 68, preferably four of the shunting routes arranged orthogonally to one another.

[0268] FIG. 16 shows another possibility for vacating the retrieval path 70 and relocating the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 on the retrieval path 70. To that end, the other ones of the storage articles 3 are moved circularly, which is symbolized by the arrow 80, or alternatively in a reciprocating motion, which is indicated by a double arrow 88. In contrast, not the entire block 76 is encircled to that end, but another storage route 64 is used, as marked in FIG. 16 by the dashed bold-print arrow 80. This can preferably take place in an adjacent one of the storage routes 62, as represented in FIG. 16, or in any other one of the storage routes 62 of the corresponding block 76. When the other storage route 64 is used, the shunting routes 66, 68 are traveled on on a particularly short section. This enables a relatively large number of these processes to run in parallel and a sorting and/or access time to be shortened further. As soon as the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 has arrived at an end of the storage route 62, the retrieval path 70 is vacant and the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 can be relocated, in particular retrieved, by crossing the shunting route 66 and using the express route(s) 72, which is symbolized in FIG. 16 by the dashed bold-print arrow 74.

[0269] Preferably, a rotation of the hanging bags 5 and/or of the storage articles 3 by 180 degrees takes place per retrieval. Preferably with an adjacent one of the storage routes 62. This means that the storage articles 3 are exchanged between the storage routes 62, preferably between the two of the storage routes 62 arranged adjacent to one another, wherein a sequence of the storage articles 3 is respectively reversed and/or mirrored while the retrieval takes place. This simplifies the management of the warehouse stock, as the contents of the respective ones of the storage routes 62, while being mirrored, are maintained in their entirety, with the exception of the scheduled one of the storage articles. Also the arrangement of the individual ones of the storage articles 3 inside the storage routes 62 is immaterial here. The scheduled one of the storage articles 3 can travel out autonomously and independent of the non-scheduled ones of the storage articles 3. It is also immaterial which of the storage routes 62 additionally participates in the rotation. What is important is only that the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 is communicated with and the storage route 62 with this scheduled one of the storage articles 3 and any other, in particular directly adjacent, one of the storage routes 62 participates in the at least half, preferably precisely half, rotation.

[0270] It can be seen that a half rotation is sufficient for each of the thus moved ones of the storage articles 3 of the two storage routes 62 to pass one of the shunting routes 66, 68, which are arranged bilaterally at front ends of the storage routes 62, precisely once. The scheduled one of the storage articles 3 leaves the circular motion at this moment, in particular onto the corresponding one of the shunting routes 66, 68 or by crossing directly onto the express route 72 arranged adjacent and/or in parallel. In this application, circular motion and/or rotation can also be understood to mean a motion on a closed travel path deviating from a purely circular shape.

[0271] The shunting routes 66 can be traveled on in a consistent direction and are relatively lightly burdened due to the circulating, whereby an overall more fluid traffic can be achieved.

[0272] FIG. 17 shows another variant, in which the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 is first relocated and/or rearranged into an additional storage route 82. The additional storage route 82 can be arranged in the same block 76 or in a remote, preferably adjacent, block 76 of the hanging bag storage 1. This operation can be repeated any number of times in order to create a sequence in the additional storage route 82, for example the sequence 15 and/or subsequence 41. To that end, the additional storage route 82 is first empty or at least partially empty and is filled up in the new sequence 15. This enables the level 9, 13 of the hanging bag storage 1 to be cyclically resorted, at least partially or entirely. The operation can run in waves throughout the entire level 9, 13 and thus lead to a completely sorted state in all of the storage routes 62.

[0273] For the retrieving, the ones of the storage articles 3 now sorted in the additional storage route 82 can be moved to the circular conveying plant 23 in a convoy 84, which is symbolized in FIG. 17 by a dashed bold-print arrow 86. To that end, the express routes 72 can be used, as described above. A sorting in front of the circular conveying plant 23 can thereby be simplified accordingly or electively be relinquished entirely.

[0274] Analogously to the preceding figures, the retrieval operation for the rearranging can take place preferably by reciprocating or circulating as described in FIG. 16 or 17. Equally, at a later point in time, one of the storage articles 3 can be scheduled in the additional storage route 82 and the procedure described above can be followed.

[0275] Below, a preferred structure of the network 49 is described in more detail. The network 49 can essentially be structured so as to be horizontal, i.e. without gradients. A driving of the hanging bags can in particular be executed without gravity, preferably electrically. Further, the network 49 can be structured without pusher dogs and/or without trail chains. Branched routes can comprise multi-way crossings, in particular four-way crossings, at ramifications; in this application, crossings can be understood as purely passive ramifications of the network 49, wherein the crossings and/or the entire network, particularly preferably at least the block 76, can be structured without adjustment elements. In particular, the branched routes of the crossings can electively be traveled on by the hanging bags 5 using the cotraveling longitudinal and/or transverse dynamic controllers. As can be seen in the figure, the express routes 72 are directly connected to the shunting routes 66, 68 by a plurality of cross connections 96. The cross connections 96 can preferably be provided per storage route 62, 64, 82 and also connect the storage routes 62, 64, 82 directly to the respective one of the express routes 72, in particular at a front end of the respective block 76 adjacent one of the express routes 72, crossing the shunting routes 66, 68.

[0276] As can be seen in FIG. 16, at least the block 76 of the network 49 of the hanging bag storage 1 can particularly preferably comprise a plurality of the storage routes 62 arranged in parallel.

[0277] The storage routes 62 can be configured passive. Therefore without conveying devices, trail chains and/or pusher dogs. Hanging bags 5 located on the plurality of the storage routes 62 of the block 76 electively comprise at least one of the states of the following group: [0278] stored without movement by halting if a front hanging bag 5 blocks the network 49 of the block 76 depending on, preferably only depending on, the cotraveling longitudinal dynamics control, [0279] stored without movement and halted at the stopping point 50 or the imaginary stopping point 50 depending on the non-cotraveling control device 25 and/or stopped and provisioned there for leaving the closed route 56, [0280] ready to receive from the non-cotraveling control device 25, in particular for traveling to the stopping point and/or to a new destination, [0281] addressed for a retrieval operation depending on the non-cotraveling control device 25, [0282] in motion for entering the closed route 56, in particular on the entry 54, depending on the non-cotraveling control device 25, [0283] in motion for leaving the closed route 56, in particular in motion on or using the exit 52, [0284] in motion for leaving the stopping point 50 or the imaginary stopping point 50 depending on the non-cotraveling control device 25, in particular on or using the exit 52, [0285] supplied with an electrical energy, [0286] in motion for the endless traveling on the closed route 56 after the entering, only yet depending on the cotraveling longitudinal and transverse dynamics control.

[0287] Transverse to the parallel storage routes 62, respectively one of the shunting routes 66, can be arranged unilaterally, preferably bilaterally, wherein each of the storage routes 62 ends in at least one of the storage routes 62 through respectively one or, in the bilateral case, through two of the preferably passive crossings. Respectively one express route 72 is arranged parallel to the shunting routes 66, wherein a plurality of connections between the respective shunting routes 66 and express routes 72 can be provided, preferably respectively one per storage route 62. This enables traveling maneuvers of the hanging bags 5 from the following group to be preferably electively controlled by the independent longitudinal and transverse dynamics control: [0288] coming from the storage route 62 and turning into the shunting route 66, coming from the storage route 62 and crossing the shunting route 66 and subsequently turning into the express route 72, coming from the shunting route 66 and turning into the storage route 62, coming from the express route 72 and turning in a direction of the storage route 62, crossing the shunting route 66 and then turning into the storage route 62. A repetition of these traveling maneuvers enables the endless traveling on the closed route 56.

[0289] In another preferred configuration, it is conceivable that the hanging bags 5 can electively take the following states and/or states of motion which can be controlled by the independent longitudinal and transverse dynamics control: [0290] automatic halting or decelerating if a front hanging bag 5 blocks the network 49, [0291] storing a travel instruction for and/or endless traveling on a specified closed route 56, wherein the closed route 56 can preferably comprise the storage route 62, the shunting route 66 crossing the storage route 62, the other storage route 64 crossing the shunting route 66, and the other storage route 68, [0292] halting at a specifiable or specified stopping point 58 of the closed route 56, in particular using the controller 25 or only depending on the controller 25, [0293] leaving the closed route 56, preferably starting from the stopping point 58, in a direction of a specifiable or specified destination point, in particular using the control 25, in particular by crossing one of the shunting routes 66, 68 and/or turning into one of the express routes 72, [0294] entering the closed route 56, in particular specified by the control device 25 and/or only depending on the control device 25.

[0295] The states of motion can be controlled by the cotraveling longitudinal and transverse dynamics control and/or the independent drive, wherein travel instructions can be sent and/or transmitted to the hanging bags 5 using the non-cotraveling control device 25.

[0296] Preferably, it is conceivable to provide a closed route also designed analogously to the closed route 56 in the handover configuration 10, as described in more detail in FIGS. 7, 8, 10 and 11. In particular in order to use the closed route to supply the downstream handover buffer 7, 11 with a sorted inflow analogously to the manner described above. An individual hanging bag 5 can therefore be relocated from a closed route 56 of one of the blocks 76 into another closed route of one of the handover configurations 10, from there into one of the handover buffers 7, 11 and from there finally into the conveyor, in particular vertical conveyor, in particular the circular conveying plant 23, while being sorted into the desired sequence 15. Here, one advantage is that the respective hanging bag 5 is brought to a standstill in between and is stored in the standstill while it can in particular be brought into a power saving mode. This can preferably be executed autonomously by the roll adapter 61 itself on which the hanging bag 5 is suspended.

[0297] FIG. 18 shows a flow chart of a method for operating a hanging bag storage 1 with storage articles 3 received in hanging bags 5. The hanging bag storage 1 is preferably structured as described above. In this respect, reference is made also to the preceding figures.

[0298] In a first step 90, the storage articles 3 received in the hanging bags 5 are stored in the series 60 on the storage route 62 of the hanging bag storage 1. In a second step 92, there is a scheduling of the one of the storage articles 3 of the series 60 for a retrieval. As a third step 94, the retrieval path 70 is vacated for the scheduled one of the storage articles 3. This takes place in a fourth step 96 by relocating the other ones of the storage articles 3 of the series 60 into the shunting route 66 of the hanging bag storage 1. Finally, the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 is retrieved along the vacated retrieval path 70, fifth step 98.

[0299] FIG. 19 shows a flow chart of a method for operating a hanging bag storage 1 with storage articles 3 received in hanging bags 5. The hanging bag storage 1 is preferably structured as described above. In this respect, reference is made also to the preceding figures.

[0300] In a first step 690, the storage articles 3 received in the hanging bags 5 are stored in the series 60 on the storage route 62 of the hanging bag storage 1. In a second step 692, the one of the storage articles 3 of the series 60 is scheduled for the relocating and relocated. As a third step 694, the scheduled one of the storage articles 3 is inserted into the additional storage route 82 of the hanging bag storage 1 in the and/or for creating the specified or specifiable sequence 15.

[0301] Other than the drive, which is not represented in more detail, as well as a corresponding controller, the hanging bag 5 comprises a first transceiving device 205 and a second transceiving device 207, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The first transceiving device 205 and second transceiving device 207 can be configured electively individually or as an integrated component, preferably at least have different radio frequencies and/or transmission protocols.

[0302] The first transceiving device 205 and second transceiving device 207 enable the hanging bag to receive or send messages with other hanging bags 5 and/or the control device 25 using two communication paths. This means that the messages can be handed over to or sent wirelessly by the other hanging bags 5 and/or the control device 25. This can electively be executed using one of the transceiving devices 205 or 207, for example depending on a location inside the hanging bag storage 1 and/or on a current task of the respective hanging bag 5 such as storing, transporting, retrieving, depositing, buffering and/or sorting of the storage article 3.

[0303] In FIGS. 20 to 23, the possible communication paths are described in more detail.

[0304] FIGS. 20 and 21 show a view of a part of the level 9 of the hanging bag storage 1 shown in the preceding figures, with two communication paths A and B. The remaining levels of the hanging bag storage 1 can be structured analogously, i.e. also comprise communication paths A and B.

[0305] The communication path A extends through a first communication configuration 201 from the central control device 25 via a plurality of intermediate controllers 209, a plurality of beacons I and a plurality of beacons II and/or individual ones of the hanging bags 5 located in the hanging bag storage 1 to an addressee 215. In this exemplary embodiment, the addressee 215 is also an addressed one of the hanging bags 5, for which the message 217 is intended, or by which the message is sent. One of the storage articles 3 can be received in the addressed one of the hanging bags 5 and/or in the addressee 215. For example, the communication path A can be used to send an instruction as to how to proceed with the storage article, in particular where the storage article is to be expected and/or transported. These tasks can then be taken over by the hanging bag 5 itself.

[0306] The involvement of the hanging bags 5 themselves as intermediaries enables a Meshnet to be formed and each individual one of the hanging bags 5 to be electively communicated with.

[0307] Particularly preferably, only a single storage article 3 is located in each of the hanging bags 5, so that the hanging bags 5 can be fetched individually. This enables a maximally flexible and quick handling and/or sorting. Preferably, the beacons II are permanently arranged at switches and the beacons I at peripheries 211 of the level 9. This enables a route formation for the communication path A to be simplified.

[0308] The communication path B extends from the central control device 25 through a second communication configuration 203 via a beacon III, using relatively short, preferably bidirectional, radio links, in particular of a few meters, in particular less than 10 meters, for example according to the BLE standard, to the addressee 215.

[0309] Preferably, the circular conveying plants 23 of the hanging bag storage 1 each comprise one of the beacons III per level 9, 13. This enables a retrieval, sorting and/or buffering as well as a handover from the level 9 into the circular conveying plant 23, i.e. preferably simultaneously a sorting of the hanging bags 5 and/or the storage articles 3 received therein. It is possible to communicate with and thus coordinate all hanging bags 5 located within a range of the respective beacon III quasi simultaneously with time multiplexing after a handshake via respectively one route 213, preferably radio link. Corresponding messages from and to the respective addressee 215 may also contain instructions for a relocating to a new location inside the hanging bag storage 1. Preferably, identically structured messages 217 for coordinating the hanging bags 5 are transmitted using the communication paths A and B, so that the controllers of the hanging bags 5 merely process different transmission protocols of the communication paths A and B but can be designed for only one type of messages.

[0310] It is conceivable to use the communication path B also bilaterally between at least two of the hanging bags 5, i.e. without an involvement of the central control device 25. This additionally enables the transmitting power density in the hanging bag storage 1 to be reduced, as this task thereby does not run through the central control device 25.

[0311] FIG. 22 shows a tree diagram of a hierarchical structure of the first and second communication configurations 201 and 203 to illustrate the thereby enabled communication paths A and B. FIG. 23 shows a partial view of the tree diagram shown in FIG. 22 with the communication path B.

[0312] In FIGS. 22 and 23, preferably hard-wired routes 213 are symbolized by solid lines and arrows and radio-based routes 213 by dashed lines and arrows.

[0313] The first communication configuration is segmented into five layers.

[0314] On a top first layer, the central control 25 is located, downstream of which a plurality of the intermediate controllers 209 is arranged.

[0315] The intermediate controllers 209 are interconnected, preferably in a wired manner, in a second layer. For example between two and 100 pieces, preferably approximately five pieces per level of the hanging bag storage 1. Preferably, the intermediate controllers 209 are equipped with an independent computing unit and/or computing capacity. The independent computing unit and/or computing capacity can be configured as a standard component. Therefore, tasks for the route formation, new route formation if a formed communication path A is disrupted, and/or control of the communication in the intermediate controllers 209 can be outsourced in order to unburden the central control device 25.

[0316] In a third layer subordinate to the second layer, a plurality of the beacons I is arranged. Here, preferably four of the beacons I are arranged downstream of respectively one of the intermediate controllers 209. Here, it is possible that the four combined beacons I are accommodated in a joint housing, which is indicated in FIG. 22 by a dashed rectangle. Further, it is conceivable to also accommodate the respective intermediate controller 209 in the housing. This means that four of the beacons I can be communicated with per intermediate controller 209.

[0317] The third layer enables a plurality of subordinate beacons II to be communicated with per beacon I, which plurality of subordinate beacons II are arranged in a fourth layer to that end. The communication from the first layer to the third layer is preferably wired, wherein preferably the components of the first, second and third layers are mounted on the hanging bag storage 1, preferably at the peripheral region 211, so as to be stationary.

[0318] As another particularity, the beacons II of the fourth layer are preferably also installed in or on the hanging bag storage 1 so as to be stationary, preferably inside or at crossings, preferably at transitions between a storage area and routes, in particular shunting routes for rearranging the hanging bags 5 and/or express routes for a faster transporting of the hanging bags 5.

[0319] Although the beacons II are preferably configured generally identically to each of the hanging bags 5 and the beacons I for setting up the respective communication path A, they are hierarchically arranged downstream of and/or communicated with exclusively only by a particular one of the beacons I. This takes place using the respective radio-based routes 213. The stationary assigning has the advantage that the route formation for the communication path A to one of the beacons II is always specified according to the hierarchy of the layers one to four and/or specifiable by an algorithm so as to be dynamic and/or self-learning. Preferably, the beacons and the hanging bags 5 are equipped with identical hardware units, wherein the respective function, in particular the routing of the messages 217, can be executed dynamically by a corresponding device and/or programming, in particular so as to be self-learning and/or self-optimizing. Therefore, any route of a message across the five layers is generally conceivable, however, useful routes will become apparent in the course of the use, which can then be used preferably and in particular extend via the stationary beacons I and II. Also these routes can depend on a location of the addressee 215 but are then respectively identical per location in the course of the learning operation, which saves resources with respect to routing and enables optimized routes for the respective messages 217.

[0320] Only in a fifth layer is the route formation and/or the routing for transmitting the message 217 completely free, in particular dependent on the respective location of the addressee 215 inside the hanging bag storage 1 per routing operation, and can be directed to the addressee 215 using any number of other ones of the hanging bags 5, which is marked by way of example for a message 217 in FIG. 22, wherein the message 217 is transmitted using two other ones of the hanging bags 5.

[0321] The segmentation of the first communication configuration 201 into a hard-wired partlayers one to threea part comprising specified communication subroutes at least after a learning operationlayers one to fourand a part that is free in relation to the route formationlayer fiveenables a particularly high number of the hanging bags 5 to be addressed at any location of the hanging bag storage 5 with a particularly low transmitting power density independent of location. Here, the transmitting power density is relatively low, as many short routes 213 are used and/or are structured partially hard-wired and partially flexibly for transmitting the respective message 217.

[0322] According to one possible alternative, it is conceivable to send messages directly from the third layer as required, i.e. from one of the beacons I directly to an addressee 215, i.e. directly to the fifth layer, bypassing the fourth layer, which is indicated on the left in FIG. 22. This can be limited to exceptions in which the addressee 215 is located particularly close to one of the beacons I.

[0323] The second communication configuration 203 is subdivided into three layers, wherein the first layer also comprises the central control device 25, i.e. matches the first layer of the communication path A and/or of the first communication configuration 201.

[0324] Arranged downstream of and/or subordinate to the first layer, a second layer of the second communication configuration 203 comprises at least one, preferably a plurality of, the beacons III, in particular respectively one per circular conveying plant 23 per level 9, 13, for example between two and 100 pieces, preferably approximately 10 pieces per circular conveying plant 23.

[0325] The hanging bags 5 and/or the addressees 215 are arranged in a third layer of the second communication configuration 203, wherein the third layer of the second communication configuration 203 matches the fifth layer of the first communication configuration 201.

[0326] The beacons III of the second layer of the second communication configuration 203 are arranged hard-wired downstream of the control device 25. The hanging bags 5 and/or the addressees 215 are communicated with directly by the second layer as soon as the hanging bags 5 and/or the addressees 215 are located within a range of the respective beacon III, which is indicated in FIGS. 22 and 23 by a partial circle line represented by dashed lines.

[0327] In FIG. 23, six of the hanging bags 5 are within the range of the beacon III by way of example, which is indicated by bold print. Here, the beacon III can communicate and exchange messages 217 with all six of the hanging bags 5 quasi simultaneously and/or in a time multiplexed manner.

[0328] FIG. 24 shows a flow chart of a method for operating a hanging bag storage equipped with at least partially autonomously or autonomously displaceable hanging bags.

[0329] In a first step 219, the hanging bags 5 are moved and/or displaced at least partially autonomously or autonomously on the network 49. The messages 217 can comprise destinations for controlling the at least partially autonomous traveling, which can be handed over, preferably wirelessly, to the addressees 215 in a second step 221, which then travel partially autonomously or autonomously toward these destinations. The messages 217 can electively be handed over using the communication path A or the communication path B independent thereof, in particular depending on a task and/or location in the hanging bag storage 1.

[0330] It is electively conceivable to execute a handshake as soon as a respective one of the hanging bags 5 is within a range of one of the beacons III and take over the control of the respective one of the hanging bags 5 using the communication path B, in particular for executing a sorting operation, retrieval operation and/or storage operation of the hanging bag storage 1 using this communication path B.

[0331] Further, it is conceivable to use the second transceiving devices 207 of the hanging bags 5 configured for the communication path B additionally for a travel dynamic control, a distance control and/or collision avoidance among one another.

[0332] It should be understood that this description may be subject to various modifications, alterations and adaptations which are within the range of equivalents of the appended claims.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numbers 1 hanging bag storage 60 series 3 storage article 62 storage route 5 hanging bag 64 other storage route 7 first handover buffer 66 shunting route 9 first level 68 other shunting route 10 handover configuration 70 retrieval path 11 second handover buffer 72 express route 13 second level 74, 78, 80, 86 arrow 15 sequence 76 block 17 series 82 additional storage route 19 storage location 84 convoy 21 sequencing criterion 88 double arrow 23 circular conveying plant 90 first step 25 control device 92 second step 27 line 94 third step 29 first step 96 fourth step 31 second step 98 fifth step 33 third step 101 express track 35 fourth step 103 express circular conveying plant 37 fifth step 105 express handover configuration 39 sixth step 107 packing unit 41 seventh step 109 express handover buffer 43 eighth step 111 arrow 45 ninth step 113 express unloading station 47 query A communication path 49 network B communication path 51 double arrow I, II, III beacon 53 handover point 201 first communication 55 unloading station configuration 57 wheels 203 second communication 59 drive energy configuration 61 roll adapter 205 first transceiving device 50 stopping point 207 second transceiving device 52 exit 209 intermediate controller 54 entry 211 peripheral region 56 closed route 213 route 58 stopping point 215 addressee 217 message 339 exit rail 219 first step 341 subsequence 221 second step 343 hanging bag 317 first in, first out buffer 345 junction 319 pick buffer 361 to 377 arrow 321 reciprocating track 379 to 393 steps 329 first end position 395 arrow 331 second end position 479 to 493 steps 333 branch-off 690 first step 335 section of rail 692 second step 337 entry rail 694 third step