Transport device having a storage device, and method for operating same

1 . A method for operating a transport apparatus ( 1 ) with a storage apparatus ( 2 ), wherein the method includes the following steps:

a. providing the transport apparatus ( 1 ) with the storage apparatus ( 2 ) for storing transport units ( 3 ), including a plurality of transport units ( 3 ), a plurality of storage conveyors ( 4 ) which are configured to store transport units ( 3 ), a feeding conveyor ( 5 ) which is connected to the storage conveyors ( 4 ) via a respective switch ( 6 ), at least one optical sensor ( 7 ) arranged at the feeding conveyor ( 5 ) in front of the switches ( 6 ), and an evaluation electronics ( 8 ) connected to the optical sensor;

b. obtaining measurement data with the optical sensor ( 7 ) from a transport unit ( 3 ) moving past the optical sensor ( 7 );

c. processing the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor ( 7 ) with the evaluation electronics ( 8 ), wherein the processing includes the following step:

i. evaluating the measurement data in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit ( 3 ) moving past; and

d. selecting a storage conveyor ( 4 ) for storing the transport unit ( 3 ) moving past on the basis of the obtained spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit ( 3 ) moving past, wherein the transport unit ( 3 ) moving past includes a carriage ( 9 ), on which a carrying unit ( 10 ) for carrying goods ( 13 ) to be transported is attached in a suspended manner, which carrying unit ( 10 ) is pivotable and/or rotatable.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the evaluation electronics ( 8 ) evaluates measurement points from the measurement data in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit ( 3 ) moving past.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, for processing the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor ( 7 ), the evaluation electronics ( 8 ) furthermore filters the measurement data in order to obtain measurement points at which an optical parameter lies above a definable threshold value.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the optical sensor ( 7 ) measures the measurement data simultaneously at a plurality of points which lie in at least one plane ( 15 ) and each include a spatial distance between the passing transport unit and the optical sensor ( 7 ), and also the optical parameter.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the optical sensor ( 7 ) furthermore measures the optical parameter in the respective measurement point from a reflection of light at the transport unit ( 3 ) moving past.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the evaluation electronics ( 8 ) determines the spatial extent of the transport unit ( 3 ) in at least one dimension and/or the alignment of the transport unit ( 3 ) to the optical sensor ( 7 ) at the time the measurement data are determined, from the measurement points of the filtered measurement data using regression methods.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor ( 7 ) two or more times determines measurement data from the transport unit ( 3 ) moving past, and the evaluation electronics ( 8 ) determines, in each case from the determined measurement data, a value for the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit ( 3 ) moving past and determines a mean value for the spatial extent based on the values.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the evaluation electronics ( 8 ) processes the optical measurement data obtained from the at least one optical sensor ( 7 ) in order to determine the spatial extent of the transport unit ( 3 ) moving past in a first dimension and in a second dimension, wherein the first dimension is perpendicular to the second dimension.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transport unit ( 3 ) is moved past the optical sensor ( 7 ) at a constant speed during the determination of the measurement data, and this speed corresponds to a conveying speed which is typical of the transport apparatus.

10 . A transport apparatus with a storage apparatus ( 2 ) for storing transport units ( 3 ), comprising:

a plurality of transport units ( 3 ), a plurality of storage conveyors ( 4 ) which are set up to store transport units ( 3 ), a feeding conveyor ( 5 ) which is connected to the storage conveyors ( 4 ) via a respective switch ( 6 ), and

a. at least one optical sensor ( 7 ) which is arranged at the feeding conveyor ( 5 ) and is configured to determine measurement data from a transport unit ( 3 ) out of the plurality of transport units ( 3 ) moving past the optical sensor ( 7 ); and

b. an evaluation electronics ( 8 ) which is connected to the optical sensor ( 7 ) and is configured to evaluate the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor ( 7 ) in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit ( 3 ) moving past; and

c. a controller ( 12 ) which is connected to the evaluation electronics ( 8 ) and is configured to select a storage conveyor ( 4 ) for storing the transport unit ( 3 ) on the basis of the determined spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit ( 3 ), wherein the transport units ( 3 ) each comprise a carrying unit ( 10 ) for carrying goods ( 13 ) to be transported and the transport units ( 3 ) each include a carriage ( 9 ), on which hanging carrying units ( 10 ) are each attachable so as to be pivotable and/or rotatable, wherein the carriage ( 9 ) is conveyable in a hanging manner in the storage apparatus ( 2 ).

11 . The transport apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the evaluation electronics ( 8 ) is furthermore configured to evaluate measurement points from the measurement data in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit ( 3 ) moving past.

12 . The transport apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the evaluation electronics ( 8 ) is furthermore configured, for processing the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor ( 7 ), to filter the measurement data in order to obtain measurement points at which an optical parameter lies in each case above a definable threshold value.

13 . The transport apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the optical sensor ( 7 ) is configured to determine the measurement data simultaneously in a plurality of points that lie in at least one plane and each include a spatial distance between the passing transport unit and the optical sensor ( 7 ), and also the optical parameter.

14 . The transport apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the optical sensor ( 7 ) is furthermore configured in such a way as to determine, as optical parameters, an intensity or a polarization in the respective measurement point from the reflection of the light.

15 . The transport apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the evaluation electronics ( 8 ) is configured to determine the spatial extent of the transport unit ( 3 ) in at least one dimension and/or the alignment of the transport unit to the optical sensor ( 7 ) at the time the measurement data are determined, from the measurement points of the selected measurement data using regression methods.

16 . The transport apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the optical sensor ( 7 ) is arranged in such a way that an optical axis of the optical sensor ( 7 ) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction.

17 . The transport apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the optical sensor ( 7 ) is designed as 2D or 3D profile sensor, which in particular includes a light source and/or a detection unit.