Storage and order-picking system with a reduced processing time and method for operating same
A method for picking orders ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) in a storage and order-picking system ( 1 a, 1 b ) is provided, which comprises an article storage ( 2 ), a loading station ( 3 ), a sorting unit ( 4 ), a packing station ( 5 ), an overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ) and a control system ( 8 ). At the loading station ( 3 ), articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) are transferred from a loading aid ( 23, 24, 25 a . . . 25 c ) into a transport means ( 28 a, 28 b ) and at the packing station ( 5 ) from a transport means ( 28 a, 28 b ) into a shipping loading aid ( 30 ). In this regard, transporting an article ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) out of the article storage ( 2 ) to the loading station ( 3 ) takes place individually and independently of the other picking orders for each picking order. Furthermore, transporting the transport means ( 28 a, 28 b ) from the loading station ( 3 ) into the sorting unit ( 4 ) also takes place individually and independently of the other picking order and directly for each picking order. Furthermore, a storage and order-picking system ( 1 a, 1 b ) for performing the method is provided.
1. A method for picking articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) in a storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) with
an article storage ( 2 ),
a loading station ( 3 ),
a sorting unit ( 4 ),
a packing station ( 5 ),
an overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ) with transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) for accommodating articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) and for transporting the articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) in the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) between the loading station ( 3 ), the sorting unit ( 4 ) and the packing station ( 5 ),
and a control system ( 8 ),
comprising the steps:
providing articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) in the article storage ( 2 ), wherein the articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) comprise lying articles and/or hanging articles,
acquiring picking orders by the control system ( 8 ),
retrieving articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) from the article storage ( 2 ) individually and independently of other picking orders for each picking order, wherein retrieving comprises
transporting an article ( 22 a ) out of the article storage ( 2 ) according to a first picking order to the loading station ( 3 ), and
transporting an article ( 22 b ) out of the article storage ( 2 ) according to a second picking order to the loading station ( 3 ),
providing the article(s) ( 22 a ) according to the first picking order and the article(s) ( 22 b ) according to the second picking order in each case at the loading station ( 3 ),
providing transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) of the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ) at the loading station ( 3 ),
transferring the article(s) ( 22 a ) for the first picking order into one of the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) of the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ) and the article(s) ( 22 b ) for the second picking order into one of the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) of the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ),
for each picking order, transporting the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) from the loading station ( 3 ) directly into the sorting unit ( 4 ) via the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a , 7 b ) individually and independently of the other picking orders, and
sorting the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) in the sorting unit ( 4 ) according to the picking orders, and
transporting the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) grouped according to the picking orders from the sorting unit ( 4 ) to the packing station ( 5 ).
2. The method according to claim 1 ,
comprising the steps
retrieving articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) from the article storage ( 2 ) individually and independently of other picking orders for each picking order, wherein retrieving comprises
transporting an article ( 22 c , 22 d ) out of the article storage ( 2 ) according to a third picking order to the loading station ( 3 ),
providing the article(s) ( 22 c , 22 d ) according to the third picking order at the loading station ( 3 ),
providing a transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) of the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ) at the loading station ( 3 ),
transferring the article(s) ( 22 c , 22 d ) for the third picking order into the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) of the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ), and
transporting the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) via the overhead conveyor system ( 7 f ) from the loading station ( 3 ) directly to the packing station ( 5 ).
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the article storage ( 2 ) comprises a first storage area ( 9 a ) with
first storage places ( 13 a ) and
a first article transport system ( 14 a ) operated in an automated manner for transporting the articles ( 22 a ) between the first storage places ( 13 a ) and the loading station ( 3 ),
wherein the articles ( 22 a ), when retrieved from the first storage area ( 9 a ), are taken over from the first storage places ( 13 a ) by the first article transport system ( 14 a ) and are transported by the first article transport system ( 14 a ) to the loading station ( 3 ).
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the lying articles are stored in the first storage area ( 9 a ) with first loading aids ( 23 ).
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the article storage ( 2 ) comprises a second storage area ( 9 b ) with
second storage places ( 13 b ) and
a second article transport system ( 14 b ) operated in an automated manner for transporting the articles ( 22 b ) between the second storage places ( 13 b ) and the loading station ( 3 ),
wherein the articles ( 22 b ), when retrieved from the second storage area ( 9 b ), are taken over from the second storage places ( 13 b ) by the second article transport system ( 14 b ) and are transported by the second article transport system ( 14 b ) to the loading station ( 3 ).
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the hanging articles in the second storage area ( 9 b ) are stored with second loading aids ( 24 ).
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the article storage ( 2 ) comprises a third storage area ( 9 c ) with
third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) and
a third article transport system ( 14 c , 14 d ) for transporting the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) between the third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) and the loading station ( 3 ), wherein the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ), when retrieved from the third storage area ( 9 c ), are taken over from the third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) by the third article transport system ( 14 c , 14 d ) and are transported from the third second article transport system ( 14 c , 14 d ) to the loading station ( 3 ).
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the lying articles and hanging articles in the third storage area ( 9 c ) are stored with third loading aids ( 25 a . . . 25 c ).
9. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the loading station ( 3 ) comprises a first loading device ( 10 a ) and a second loading device ( 10 b ), wherein
the articles ( 22 a ), when retrieved from the first storage area ( 9 a ), are taken over from the first storage places ( 13 a ) by the first article transport system ( 14 a ) and are transported by the first article transport system ( 14 a ) to the first loading device ( 10 a ), and
the articles ( 22 b ), when retrieved from the second storage area ( 9 b ), are taken over from the second storage places ( 13 b ) by the second article transport system ( 14 b ) and are transported from the second article transport system ( 14 b ) to the second loading device ( 10 b ).
10. The method according claim 3 , wherein the loading station ( 3 ) comprises a first loading device ( 10 a ) and a second loading device ( 10 b ), wherein the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ), when retrieved from the third storage area ( 9 c ), are taken over from the third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) by the third article transport system ( 14 c , 14 d ) and are transported by the third article transport system ( 14 c , 14 d ) either to the first loading device ( 10 a ) or to the second loading device ( 10 b ).
11. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the hanging article(s) is/are transported by the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ) out of a third storage area ( 9 c ) to the sorting unit ( 4 ) or packing station ( 5 ).
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the article storage ( 2 ) comprises a third storage area ( 9 c ) with
third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) and
a third article transport system ( 14 e , 14 f ) for transporting the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) between the third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) and the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ), wherein
the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) in the third storage area ( 9 c ) comprise hanging articles, which are stored with the third loading aid ( 25 a . . . 25 c ), and
the hanging articles, when retrieved from the third storage area ( 9 c ), are taken over from the third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) by the third article transport system ( 14 e , 14 f ) and are transferred by the third article transport system ( 14 e , 14 f ) to the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ).
13. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the third loading aid ( 25 a . . . 25 c ) of the third storage area ( 9 c )
comprises a hanging bag with a suspended support for the transport by the third article transport system ( 14 c . . . 14 f ) and a storage space ( 26 ) for receiving the article(s) ( 22 c , 22 d ), and/or
comprises a hanging bag with a suspended support for the transport by the third article transport system ( 14 c . . . 14 f ) and with a storage space ( 26 ) for receiving the article(s) ( 22 c , 22 d ) and a transport hook for suspending the article(s) ( 22 c , 22 d ), and/or
is formed by a suspension adapter for suspending the article(s) ( 22 c , 22 d ).
14. The method according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first and second storage areas ( 9 a , 9 b ) is an article supply store, and the third storage area ( 9 c ) is a return article storage.
15. The method according to claim 2 , comprising the additional step
analysis of the article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) stored in the article storage ( 2 ) in one of the first and second storage areas ( 9 a , 9 b ) and the third storage area ( 9 c ) by means of the control system ( 8 ),
determining the article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) required for one of the picking orders,
retrieving articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) from the third storage area ( 9 c ), if it was determined in the analysis that the required article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) is/are stored both in one of the first and second storage areas ( 9 a , 9 b ) and in the third storage area ( 9 c ).
16. The method according to claim 2 , comprising the additional step
analysis of the article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) stored in the article storage ( 2 ) in one of the first and second storage areas ( 9 a , 9 b ) and the third storage area ( 9 c ) by means of the control system ( 8 ),
determining the article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) required for one of the picking orders,
retrieving articles ( 22 a , 22 b ) from one of the first and second storage areas ( 9 a , 9 c ), if it was determined in the analysis that the required article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) is/are stored both in one of the first and second storage areas ( 9 a , 9 b ) and in the third storage area ( 9 c ).
17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second loading aid ( 23 , 24 ) is transported back into the article storage ( 2 ) after transferring the article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) for one of the first and second picking orders, if the first and/or second loading aid ( 23 , 24 ) still contains article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ).
18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) has a characterizing feature and a characterizing feature of the article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) is detected by the control system ( 8 ), wherein after transferring the article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) into the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ), a detection means automatically detects the characterizing feature of the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) and the article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) is/are data-technically linked to the associated transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) by the control system ( 8 ).
19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) is loaded with more than one article ( 22 a , 22 b ) for one of the first and second picking orders.
20. The method according to claim 1 , wherein sorting the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) in the sorting unit ( 4 ) comprises sorting the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) according to an order of the articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) within the respective picking order.
21. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) are removed from the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) and transferred into shipping loading aids ( 30 ) at the packing station ( 5 ).
22. The method according to claim 1 , wherein after transferring the one or multiple article(s) ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) for one of the first, second and third picking orders from the one or multiple transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) into the at least one shipping loading aid ( 30 ), the at least one shipping loading aid ( 30 ) is transported to a shipping facility ( 6 ).
23. A storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) for picking articles, in particular for performing the method according to claim 1 , comprising
an article storage ( 2 ) for providing articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ), wherein the articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) comprise lying articles and/or hanging articles, and wherein the article storage ( 2 ) comprises
storage places ( 13 ) and
an article transport system ( 14 ) for transporting the articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) between the storage places ( 13 ) and the loading station ( 3 ), and
a loading station ( 3 ) for transferring the articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) into transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) according to picking orders,
a sorting unit ( 4 ) for sorting the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ),
a packing station ( 5 ) for transferring the articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) out of the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) into shipping loading aids ( 30 ) according to picking orders,
an overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ) with transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) for accommodating articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) and for transporting the articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) in the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) between the loading station ( 3 ), the sorting unit ( 4 ) and the packing station ( 5 ),
and a control system ( 8 ), which is
data-technically connected to the article storage ( 2 ), the loading station ( 3 ), the sorting unit ( 4 ), the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ) and the packing station ( 5 ),
configured to acquire picking orders, and
configured to control the article transport system ( 14 ) for retrieving the articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) from the article storage ( 2 ), wherein retrieving
comprises:
transporting an article ( 22 a ) out of the article storage ( 2 ) according to a first picking order to the loading station ( 3 ), and
transporting an article ( 22 b ) out of the article storage ( 2 ) according to a second picking order to the loading station ( 3 ),
wherein
the control system ( 8 ) is further configured to
control the article transport system ( 14 ) for retrieving the articles ( 22 a . . . 22 e ) out of the article storage ( 2 ) individually and independently of other picking orders for each picking order, and
control the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a , 7 b ) for directly transporting the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) from the loading station ( 3 ) into the sorting unit ( 4 ) individually and independently of other picking orders for each picking order.
24. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein
in a first storage area ( 9 a ), the article storage ( 2 ) comprises first storage places ( 13 a ) of the storage places ( 13 ) and a first article transport system ( 14 a ) of the article transport system ( 14 ) operated in an automated manner for transporting the articles ( 22 a ) between the first storage places ( 13 a ) and the loading station ( 3 ), and
the control system ( 8 ) is configured to control the first article transport system ( 14 a ), during the retrieval of the articles ( 22 a ) from the first storage area ( 9 a ), to take over the articles ( 22 a ) from the first storage places ( 13 a ) and to transport the articles ( 22 a ) to the loading station ( 3 ).
25. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein
in a second storage area ( 9 b ), the article storage ( 2 ) comprises second storage places ( 13 b ) of the storage places ( 13 ) and a second article transport system ( 14 b ) of the article transport system ( 14 ) operated in an automated manner for transporting the articles ( 22 b ) between the second storage places ( 13 b ) and the loading station ( 3 ), and
the control system ( 8 ) is configured to control the second article transport system ( 14 b ), during the retrieval of the articles ( 22 b ) from the second storage area ( 9 b ), to take over the articles ( 22 b ) from the second storage places ( 13 b ) and to transport the articles ( 22 b ) to the loading station ( 3 ).
26. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein, in a third storage area ( 9 c ), the article storage ( 2 ) comprises third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) of the storage places ( 13 ) and a third article transport system ( 14 c , 14 d ) of the article transport system ( 14 ) for transporting the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) between the third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) and the loading station ( 3 ), and
the control system ( 8 ) is configured to control the third article transport system ( 14 c , 14 d ), during the retrieval of the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) from the third storage area ( 9 c ), to take over the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) from the third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) and to transport the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) to the loading station ( 3 ).
27. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein the control system ( 8 ) is configured to control the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ) to transport the hanging article(s) out of a third storage area ( 9 c ) to the sorting unit ( 4 ) or to the packaging unit ( 5 ).
28. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein
in a third storage area ( 9 c ), the article storage ( 2 ) comprises third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) of the storage places ( 13 ) and a third article transport system ( 14 e , 14 f ) of the article transport system ( 14 ) for transporting the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) between the third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) and the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ), and
the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) in the third storage area ( 9 c ) comprise hanging articles, which are stored with a third loading aid ( 25 ), and
the control system ( 8 ) is configured to control the third article transport system ( 14 e , 14 f ), during the retrieval of the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) from the third storage area ( 9 c ), to take over the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) from the third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) and to transfer the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) to the overhead conveyor system ( 7 a . . . 7 f ).
29. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 26 , wherein the third loading aid ( 25 a . . . 25 c ) of the third storage area ( 9 c )
comprises a hanging bag with a suspended support for the transport by the third article transport system ( 14 c . . . 14 f ) and a storage space ( 26 ) for receiving the article(s) ( 22 c , 22 d ), and/or
comprises a hanging bag with a suspended support for the transport by the third article transport system ( 14 c . . . 14 f ) and with a storage space ( 26 ) for receiving the article(s) ( 22 c , 22 d ) and a transport hook for suspending the article(s) ( 22 c , 22 d ), and/or
formed by a suspension adapter for suspending the article(s) ( 22 c , 22 d ).
30. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein the loading station ( 3 ) comprises a first loading device ( 10 a ) and a second loading device ( 10 b ), wherein the control system ( 8 ) is configured to
control the first article transport system ( 14 a ), during the retrieval of the articles ( 22 a ) from the first storage area ( 9 a ), to take over the articles ( 22 a ) from the first storage places ( 13 a ) and to transport the articles ( 22 a ) to the first loading device ( 10 a ), and
control the second article transport system ( 14 b ), during the retrieval of the articles ( 22 b ) from the second storage area ( 9 b ), to take over the articles ( 22 b ) from the second storage places ( 13 b ) and to transport the articles ( 22 b ) to the second loading device ( 10 b ).
31. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein the loading station ( 3 ) comprises a first loading device ( 10 a ) and a second loading device ( 10 b ), wherein the control system ( 8 ) is configured to control the third article transport system ( 14 c , 14 d ), during the retrieval of the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) from the third storage area ( 9 c ), to take over the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) from the third storage places ( 13 c , 13 c ′) and to optionally transport the articles ( 22 c , 22 d ) to the first loading device ( 10 a ) or to the second loading device ( 10 b ).
32. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein at least one of the first and second storage areas ( 9 a , 9 b ) is configured as an article supply store, and the third storage area ( 9 c ) as a return article storage ( 2 ).
33. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein the first article transport system ( 14 a ) is formed by a retrieval conveyor system to transport the articles ( 22 a ) from the first storage places ( 13 a ) to the loading station ( 3 ) and a storage conveyor system to transport the articles ( 22 a ) from the loading station ( 3 ) to the first storage places ( 13 a ).
34. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein the second article transport system ( 14 b ) is formed by a retrieval conveyor system to transport the articles ( 22 b ) from the second storage places ( 13 b ) to the loading station ( 3 ) and a storage conveyor system to transport the articles ( 22 b ) from the loading station ( 3 ) to the second storage places ( 13 b ).
35. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein each transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) has a characterizing feature, which is readable in a contactless manner, with an unambiguous identifying information, in particular a characterizing feature which is readable optically or by radio.
36. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein the sorting unit ( 4 ) has a first sorting stage ( 11 a ) and the first sorting stage ( 11 a ) has one or multiple sorting lanes, wherein the first sorting stage ( 11 a ) is designed to buffer the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) of a single first picking order or single second picking order per sorting lane.
37. The storage and order-picking system ( 1 a , 1 b ) according to claim 23 , wherein the sorting unit ( 4 ) has a first sorting stage ( 11 a ) and at least one subsequent second sorting stage ( 11 b ), wherein the second sorting stage ( 11 b ) is designed for sorting the transport means ( 28 a , 28 b ) for one of the first and second picking orders according to a predefined order.