SEMI-AUTOMATIC AND/OR FULLY-AUTOMATIC ORDER-PICKING SYSTEM

• US 20110058926A1
• Filed: 08/16/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walter Winkler
• Original Assignee: Walter Winkler
• Inventors: Winkler, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 9,604,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/795.4
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0485 Check-in, check-out devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1375 the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck

Abstract

The present invention relates to a semi-automatic and/or fully automatic order-picking system and a corresponding apparatus and a method which facilitates efficient order picking at low technical outlay.

Claims

1. An order-picking apparatus comprising:

a depalletizing station which fully automatically separates goods from an inbound unit into stock-keeping units;

racking with at least one rack and a fully automatic rack vehicle on a first side of the at least one rack, the rack vehicle automatically storing the stock-keeping units in the at least one rack; and

at least one picker vehicle having at least one load carrier for the picked goods, the picker vehicle being arranged on a second side of the at least one rack, the second side being opposite the first side with the rack vehicle.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the order-picking system is semi-automatic and/or fully automatic, wherein, in a semi-automatic configuration, the goods are retrieved manually from a picking front, whereas, in a fully automatic configuration, the goods are retrieved in automated manner by the at least one picker vehicle.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the at least one picker vehicle is configured for at least one operator, who transfers the goods from the at least one rack onto a load carrier for order-picked goods.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the at least one picker vehicle comprises a storage and retrieval machine for automated retrieval of the goods from the at least one rack.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

one of the at least one racks with the one rack vehicle and the picker vehicle forms a first rack module.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, further including:

a second rack module comprising a second one of the at least one racks and a second rack vehicle.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

the rack module additionally comprises a replenishing rack.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

several modules with several racks and several rack and picker vehicles are provided.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claims 1, wherein:

the at least one rack has a number of storage spaces, which are accessible from the picker vehicle, wherein the number of storage spaces corresponds to at least about 80% of the goods to be picked or is chosen such that at least about 80% picking processes can each be accomplished by one picker vehicle.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the at least one rack comprises several storage spaces for identical stock-keeping units one behind the other from the first side to the second side.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including:

supplementary systems for picking a small proportion of goods to be picked.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a materials handling apparatus is provided between the depalletizing station and the at least one rack and automatically transfers the goods from the depalletizing station to the at least one rack.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the depalletizing station comprises a device for arranging the goods on trays.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the picker vehicle automatically moves to a picker position for picking a desired good from the at least one racks.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including:

a pointing device that indicates where the good is placed or must be placed on the picker vehicle.

16. A method of order-picking comprising:

a) automatically depalletising goods of an inbound unit into stock-keeping units;

b) automatically transporting the stock-keeping units to a rack;

c) automatically storing the stock-keeping units in the rack from a first side of the rack;

d) at least partially automatically retrieving the stock-keeping units with a picker vehicle from a second side of the rack; and

e) stacking the stock-keeping units retrieved by the picker vehicle onto a load carrier arranged on the picker vehicle to form an outbound unit.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

at least about 80% of the goods to be picked can be retrieved by a single picker vehicle or at least about 80% of the picking processes can be accomplished by the picker vehicle.

18. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

during depalletising, at least part of the goods are arranged on load carriers.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

the load carriers are pallets, single-layer or multiple layer trays, single trays and/or containers.

20. The method in accordance with claims 16, wherein:

the load carriers comprise pallets, roll containers, single containers, multiple containers on container boards and/or transport racks.