Method for the handling and/or marketing of items by a warehouse and a warehouse

• US 9,934,545 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Kropp
• Original Assignee: Daniel Kropp
• Inventors: Kropp, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumbess, Yolanda R
• Application Number:
  US15/001,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20170024838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 1/04 Affixing labels, e.g. wrap-around labels, to two or more flat surfaces of a polyhedral article
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/04 mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10544 by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles

Abstract

A method and a warehouse for handling items stored in a warehouse by a first actor, and are removed from the warehouse by a second actor, wherein, upon an automated receiving of the items by the warehouse, an individual item-specific or actor-specific identification is detected, inputted or generated by the warehouse, wherein the items are associated with one of the actors by assigning the individual identification and are stored according to the association in the warehouse, wherein the individual identification contains information about the storage conditions of the item and that the items delivered to the warehouse are received by a handling system and are stored according to the individual identification under different storage conditions in a shelf system of the warehouse.

Claims

1. A method for the handling and/or marketing of items that are stored in a warehouse by at least one first actor, and are removed from the warehouse by at least one second actor;

wherein an individual identification is detected, inputted, or generated by the warehouse upon an automated receiving of the items by the warehouse, the identification information including individual item-specific and/or actor-specific identification;

wherein the items are associated with one of the actors by assigning the individual identification to one of the actors, and the items are stored based on the association with one of the actors in the warehouse; and

the items are supplied to a discharge after the inputting of the individual identification by one of the actors, or

the items are supplied to a discharge after the detection of the individual item-specific and/or actor-specific identification;

wherein the individual identification contains information about the recommended storage conditions of the item, the storage conditions including the temperature of a refrigerating zone and a deep-freeze zone of the warehouse, or an expiration date of the item;

the items that have been delivered to the warehouse are automatically received by a handling system through an input/output shaft;

the items are stored by means of the handling system according to the individual identification based on the storage conditions in a shelf system located in the refrigerating zone, or the deep-freeze zone of the warehouse; and

items which are temperature-sensitive are restored in accordance with the storage conditions by means of the handling system from the refrigerating zone into the deep-freeze zone, or are automatically supplied by means of the input/output shaft.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the individual identification is detected by scanning the item, or by a coding associated with the item, said coding including EAN code or QR code;

or

the individual identification is detected by an input of the first actor, wherein;

the individual identification is generated by outputting a document, or a visual display in the warehouse, or on an external device, said external device including a mobile data device or personal computer; and

the individual identification is transmitted to the second actor.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the items associated with the second actor are stored in the warehouse without being associated with other items of the second actor, and the items are automatically supplied to the input/output shaft after the input of the individual identification by the handling system, said second actor is a taker or customer.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second actor orders items from a different first actor, the items are associated individually with the second actor, and the items are stored in the warehouse and transferred to the second actor from the warehouse.

5. The method for handling items according to claim 1, wherein the items are groceries, and said items are stored according to their individual identification at different temperatures.

6. The method for handling items according to claim 1, wherein an identification of the second actor is performed by an identification system, said identification system being a touch screen display, fingerprint sensor, card reader, and/or scanner;

and

wherein, upon an agreement of the identification with the individual identification, a discharge of the taker-specific or customer-specific item takes place.

7. A warehouse for handling and/or marketing of items comprising:

a means for automatically receiving items from at least one actor;

a means for storing the items; and

a means for automatically dispensing of the items to at least one second actor;

wherein the means for automatically receiving the items detects an individual identification associated with the items;

wherein the warehouse optionally includes the actors generating an individual identification for the items, the individual identification is an item-specific and/or actor-specific identification;

wherein the means for storing the items comprises;

a handling system including a warehouse robot;

a storage system in the form of a shelf system, the warehouse further including;

the storage system comprising storage areas with different air-conditioning zones;

the storage areas including a refrigerating zone and a deep-freeze zone; and

at least one air conditioning apparatus for regulating the temperature and the air humidity of the air-conditioning zones;

wherein the items are stored in the refrigerating zone, or the deep-freeze zone by means of the warehouse robot, which is arranged to be displaceable between the refrigerating zone and the deep-freeze zone, based on the detected individual identification of the items, the individual identification of the item includes the desired temperature and/or air humidity of storing the item;

wherein the warehouse robot is designed to restore items which are temperature-sensitive in accordance with the storage conditions from the deep-freeze zone into the refrigerating zone; and

wherein the items are automatically supplied to the input/output shaft by the automated warehouse robot after the inputting or texting of the individual identification associated with the items and/or actors.

8. The warehouse according to claim 7, wherein the means for detecting the individual identification of the items includes a scanning system and the system comprises an input/output system, the input/output system includes a keyboard or touchscreen and a printer or display for generating the individual identification.

9. The warehouse according to claim 7, wherein the storage robot comprises a receiving/discharge unit with a transport surface, and the items can be pushed onto, or drawn off, the transport surface by a pushing means.

10. The warehouse according to claim 7, wherein the warehouse is constructed to be modular and comprises isolated containers.

11. The warehouse according to claim 7, comprising a means for receiving of payments, in cash and/or a cashless manner, said payment means including a payment terminal, said warehouse is coupled via a communication interface to a data network.

12. The warehouse according to claim 11, wherein the receiving unit/discharge unit is arranged such that it can be moved automatically in a Y-Z plane by a rail system in an intermediate space formed between shelves in the shelf system.

13. The warehouse according to claim 11, wherein the pushing means is arranged such that it can be pushed and/or pivoted above the transport surface by a linear drive, or an articulated arm arrangement.

14. The warehouse according to claim 13, wherein the linear drive comprises longitudinal rails that run parallel to, or substantially parallel to, longitudinal edges of the support surface, and the linear drive comprises a transverse rail that can move along the longitudinal rails;

and

wherein the pushing means is arranged on the transverse rail such that it can move longitudinally and rotatably.

15. The warehouse according to claim 11, wherein the pushing means is arranged above the transport surface such that it can be pushed and/or pivoted by the articulated arm arrangement.

16. The warehouse according to claim 15, wherein the grasping means is configured as a vacuum suction means on which the item is fixed when it is being moved or attracted.

17. The warehouse according to claim 11, wherein the transport surface comprises limitations running in the longitudinal direction which are transverse to the direction of movement.

18. The warehouse according to claim 11, wherein the transport surface is arranged so that it can incline in the direction of the compartments of the shelves.

19. The warehouse according to claim 11, wherein the pushing means is constructed in a T shape, said T shape comprising a first shank which is connected to the articulated arm arrangement, or to the linear drive, and the first shank comprises a transverse running shank with a front surface comprising a grasping means, said grasping means including suction graspers.

20. The warehouse according to claim 11, wherein the transport surface has a U-shaped cross section.

21. The warehouse according to claim 20, wherein one or more suction means is integrated in the transport surface in order to fix the item during transport, the one or more suction means including a vacuum suction means.

22. The warehouse according to claim 11, wherein the pushing means can be shifted, pivoted, and/or adjusted in height relative to the transport surface.