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

• US 20170024838A1
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Kropp
• Original Assignee: Daniel Kropp
• Inventors: KROPP, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,934,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 such as supplier and are removed from the warehouse by at least one second actor such as a taker or customer, wherein upon an automated receiving of the items by the warehouse an individual item-specific and/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, and wherein the items are supplied to a discharge after the inputting of the individual item-specific and/or actor-specific identification by one of the actors or after the detection of the individual item-specific and/or actor-specific identification,

characterized in that

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 such as temperature in a shelf system of the warehouse.

2. The method for handling items according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the individual identification is detected by scanning the item or by a coding associated with the item such as by EAN code or QR code and/or by an input of the first actor and/or is generated by outputting a document or a visual display in the warehouse or on an external device such as a mobile data device or personal computer and/or that the individual identification can be transmitted to the second actor such as a taker or customer.

3. The method for handling items according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the items associated with one of the actors, in particular with the second actor has taker or customer, are preferably stored in the warehouse without being associated with each other and automatically supplied to a delivery area after the input of the individual identification by the handling system.

4. The method for handling items according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the second actor as a taker or customer orders items from different first actor such as suppliers which items are associated individually with the second actor such as a taker or customer, are stored in the warehouse and transferred to the second actor such as a customer from the warehouse.

5. The method for handling items according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the items, in particular groceries are stored according to their individual identification at different temperatures.

6. The method for handling items according to claim 1,

characterized in that

an identification of the second actor such as a taker or customer takes place by an identification system such as a touch screen display, fingerprint sensor, card reader and/or scanner and that 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 (10, 12) for the handling and/or marketing of items, comprising

means (28, 32, 38, 40) for receiving items from at least one actor such as a supplier,

means (38, 40, 42, 44) for storing the items, and

means (28, 30, 38, 40) for the automated dispensing of the items to at least one second actor such as a taker or customer,

wherein the means (28, 32, 38) for receiving the items automatically detects an individual, in particular item-specific and/or actor-specific identification associated with the items and/or the actors and/or generates an individual, in particular item-specific and/or actor-specific identification for the items and/or the actors,

characterized in that

the means (38, 40, 42, 44) for storing the items comprises a handling system (40) with a warehouse robot (42) as well as a storage system in the form of a shelf system (44), and that the warehouse (10) comprises storage areas with different air-conditioning zones and at least one air conditioning apparatus (12) for regulating the temperature and the air humidity of the air-conditioning zones in which the items are stored in accordance with their individual identification, and that the items are supplied to a discharge (30) by the automated delivery (38, 40) after the inputting or texting of the individual identification associated with the item and/or actors.

8. The warehouse according to claim 7,

characterized in that

the means (28, 30, 38, 40) for the automated reception comprises means (36) for the detection of the individual identification of the items such as a scanning system and/or an input/output system (34) such as a keyboard, touchscreen and/or a means such as a printer (50) or display (34) for generating the individual identification.

9. The warehouse according to claim 7,

characterized in that

the warehouse comprises for the automated receiving and/or automatic dispensing at least one input/output shaft (28) or alternatively at least one output shaft (30) and at least one input shaft (32) and/or an input/output shaft (28).

10. The warehouse according to claim 7,

characterized in that

the warehouse (10) comprises means (48) for the receiving of payments in cash and/or in a cashless manner such as a payment terminal and/or is coupled via a communication interface to a data network like the Internet.

11. The warehouse according to claim 7,

characterized in that

the warehouse is constructed to be modular such as, e.g. an isolated container.

12. The warehouse according to claim 7,

characterized in that

the storage robot comprises a receiving/discharge unit (56) with a transport surface (68) from which and onto which the items (70) can be pushed onto or drawn off of by a pushing means (76).

13. The warehouse according to claim 12,

characterized in that

the receiving unit/discharge unit (56) is arranged in such a manner that it can be moved completely automatically in a Y-Z plane by a rail system (54) in an intermediate space (58) formed between shelves (50).

14. The warehouse according to claim 12,

characterized in that

the pushing means (76) is arranged in such a manner that it can be pushed and/or pivoted above the transport surface (68) by a linear drive (89) or an articulated arm arrangement (114).

15. The warehouse according to claim 14,

characterized in that

the linear drive (89) comprises longitudinal rails (90, 92) that run parallel to or substantially parallel to longitudinal edges (94, 96) of the support surface (68) and comprises a transverse rail (98) that can move along the longitudinal rails (90, 92), wherein the pushing means (76) is arranged on the transverse rail (98) in such a manner that it can move longitudinally and rotatably.

16. The warehouse according to claim 12,

characterized in that

the pushing means (76) is arranged above the transport surface (68) in such a manner that it can be pushed and/or pivoted by the articulated arm arrangement (114).

17. The warehouse according to claim 12,

characterized in that

the transport surface (68) comprises limitations (106, 108) running in the longitudinal direction, i.e. transversely to the direction of movement.

18. The warehouse according to claim 12,

characterized in that

the transport surface (68) has a U shape in its cross section.

19. The warehouse according to claim 12,

characterized in that

the transport surface (68) is arranged so that it can incline in the direction of the compartments (52) of the shelves (50).

20. The warehouse according to claim 12,

characterized in that

the pushing means (76) is constructed in a T shape, comprising a first shank (82) which is connected to the articulated arm arrangement (114) or to the linear drive (84) and comprises a transversely running shank (84) whose front surface (110) preferably comprises grasping means (112) such as suction graspers.

21. The warehouse according to claim 12,

characterized in that

the sliding means (76) can be shifted, pivoted and/or adjusted in height relative to the transport surface (68).

22. The warehouse according to claim 20,

characterized in that

the suction means (112) is constructed as vacuum suction means with which the item is fixed when it is being moved or attracted.

23. The warehouse according to claim 12,

characterized in that

one or more suction means such as vacuum suction means are integrated in the transport surface (68) in order to fix the item during transport.