Order-picking system and method for operating an order-picking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148884-B2
Application number	US-201916426769-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2019
Priority date	Jun 1, 2018
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A method for operating an order-picking system ( 100 ) is described, comprising: providing goods gathered in batches in a batch buffer ( 1 ), batch-wise sorting of the goods in a matrix sorter ( 2 ), the goods in the order-picking system ( 100 ) being conveyed by a multiplicity of transport units which have in each case a receiving unit for receiving the goods and the transport units in the matrix sorter ( 2 ) are conveyed at least in sections by a matrix conveyor ( 22 ), wherein a control unit ( 7 ′) dynamically controls the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 ) in such a manner that the conveying speed is dependent on at least one parameter of the conveyed transport units and/or goods.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method for operating an order-picking system ( 100 , 100 ′), comprising:
conveying goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ) in the order-picking system ( 100 , 100 ′) by a multiplicity of transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ), each including a receiving unit ( 9 . 15 , 9 . 25 , 9 . 35 ) for receiving one of the goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ),
gathering batches of the goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ) in a batch buffer ( 1 , 1 ′),
batch-wise sorting of the goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ) in a matrix sorter ( 2 , 2 ′),
conveying the transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) in the matrix sorter ( 2 , 2 ′) at least in sections by a matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′), and
a control unit ( 7 , 7 ′) dynamically controlling a conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) so that the conveying speed is dependent on at least one parameter of the conveyed transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) and/or goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ) in each of the batches.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 7 , 7 ′) controls the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) so that the conveying speed within a batch is in each case constant.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 7 , 7 ′) controls the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) as a function of a weight of at least one of the conveyed transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) and/or goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ), the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) being increased with reducing weight of the transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) and/or goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ).

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the control unit ( 7 , 7 ′) controls the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) as a function of the weight of a heaviest transport unit ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) and/or good ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ) of a batch.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 7 , 7 ′) controls the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) as a function of the size of at least one of the conveyed transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) and/or goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ), the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) being increased with reducing size of the transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) and/or goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ).

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the control unit ( 7 , 7 ′) controls the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) as a function of a size of the largest transport unit ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) and/or good ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ) of a batch.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the order-picking system ( 100 , 100 ′) includes in a loading station and/or in a packing station downstream of the matrix sorter ( 2 , 2 ′), further conveyors ( 6 . 1 - 6 . 3 ) which convey the transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) with a constant conveying speed and the control unit ( 7 , 7 ′) controls the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) in such a manner that the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) in at least one batch is higher than the constant conveying speed of the further conveyors ( 6 . 1 - 6 . 3 ).

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein parameters, including weight and/or size, of the transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) and/or goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ) traveling into the matrix sorter ( 2 , 2 ′) are determined by a measuring device ( 81 , 82 ) and transmitted to the control unit ( 7 , 7 ′).

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 7 ′) receives parameters, including weight and/or size, of the transport units and/or goods traveling into the matrix sorter ( 2 ′) from a database ( 102 ′).

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the matrix sorter ( 2 ) comprises a multiplicity of sorting stages ( 21 . 1 - 21 . 3 ), the matrix conveyor ( 22 ) guiding the transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) in each case toward one sorting stage ( 21 . 1 - 21 . 3 ) and again away from the sorting stage ( 21 . 1 - 21 . 3 ).

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the matrix sorter ( 2 ′) comprises a multiplicity of sorting stages ( 21 . 1 ′- 21 . 3 ′) and a multiplicity of matrix conveyors ( 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) which are assigned in each case to a sorting stage ( 21 . 1 ′- 21 . 3 ′) or two sorting stages ( 21 . 1 ′- 21 . 3 ′) and the control unit ( 7 ′) individually controls the conveying speed of each matrix conveyor ( 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′).

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 7 , 7 ′) controls the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) as a function of at least one of: a weight of a heaviest transport unit ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) and/or good ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ) of a batch; or a size of a largest transport unit ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) and/or good ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ) of a batch.

13. An order-picking system ( 100 , 100 ′), comprising:
a batch buffer ( 1 , 1 ′) for the provision of goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ) gathered in batches,
a multiplicity of transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) which have in each case each including a receiving unit ( 9 . 15 , 9 . 25 , 9 . 35 ) for receiving the goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ),
a matrix sorter ( 2 , 2 ′) configured to batch-wise sort the goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ), the matrix sorter ( 2 , 2 ′) comprising at least one matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) for conveying the transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ), and
a control unit ( 7 , 7 ′) which is configured to dynamically control the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) in such a manner that the conveying speed is dependent on at least one parameter of the conveyed transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) and/or goods ( 10 . 1 - 10 . 3 ) of each of the batches.

14. The order-picking system ( 100 , 100 ′) as claimed in claim 13 , wherein a transport unit ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) comprises in each case at least one in a rail ( 101 ) conveyable carriage ( 9 . 11 , 9 . 12 , 9 . 21 ), suspended, and the receiving unit ( 9 . 15 , 9 . 25 , 9 . 35 ) is connected in each case to the carriage ( 9 . 11 , 9 . 12 , 9 . 21 ).

15. The order-picking system ( 100 , 100 ′) as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the order-picking system ( 100 , 100 ′) includes in a loading station and/or in a packing station downstream of the matrix sorter ( 2 , 2 ′), further conveyors ( 6 . 1 - 6 . 3 ) of a continuous nature which are configured to convey the transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) with a constant conveying speed, the control unit ( 7 , 7 ′) being configured to control the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) in such a manner that the conveying speed of the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) in at least one batch is higher than the constant conveying speed of the further conveyors ( 6 . 1 - 6 . 3 ).

16. The order-picking system ( 100 , 100 ′) as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the matrix conveyor ( 22 , 22 . 1 ′- 22 . 4 ′) is a continuous conveyor which is configured to guide the transport units ( 9 . 1 - 9 . 3 ) toward a sorting stage ( 21 . 1 - 21 . 3 , 21 . 1 ′- 21 . 3 ′) and again away from a sorting stage ( 21 . 1 - 21 . 3 , 21 . 1 ′- 21 . 3 ′).

17. The order-picking system ( 100 , 100 ′) as claimed in claim 13 , wherein a sorting stage ( 21 . 1 - 21 . 3 , 21 . 1 ′- 21 . 3 ′) of the matrix sorter ( 2 , 2 ′) includes a multiplicity of linear buffer sections ( 21 . 11 , 21 . 21 , 21 . 31 , 21 . 11 ′, 21 . 21 ′, 21 . 31 ′) which are connected by switch points to the

Assignees

• Ferag Ag

Inventors

• Sigrist Sergio

Classifications

• G01G19/414

  using electronic computing means only · CPC title

• G01G19/03

  for weighing during motion ({G01G19/022, G01G19/045,} G01G19/04, G01G19/07 take precedence {; weighing a continuous stream material during flow G01G11/00; check weighing of materials dispensed into removable containers G01G15/00}) · CPC title

• B65G1/0457

  with suspended load carriers · CPC title

• B65G43/08 Primary

  Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)} · CPC title

• B65G1/1376 Primary

  the orders being assembled on a commissioning conveyor · CPC title