DE102004035819B4 - Method for automatic stock-taking in a warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for the automatic storage of goods in a warehouse, in particular in a high-bay warehouse, with at least one operating device for transporting the stored goods to one of a plurality of controllable storage bins of the warehouse whose addresses are stored in a warehouse management computer, or with a storage device recognizing the identification device, the for non-contact readout of an identification code at the storage bins is movable past, stored in the warehouse items and / or the storage aids for receiving these articles are provided with a transponder that holds object-related data on the article itself and transmits these contactlessly via radio to a reader , which is arranged on the operating device and which is in communication with the warehouse management computer for matching the data recorded by the reading device and stored in the warehouse management computer, and the detection of the data and the Zählvorg ang the article takes place during a linear travel of the operating device, characterized in that with the detection of the data of multiple transponders, a counting of the stored at the storage location ...

Description

The The invention relates to a method for the automatic storage of goods in a warehouse with the features according to the preamble of the claim 1.

At the Operation of high-bay warehouses occur independently of the warehouse management computer stored stock image of the filled warehouse issues on, which concern the acquisition of the current bearing image. So can For example, it may be necessary for inventory purposes to be exact To know the number of items stored in the warehouse, for correction purposes the storage can also be the need, the current Capture stock image. Furthermore, the information about the Storage needs, for example, after a system error or during commissioning or filling to know exactly where to put each item are. So far, for this purpose are very complex and usually manual measures necessary to correct the bearing image, especially for warehouses with high parking space capacity very labor intensive. In extreme cases, it may even be necessary become, after disturbances to carry out a systematic outsourcing of the entire stock, to identify and store it in the pre-zone.

From European patent EP 0 198 402 A2 a warehouse has become known which describes a fully automatic storage and retrieval of storage items. All warehouse movements are centrally controlled by a warehouse management computer, and storage and retrieval takes place from an optimization point of view. It is already described in this prior art that there may be a discrepancy between the storage space of a storage article stored in the warehouse management system and the actual physical storage space. Such errors can be caused by operating errors or by improper response to error messages, by control errors in the transport system, etc.

The EP 0 198 402 A2 proposes measures to identify and correct the described error at an early stage. For this purpose, the mobile storage units are assigned individual identification codes, for example as machine-readable labels on the storage unit, which can be read by means of an identification device. The identification device is permanently installed on the storage machine, so that the information can be read when passing the storage machine at the camp.

adversely in the solution described above, it is only Storage units, such as containers, Pallets etc. can not be marked and identified however, the articles stored in the storage units. Thus, that is true It is possible to locate the items stored at a storage location, but only as to their filing in one of the stickers Bearing unit. It is not possible, however, the individual article to recognize and statements, for example about the number of in a storage unit to take the filed article. Furthermore, it is considered disadvantageous viewed that the reading device for a machine readable Stickers in the immediate vicinity this sticker must be moved past the storage unit, d. H. all storage units must be placed and aligned so that the barcode is read out can be. damage the label lead to read errors and prevent data collection.

From the DE 198 56 763 C2 An electronic archiving device is known for objects, in particular files, with an electronic identification device assigned to each object and with communication means for retrieving the objects. The communication means are designed as a detection receptacle with a small reading range accessible via a shelf accommodating the objects or as a recognizable under a table receiving the objects, wherein the detection head is adapted for transmitting its position and thus the sought identification device to an electronic data processing.

From the US 2003/0077153 A1 a device is known, which is set up to move a stored product. The device is for this purpose formed with a gripping device which is linearly movable on a support means in the vertical and horizontal directions, wherein a likewise movable reader for an identifier on the support mechanism is provided.

task The present invention is based on the described Prior art, a method for detecting the current bearing image a warehouse, with which for inventory purposes, for correction purposes, after system errors or during commissioning and filling of the Attach the necessary information about each individual to be stored Articles are collected and processed.

The The object is solved by the features of claim 1. advantageous Embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

The arrangement of transponders on preferably each individual article allows identification of the article, even if the exact butt Positioning of the transponder is unknown and the detection device (reader) is not directly in front of the transponder. The arrangement of the transponder on the storage aids for receiving these articles allows the assignment of these storage aids to the articles or vice versa. By using the so-called RFID technology, it is possible to transmit the object-related information stored in a TAG to the reader via radio if it is moved past the object in greater positional tolerance or is located there.

When Object related data are, for example, the type of article that Number of items in the storage bin, the assignment of storage unit to the article and the assignment of storage unit to storage bin conceivable. About the current position of the detection device during a pass on the warehouse can be closed to the relevant compartment, by storing the articles to be read. The read out. Information is reconciled with the warehouse management computer to Determine if the correct number of correct items are listed Storage space available stands. Differences can be corrected accordingly.

Preferably goes with the detection of the data of several transponders a counting process accompanied by the stored at the storage area article. In this way not only can the storage bin be identified and checked, but also statements can be made directly Number of available and taken there articles are taken. This is special for inventory purposes advantageous; Warehousing can also be avoided by simply driving by of the operating device be recorded with the reader at the warehouse.

Of the For simplicity, the acquisition of the data takes place as a counting process the article during a linear travel of the operating device. Depending on the arrangement of the reader on the mast of the control unit or on the lifting cage one or more linear drives are required. When placed on the lift cage, the individual compartments or shelves become linear traversed in different stroke positions of the Hubkorbs while it It is also conceivable to have several readers in each level at the mast of the operating device provide and during a linear drive along the warehouse all To capture information of the individual subject levels in a timely manner.

Of Furthermore, it is also conceivable, the data and counting the Article during to carry out any input and positioning play of the operating device. So the stock image can always be recorded and checked at any time, without the extra empty runs required are.

To of the invention in the manner described, after collecting and comparing the data identified with those in the warehouse management computer those articles which are assigned to an incorrect storage bin. This article can removed and assigned to the correct storage bin.

Around Read error of the RFID tags as low as possible is proposed according to a further feature of the invention, similar items when storing the goods on not immediate neighboring storage areas store. By a parent Storage strategy will be in this way distances between the storage bins the same Article complies with a clearer reading of the transponder information enable.

The Capture of the bearing image can be done with the proposed method within a short period of time carried out become. The adjustment of the recorded data can be corrected the system data are used and performed several times a day. Losses in the warehouse are therefore to be minimized, operating errors can be compensated become. If individual articles are not identifiable, they may outsourced for identification at short notice. In case of faults or system crashes let the original ones Reconstruct storage data easily. For inventory purposes, the entire warehouse data are scanned and accounting corrections be made. By the possible Timely capture can be sources of shrinkage be assigned in the warehouse simpler.

The claimed method is shown in the annex by means of diagrams explained. It shows:

1 a warehouse with a control unit and the lifting carriage arranged reader in a schematic representation and

2 the same schematic structure of the warehouse with arranged on the mast of the control unit readers.

In 1 is with 1 the warehouse refers, which nine stacked storage floors 2 comprising thirteen horizontal storage bins 3 be formed. the warehouse 1 is from an HMI device 4 operated, which is designed as a conventionally known storage and retrieval unit. The operating device 4 is at the warehouse 1 horizontally passable. On the mast of the control unit 4 is the lifting carriage 5 with the (not shown) storage and retrieval device vertically movable. On the lifting carriage 5 is with 6 denotes a reader (Reader) arranged, with which in the RFID technology information from transponders are read out can be attached to the individual items in the storage compartments 3 be sent by radio. To capture the entire stock, the HMI device 4 in front of the warehouse 1 move horizontally back and forth, with the lifting carriage 5 with the reader 6 is raised after each linear travel in a different level and level is linearly reduced in the opposite direction. The travel is schematically indicated by dashed lines 7 represented, the direction is by arrows 8th specified.

In 2 a variant is shown in which the storage floors 2 according to nine readers 9 one above the other on the mast of the operating device 4 are arranged. This solution is only a single linear travel along the warehouse 1 required to record all stored articles. Again, the travel of the readers 9 (Reader) through the dashed lines 7 and the arrows 8th specified.

The from the transponders read information (not shown) warehouse management computer for evaluation. Errors can by comparison with the storage data stored in the warehouse management computer recorded and then Getting corrected. In the same way read information be sent to the warehouse management computer for storage, to save a new current stock image.

Claims (4)

Method for the automatic storage of goods in a warehouse, in particular in a high-bay warehouse, with at least one operating device for transporting the stored goods to one of a plurality of controllable storage bins of the warehouse whose addresses are stored in a warehouse management computer, or with a storage device recognizing the identification device, the for non-contact readout of an identification code at the storage bins is movable past, stored in the warehouse items and / or the storage aids for receiving these articles are provided with a transponder that holds object-related data on the article itself and transmits these contactlessly via radio to a reader which is arranged on the operating device and which is in communication with the warehouse management computer for matching the data recorded by the reading device and stored in the warehouse management computer, and the acquisition of the data and the Zählvorg The article takes place during a linear travel of the operating device, characterized in that the counting of the data of a plurality of transponders is accompanied by a counting process of the articles stored at the storage location. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that the capture of the data and the counting process of the article during a any storage and retrieval game of the operating device takes place. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized that with collecting and aligning the data those articles be identified, which are assigned to an incorrect storage bin. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized that to avoid miscounting similar items when storing the goods on not immediate neighboring storage areas be filed.