WO2015118182A1

WO2015118182A1 - Devices and system for drive-in retailing

Info

Publication number: WO2015118182A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/052802
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter Winkler
Original assignee: Walter Winkler
Priority date: 2014-02-10
Filing date: 2015-02-10
Publication date: 2015-08-13
Also published as: DE102014101625A1; EP3105151A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a retail distribution system for the automated delivery of retail goods, in particular foods, said system comprising a number of delivery points for the retail goods, a number of identification systems for identifying a customer, a data-processing facility, and an automated container warehouse for storing order containers that contain the retail goods according to customers' orders. The data-processing system is programmed such that after the identification of a customer, at least one order container that is stored in the container warehouse for the identified customer is transferred to a delivery point that has been assigned to the customer. Such systems are known as "drive-in" systems.

Description

DEVICES AND SYSTEM FOR THE DRIVE IN RETAIL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a retail supply system having equipment and facilities that make it possible to supply customers in a short time with a high degree of automation of retail goods, in particular foodstuffs. The system and its components are modular in design and can be flexibly and variably combined and operated individually and with each other, so that an individual, application-specific design is possible, which creates an optimal and efficient way for the retail trade to serve its customers. The retail supply system of the present invention and its facilities, equipment and components enable the customer to do his shopping close to home in a short time, providing the ordered retail goods in a very short time with little potential for error. In addition, the retail supply system and its components provide optimal ergonomic working conditions for the retailer's employees.

By automating the retail supply system with the involvement of a central distribution center, the supply is very economical, because on the one hand, the infrastructure of the distribution center - often mechanized - can be shared. On the other hand, the retail goods can already be unpacked in the distribution center. This saves a decentralized waste disposal in the respective other facilities and facilities of the retail supply system.

STATE OF THE ART

The traditional forms of distributing goods, and especially retail goods, are undergoing major changes due to modern information technologies, so retailers are offering their customers new forms of supply of retail goods, such as food and other goods need to provide daily necessities. It is already known, for example, to operate so-called drive-in stores or stores in which food retail chains offer the customer the possibility of ordering the goods, for example via an Internet platform, and of having already completed the complete purchase with a motor vehicle from a defined processing time without the customer having to assemble and assemble the required retail goods in a shop. However, such drive-in stores or drive shops are very expensive because employees of the retailer have to take over the task of the customer with regard to the search and compilation of the goods.

Due to the increased expense compared to other retail outlets, such a business is profitable only to a certain extent, requiring a large catchment area for customers. However, this makes the access routes for customers long, so that the acceptance may not be sufficient because the customers prefer a local supply.

The supply of retail goods is also very complex, since they must be picked in the distribution center and then in the respective Drive In again racking systems - for a later customer picking - must be granted. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a retail supply system and suitable technical equipment, facilities and components, which make it possible to provide retail goods according to the orders of the customer in a short time locally with minimal effort. In addition, the required technical devices and facilities should be simple in design, manufacturable and operable.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

This object is achieved by a retail distribution device with the features of claim 1, a retail distribution system with the features of Claim 3, a retail supply system with the features of claim 1 1 and method for operating a retail supply system with the features of claim 14 and for operating a retail distribution system with the features of claim 15. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention proposes to provide a retail distribution device for the automated delivery of retail goods, in particular food, in which at least one, preferably a plurality of retail outlet points, at least one, preferably a plurality of identification devices for identifying a customer, a data processing system and an automated container storage for storage of order containers are provided.

In the automated container store, order containers are stored which contain the retail items according to a customer's order. Contract containers are containers in the broadest sense, which are suitable for receiving and storing retail goods, such as plastic containers, boxes, boxes, trays, pallets and the like. The order container stored in the retail warehouse automated warehouse (EVE) stores the retail goods that a customer has ordered. Accordingly, it is referred to commissioned order containers, as they contain the composition of the various retail goods according to the customer's order. An order can also include multiple order containers. In the respective containers are thus a variety of retail goods, which may include retail goods with different temperature requirements. The one or preferably more retail product dispensers are connected to the automated container store so that the ready-picked order containers can be automatically provided at the dispensers. For this purpose, the delivery points can be arranged in an area of the container store which can be reached by a storage operating device of the container store, so that the storage operating device can remove the order containers from the container store or corresponding storage locations and make them available at the delivery points. The container storage may be any type of suitable storage facility, such as a high bay warehouse. Accordingly, the storage and retrieval device can be a storage and retrieval unit adapted to it, which can load and unload the order containers into the container store. The data processing system according to the invention is programmatically designed so that after identification of a customer by an identification device, the automated container storage is controlled so that the order container associated with the customer or the order container associated with the customer are provided at the delivery point connected to the identification device. This can be completely automated.

For example, the identification device may comprise an input device in which the customer enters an order code received during the ordering process in order to show that he would like to pick up the retail goods ordered by him and is entitled to do so. The data processing system then controls the automated container storage for the corresponding identification of the customer, so that this passes the associated order container the corresponding delivery point. The identification device can also be formed by reading devices or other types of detection devices, as well as by an input terminal.

The retail distribution device or the automated container storage may furthermore comprise a container transfer device for transferring order containers for the storage and / or delivery of empty order containers, so that the ready-picked order containers delivered in a delivery area of the retail distribution device can be stored in the automated order container store and empty containers can be returned to the circulation.

Usually, the order container for the commissioned retail goods serves only as a means of transport or as an aid for temporary storage. After handing over the retail goods to the customer, the empty order container is subsequently returned to the automated container system at the delivery points. However, it is also possible for the customer to take the order container with the retail goods and use it as an exchange container. Thus, separate or integrated, an empties return device can be provided at the delivery point, with which empty order containers can be returned by a customer.

The container storage can be designed so that different temperature zones can be generated, so that different foods can be stored, for. As refrigerated and fresh goods that must be stored in a temperature range of 0 ° to 12 ° C or frozen goods (frozen foods), which must be stored in a temperature range of below 0 ° C. In the case of a high-bay warehouse, for example, the lower area can be designed as a deep-freeze area, so that refrigerated and fresh goods can be stored in the upper areas of the high-bay warehouse and they are also cooled by the deep-freeze area. Commissioned frozen foods can also be stored in a separate freezer section and transported to the automated container store shortly before delivery. Furthermore, the order containers in the automated container storage can also contain cooling packs, if necessary, in order not to interrupt the temperature chain.

The provision of a corresponding multiplicity of retail distribution facilities enables the local provision of retail goods, whereby the delivery can be completely automated, so that the customer can pick up his order at any time of day or night. Due to the restriction to a container storage for already picked order containers, which are stored only in a so-called order consolidation buffer, the space requirements and thus the cost of the corresponding retail distribution can be kept low, so that a variety of such retail distribution facilities can be provided so that a local supply of Customer is made possible.

As the retail distribution facilities already receive order picking containers, picking must be done elsewhere. Accordingly, the retail supply system of the present invention may include a retail distribution system for which protection is sought separately and independently of the other aspects of the present invention. A corresponding retail distribution system is characterized in that it comprises a retail distribution device, as described above, and in addition at least one ne picking system for picking the retail goods in a job container has.

With a corresponding retail distribution system, it is thus possible to make the order picking of the order containers on site and to provide them directly to the customer as well as additionally to order order containers for retail distribution facilities.

A retail distribution system may have multiple picking units for different order picking types and / or different types of retail items. By providing several order-picking systems with different types of picking, individual requirements can be met to enable efficient order-picking, since the large number of goods normally sold in the retail sector does not make flat-rate and similar treatment inappropriate.

In addition, a modular design with several order-picking systems allows a variable adaptation to different requirements.

In some cases, the picking of the various retail goods in different order-picking systems may already be required by the type of retail goods, for example if the frozen goods or chilled goods which have to be stored and transported in a certain temperature range belong to the assortment that has to be picked. In addition, however, the efficiency of picking can be increased by different picking systems, for example, if a distinction is made between retail goods with a high order picking frequency and retail goods, which have a lower order picking frequency. For example, the 10%, 20% or 30% of the retail items that are most in the orders may be picked in a different way than the retail items that are less frequent in the orders.

In particular, it is proposed for the retail distribution system to provide a picking system (third order picking line) for retail goods without any special features, as well as a picking line for refrigerated goods (second picking plant) and / or a picking plant for frozen goods (first order picking), so that can be handled by the separation of refrigerated goods, frozen goods and retail goods without special features in three different order picking all retail goods for daily needs and in particular the food sector ,

The retail distribution system can be modular so that one or the other order picking system can be dispensed with as needed.

In addition, the retail distribution system may have a further order-picking facility (fourth order-picking facility) for retail goods with a high order picking frequency, whereby the high order picking frequency can be determined relative to other retail goods with a lower order picking frequency. For example, a limit can be drawn in such a way that those retail goods belonging to the 10% of the most ordered goods are defined as high-order-quantity retail goods. Depending on the application, the limit can also be drawn at 20% or 30%.

The fourth picking plant for the picking of retail goods with a high order picking frequency can be carried out according to the order picking principle "man - to - goods", while the other order picking lines, ie the first to third order picking lines, can be based on the principle "goods - to - man" ,

While in the picking principle "goods - to - man", the goods to be picked are automatically provided at a picking station, the order picker moves with a picking vehicle along the picking principle "man - to - goods" along a picking front commissioning retail goods are provided at so-called pick places. The supply of the pick front can be done manually or automatically from a high-bay warehouse. By changing the order-picking principle from "goods-to-man" to "man-to-goods", it is avoided with high picking frequency that an order-picking system with automated provision of the goods at the picking station requires too much transport for the retail goods. In order to enable an ergonomic structure of the retail distribution system, the fourth picking plant can be arranged adjacent to the retail distribution facility with the order consolidation buffer, so that the picking route and the transfer of the finished picked goods can be kept short.

Both the retail distribution system and the retail distribution device may each have one or more incoming goods buffers, which may be intermediate storage of the delivered retail goods, eg in the form of several ready-made order containers on one pallet at retail distribution facilities or in the form of a plurality of retail goods in large packaging units for the fourth Picking or in storage containers for the first to third order picking, can be stored so that the container storage of the order consolidation buffer and picking can be operated efficiently and with good utilization, since the storage can be made depending on the availability of the respective systems. When picking different goods with different requirements, such as temperature, it is also possible to provide a plurality of goods receipt buffers, which may, for example, be assigned to the different picking systems in order to effectively use common cooling devices.

According to another aspect of the present invention, for which protection is sought on its own and in combination with other aspects of the present invention, a retail distribution system for retail sale of retail goods, such as food, is claimed which includes at least one retail distribution facility and / or at least one retail distribution facility includes. In addition, a corresponding retail supply system has an order acceptance device with which the customers can enter the order in the corresponding system, preferably the order acceptance device is designed so that the order is largely automated, for example online via a computer network such as the Internet or other modern communication.

In addition, the retail supply system may include at least one distribution center where the retail goods sold by the retail delsversorgungssystem to be distributed, delivered and stored. In the distribution center, incoming goods units can thus be picked up from a large number of retail goods, such as those sent by manufacturers of retail goods. For example, in the distribution center, goods receipt units can be stored in the form of euro pallets of unmixed retail goods.

The distribution center may include a repacking facility that repackages the retail goods from the incoming goods units into containers used in the retail distribution system in the retail distribution facilities and the retail distribution facilities. The term of the container is to be understood here in a broad sense, so that any suitable carrier may be meant here. The containers, which are loaded with retail goods in the repacking device, can be temporarily stored in the retail distribution systems in the picking systems and used for order picking. Here, the picking systems in the retail distribution systems are dimensioned so that the entire range of goods for picking is available. In particular, a system can be dimensioned so that all goods to be picked in this order-picking system can be picked at a picking station.

In addition to a repacking device for repackaging the retail goods in containers, the distribution center itself may have at least one order-picking system for picking retail goods in order containers corresponding to the order-picking systems of the retail distribution systems, if directly from the distribution center retail distribution facilities are supplied with commissioned order containers.

Alternatively, replenishment units can be picked on pallets in the distribution center. There may be different replenishment units on the pallet. However, pre-sorting to the respective picking areas in the EVA can already take place. This pallet can then be transported by truck to the EVA, where it can only be repacked into storage containers in the respective picking area. However, it is advantageous in the distribution center to repack directly into containers and then transport them to the EVA and feed them directly into the respective picking area. This has the advantage of avoiding waste in the EVA. Only empty containers have to be brought back to the distribution center. With a corresponding retail supply system and the retail distribution systems and the retail distribution facilities, an efficient, local supply of customers with retail goods for daily needs is possible, the customer via an order picking largely automated order of various retail goods and makes the retail distribution system and its corresponding facilities and facilities due the control by means of a program-technically equipped data processing system largely automated picking the retail goods and providing them and makes delivery to the customer. The degree of automation is freely selectable by the modular design and by the appropriate combination of several different picking types and equipment is a space-saving realization of a picking with a large number of commissioned retail goods possible, the customer can be provided in a very short time the appropriate order.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The attached figures show in a purely schematic manner in FIG

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an inventive

Retail supply system;

Fig. 2 is a top sectional view of a retail distribution system according to the present invention;

3 is a top sectional view of a retail distribution device according to the present invention;

4 shows a detail view from FIG. 2;

5 shows a further detail view of FIG. 2;

6 is a side view of a picking a

Order picking the retail distribution system of Fig. 2;

7 is a partial side view of a picking the

Retail distribution system of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a partial side view of the container transfer means of the order consolidation buffer of Fig. 2; and in

9 is a side sectional view of the order consolidation buffer

Fig. 2 and a delivery point. Embodiment

Further advantages, characteristics and features of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of an embodiment, but the invention is not limited to this embodiment.

1 shows a schematic overview of the devices, systems and technical components of a retail supply system according to the invention and their corresponding interaction.

The inventive retail supply system 1 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 comprises an order acceptance device 2, via which orders from customers can be accepted. Such an order pick-up facility includes a data processing facility connected to, for example, the Internet so that customers can place orders for retail goods online over the Internet. Additionally or alternatively, other types of order acceptance may be provided, such as, for example, written orders, orders by e - mail, by telephone, and the like, the order ultimately being recorded by the data processing system. Overall, the ordering process can be automated as much as possible, for example by automatic reading of orders received in writing or automatic recording of telephone ordering processes.

Together with the order, the customer can transmit to the order receiving device 2 where he wants to pick up his order and / or when he wants to pick up his order. For this purpose, the retail supply system 1 comprises a plurality of retail distribution systems (EVA) 4 and retail distribution facilities (EVE) 5 where the customer can pick up his order. The EVA 4 and EVE 5 can in particular be configured such that they are designed as so-called drive-in, ie that the customer can drive with a motor vehicle to corresponding delivery points of the EVA 4 or EVE 5 in order to place the ordered individual items. goods such as food. Accordingly, the EVA 4 are also referred to as Drive or the EVE 5 as Micro Drive, as will be explained later.

The EVA 4 and the EVE 5 differ in their structural and technical structure. While the EVE 5 are technically equipped to automatically deliver ready-made orders (retail orders picked to order) at the customer's points of sale, the EVA 4 are technically designed to assemble and consume the retail goods in the retail stores EVA 4 can be done.

In addition to the order receiving device 2 and the EVA 4 or EVE 5, the retail supply system 1 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 further comprises a distribution center 3, in which the goods receipt of the retail supply system 1 takes place. In Distribution Center 3, the retail goods to be sold are delivered in larger packing units by the manufacturers or wholesalers and temporarily stored until they are added to the EVA 4 or EVE 5 and ultimately delivered to the customer in individual quantities.

As shown by the delivery routes 9 and 11, the EVA 4 and EVE 5 are supplied with the retail goods from the distribution center 3, respectively. Here, the EVA 4 are supplied with containers, each of which contains the corresponding retail goods. This means that a container contains only one type of retail item in a variety of items. The term of the container is to be understood in this context very far and may include, for example, plastic containers, boxes, boxes, trays, pallets, roll containers and the like. Preferably, plastic containers are used, since they are easy to handle.

Via the delivery routes 1 1 already commissioned order containers can be delivered from the distribution center 3 to the EVE 5, since the EVE, as already mentioned above, are not equipped for picking the retail goods, but are only equipped so that an automated Abga - it is possible for the commissioned retail goods to the customer. Correspondingly, the EVE 5s must be supplied with order picking containers that have already been picked so that the order containers already contain the order ordered retail goods are included. Picking can take place here in the distribution center 3, so that order picking containers 1 already commissioned can be delivered from the distribution center to the EVE 5. If no order-picking system for picking the retail goods is to be provided in the distribution center 3, the delivery routes 11 can be dispensed with and the supply of the EVE 5 can take place via delivery routes 10 by the EVA 4. In particular, a plurality of EVEs 5 can be assigned to an EVA 4 so that a plurality of EVEs 5 can be supplied by an EVA 4 with the finished order containers containing the corresponding customer orders. This is advantageous in terms of a local supply with reduction of the delivery routes and thus shortening the delivery times for the orders.

The delivery routes 9, 10, 11 are shown only schematically in FIG. 1 and can be realized, for example, by trucks and vans, which supply the EVA 4 and EVE 5 one after the other.

The control and management of the various units and components of the retail supply system 1 may be performed by a central data processing facility, such as the data processing facility of the order receiving facility 2, or several corresponding data processing facilities of the individual facilities, facilities, components and units may cooperate to complete the processing operation for one Order and the entire operation of the retail supply system 1 effect.

1 shows data and information lines 6, 7 and 8 as well as 12, which enable an information technology exchange of the respective components with one another and the transmission and transmission of control commands and the like. The corresponding connections can also be realized wirelessly via radio remote connections and the like. Thus, via the data lines 7 and 8, information of the data processing system of the order acceptance device 2 is transmitted to the EVA 4 and the EVE 5 include information about a customer's order received and the desired pick-up time and pick-up location, as well as identification information that allows the customer to be identified when collecting the order. In addition, requirements of the EVA 4 and EVE 5 can be forwarded via the data lines 6, for example, with regard to delivery requests to the distribution center 3 via the data lines 7, 8. For example, an EVA 4 can receive the information from the order acceptance device 2 via a data line 7 that an order for certain retail goods has been received, which the customer would like to pick up at the corresponding EVA 4 within a specific time. According to this information, in the EVA 4, the order is placed in order containers, so that the order container or containers with the picked retail goods can be made available at the delivery point for the customer at the desired time. By submitting the identification information, the EVA 4 can verify that the customer who has registered with an EVA 4 identification device is the correct customer and can then deliver the corresponding order if it matches. As a result of the order, the inventory of certain retail items in the EVA 4 has decreased and via data lines 7 and 6 a request may be made to the distribution center 3 to deliver the corresponding retail items.

If, for example, the EVA 4 is informed by the order acceptance device 2 that the customer does not want to pick up the order at the EVA 4, but at an EVE 5, the corresponding EVA 4 can undertake the order picking of the retail goods and cause the delivery route 10 of the ready-made order containers containing the retail goods are delivered to the desired EVE 5 in order to be ready for pick-up. The EVE 5 receives the corresponding information over the data line 8 or 12 to control the delivery to the customer, i. H. identifying the customer. Similarly, delivery of the EVE 5 via the distribution center 3 and the delivery routes 1 1 is conceivable.

The delivery routes 9, 10, 11 are, as already mentioned above, usually deliveries by trucks or vans, whereby, contrary to the schematic representation of FIG. 1, a corresponding truck or delivery vans several EVA 4 or EVE 5 nach- can supply each other and can return empty containers to the distribution center or an EVA 4, and not, as shown in Fig. 1, each EVA 4 or EVE 5 individually.

Fig. 2 shows in a sectional view from above a retail distribution system 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The EVA 4 comprises a building 20 in which a plurality of picking stations 30, 31, 32 and 33 are arranged. On an outside of the building 20 a plurality of delivery points 22 are provided, where customers can pick up their ordered retail goods. Parking lots 21 are provided in the immediate vicinity of the delivery points 22, so that the customers can conveniently travel with a motor vehicle in the immediate vicinity of the delivery points 22 in order to pick up the ordered retail goods.

Identification devices (not shown) are provided in the area of the parking spaces 21 and / or at the delivery points 22, which allow identification of the customers. For example, the identification device can comprise an input terminal at which the customer must enter an order code or the identification device can have a barcode or QR code reader with which a barcode or QR code which the customer has received during the ordering process can be read can.

Identification of the customer and assignment to an ordering process will trigger the dispensing process to deliver the ordered retail goods through a data processing facility, which may be the central data processing facility of the retail supply system or a local data processing facility of the EVA 4.

Immediately in the vicinity of the delivery points 22 there is an order consolidation buffer 23 with a container store 24 in the form of a high-bay warehouse, in which 2 storage and retrieval units 25 can travel along two parallel arranged shelves 26 in the embodiment shown, to order picked order containers in the container storage 24th of the order consolidation buffer 23, to be stored and delivered to the delivery points 22, which are realized in a lower part of the shelves 26 with gravity conveyor tracks 90, 91 (see Fig. 9). The order containers stored in the container store 24 are dispensed at the delivery point 22 or an identification device at the corresponding delivery point 22 assigned to the identification device or upon successful registration of a customer. The order picking order containers are produced in the picking 30, 31, 32 and 33.

The picking systems 30, 31, 32 and 33 differ in their structural design and in the type of picking and the type of goods that are picked there. First, the picking systems are designed differently to handle different goods. Thus, the order-picking system 31 for frozen goods, the order-picking system 32 for refrigerated and fresh goods and the order-picking system 33 are provided for all other goods without special features. In addition, a further order-picking system 30 is provided for goods to be picked, which have to be picked frequently (so-called high-speed machines), ie, for example, occur statistically more frequently in orders than the other retail goods without special features, which are picked in the picking 33.

The picking system 30 is structured and constructed on the principle of "man - to - goods", wherein a plurality of so - called pick - places 34 are provided, in which the retail goods to be picked on pallets with several retail goods or in larger packing units with a variety of retail goods same variety are provided. The picking system 30 has, in addition to the pick places 34, a picking lane 35 along which a user, a so-called picker, can travel along the picking places 34 with a picking vehicle 80 (see FIG. 7) to remove the relevant retail items and place them in a order container, so as to produce a corresponding order container made up according to an order for retail goods. If the order container with the retail goods from the area of the order-picking system 30 is not full, it is possible to transfer it to one of the other containers. ren picking areas of the picking 31, 32, 33 to transport and / or intermediately store and then "fully" picking with articles of the same order.

In the area of the picking lane 35, a goods receipt buffer 41 for retail goods without special features is additionally provided, since the picking stations 34 are constructed in such a way that they can receive corresponding goods receipt units with a multiplicity of retail goods, as in the EVA 4 can be delivered as goods receipt units.

The other picking 31, 32, 33 for frozen food, cold and fresh goods and retail goods without special features are based on the principle of "goods - to - man". Each of these order-picking systems 31, 32, 33 contains a bearing 36, 42 and 47, in which at least one rack aisle are arranged with shelves 37, 43 and 48 arranged parallel to one another, wherein corresponding shelf vehicles 38, 44 and 49 are arranged in the aisle of the aisle, which can load and unload the retail goods into the shelves 36, 42, 47. In this case, the retail goods according to the exemplary embodiment are arranged in containers, wherein containers can again be understood to mean different charge carriers as previously described.

Each order-picking system 31, 32, 33 has at least one order-picking station 39, 45, 50, on which a picker can pick up retail goods into a order container. For this purpose, the order picking the retail goods to be taken from the shelf storage 36, 42, 47 are automatically provided and a display that is connected to a data processing system, the order picker is informed how many retail goods of a particular type he must transfer to the order container, to put together the order. Typically, an order contains several different retail goods, so that the order picker 31, 32, 33 automated from the corresponding shelf storage 36, 42, 47 the container with the required retail goods is provided to the order picker so that they can be picked into the order container. The remaining retail goods of a kind that are not required for order picking, which are contained in a container, are again automatically stored in the racking stores 36, 42, 47 until they are needed for a new picking operation.

The order picked containers are also automatically transported from the picking 39, 45, 50 to the order consolidation buffer 23 (not shown conveyor lines, for example, in a plane above or below the section shown in Fig. 2). There, the order picked containers are then stored by the storage control unit 25 of the container storage 24 in the order consolidation buffer until the customer appears to pick up the order.

If the lead time between picking and delivery is too long, it is possible to temporarily store the finished order container in the respective picking area and to transport it to the order consolidation buffer shortly before delivery. This is particularly advantageous for maintaining the temperature chain for temperature-sensitive retail goods.

If an order can not be completely picked in a order-picking system 30, 31, 32, 33, the order container can be transferred to a correspondingly different picking system 30, 31, 32, 33 for further order picking, wherein the transport again is automated by means of conveying devices, not shown can be done. Thus, for example, a partially picked order container can be transported from a picking station 50 to the picking station 45 and then to the picking station 39, so that there can additionally be picked chilled and fresh goods and frozen goods. In addition, a partially picked order container can then be transported to the picking 30, to be picked there ready. However, a different order of transport of the order container is possible, so for example, from the picking 30 in the picking 33 and from there into the picking 32 and 31st

The picking 31 and 32 are housed and insulated separately, in order to generate there the appropriate temperature conditions for the retail goods, ie, for example, temperatures below 0 ° or 0 °. Furthermore, in the embodiment in the housed areas of the order-picking 31 and 32 additional goods receiving buffers 40 and 46 are provided for frozen goods or cold and fresh goods.

The goods receiving buffers 41, 40, 46 and 51 are used for intermediate storage of goods input units with a large number of unmixed retail goods before they are stored in the rack storage 36, 42, 47 or in the picking stations 34 in the order picking system 30. Since the storage of the retail goods in the appropriate order picking at least partially via the same conveyors or storage and retrieval devices 38, 44, 49 takes place, such as the provision of retail goods for picking, the storage of retail goods in the picking 30, 31, 32, 33 takes place at times in which few picking orders occur, such as at certain times in the morning or in the afternoon, so that the goods receipt units can be stored temporarily, regardless of the time of delivery. The goods receipt units are delivered via goods receipt 52.

The order consolidation buffer 23 additionally has a container transfer device 27, via which the empty order containers returned by the customers can be swapped out and ready-picked order containers can be stored from the order-picking system 30. If an order contains fresh and frozen goods or frozen goods, then the picking can be timed to match the time of collection by the controller using a data processing system so that the corresponding retail goods are not damaged. In addition, it is possible to add corresponding cooling means, such as ice packs and the like, into the order containers with retail goods to be cooled in order to ensure cooling during intermediate storage in the order consolidation buffer 23.

FIG. 3 shows an EVE 5, which again has a building 60 in which an order consolidation buffer 23, as has been described in connection with the EVA 4 of FIG. 2, is arranged, likewise delivery points 22 with assigned parking spaces 21 intended for motor vehicles for the customers. In addition, the EVE 5 of FIG. 3 also includes a goods receipt area 52 similar to the goods receipt area 52 of the EVA 4 of FIG. 2. However, in the goods gang area 52 delivered only ready-picked order container, which are stored in the order consolidation buffer 23 and the container storage 24 with the shelves 26 and the storage and retrieval devices 25 until the customer requests the delivery of the order container. The container transfer device 27 serves for the storage of the containers which are delivered via the goods receiving area 52 and for the removal of the empty order containers which are returned by the customers.

The EVE 5 of Figure 3 further comprises a goods receipt buffer 61 in which goods receipt units, e.g. in the form of pallets or roll containers with several order picking containers, until the order consolidation buffer is free to receive the order containers.

All order containers that are picked as replenishment for the EVE in the EVA are automatically stacked on a pallet as a transport unit and delivered by truck. FIG. 4 shows in detail the picking station 50 of the picking system 33, and FIG. 5 shows the picking station 39 of the picking system 31.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, an order container 75 is provided at the picking station 50, in which the retail goods are stored according to the order from one or more of the containers 76 stored in the rack storage 47 in the shelves 48 or to be picked.

The respective container 76 with the retail goods to be picked is delivered via the conveyor line 72 from the high-bay warehouse 47 to the picking station and returned to the shelf storage 47 after removal of the retail goods via the conveyor line 72. As can be seen from FIG. 5, transfer devices 70, 71 corresponding to the conveying paths 72 and 73 are provided, at which the respective racking vehicle provides or picks up the containers 76 in order to store them in the rack 37 or 48.

In addition, the order picker 75 is provided with the order picker at the picking station, in which he transfers the retail goods from the container 76. As can be seen in Fig. 6, the order container 75 is tilted by a rocker 77 in an ergonomic favorable position, so that the order picker in easier How to transfer the retail goods from the container 76 in the order container 75. In the order container 75 may be a plastic bag or a thermal bag or be inserted by the order picker, so that the customer can then remove the retail goods with the bag from the order container and the order container in the EVA 4 or EVE 5 when providing the picked retail goods can return. Alternatively, it is also possible that the order container is given as a loan container to the customer, and the customer returns the loan container on his next purchase or replaced with a newly picked order container.

In FIG. 4, a vertical conveyor 78 is further shown at the picking station 50, with which a commissioned order container 75 can be conveyed in a plane above or below the image plane, there to conveyers not shown to another picking 30, 31, 32 or to the order consolidation buffer 23 to be promoted. In addition, an empty or partially picked order container 75 can be delivered via the vertical conveyor 78 and the conveyor line 74.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show details of the order-picking process in the order-picking system 30, in which a picker with a commissioning vehicle 80 drives past the pick-up lane 35 at the picking locations 34 and deposits the required retail goods in the order container 75 located on the picking vehicle 80.

In order to inform the picker as to how many retail goods of the respective picking station 34 he has to enter into the corresponding order containers 75, indications 81 assigned to the respective order containers 75 are provided on the picking vehicle 80, which indicate for the respective picking place 34 Many retail goods must be placed in the order container. For this purpose, the picking vehicle 80 can be connected via corresponding radio remote connections to a data processing system which provides the corresponding information. In addition, the picking vehicle 80 may have means for determining the location, so that the picking vehicle 80 can recognize at which picking location 34 it is located, so that the data processing system can notify corresponding picking information. FIG. 8 shows the container transfer device of the container store 24 of the order consolidation buffer 23, in which the ready-picked order containers 75 are unloaded from the order-picking vehicle 80 and stored in the container store 24. At the same time, empty order containers can be picked up from the order consolidation buffer 23 in the picking vehicle 80.

9 shows in a sectional view a delivery point 22 together with the container storage 24 of the order consolidation buffer 23. As shown in FIG. 9, two ready-picked order containers are stored in the shelves 26 on both sides of the storage lane in the shelves in succession in which a storage and retrieval device 25, which can move along the storage lane, can load and unload the order containers. For this purpose, the storage and retrieval device 25 has a mast, along which at least one receiving device can move, remove the order containers 75 from the shelves and store them in the storage and retrieval device 27 or the delivery points 22, and so that All shelves of the high shelves 26 can be reached by the storage control unit.

As shown in Fig. 9, the discharge point 22 has two gravity conveyors 90 and 91 which may be formed as a roller conveyor, for example, so that all order containers 75 at the gravity conveyor 90 outwardly to provide the order containers 75 for the customer and the gravity conveyor belt 91 are moved inward to return the empty order container.

With the devices, systems and components shown, it is possible to provide locally distributed retail goods to customers who have ordered them online over the Internet or via other modern communication channels with a high degree of automation, so that the customer can quickly and easily without great effort Distances to put a purchase down.

The invention thus has in particular the following features: Retail distribution device for the automated dispensing of retail goods, in particular food, containing at least one, preferably more retail outlets, at least one, preferably a plurality of identifying means for identifying a customer, a data processing system and an automated container store for storing order containers containing the retail items according to an order from customers, the automated container stock having at least one stock vehicle automatically automating order containers einlagern in the container storage and can be removed from the container storage and handed over to delivery points, the data processing system is programmatically designed so that after identification of a customer at least one stored for the identified customer in the container storage order container is transferred to a customer assigned delivery point.

Retail distribution device according to feature 1,

characterized in that

the container store is a shelf store with a storage and retrieval unit and / or has at least one container transfer device for transferring order containers for storage.

Retail distribution device according to feature 1 or 2,

characterized in that

a delivery point has separate or integrated empties return device.

Retail distribution device according to one of the preceding features, characterized in that

the container storage is designed so that different temperature zones can be generated.

Retail distribution system for the compilation and distribution of a retail sale, in particular of foodstuffs, having a retail distribution device according to one of the preceding features and at least one picking installation for picking the retail goods into a order container.

Retail distribution system according to characteristic 5,

characterized in that the several picking systems are designed for different order picking types and / or different types of retail goods. Retail distribution system according to characteristic 5 or 6,

characterized in that

the retail distribution system has a first order-picking system for retail goods without special features and / or a second order-picking system for refrigerated goods and / or a third order-picking system for frozen goods. Retail distribution system according to one of the features 5 to 7,

characterized in that

the retail distribution system has a fourth order-picking facility for retail goods with a higher picking frequency than that of the retail goods picked in another order-picking system. Retail distribution system according to one of the features 5 to 8,

characterized in that

the fourth order-picking system is based on the order-picking principle of man to produce goods and the first to third order-picking systems follow the picking principle of goods to man. Retail distribution system according to one of the features 5 to 9,

characterized in that

the fourth picking plant is arranged adjacent to the retail distribution device. Retail distribution system according to one of the features 5 to 10,

characterized in that

Retail distribution system further comprises at least one goods receipt buffer, preferably a plurality of goods receipt buffer, which are assigned in particular to the different order-picking. Retail supply system for the retail sale of retail goods, in particular foodstuffs, having an order pick-up facility for receiving customer orders and having at least one retail outlet and / or a retail distribution facility providing the ordered retail goods to customers.

13. retail supply system according to feature 12,

characterized in that

the retail supply system comprises at least one distribution center in which the retail goods are delivered and stored in packaging units with a plurality of retail goods, the distribution center having a repacking device for repackaging the retail goods into containers and / or a picking system for picking the retail goods, in particular in order containers.

14. A method for operating a retail supply system, in particular a retail supply system according to any one of features 12 and 13, in which a customer places an order for retail goods via an order pick-up device that is processed by a data processing system based on data generated by the data processing system Control commands using at least one order picking at least one order container filled with the ordered retail items and is provided via a retail distribution device according to one of the features 1 to 4. 15. A method for operating a retail distribution system, in particular a retail distribution system according to one of the features 5 to 1 1, preferably as part of the method according to feature 14, in which based on an order of retail items by a customer, a data processing system controls at least one picking system so that at least an order container is filled with the ordered retail items and provided via a retail distribution device according to any of features 1 to 4.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather modifications are possible in the manner that individual features omitted or other combinations of features can be realized as long as the scope of the appended claims is not abandoned.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 retail supply system

2 Order acceptance device

3 distribution center

4 retail distribution system (EVA)

5 Retail distribution facility (EVE)

6 Data and Information Management

7 Data and Information Management

8 data and information line

9 delivery route

10 delivery route

1 1 delivery route

12 data and information line

20 buildings

21 parking spaces

22 delivery points

23 order consolidation buffer

24 container storage

25 storage operator

26 shelf

27 Container transfer device

30 picking system (fourth)

31 picking system (first)

32 picking system (second)

33 picking system (third)

34 pick - seats

35 pick - alley

36 shelf storage

37 shelf

38 shelf vehicle

39 picking station

40 goods receipt buffer

41 goods receipt buffer 42 shelf storage

43 shelf

44 shelf vehicle

45 Picking station 46 Goods receipt buffer

47 shelf storage

48 shelf

49 shelf vehicle

50 picking station 51 goods receipt buffer

52 goods delivery area

60 buildings

61 Goods receipt buffer 70 Transfer device 71 Transfer device

72 conveyor line

73 conveyor line

74 conveyor line

75 order containers

76 storage containers

77 seesaw

78 vertical conveyors

80 picking vehicle

81 Display

90 gravity conveyor

91 gravity conveyor

Claims

1 . Retail distribution device for the automated dispensing of retail goods, in particular foodstuffs, having at least one, preferably a plurality of dispensers for the retail goods, at least one, preferably a plurality of identification devices for identifying a customer, a data processing system and an automated container storage for storage of order containers, the retail goods according to an order customer, wherein the automated container storage has at least one storage vehicle, which automatically store order container in the container storage and removed from the container storage and handed over to delivery points, the data processing system is programmatically designed so that after identification of a customer at least one for the identified customer in the container storage stored order container is transferred to a customer assigned to the delivery point.

2. retail distribution device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the retail distribution device has a goods receipt buffer in which one or more packing units can be temporarily stored from a plurality of order containers.

3. retail distribution system for the compilation and sale of a retail purchase, in particular of food, with a retail distribution device according to one of the preceding claims and at least two different picking systems for picking the retail goods in a job container.

4. retail distribution system according to claim 3,

characterized in that

the several picking systems are designed for different order picking types and / or different types of retail goods.

5. retail distribution system according to claim 3 or 4,

characterized in that the retail distribution system has a first order-picking system for retail goods without special features and / or a second order-picking system for refrigerated goods and / or a third order-picking system for frozen goods.

6. retail distribution system according to one of claims 3 to 5,

characterized in that

the retail distribution system has a fourth order-picking facility for retail goods with a higher picking frequency than that of the retail goods picked in another order-picking system.

7. retail distribution system according to one of claims 3 to 6,

characterized in that

the fourth order-picking system is based on the order-picking principle of man to produce goods and the first to third order-picking systems follow the picking principle of goods to man.

8. retail distribution system according to one of claims 3 to 7,

characterized in that

the fourth picking plant is arranged adjacent to the retail distribution device.

9. retail distribution system according to one of claims 3 to 8,

characterized in that

Retail distribution system further comprises at least one goods receipt buffer, preferably a plurality of goods receipt buffer, which are assigned in particular to the different order-picking.

10. retail distribution system according to one of claims 3 to 9,

characterized in that

the various order-picking systems are connected via automated conveyors in order to be able to exchange order containers with one another.

1 1. Retailing system for the retail sale of retail goods, in particular foodstuffs, having an order pick-up device for receiving customer orders and having at least one retail distribution system according to one of Claims 3 to 10.

12. retail supply system according to claim 1 1,

characterized in that

the retail supply system comprises a plurality of retail distribution device according to one of claims 1 or 2, with which the ordered retail goods are provided to the customer.

13. retail supply system according to claim 1 1 or 12,

characterized in that

the retail distribution system comprises at least one distribution center in which the retail goods are delivered and stored in multiple retail units, the distribution center comprising a repacking device for repackaging the retail goods into containers for retail distribution facilities and / or a picking facility for picking the retail goods Order container for provision in retail distribution has.

14. A method for operating a retail supply system, in particular a retail supply system according to one of claims 1 1 to 13, in which a customer submits an order for retail goods via an order receiving device, which is processed by a data processing system so that based on control commands generated by the data processing system at least one order container is filled with the ordered retail items by means of at least one picking system and is provided via a retail distribution device of a retail distribution system according to one of claims 3 to 10.

15. A method for operating a retail distribution system according to any of claims 3 to 10, preferably as part of the method according to claim 14, in which based on an order of retail items by a customer, a data processing system at least one picking system controls so that at least one order container with the ordered retail items are provided and provided through the retail distribution facility of the retail distribution system according to any one of claims 3 to 10.