TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a product picking and loading system which provides picking of products from shelves and loading of products to shelves at a specific sequence in a warehouse and which provides finding of location of any product in the warehouse in a rapid and easy manner.

PRIOR ART

There is essentially a warehouse, where products are temporarily stored, in companies which make production or sales. Warehouse management, which is an important part of a supply process, directly affects various parameters like operational costs, monetary gain and customer satisfaction. Warehouses and material carrying methods are basic elements in a product flow, and they provide organization of the connection between the sender and the receiver. Information must be obtained about the necessary processes for providing efficient warehouse management, and moreover, advanced information must be obtained which includes technically and operationally application of the whole system in a successful manner.

Today, factors like the increasing number of good and product types, the increasing number of order requests and the trend for shorter delivery durations make the logistic service a determining factor in preferring a supplier. Recently, the most important issues for companies are the increasing number of online sales and providing of customer satisfaction. Customers desire to receive their orders in a short time after they place an order. If an order is fulfilled in a short time after said order is placed, this provides increase of company quality, customer satisfaction and increase of sales. Therefore, preparation and delivery of correct products to the customer in a short time are among the current targets of warehouse management systems.

Systems, which are developed for preparing orders in a short time and with correct products in wide warehouses, are known in the present art. Said systems are in the form of movable shelf systems, robots, etc. which provide automatic picking of products from shelves which exist in a warehouse. In said systems, when shelf-based identification is made, a single product has to be placed to a shelf. This prevents efficient usage of warehouses which have a limited area. Moreover, as a result of identification made along the shelf unit, in case a failure occurs in the control system which controls the shelf unit, failures may occur in preparation of the order of all products which exist at the shelf unit.

Moreover, in the present art, there are illuminated picking systems developed for providing easiness to the operator for picking products from shelves. In said systems, there are illumination elements provided to the shelves which exist in a warehouse. In case the operator desires to pick the products which exist in the order list, the shelves where the products exist are illuminated in a sequenced manner. In said systems, only one type of product must be placed to a shelf in order for said product to be picked in a correct manner. This can lead to faulty picking of products, where more than one type of product exists at a shelf, depending on carelessness of the operator. Moreover, this prevents efficient usage of limited warehouse areas.

As a result, because of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a product picking and loading system, for eliminating the abovementioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

An object of the present invention is to provide a product picking and loading system which can describe, at which module of a warehouse a product exists, and at which shelf of said module said product exists and at which position said product exists on said shelf, by means of illuminators which have different colors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a product picking and loading system which can be easily assembled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a product picking and loading system which provides preparation of customer orders in a rapid and correct manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a product picking and loading system which provides loading of products to shelves in a rapid and correct manner. Another object of the present invention is to provide a product picking and loading system which can show the locations of different product groups, which exist inside a warehouse area, by different colors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a product picking and loading system which can show the products, which exist in a warehouse area, with different colors in accordance with stock levels.

In order to realize the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention comprises pluralities of shelves embodied to allow arrangement of products side by side in a warehouse, pluralities of illumination elements arranged side by side to said shelf in a visible manner, pluralities of shelf control units provided such that one each shelf control units is provided to each shelf for controlling operation of said illumination elements; a main control unit embodied to transfer data to said shelf control units; a connection element which provides transfer of energy and data between the shelf control units and said communication unit; a memory unit for storing the position information of each illumination element provided to each shelf and the address information of products which exist on the shelf; and the main control unit is configured to provide formation of a first picking or loading information by means of data stored in said memory unit in accordance with the coming picking or loading order information, to provide transfer of the formed first picking or loading information to said communication unit, to provide transfer of the first picking or loading information coming from the communication unit to the shelf control units by means of the connection element, to provide operation of the illumination elements which exist at the determined address for the determined product in accordance with the first picking or loading information of the shelf control unit which comprises the first picking or loading information among the shelf control units.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, at least one shelf unit is provided which is formed by pluralities of shelves arranged one under the other. Thus, pluralities of products are provided inside the warehouse.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the connection element is configured to transfer the energy, needed for the operation of both the shelf control units and the illumination elements, and the product picking or loading information by means of two connection cables through the same line. Thus, assembly is facilitated, and both energy and data are carried by means of only two cables. In another possible embodiment of the present invention, related shelf control unit is configured to provide adjustment of the color, turn on/off frequency and duration of a specific part of the illumination element, connected to said related shelf control unit, depending on the picking or loading information produced by means of the main control unit.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the main control unit is configured to provide illumination of all illumination elements with the same color, which are provided for all products provided in a product group. Thus, different colors are used in different product groups, and the distinctiveness in the warehouse is increased.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the main control unit is configured to provide illumination of the products, which exist at the shelves, with different colors in a compliant manner to the stock levels. Thus, distinctiveness of products is increased in accordance with stock information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1 , a representative view of the product picking and loading system provided to the shelf units which exist in a warehouse is given.

In Figure 2, a representative view of the operation scenario of the product picking and loading system is given.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

The present invention relates to a product picking and loading system (10) which provides picking of products (22) which exist in a warehouse and which provides loading of products (22) to shelves (21) with a specific sequence.

There are pluralities of shelf units (20) comprising shelves (21) arrayed one below the other where the products (22), provided in said warehouse, are positioned. Said shelf units (20) are arrayed mutually along a corridor and/or in a side by side manner or in a manner rested to the wall. There are products (22) arranged side by side to at least one shelf (21) of said shelf units (20). There are pluralities of illumination elements (400) positioned in a visible manner and arrayed side by side along the shelf (21 ).

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, LED illumination is used which is provided in a sequenced manner as said illumination element (400). Said LED illumination can be positioned in an addressable and colored manner. There is a shelf control unit (200) configured to provide controlling of said illumination elements (400) provided for each shelf (21). There is a main control unit (100) provided in a manner controlling the shelf control units (200).

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the main control unit (100) can be a processor, etc. which provides electronically realization of specific logical and mathematical processes provided to the mobile device like computer, etc, and which provides interpretation and execution of the given commands. There is a communication unit (600) provided in a manner providing communication of said main control unit (100) and said shelf control units (200) with each other. Said communication unit (600) is provided in a manner communicating with the main control unit (100) by means of different alternative methods, namely wired or wireless. The communication unit (600) is embodied to provide wired data communication with the shelf control unit (200). There is at least one connection element (500) embodied to provide connection of the communication unit (600) and the shelf control units (200) with each other. Said connection element (500) is configured to provide transfer of power data and at the same time the picking or loading information through the same line by means of two connection cables. The shelf control units (200), provided at all shelves (21) of all shelf units (20) which exist in the warehouse, are parallel connected to each other by means of the connection element (500). There is a memory unit (300) associated with the main control unit (100) in a manner storing the address information of all products (22) provided at shelves (21) and the position information of the illumination elements (400). Said memory unit (300) provides storage of the typed data by means of the main control unit (100). The data, stored in the memory unit (300), is read by means of the main control unit (100). The memory unit (300) comprises the address information which indicates the shelf of the shelf unit (20) where the products (22), provided at the shelves (21), exist, and the order of the determined shelf (21) where the products (22), provided at the shelves (21), exist. The memory unit (300) moreover provides storage of the ranked position information of the illumination elements (400) at shelves (21), which are provided separately for each shelf (21). The illumination elements (400), provided on the shelf (21), are provided so as to be arrayed along the shelf (21). Illumination elements (400) are sequenced such that there is the first, second, third, etc. illumination elements (400) along the length of the shelf (21) in accordance with the position information. The product loading and picking system (10) comprises a power supply (30) provided in a manner meeting the energy need. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, a battery is used as the power supply (30) or the needed energy is taken from the supply connected by means of a connection element.

The main control unit (100) provides getting of the address information of the shelves (21), where the products (22) exist, in accordance with a predetermined order information comprising picking or loading information of a product (22), and provides getting of the position information of the predefined illumination element (400) from the memory unit (300) depending on the shelf (21) address of products (22). Picking or loading information is transferred to the communication unit (600) in accordance with the received address information. The communication unit (600) provides transfer of the coming picking or loading information to all shelf control units (200) by means of the connection element (500). The related shelf control unit (200), where the product (22) exists, among the shelf control units (200) provides operation of the illumination element (400) along the length occupied by the product (22), which exists on the shelf (21), depending on the information received from the main control unit (100). The main control unit (100) provides adjustment of the color, duration and frequency range of said illumination element (400) and provides transfer thereof to the shelf control unit (200). The main control unit (100) is moreover embodied to provide illumination of all illumination elements (400), provided for all products (22) provided in a product (22) group, with the same color. The main control unit (100) is moreover embodied to provide illumination of the illumination elements (400) with same colors which are compliant to the stock condition of the products (22). The communication unit (600) provides simultaneous transfer of both the data and the power signal by means of the connection element (500).

An exemplary operation scenario of the present invention is described below;

There is a first product (22) on the first shelf (21) of the first shelf unit (20) among the shelf unit (20) which exists in a warehouse. A second product (22) is provided on a second shelf (21) of a second shelf unit (20), and a third product (22) is provided next to said second product (22). Order information, which includes a picking or loading information, is transferred to the main control unit (100) through a server. Said picking or loading information respectively comprises the first product (22), the second product (22) and the third product (22). The main control unit (100) provides transfer of the address information of the first product (22), the position information of the illumination elements (400) provided along the length occupied by the first product (22) on the shelf (21), the first picking or loading information, comprising the duration, the color, the frequency of the illumination element (400) at the determined address, to the communication unit (600) in accordance with the data stored beforehand in the memory unit (300). The communication unit (600) provides transfer of the first picking or loading information, received from the main control unit (100), to all shelf control units (200) by means of the connection element (500). The first shelf control unit (200) provides operation of the illumination elements (400) which correspond to the position information of the first product (22) at the shelf. In case the operator picks the first product (22), the main control unit (100) provides transfer of the second picking or loading information to the communication unit (600) for the second product (22) which is to be picked or to be loaded. The second picking or loading information comprises the position information of the illumination elements (400) along the length occupied by the second product (22) on the second shelf where the second product (22) exists at the second shelf of the second shelf unit and where the second product (22) exists at the second shelf, and moreover comprises the color, frequency and turn on duration of the illumination elements (400) which exist at the determined position. The communication unit (600) provides transfer of the second picking or loading information, coming from the main control unit (100), to all shelf control units (200) by means of the connection element (500). The second shelf control unit (200) provides operation of the illumination elements (400) which correspond to the position information of the product (22) at the shelf for the second product (22) which is to be picked or loaded. After the operator picks or loads the second product (22), the main control unit (100) provides transfer of the third picking or loading information to the communication unit (600) for picking or loading of the third product. The third picking or loading information comprises the position information of the illumination elements (400) along the length occupied by the third product (22) on the second shelf where the third product (22) exists at the second shelf of the second shelf unit (20), and moreover comprises the color, frequency and turn on duration of the illumination elements (400) which exist at the determined position. The communication unit (600) provides transfer of the third picking or loading information, which comes from the main control unit (100), to all shelf control units (200) by means of the connection element (500). The second shelf control unit (200) provides operation of the illumination elements (400) which correspond to the position information of the product (22) at the second shelf for the third product (22) which is to be picked or loaded. After the operator picks or loads the third product (22), the process is completed.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an operator provides preparation of the products (22), which exist in the order list of a customer, by means of an autonomous vehicle. First of all, the order list formed by said customer is transferred to the main control unit (100) by means of a server. The main control unit (100) provides comparison of the coming order list with the data stored in the memory unit (300). The main control unit (100) detects that the first order, which is among the two orders which exist in the list, exists at the third rank at the second shelf of the first shelf unit (20). The main control unit (100) provides transfer of the first order information to all shelf control units (200) by means of the communication unit (600). Said first order information comprises address information of LEDs provided along the length of the third product (22) where the first product (22) is the third product (22) at the second shelf, and the data which provides operation of the LEDs, which exist at said address, in a manner turning on/off once at two seconds with red color. In case the second shelf control unit (200), which exists at the second shelf of the first shelf unit (20), detects that the product (22), included by the first order information coming from the communication unit (600), exists at the related shelf, the second shelf control unit (200) provides operation of the eighth, ninth and tenth LEDs provided such that the operator can see visually along the length of the product (22). The autonomous vehicle of the operator stops near the first shelf unit (20) in accordance with the command received from the main control unit (100). The main control unit (100) provides detection of the position of the second order as the operator receives the first order and provides reading of said first order by the reader which exists on the autonomous vehicle. The main control unit (100) detects that the second order, which exists in the list, is positioned at the first rank of the fourth shelf of the third shelf unit (20). The main control unit (100) provides transfer of the second order information to all shelf control units (200) by means of the communication unit (600). Said second order information comprises the address information of LEDs provided along the length of the second product (22) where the second product (22) is at the first rank at the fourth shelf of the third shelf unit (20), and moreover comprises data which provides operation of LEDs in yellow color such that LEDs turn on/off once in every three seconds. In case the fourth shelf control unit (200), provided at the fourth shelf of the third shelf unit (20), detects that the product (22) exists at the shelf included by the second order information coming from the communication unit (600), the shelf control unit (200) provides operation of the first, second, third LEDs provided along the length of the product (22) such that the operator can see visually. The autonomous vehicle of the operator stops near the third shelf unit (20) in accordance with the command received from the main control unit (100). The operator receives the second order from the fourth shelf and provides reading of said second order by the reader which exists on the autonomous vehicle. The main control unit (100) provides completion of the order in accordance with the data received from the reader and in accordance with the order condition provided in the list, and provides preparation of the next order list. Thus, the orders are prepared in a rapid and correct manner. Moreover, the shelves are used in an efficient manner, and pluralities of products (22) are positioned in a regular manner inside the warehouse. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an operator provides operation of the product picking and loading system (10) for providing determining the positions of the products (22) in the warehouse, which belong to the same product (22) group among all products (22) provided in a warehouse. By means of operating of the system, the main control unit (100) provides illumination of LEDs, provided for the same product (22) groups provided at predefined positions in the memory unit (300), with the same colors. In this case, the LEDs, provided at the positions where the beverages provided in the warehouse are placed at shelves, are illuminated in red color, and the LEDs, provided at the positions where the foods are placed at shelves, are illuminated in yellow color, and the LEDs, provided at the positions where the cleaning products (22) are placed at the shelves, are illuminated in blue color.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the product picking and loading system (10) is operated for providing checking the stock conditions of products (22) by a worker who is in a warehouse. By means of operation of the system, the main control unit (100) provides the products (22), which have stock number equal to 3 or lower, to be illuminated with red color; the products (22), which have stock number between 3 and 10, to be illuminated with yellow color; the products (22), which have stock number equal to 10 or higher, to be illuminated with green color. For instance, the main control unit provides illumination of the LEDs with red color, which exist under a first product which has stock number equal to 2 and which exist under a second product which has stock number equal to 1 in the warehouse. In this case, the worker can detect that the stocks are about to finish for the first product and for the second product. The main control unit (100) moreover provides illumination of LEDs with yellow color which exist under a third product which has stock number equal to 5 in the warehouse and which exist under a fourth product which has stock number equal to 7. In this case, the worker can detect that the third product and the fourth product are about to finish. The main control unit (100) moreover provides illumination of the LEDs with green color, which exist under a fifth product which has stock number equal to 15 inside the warehouse. In this case, the worker can detect that there is sufficient number of fifth product (22) in the warehouse. Thus, the operator can easily control the stock number. This condition decreases the time loss in determination of the stock number by the operator, and provides the information, indicating that the product (22) is finished or is about to finish, to be detected beforehand. The main control unit (100) moreover can provide determination of the mostly sold product (22) by providing checking of the stock numbers.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Product picking and loading system 20 Shelf unit 21 Shelf

22 Product 30 Power supply 100 Main control unit 200 Shelf control unit 300 Memory unit

400 Illumination element 500 Connection element 600 Communication unit