Loading system and method for loading packaged items

Abstract

A loading, picking or sorting system and a method for loading, picking or sorting packaged items, include a removal device for removing packaged items provided in a warehouse, a buffer device for buffering the removed packaged items, and a dispensing device for withdrawing buffered packaged items from the buffer device according to a particular loading order for outputting to a processing unit handling the packaged items in order to complete the loading order. In order to achieve low production, operating, and maintenance costs, the buffer device includes at least one collecting conveyor on which the buffered packaged items are collected.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A sorting system for sorting packaged items, the sorting system comprising:
 a removal device configured to remove packaged items made available in a warehouse;   a buffer device configured to buffer the removed packaged items, said buffer device having at least one collecting conveyor on which the buffered packaged items are collected;   a dispensing device configured to withdraw the buffered packaged items from said buffer device in accordance with a sorting order; and   a processing unit configured to process the packaged items dispensed from said dispensing device to complete said sorting order.   
     
     
         16 . The sorting system according to  claim 15 , which further comprises a conveying unit configured to convey the packaged items removed from the warehouse onto said at least one collecting conveyor in an orderless manner. 
     
     
         17 . The sorting system according to  claim 15 , wherein said processing unit includes a separating device associated with said at least one collecting conveyor and configured to separate the packaged items withdrawn from said collecting conveyor. 
     
     
         18 . The sorting system according to  claim 15 , wherein said buffer device is configured to buffer the removed packaged items on said at least one collecting conveyor using a compilation based on a specific sorting order. 
     
     
         19 . The sorting system according to  claim 15 , wherein said at least one collecting conveyor includes at least one time-based collecting conveyor used in at least one operating mode to receive and provide the packaged items for assignment to a subsequent processing of a sorting order. 
     
     
         20 . The sorting system according to  claim 15 , wherein said processing unit includes an orienting unit associated with said at least one collecting conveyor and configured to move the packaged items withdrawn from said at least one collecting conveyor to achieve a target orientation with respect to a material flow. 
     
     
         21 . The sorting system according to  claim 15 , wherein said processing unit includes an optical detection unit configured to detect a position of packaged items relative to one another and/or relative to a predefined direction. 
     
     
         22 . The sorting system according to  claim 15 , wherein said processing unit includes a sequencing device configured to provide the packaged items withdrawn from said at least one collecting conveyor in a succession in accordance with a specific sorting order. 
     
     
         23 . The sorting system according to  claim 15 , wherein said at least one collecting conveyor of said buffer device is a set of collecting conveyors. 
     
     
         24 . The sorting system according to  claim 23 , wherein said set of collecting conveyors includes specific collecting conveyors each assigned to at least one of a plurality of different sorting orders, in at least one operating mode. 
     
     
         25 . The sorting system according to  claim 23 , which further comprises a sorting device configured to sort the packaged items removed from the warehouse for buffering in said corresponding collecting conveyors. 
     
     
         26 . A method for sorting packaged items, the method comprising the following steps:
 removing packaged items from a warehouse;   buffering the removed packaged items in a buffer device having a collecting conveyor collecting the packaged items removed from the warehouse;   withdrawing the buffered packaged items from the buffer device in accordance with a specific sorting order; and   processing the withdrawn packaged items to complete the sorting order.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , which further comprises collecting the packaged items on the collecting conveyor in an orderless manner. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26 , which further comprises separating the packaged items withdrawn from the buffer device to complete the sorting order.