Storage and/or order collection system

Abstract

Storage device for storing and/or retrieving articles from storage, includes a frame having a first series of mutually parallel elongated storage sections, preferably positioned in a column set-up, that extend between a first end and a second end of the frame; a number of holders for the articles; storage sections being provided with holder supports, wherein at the first and second ends of the frame, first and second platforms, respectively, have been arranged for accommodating at least one holder; and first movement elements for moving the platforms, from one storage section to another; second movement elements for horizontally moving at least one holder from the first platform at the first end of the frame to the holder supports of a selected storage section while moving one or more holders from the selected storage section to the second platform at the second end of the frame, and vice versa.

1 . A storage device for the storage of articles and retrieving articles from storage, comprising:
 a frame having a first series of mutually parallel elongated storage sections, positioned in a column set-up, each storage section extending along first and second longitudinal sides between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the frame, at least one of the storage sections being an elongated entry section and at least another one of the storage sections being an elongated exit section;   plural holders for the articles;   holder supports provided on the storage sections on which a number of the holders can be supported for storage of the articles;   first and second platforms respectively arranged at the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end of the frame, each of the first and second platforms adapted for accommodating at least one of the holders;   first platform movers that move said platforms vertically from a first of the storage sections to a second of the storage sections;   holder movers that horizontally move a first of the holders from i) a first of the platforms at the first longitudinal end of a selected one of the storage sections to ii) a selected one of the holder supports of the selected one storage section, while iii) moving a second of the holders from the selected one holder support to a second of the platforms at the second longitudinal end of the frame, and vice versa;   at least one feeder device at a location of the elongated entry section, said at least one feeder device being provided with an entry displacer for, in a first transverse direction transverse to the elongated entry section, transferring an offered article to be stored onto one of the holders present in the elongated entry section; and   at least one discharge device at a location of the elongated exit section, said at least one discharge device being provided with a discharge displacer for, in a second transverse direction opposite the first transverse direction transverse to the elongated exit section, transferring an article to be discharged present on another one of the holders in the elongated exit section to a discharge position outside of the elongated exit section.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one feeder device is arranged on the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one feeder device is arranged near one of the first and second longitudinal ends of the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein a first of the at least one feeder device is arranged near the first longitudinal end of the frame and a second of the at least one feeder device is arranged near the second longitudinal end of the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one feeder device is arranged contiguously to the one of the first and second longitudinal ends of the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one discharge device is arranged on the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one discharge device is arranged near one of the first and second longitudinal ends of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein a first of the at least one discharge device is arranged near the first longitudinal end of the frame and a second of the at least one discharge device is arranged near the second longitudinal end of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one discharge device is arranged contiguously to the one of the first and second longitudinal ends of the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an entry track and an exit track, the entry track and the exit track extending horizontally and adjacent to the elongated entry section and the elongated exit section, respectively, and to at least within an operational area of the at least one feeder device and within an operational area of the at least one discharge device, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein a first of the at least one feeder device is arranged near the first longitudinal end of the frame and a second of the at least one feeder device is arranged near the second longitudinal end of the frame, and the entry track extends between the first and second feeders devices. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein a first of the at least one discharge device is arranged near the first longitudinal end of the frame and a second of the at least one discharge device is arranged near the second longitudinal end of the frame, and the exit track extends between the first and second discharge devices. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein,
 the entry section, the exit section, the entry track, and the exit track are all located at a same one of the first and second longitudinal sides of the frame, and   the entry track and the exit track are located one above another.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the entry section and the exit section are situated directly above one another. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the entry displacer comprises a pusher for the article. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge displacer comprises a pusher for the article. 
     
     
         17 . A arrangement comprising two of said device according to  claim 1  positioned next to each other and second platform movers arranged between said two devices, wherein,
 a first of said two devices provides a first series of storage sections positioned in the column set-up, 
 a second of said two devices provides a second series of storage sections positioned in the column set-up, and 
 the second platform movers move the platforms in horizontal direction from one of the first and second the longitudinal ends of the first series of storage sections to the one of the first and second longitudinal ends of the second series and the platforms are vertically movable, by the first platform movers, along the one of the first and second longitudinal ends of the second series of storage sections.