Apparatus and method for managing the storage of articles

Abstract

Device for keeping articles in temporary storage, including a frame having series storage sections provided with supports for series of holders, at least one first and at least one second platform configured for receiving at least one holder, wherein the platforms can be moved by a first movement unit from a position in which both are aligned with one of the storage sections to a position in which both are aligned with another one of the storage sections, wherein the device has been provided with a second movement unit for, in a first direction, horizontally moving one or more holders from the platform at a first frame side to the holder supports of a selected storage section, while moving the series of holders supported thereon over the selected storage section and moving one or more holders from the storage section to the platform at a second frame side.

1 . Method for managing a storage device for keeping articles placed in holders in temporary storage, wherein the holders are stored in the device in storage sections which in the form of one or more columns have been placed in a frame and which extend between a first frame side and a second frame side of the frame,
 wherein the holders are taken to and retrieved from the storage sections by means of first and second platforms that are disposed at and movable along first and second frame sides, respectively,   wherein when discharging a holder to a selected storage section from the one platform, the holders already present are moved in a contiguous series over said storage section while discharging a holder to the other platform,   wherein when retrieving a wanted holder from a selected storage section, at least one of the holders, called a displacing holder, is discharged from the first platform to the selected storage section in order to move the holders already present in said storage section in a contiguous series over said storage section while discharging the wanted holder to the second platform,   wherein the wanted holder is carried by the second platform to an exit for wanted holders,   wherein the holders with articles are placed freely in the storage sections, which have not been assigned to a specific type of article, wherein the content of the holders is saved in a control system of the storage device and the position of the holders therein is monitored.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said displacing holder is a holder which is provided with articles and is to be stored in the storage device. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the holders are stored at random in the storage device. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein in a first cycle of platform and holder movements the holders on the selected storage section are moved to bring the wanted holder closer to said second platform while transferring one or more intermediate holders from the selected storage section to said other platform, the first and second platforms are moved to another storage section, where holders are moved from the second platform onto said another storage section while discharging holders from said another storage section onto the first platform, after which the first and second platforms are moved again to the selected storage section where one or more holders are moved from the first platform onto said selected storage section while discharging one or more holders from said selected storage section onto the second platform, to bring the wanted holder more closer to the second platform or to discharge the wanted holder onto the second platform. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 4 , wherein, in case in the first cycle the wanted holder has not yet been discharged onto the second platform, the first cycle is followed by a second cycle of platform and holder movements. 
     
     
         6 . Method for managing a device for keeping articles in temporary storage,
 which device comprises a frame having at least one series of mutually parallel elongated storage sections placed in one or more column set-ups and extending between a first frame side and a second frame side of the frame, wherein the storage sections have been provided with holder supports on which series of holders, such as carriers, for the articles are supported, wherein at the first frame side and the second frame side of the frame, first and second platforms, respectively, have been arranged, each platform being configured for receiving at least one holder, which platforms can be moved from a position in which both are aligned with either one of a storage section and a transfer device, to a position in which both are aligned with either one of another one of the storage sections and—if not aligned with the transfer device in the previous position—the transfer device, for transferring holders to and from the platforms,   wherein discharging one or more holders from a platform to a storage section is combined with discharging a same number of holders from said storage section to the opposite platform while moving the series of holders present in the storage section and situated between both holders, accordingly,   wherein the platforms are moved along the storage sections by first movement means,   wherein the holders are moved in the longitudinal direction of the storage sections by second movement means,   wherein the first and second movement means are controlled by a control system,   wherein upon being accommodated in the device, the holders and articles (type, number) are registered in the control system,   wherein each movement of holders is registered in the control system,   wherein taking articles into storage is combined with retrieving articles from storage,   wherein the holders with articles are placed in the storage sections independent of the type of article accommodated therein,   wherein the method comprises the steps of:   a—entering into the control system a request for retrieving from the device one or more article(s) held by a specific first holder, which is a wanted holder,   b—having the control system select the storage section and the location therein of the wanted holder,   c—having the control system determine from which of the first and second frame sides the wanted holder will be retrieved, to be called selected frame side,   d—receiving on a platform a holder to be taken into storage,   e—using the holder to be taken into storage and the holders in the selected storage section, as displacer, in relation with using the first and second movement means, for realizing the movement of the wanted holder which is required to take this holder from the selected storage section onto the platform at the selected frame side,   x—moving both platforms from the selected storage section into a position aligned with the transfer device.   y—discharging the wanted holder from the platform to the transfer device at the selected frame side, while at the opposite frame side, from the transfer device, receiving on the other platform, a (second) holder to be stored in the device.   
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 6 , wherein the selected frame side is selected as the first or second frame side which closest to the wanted holder. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 6 , wherein after step d) both platforms are taken immediately to the selected storage section, wherein the holder which is taken into storage is then used for moving the wanted holder from the selected storage section towards the platform at the selected frame side. 
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 8 , wherein the wanted holder is discharged onto the platform on the selected frame side. 
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 6 , wherein after step d) first the pair of platforms are taken to another storage section than the selected storage section, for creating a set-up of holders on the platform opposite the selected frame side, using the holder which is taken into storage, wherein thereafter the platforms are then brought in front of the selected storage section and wherein by means of the set up of holders present on the platform opposite the selected frame side the wanted holder is moved towards the platform on the selected frame side. 
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 10 , wherein by means of the set up of holders present on the platform opposite the selected frame side the wanted holder is discharged onto the platform on the selected frame side. 
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 10 , wherein by means of the set up of holders present on the platform opposite the selected frame side the wanted holder is moved in the direction of the selected frame side but not yet onto the platform at the selected frame side, wherein thereafter the platforms are taken to another storage section and holders on the platform on the selected frame side are used to move holders present in said another storage section onto the platform at the opposite frame side in order to create a further set-up of holders on that platform, wherein thereafter the platforms are then brought in front of the selected storage section and wherein by means of the set up of holders present on the platform opposite the selected frame side the wanted holder is moved towards the platform on the selected frame side. 
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 12 , wherein by means of the set up of holders present on the platform opposite the selected frame side the wanted holder is discharged onto the platform on the selected frame side. 
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 12 , repeated until the wanted holder is discharged onto the platform on the selected frame side. 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 6 , repeated for the next holders to be retrieved and to be entered. 
     
     
         16 . Method for keeping articles in storage and retrieving them from storage,
 wherein the articles are kept in holders,   wherein a main device and an auxiliary device are available for storage,   wherein articles are stored in the main device in one or more groups of holders,   wherein per group the holders always contain an identical number of items of a specific article,   wherein in the auxiliary device articles are stored in holders, wherein the position of the holders and the number of articles in the holders is monitored,   wherein for retrieving a group of articles of the wanted type from storage, it is determined with which holder or holders the number of said group can be achieved, with holders from the main device, with holders from the auxiliary device or with a combination of the two,   after which the thus selected holders are taken out of the main and auxiliary device in question,   the selected holders are passed along a removal station and at that location the wanted articles are taken out of the holders, in order to achieve the number of the group,   wherein a holder, emptied in the removal station, is taken back to the main device,   wherein a holder that is partially filled after the removal station, is supplied to the auxiliary device and stored therein, and   wherein the holders with articles are freely placed in the auxiliary storage sections, that have not been assigned to a specific type of article.   
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 16 , wherein the holders are stored in the main device in main storage sections, which in the form of one or more columns have been placed in a main frame and which extend between a first frame side and a second frame side of the main frame,
 wherein the holders are taken to and retrieved from the main storage sections by means of platforms arranged at and movable along the first and second frame sides,   wherein when discharging a holder from the one platform to a selected main storage section, the holders already present are moved in a contiguous series over said main storage section while discharging a holder to the other platform,   wherein when retrieving a wanted holder from a selected main storage section from the one platform, a holder is discharged to the selected main storage section in order to move the holders already present in said main storage section in a contiguous series over said main storage section while discharging the wanted holder to the other platform.   
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein one or more main storage sections are assigned to a specific type of article. 
     
     
         19 . Method according to  claim 16 , wherein the holders are stored in the auxiliary device in auxiliary storage sections, which in the form of one or more columns have been placed in an auxiliary frame and which extend between a first frame side and a second frame side of the main frame,
 wherein the holders are taken to and retrieved from the auxiliary storage sections by means of platforms arranged at and movable along the first and second frame ends,   wherein when discharging a holder from the one platform to a selected auxiliary storage section, the holders already present are moved in a contiguous series over said auxiliary storage section while discharging a holder to the other platform,   wherein when retrieving a wanted holder from a selected auxiliary storage section from the one platform, a holder is discharged to the selected auxiliary storage section in order to move the holders already present in said auxiliary storage section in a contiguous series over said auxiliary storage section while discharging the wanted holder to the other platform.   
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein for retrieving a wanted holder that is situated in an auxiliary storage section spaced apart from the first or the second frame side, the holders situated between the wanted holder and the first or second end can be moved to another storage section in one or several cycles, until the wanted holder can be received at the platform in question.