Device and method for running a warehouse

An arrangement for running a warehouse, in which objects are stored in a plurality of stacks in a storage area, comprising

• a) a collecting device being movable over the storage area in the warehouse, the collecting device for picking up the objects from the storage area,
• b) an intermediate store arranged on the collecting device to accommodate objects to be picked up from the storage area, for filling the intermediate store by successively lifting one object or a plurality of objects from various stacks in separate pickup steps,
• c) a gripping device arranged on the collecting device for lifting one object or a plurality of objects from one of the stacks, whereas the gripping device is vertically movable;
• and
• d) a plurality of storage units arranged above the storage area in the warehouse and fixed in the vertical direction, the storage units are fixedly arranged on a portal bridge, which can be moved independently of the collecting device, the collecting device being movably arranged above the storage area on a further portal bridge, the storage units and the collecting device located opposite each other above the storage area and the collecting device moving on the further portal bridge for transfer of objects accommodated in the intermediate store of the collecting device directly into the storage units.

A method for operating a warehouse, in which objects are stored in a plurality of stacks in a storage area, comprising the steps of

• a) using a portal robot for moving a collecting device over the storage area in the warehouse to any desired stack having objects to be picked up;
• b) for picking up a stack part from one or more objects of the stack, moving vertically downward a gripping device arranged on the collecting device, the gripping device including two mutually opposite blades which are extended out of the collecting device, an intermediate store arranged on the collecting device, the intermediate store arranged in a fixed location above the storage area as the objects are picked up from directly below the collecting device by the mutually opposite blades;
• c) gripping the stack part by said two mutually opposite blades of the gripping device;
• d) moving only vertically upward the gripping device while moving objects to the intermediate store, so that the intermediate store arranged on the collecting device accommodates the objects picked up from the storage area;
• and
• e) filling the intermediate store by successively lifting one object or a plurality of objects from various stacks in further pick-up steps.

A method for running a warehouse, in which objects are stored in a plurality of stacks in a storage area, comprising the steps of

• a) moving a collecting device over the storage area in the warehouse to any desired stack having objects to be picked up;
• b) accommodating a stack part of one or more objects from the stack in an intermediate store of the collecting device;
• c) filling the intermediate store by successively lifting one object or a plurality of objects from various stacks in further pick-up steps;
• and
• d) transferring the objects accommodated in the intermediate store to a storage unit which is independently movable of the collecting device, the collecting device cooperates with the storage unit, a plurality of storage units are fixedly arranged on a portal bridge, the storage units are arranged above the storage area and fixed in the vertical direction, and the collecting device being movably arranged on a further portal bridge, the storage units and the collecting device are located opposite each other and the collecting device moving on the further portal bridge for transfer of an object or objects into the storage units.