Patent ID: 8494673

Claim:
A method of operating a warehouse system comprising: (a) placing a plurality of different packaging units into in storage in a goods-in store on delivery pallets as storage units; (b) detecting packaging unit properties in a data bank, wherein the packaging unit properties are selected from the group consisting of dimensions, weight, density, tipping factor, stability, the seal of a closure of a packaging unit filled with liquid, packaging type, transportability, and the shape of the packaging unit; (c) setting by a computer an appropriate classification group for each packaging unit on the basis of the packaging unit properties by defining a first classification group comprising a first set of packaging units able to be de-palletized from the storage units by at least one de-palletizing device, conveyed via an automated packaging unit distribution system, distributed in an automated first temporary store, and moved out of storage in the first temporary store as needed for a customer or picking order and loaded by an automated stacking device at a first loading station onto a first dispatch pallet; and defining a second classification group comprising a second set of packaging units able to be conveyed to a packing station where several of the packaging units of the second set of packaging units are able to be manually repacked in at least one load carrier; (d) de-palletizing a plurality of packaging units needed for the customer or picking order from the first set of packaging units by the at least one de-palletizing device, conveying the packaging units via the automated packaging unit distribution system, distributing the packaging units in the automated first temporary store, moving the packaging units out of storage in the first temporary store and loading the packaging units by the automated stacking device at the first loading station onto the first dispatch pallet; (e) manually repacking a plurality of packaging units from the second set of packaging units in the at least one load carrier and subsequently conveying the at least one load carrier via an automated load carrier distribution system to a second temporary store for distribution of the packaging units; and (f) loading the at least one load carrier and the packaging units from the first set of packaging units needed for the customer or picking order onto a second dispatch pallet at a second loading station.