Patent ID: 7991506

Claim:
An automated order-picking system, having an integrated sorting function, for conveying article units towards a workstation in accordance with a predetermined sequence of a picking order, the system comprising: at least one storage rack having a plurality of storage locations for receiving load supports, on which or in which article units are stored, wherein the storage rack is divided into rack regions, wherein each of the rack regions comprises a plurality of rack planes which respectively comprise a plurality of the storage locations being arranged side-by-side; at least one central conveyor, being arranged along a first longitudinal side of the storage rack, the central conveyor being divided into a plurality of windows; a number of vertical elevators being arranged one behind the other along the first longitudinal side of the storage rack, each of the vertical elevators respectively comprises one load suspension device for receiving and delivering at least one of the load supports, wherein each of the vertical elevators is coupled to the central conveyor on a handing-over level; and at least one storage machine, which is movable horizontally and vertically along a second longitudinal side of the at least one storage rack for moving the load supports between the storage locations and handover locations in the at least one rack, which are arranged opposite to the vertical elevators; and a superordinated control device for controlling the vertical elevators such that the vertical elevators retrieve the load supports provided at the handover locations in the at least one storage rack, transport the load supports to the handing-over level, and deliver, at a predetermined time, one or more article units, which are stored in or on the retrieved load supports, towards the at least one central conveyor, so that all of the article units, which are required for the processing of the picking order at the workstation, are located on the at least one central conveyor in accordance with the pre-determined sequence, after the at least one central conveyor has passed all of the vertical elevators.