Shopping facility track system and method of routing motorized transport units
First Claim
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1. A track system, comprising:
- an elevated track system comprising a series of elevated tracks that are positioned elevated above a sales floor and products, distributed over at least a portion of the sales floor of a shopping facility, and configured such that multiple motorized transport units travel along the series of elevated tracks in traversing at least portions of the shopping facility, wherein at least some of the elevated tracks are positioned above a drop down ceiling;
one or more chutes each cooperated with one of the elevated tracks and configured to provide a passage for one or more of the motorized transport units between the series of elevated tracks and the sales floor, wherein each of the one or more chutes have dimensions such that the motorized transport units are configured to be position within the chute while being transported through the chute; and
a safety catch cooperated under at least a first elevated track of the at least some of the elevated tracks and that extends over an area of the sales floor where people walk, wherein the safety catch is configured to catch objects that unintentionally fall from the first elevated track.
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Abstract
Some embodiments include a track system comprising: an elevated track system comprising a series of elevated tracks that are positioned elevated above a sales floor and products distributed over at least a portion of the sales floor of a shopping facility, and configured such that multiple motorized transport units travel along the series of elevated tracks in traversing at least portions of the shopping facility.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A track system, comprising:
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an elevated track system comprising a series of elevated tracks that are positioned elevated above a sales floor and products, distributed over at least a portion of the sales floor of a shopping facility, and configured such that multiple motorized transport units travel along the series of elevated tracks in traversing at least portions of the shopping facility, wherein at least some of the elevated tracks are positioned above a drop down ceiling; one or more chutes each cooperated with one of the elevated tracks and configured to provide a passage for one or more of the motorized transport units between the series of elevated tracks and the sales floor, wherein each of the one or more chutes have dimensions such that the motorized transport units are configured to be position within the chute while being transported through the chute; and a safety catch cooperated under at least a first elevated track of the at least some of the elevated tracks and that extends over an area of the sales floor where people walk, wherein the safety catch is configured to catch objects that unintentionally fall from the first elevated track. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of routing motorized transport units through a shopping facility, comprising:
by a central computer system of a shopping facility; instructing multiple motorized transport units to access an elevated track system comprising a series of elevated tracks that are positioned elevated above a sales floor and products, and distributed over at least a portion of the sales floor of a shopping facility, wherein at least some of the elevated tracks are positioned above a drop down ceiling, and a safety catch cooperated under at least a first elevated track of the at least some of the elevated tracks and that extends over an area of the sales floor where people walk, wherein the safety catch is configured to catch objects that unintentionally fall from the first elevated track; instructing the multiple motorized transport units to access at least one of one or more chutes each cooperated with one of the elevated tracks, wherein each of the one or more chutes provides a passage for one or more of the motorized transport units between the series of elevated tracks and the sales floor and wherein each of the one or more chutes have dimensions such that the motorized transport units are configured to be position within the chute while being transported through the chute; and instructing the multiple motorized transport units to travel along the series of elevated tracks in traversing at least portions of the shopping facility. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
Specification