Automated container storage and delivery system
First Claim
1. A container storage and delivery system, comprising:
- an individual container storage and delivery system;
a palletizer for forming a group of containers from said individual container storage and delivery system into a layer or a partial layer, and placing this layer or partial layer onto a pallet;
a high speed pick station comprising a plurality of storage locations, each location storing a single SKU, and providing access for rapid retrieval of high throughput container types from each storage location;
an individual container placement station for placing individual containers onto a pallet;
a conveyor system for conveying containers and pallets bearing containers from at least said individual container storage and delivery system, said palletizer, said high speed pick station, and said individual container placement station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A container storage and delivery system includes an individual container storage and delivery system. A palletizer is provided for forming a group of containers from the individual container storage and delivery system into a layer or a partial layer, and placing this layer or partial layer onto a pallet. A high speed pick station provides access for manual retrieval of high throughput case types from each storage location. An individual container placement station is also provided for placing individual containers onto a pallet. A conveyor system conveys containers and pallets from the individual container storage and delivery system, the palletizer, the high speed pick station, and the individual container placement station.
18 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A container storage and delivery system, comprising:
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an individual container storage and delivery system;
a palletizer for forming a group of containers from said individual container storage and delivery system into a layer or a partial layer, and placing this layer or partial layer onto a pallet;
a high speed pick station comprising a plurality of storage locations, each location storing a single SKU, and providing access for rapid retrieval of high throughput container types from each storage location;
an individual container placement station for placing individual containers onto a pallet;
a conveyor system for conveying containers and pallets bearing containers from at least said individual container storage and delivery system, said palletizer, said high speed pick station, and said individual container placement station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for storing and delivering containers, comprising the steps of:
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providing an individual container storage and delivery system;
providing a palletizer for forming a group of containers from said individual container storage and delivery system into a layer or a partial layer, and placing this layer or partial layer onto a pallet;
a high speed pick station comprising a plurality of storage locations, each location storing a single container type, and providing access for manual retrieval of high throughput case types at a time from each storage location;
providing an individual container placement station for placing individual containers onto a pallet;
maintaining inventory data comprising position data for at least some containers in said system;
receiving customer order data; and
placing containers onto a pallet using said custom order data and said inventory data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A container storage and delivery system, comprising:
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an individual container storage and delivery system;
a palletizer for forming a group of containers from said individual container storage and delivery system into a layer or a partial layer, and placing this layer or partial layer onto a pallet;
a layer storage and delivery system for taking full layers from a storage location and placing said full layers of containers onto a pallet;
a hand stacking system for placing individual containers onto a pallet;
a conveyor system for conveying containers and pallets bearing containers between at least two of said individual container storage and delivery system, said palletizer, said layer storage and delivery system, and said robotic container delivery system. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for storing and delivering containers, comprising the steps of:
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providing an individual container storage and delivery system;
providing a palletizer for forming a group of containers from said individual container storage and delivery system into a layer or a partial layer, and placing this layer or partial layer onto a pallet;
providing a layer storage and delivery system for taking full layers of containers from a storage area and placing said full layers onto a pallet;
providing a hand stacking system for placing individual containers onto a pallet;
maintaining inventory data comprising position data for at least some containers in said system;
receiving customer order data;
determining at least one pallet configuration from said order data and said inventory data, said pallet configuration including layers of containers for said pallet configuration; and
,if said configuration of containers includes layers of homogeneous SKUs, placing said homogeneous SKU containers on a pallet with said layer storage and delivery system;
if said configuration requires layers of homogeneous package type, placing said homogeneous package type containers on said pallet with said individual container storage and delivery system and said palletizer; and
,if said configuration requires heterogeneous package types, placing said heterogeneous package types onto a pallet with said hand stacking system. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A container storage and delivery system, comprising:
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a vertically accumulating, semi-automated container storage and delivery apparatus having an upper container input location, a lower container input location, and a middle container input location;
an elevated upper container storage station substantially adjacent to said upper container input location of said semi-automated storage and delivery apparatus and including an upper level output, whereby an operator can remove individual containers from an upper storage area and place them into said vertically accumulating semi-automated storage and delivery apparatus at said upper container input location;
an elevated middle container storage station substantially adjacent to said middle container input location of said semi-automated storage and delivery apparatus and including a middle level output, whereby an operator can remove individual containers from a middle storage area and place them into said vertically accumulating semi-automated storage and delivery apparatus at said middle container input location; and
an elevated lower container storage station substantially adjacent to said middle container input location of said semi-automated storage and delivery apparatus and including a lower level output, whereby an operator can remove individual containers from a lower storage area and place them into said vertically accumulating semi-automated storage and delivery apparatus at said lower container input location. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification