System for evaluating a parts carrier

• US 20070078621A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Spangler, John, Dietz, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,295,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method is disclosed for evaluating a parts carrier that is operatively associated with a material handling process. The method includes determining a plurality of parts to be processed, determining one or more types of the plurality of parts to be processed, and determining a quantity of the parts to be processed. The method also includes virtually comparing one or more parts of the plurality of parts with at least one of a length, width, or height of one or more envelopes. The method further includes selecting one of the one or more envelopes as a function of one of the percentage of the types of parts capable of being accommodated with the one or more envelopes or the percentage of the quantity of parts capable of being accommodated within the one or more envelopes.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating a parts carrier operatively associated with a material handling process comprising:

determining a plurality of parts to be processed;

determining one or more types of the plurality of parts to be processed;

determining a quantity of the plurality of parts to be processed;

virtually comparing one or more parts of the plurality of parts with at least one of a length, width, or height of one or more envelopes; and

selecting one of the one or more envelopes as a function of one of;

the percentage of the types of parts capable of being accommodated with the one or more envelopes, and

the percentage of the quantity of parts capable of being accommodated within the one or more envelopes.

2. The method of claim 1, further including virtually comparing a weight of one or more of the plurality of parts with a predetermined acceptable weight, wherein the acceptable weight is a function of the weight capable of being accommodated by the one or more envelopes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more envelopes are configured to represent one or more processing spaces within the material handling process or within additional material handling processes.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining the plurality of parts as a function of a desired production of one or more finished components, wherein the plurality of parts are elements of the one or more finished components.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parts includes at least two parts, the at least two parts having different geometric shapes.

6. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining a quantity of parts carriers to necessary to support the plurality of parts for transportation through the material handling process.

7. The method of claim 6, further including outputting an arrangement of parts to be physically loaded on parts carriers for each of the determined quantity of parts carriers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the material handling process is a painting process.

9. A system for arranging a plurality of parts on a plurality of carriers comprising:

a computer;

a user interface; and

a computer executable program being capable of;

comparing data indicative of physical characteristics of a plurality of parts and data indicative of physical characteristics of at least one process space to determine a quantity of parts that can be accommodated by the at least one process space, and

determining a quantity of carriers configured to support the quantity of parts, each carrier being configured to support one or more of the plurality of parts.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the quantity of parts includes fewer parts than the plurality of parts.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the physical characteristics of the plurality of parts includes one of a length, width, height or weight value.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the length, width, and height values includes:

a respective length, width, and height of a part; and

at least one factor indicative of a desired spacing.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the physical characteristics of the at least one process space includes one of a length, width, or height value.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one process space is configured to be indicative of a space in which a group of parts may be manipulated substantially simultaneously.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer executable program is further configured to display a percentage of the plurality of parts that can be accommodated by the at least one process space in the user interface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each part of the of the plurality of parts that can be accommodated by the at least one process space includes physical characteristics that are functionally less than the physical characteristics of the at least one process space.

17. A method of determining a quantity of parts carriers for a material handling process comprising:

receiving at least one input;

determining one or more types of parts and a quantity of parts;

comparing the one or more types of parts with one or more predetermined spaces;

selecting one of the one or more predetermined spaces;

determining the parts carrier as a function of the selected predetermined space, the parts carrier having an area; and

outputting the quantity of parts carrier as a function of the area and the quantity of parts.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined space is configured to be indicative of an available processing space of the material handling process.

19. The method of claim 17, further including:

virtually comparing characteristics of the area and characteristics of the one or more types of parts; and

determining the quantity of parts carriers by virtually loading the quantity of parts on one or more parts carriers.

20. The method of claim 19, further including displaying the quantity of parts carriers and the types of parts virtually loaded on each of the one or more parts carriers.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the material handling process is a painting process and the parts carriers are configured to support parts to be painted by the painting process.