Picking System with Pick Verification

• US 20080183327A1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Picking Technologies, Inc. (Matthews International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Innovative Picking Technologies, Inc. (Matthews International Corporation)
• Inventors: Danelski, Darin L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/216
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1376 the orders being assembled on a commissioning conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2209/04 Indication location means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5792 Handle-carried key lock

Abstract

An inventory system with feedback for picking or placing items is disclosed. In this system, there is a plurality of bins or storage locations, one for each item stored. The bins are typically used in a warehouse to fulfill and ship orders of a list of items. Each bin or pair of bins is equipped with a module for directing a picking specialist to the correct bin for manually picking an order. When the picking specialist reaches into a bin to select an item, a passive heat sensor senses heat from the picker'"'"'s hand, or a magnet detecting circuit detects a magnet on the picker'"'"'s hand or wrist. This provides positive feedback that the correct bin was sought to retrieve the item, or an alarm or other signal may indicate the incorrect bin. The system may also be used to replenish inventory or return items to stock.

Claims

1. An inventory system with positive pick feedback, the system comprising:

a plurality of inventory storage locations;

a module with an indicating light, and optionally a display, near each storage location or each pair of storage locations, the module also including a passive heat detector for detecting heat from a hand entering the storage location, or one of the pair of storage locations; and

a computer system in communication with the modules, the computer system configured to receive a list of items on an order and to activate the indicating light and to post a quantity on the optional display on the module corresponding to a storage location with an item on the list of items of the order.

2. The inventory system of claim 1, wherein the module is configured for placement near two storage locations, and further comprises displays for indicating which of the two storage locations holds an item on the list of items of the order.

3. The inventory system of claim 1, wherein the module is configured for placement near two storage locations, and further comprises two passive heat detectors, one for a storage location above and one for a storage location below the module, whereby heat from a hand of a user will be detected upon entering the storage location above by one of the passive heat detectors, and wherein the heat from the hand of the user will be detected upon entering the storage location below by the other of the passive heat detectors.

4. The inventory system of claim 1, wherein the indicating light is a plurality of lights or a plurality of lights configured to be lit simultaneously.

5. The inventory system of claim 1, wherein the indicating light is a plurality of lights configured to be lit simultaneously, and further comprising a lens configured for mixing colors of the lights that are lit.

6. The inventory system of claim 1, further comprising an individual identification member with a transceiver and wherein the module further comprises a transceiver, wherein the module is configured for sending a signal to the identification member and the identification member is configured for sending a uniquely identifying response.

7. The inventory system of claim 1, further comprising a container for the order.

8. An inventory system with positive pick and place feedback, comprising:

a plurality of storage locations, each of said plurality of storage locations located at an assigned location;

a module including an indicating light, and optionally a display, in close proximity to each pair of storage locations, the module also including a passive heat detector for detecting heat from a hand entering one of the pair of storage locations and optionally comprising a transceiver configured for sending or receiving a signal; and

a computer system in communication with the modules, the computer system configured to receive a list of items on an order and to activate the indicating light and to post a quantity on the optional display on the module corresponding to a storage location with an item on the list of items of the order; and

optionally, an identification member configured for sending a uniquely identifying signal to the transceiver.

9. The inventory system of claim 8, wherein the passive heat detector comprises two passive heat detectors, one for a storage location above and one for a storage location below the module, whereby heat from the hand of the user will be detected upon entering the storage location above by one of the passive heat detectors, and wherein the heat from the hand of the user will be detected upon entering the storage location below by the other of the passive heat detectors.

10. The inventory system of claim 8, wherein the module indicating light is configured for displaying more than one color of light, and optionally comprises a lens cover.

11. The inventory system of claim 8, further comprising a container for the order.

12. The inventory system of claim 8, wherein the storage location is a bin.

13. A method for manually picking or placing items in a computerized inventory system, the method comprising:

providing an array of storage locations holding items, each storage location or pair of storage locations in the array located near a module with an indicating light and a passive heat detector, the module optionally comprising a transceiver for communicating with at least one identification member;

providing a list of the items and an indication of a quantity desired for each item on the list;

providing a container for picking or placing the items on the list;

sending information to a computer system in communication with each of the modules concerning the list of items and the quantity of each item on the list of items;

operating the computerized system in communication with the modules to light the indicating light on the module corresponding to a storage location holding an item on the list; and

picking a quantity of items from the storage location and placing the items into a container, or placing a quantity of items from the container into the storage location, wherein heat from the step of picking or placing activates the passive heat sensor and communicates positive feedback to the computer system, or optionally, the transceiver receives a signal uniquely identifying the at least one identification member.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the list of items comprises a plurality of items, and wherein the steps of operating and picking are accomplished for each item on the list of items.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising lighting a particular color of light on modules corresponding to storage locations of items on the list.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the modules is configured for use with two storage locations, and wherein the step of operating the computerized system further comprises indicating which of the two storage locations contains the item on the list.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the modules is configured for use with two storage locations, and wherein the step of operating the computerized system further comprises indicating which of the two storage locations contains the item on the list by illuminating an additional light on the module.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the inventory system is configured for operation with more than one list at a time, and wherein the indicating lights on the modules display a different light color for each of the lists.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of entering a quantity of items picked.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of updating a quantity of items at a storage location by activating the passive heat sensor and entering a corrected quantity of items in the storage location.

21. An inventory system with positive pick feedback, the system comprising:

a plurality of inventory storage locations;

a module with an indicating light, and optionally a display, near each storage location or each pair of storage locations, the module also including an electric circuit for detecting a magnet on a wrist or a hand entering the storage location, or one of the pair of storage locations; and

a computer system in communication with the modules, the computer system configured to receive a list of items on an order and to activate the indicating light and to post a quantity on the optional display on the module corresponding to a storage location with an item on the list of items of the order.

22. The inventory system of claim 21, wherein the circuit comprises a magneto-resistive circuit or a Hall-effect circuit.

23. The inventory system of claim 21, wherein the module is configured for placement near two storage locations, and further comprises displays for indicating which of the two storage locations holds an item on the list of items of the order.

24. The inventory system of claim 21, wherein the module is configured for placement near two storage locations, and further comprises two electric circuits for detecting the magnet, one for a storage location above and one for a storage location below the module.

25. The inventory system of claim 21, wherein the module indicating light is configured for displaying more than one color of light.

26. The inventory system of claim 21, wherein the indicating light is a plurality of lights.

27. An inventory system with positive pick and place feedback, comprising:

a plurality of storage locations, each of said plurality of storage locations located at an assigned location;

a module including an indicating light, and optionally a display, in close proximity to each pair of storage locations, the module also including an electric circuit for detecting a magnet entering one of the pair of storage locations and optionally comprising a transceiver configured for sending or receiving a signal; and

a computer system in communication with the modules, the computer system configured to receive a list of items of an order and to activate the indicating light and to post a desired quantity on the optional display on the module corresponding to a storage location of an item on the list of items of the order; and

optionally, an identification member configured for receiving a signal from the transceiver and sending a uniquely identifying signal to the transceiver.

28. The inventory system of claim 27, wherein the electric circuit for detecting a magnet comprises two electric circuits for detecting a magnet, one for a storage location above and one for a storage location below the module, whereby a magnet worn on a hand or wrist of a user will be detected upon entering the storage location above by one of the electric circuits for detecting the magnet, and wherein the magnet will be detected upon entering the storage location below by the other of the electric circuits for detecting the magnet.

29. The inventory system of claim 27, wherein the module indicating light is configured for displaying more than one color of light, and optionally comprises a lens cover.

30. A method for manually picking or placing items in a computerized inventory system, the method comprising:

providing an array of storage locations holding items, each storage location or pair of storage locations in the array located near a module with an indicating light and a magnet detecting circuit, the module optionally comprising a transceiver for communicating with at least one identification member;

providing a list of the items and an indication of a quantity desired for each item on the list;

providing a container for picking or placing the items on the list;

sending information to a computer system in communication with each of the modules concerning the list of items and the quantity of each item on the list of items;

operating the computerized system in communication with the modules to light the indicating light on the module corresponding to a storage location holding an item on the list; and

picking a quantity of items from the storage location and placing the items into the container, or placing a quantity of items from the container into the storage location, whereby a magnet worn by a picker is detected by the circuit and communicates positive feedback to the computer system, or optionally, the transceiver receives a signal uniquely identifying the at least one identification member.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the list of items comprises a plurality of items, and wherein the steps of operating and picking are accomplished for each item on the list of items.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising lighting a particular color of light on modules corresponding to storage locations of items on the list.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein at least one of the modules is configured for use with two storage locations, and wherein the step of operating the computerized system further comprises indicating which of the two storage locations contains the item on the list.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising a step of entering a quantity of items picked.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the magnet is worn on a finger or a wrist of the picker.