System And Method For Storing And Sequencing Luggage Items

• US 20170200248A1
• Filed: 01/13/2016
• Published: 07/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daifuku Company Limited, Jervis B Webb Company (Daifuku Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Daifuku Company Limited, Jervis B Webb Company (Daifuku Company Limited)
• Inventors: Murphy, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,643,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/385 with rolling means trunks with built-in rolling means A45C5/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/005 Details of storage means, e.g. drawers, bins or racks
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0492 with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0264 Luggage
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/5109 first In - First Out systems: FIFO
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system and method for storing and sequencing a plurality of luggage items. The method includes receiving at least one of the luggage items into a loading area from an entrance conveyor disposed in the loading area. Once received, the luggage items are moved from the entrance conveyor onto a shelf of a container with a loading assembly. The method continues with transporting the container from the loading area to the storage area with an automatic guided vehicle with the luggage item disposed on the shelf of the container. When the luggage items are ready to be processed, the method continues with transporting the first container from the storage area to the unloading area with the automatic guided vehicle with the received luggage item disposed on the shelf of the container. Different embodiments of the loading and unloading assemblies are provided.

Claims

1. A method for storing and sequencing a plurality of luggage items, said method including:

receiving at least one of the luggage items into a loading area from an entrance conveyor disposed in the loading area;

moving the luggage item from the entrance conveyor onto a shelf of a container with a loading assembly;

providing instructions to a carrier automatic guided vehicle from the control system to transport the container from the loading area to a storage area, and transporting the container from the loading area to the storage area with the carrier automatic guided vehicle with the luggage item disposed on the shelf of the container; and

providing instructions to the carrier automatic guided vehicle from the control system to transport the container from the storage area to an unloading area, and transporting the container from the storage area to the unloading area with the carrier automatic guided vehicle with the received luggage item disposed on the shelf of the container.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the loading assembly includes a packing automatic guided vehicle having a chassis, a cart belt, a lifting mechanism interconnecting the chassis and the cart belt and providing movement of the cart belt relative to the chassis, and a pusher being moveable relative to the chassis with the cart belt;

the method further includes moving the luggage item from the entrance conveyor onto the cart belt of the packing automatic guided vehicle;

moving the cart belt of the packing automatic guided vehicle into alignment with a selected one of the shelves of the container with the lifting mechanism; and

pushing the luggage item from the cart belt of the packing automatic guided vehicle onto the selected shelf of the container with the pusher.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including moving the luggage item from the shelf of the container to an exit conveyor disposed in the unloading area with an unloading assembly.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the unloading assembly includes a plurality of pushing mechanisms each disposed at the same height as one of the shelves of the container and a chute being pivotable for being aligned with one of the shelves of the container;

the method further includes aligning the chute with the selected shelf of the container; and

pushing the luggage item with one of the pushing mechanisms from the selected shelf onto the chute to deliver the luggage item to the exit conveyor.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the loading assembly includes a plurality of platform conveyors disposed in vertically stacked relationship with one another with each of the platform conveyors disposed at the same height as one of the shelves of the container, a loading conveyor extending from the entrance conveyor and pivotable relative to the entrance conveyor for being aligned with one of the platform conveyors, and a plurality of first pushing devices each disposed at the same height as one of the platform conveyors;

said method further includes pivoting the loading conveyor into alignment with a selected one of the platform conveyors;

moving the luggage item from the entrance conveyor to the selected first platform conveyor with the loading conveyor; and

pushing the luggage item from the selected first platform conveyor onto a selected one of the shelves of the container with the pushing device.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the unloading assembly includes a plurality of slides each extending from the exit conveyor to one of the platform conveyors, and a plurality of second pushing devices each disposed at the same height as one of the platform conveyors;

said method further includes pushing the luggage item from the selected shelf onto a selected one of the platform conveyors with the pushing device;

aligning the slide with the selected platform conveyor; and

moving the luggage item from the selected platform conveyor to the exit conveyor with the slide.

7. A system for storing and sequencing a plurality of luggage items, said system including:

at least one container including a plurality of shelves being vertically stacked on top of one another;

a storage area for holding said container;

a loading area including an entrance conveyor for receiving the luggage items into said loading area;

an unloading area including an exit conveyor for removing the luggage items from said unloading area;

at least one pathway extending between said storage area, said loading area, and said unloading area;

at least one carrier automatic guided vehicle for transporting said container between said storage area, said loading area, and said unloading area;

a loading assembly disposed in said loading area and configured to move the luggage item from said entrance conveyor onto one of said shelves of said container;

an unloading assembly disposed in said unloading area and configured to move the luggage item from said shelf of said container onto said exit conveyor;

a control system wirelessly connected to said carrier automatic guided vehicle for controlling the movement of said carrier automatic guided vehicle along said at least one pathway between said storage area, said loading area, and said unloading area; and

said control system further connected to said loading assembly and said unloading assembly for instructing said loading assembly to move the luggage item from said entrance conveyor onto one of said shelves of said container and for instructing said unloading assembly to move the luggage item from said shelf of said container onto said exit conveyor.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said loading assembly includes a packing automatic guided vehicle having a chassis and a cart belt rotatably supported by said chassis for holding and moving the luggage items while disposed thereon;

said packing automatic guided vehicle further includes a lifting mechanism interconnecting said chassis and said cart belt with one of said shelves of said container; and

said packing automatic guided vehicle further includes a pusher being slideable relative to said cart belt for pushing the luggage item from said cart belt onto said shelf of said container.

9. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said unloading assembly includes a chute being pivotable relative to said exit conveyor for being aligned with one of said shelves of said container;

and

said unloading assembly further includes a plurality of pushing mechanisms each disposed at the height of one of said shelves of said container for pushing the luggage item from said shelf onto said chute for moving the luggage item from said shelf to said exit conveyor.

10. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said loading assembly includes a plurality of platform conveyors disposed in vertically stacked relationship with one another with each of said platform conveyors disposed at the same height as one of said shelves of said conveyor;

and

said loading assembly further includes a loading conveyor extending from said entrance conveyor and pivotable relative to said entrance conveyor for being aligned with one of said platform conveyors for moving the luggage item from said entrance conveyor onto one of said platform conveyors, and a plurality of pushing devices each disposed at the same height as one of said platform conveyors for pushing the luggage item from said platform conveyor onto one of said shelves of said container.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said unloading assembly is disposed in said unloading area and includes a plurality of second pushing devices each disposed at the same height as one of said platform conveyors for pushing the luggage item from said shelf of said container onto one of said platform conveyors, and a plurality of slides each extending from said exit conveyor to one of said platform conveyors for moving the luggage item from said platform conveyors to said exit conveyor.

12. A method for storing and sequencing a plurality of luggage items, said method including:

receiving at least one of the luggage items into a loading area from an entrance conveyor disposed in the loading area;

providing a container including a plurality of shelves being vertically stacked on top of one another;

providing at least one loading assembly in the loading area including a packing automatic guided vehicle having a chassis, a cart belt, a lifting mechanism interconnecting the chassis and the cart belt and providing movement of the cart belt relative to the chassis, and a pusher being moveable relative to the chassis;

moving the luggage item from the entrance conveyor onto the cart belt of the packing automatic guided vehicle;

moving the cart belt of the packing automatic guided vehicle into alignment with a selected one of the shelves of the container;

pushing the luggage item from the cart belt of the packing automatic guided vehicle onto the selected shelf of the container with the pusher; and

transporting the container from the loading area to the storage area with a carrier automatic guided vehicle with the luggage item disposed on the selected shelf of the first container.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 further including transporting the container from the storage area to an unloading area with the luggage item disposed on the selected shelf of the first container, wherein the unloading area includes an exit conveyor for removing the luggage item from the unloading area;

providing at least one unloading assembly in the unloading area including a plurality of pushing mechanisms each disposed at the same height as one of the shelves of the container and a chute being pivotable relative to the exit conveyor for being aligned with one of the shelves of said container;

aligning the chute with the selected shelf of the container; and

pushing the luggage item with one of the pushing mechanisms from the selected shelf onto the chute to deliver the luggage item to the exit conveyor.

14. A system for storing and sequencing a plurality of luggage items, said system including:

at least one container including a plurality of shelves being vertically stacked on top of one another;

a storage area for holding said container;

a loading area including an entrance conveyor for receiving the luggage items into said loading area;

a loading assembly disposed in said loading area including a packing automatic guided vehicle having a chassis and a cart belt supported by said chassis for holding the luggage items;

said packing automatic guided vehicle further including a lifting mechanism interconnecting said chassis and said cart belt and providing movement of said cart belt relative to said chassis for aligning said cart belt with one of said shelves of said container; and

said packing automatic guided vehicle further including a pusher being moveable with said cart belt for pushing the luggage item from said cart belt onto said shelf of said container.

15. The system as set forth in claim 14 further including an unloading area including an exit conveyor for removing the luggage items from said unloading area;

an unloading assembly disposed in said unloading area and including a chute being pivotable relative to said exit conveyor for being aligned with one of said shelves of said container; and

said unloading assembly further including a plurality of pushing mechanisms each disposed at the height of one of said shelves of said container for pushing the luggage item from said shelf onto said chute for moving the luggage item from said shelf to said exit conveyor.

16. A method for storing a plurality of luggage items, said method including:

receiving at least one of the luggage items into a loading area from an entrance conveyor disposed in the loading area;

providing a container including a plurality of shelves being vertically stacked on top of one another;

providing at least one loading assembly in the loading area including a plurality of platform conveyors disposed in vertically stacked relationship with one another with each of the platform conveyors disposed at the same height as one of the shelves of the container, a loading conveyor extending from the entrance conveyor and pivotable relative to the entrance conveyor for being aligned with one of the platform conveyors, and a plurality of first pushing devices each disposed at the same height as one of the platform conveyors;

pivoting the loading conveyor into alignment with a selected one of the platform conveyors;

moving the luggage item from the entrance conveyor to the selected first platform conveyor with the loading conveyor;

pushing the luggage item from the selected first platform conveyor onto a selected one of the shelves of the container with the pushing device; and

transporting the container from the loading area to the storage area with a carrier automatic guided vehicle with the luggage item disposed on the selected shelf of the first container.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 further including transporting the container from the storage area to an unloading area with the luggage item disposed on the selected shelf of the first container, wherein the unloading area includes an exit conveyor;

providing at least one unloading assembly in the unloading area including a plurality of slides each extending from the exit conveyor to one of the platform conveyors, and a plurality of second pushing devices each disposed at the same height as one of the platform conveyors;

pushing the luggage item from the selected shelf onto a selected one of the platform conveyors with the pushing device;

aligning the slide with the selected platform conveyor; and

moving the luggage item from the selected platform conveyor to the exit conveyor with the slide.

18. A system for storing and sequencing a plurality of luggage items, said system including:

at least one container including a plurality of shelves being vertically stacked on top of one another;

a storage area for holding said container;

a loading area including an entrance conveyor for receiving the luggage items into the loading area;

a loading assembly disposed in said loading area including a plurality of platform conveyors disposed in vertically stacked relationship with one another with each of said platform conveyors disposed at the same height as one of said shelves of said container; and

said loading assembly further including a loading conveyor extending from said entrance conveyor and pivotable relative to said entrance conveyor for being aligned with one of said platform conveyors for moving the luggage item from said entrance conveyor onto one of said platform conveyors, and a plurality of pushing devices each disposed at the same height as one of said platform conveyors for pushing the luggage item from said platform conveyor onto one of said shelves of said container.

19. The system as set forth in claim 18 further including an unloading area including an exit conveyor for removing the luggage items from the unloading area;

and

an unloading assembly disposed in said unloading area and including a plurality of second pushing devices each disposed at the same height as one of said platform conveyors for pushing the luggage item from said shelf of said container onto one of said platform conveyors, and a plurality of slides each extending from said exit conveyor to one of said platform conveyors for moving the luggage item from said platform conveyors to said exit conveyor.

20. A method for storing and sequencing a plurality of luggage items, said method including:

receiving a plurality of luggage items into a loading area from an entrance conveyor disposed in the loading area;

moving each of the luggage items from the entrance conveyor onto a shelf of one of a plurality of containers with a loading assembly; and

providing instructions to a carrier automatic guided vehicle from a control system to transport each of the containers having luggage items disposed thereon to a loaded region of a storage area that is separate from an unloaded region of the storage area which includes at least one container without luggage items stored thereon.

21. A system for storing and sequencing a plurality of luggage items, said system including:

a loading area including an entrance conveyor for receiving luggage items into the loading area;

a plurality of carriers each including at least one shelf for receiving a luggage item from said loading area;

a storage area including a loaded region for receiving a plurality of said containers with luggage items disposed thereon and an unloaded region for receiving a plurality of said containers without luggage items disposed thereon;

an automatic guided vehicle configured to transport the containers; and

a control system wirelessly connected to said carrier automatic guided vehicle for controlling the movement of said carrier automatic guided vehicle and programmed to instruct said automatic guided vehicle to transport said containers with luggage items disposed thereon to said loaded region of said storage area and to transport said containers without luggage items disposed thereon to said unloaded region of said storage area.

22. A method for storing and sequencing a plurality of luggage items, said method including:

receiving at least one of the luggage items into a loading area from an entrance conveyor disposed in the loading area;

programming a first bag ID into a control system, wherein the first bag ID includes information related to the received luggage item;

moving the luggage item from the entrance conveyor onto a shelf of a first container with a loading assembly;

providing instructions to a material handling device from the control system to transport the first container from the loading area to a storage area, and transporting the first container from the loading area to the storage area with the material handling device with the luggage item disposed on the shelf of the first container;

changing the first bag ID to a second bag ID with the control system in response to a change in a status of the received luggage item, wherein the second bag ID includes information related to the received luggage item that is different from the information of the first bag ID; and

providing instructions to the material handling device from the control system to transport the first container from the storage area to an unloading area in response to a detection of the first bag ID being changed to the second bag ID, and transporting the first container from the storage area to the unloading area with the material handling device with the received luggage item disposed on the shelf of the first container.