System and Method for Producing Products Based Upon Demand
First Claim
1. A system for producing products based on demand data, said system comprising:
- a plurality of vehicles for articles;
a track system comprising a track on which article-loaded vehicles are propellable;
a plurality of unit operation stations disposed along the track system and configured to cooperate to create at least one finished product;
wherein each article is disposed on a vehicle and the plurality of vehicles are independently routable along the track system to deliver at least some of the articles to at least one unit operation station;
a control system comprising one or more controller units which are in communication with said track system and said unit operation stations, and which control system;
receives demand for finished products to be made;
determines a route for a vehicle, where said route is determined based on a status of one or more unit operation stations; and
causes a vehicle to be propelled to progress along said determined route so as to create one or more of said demanded finished products and delivers said one or more finished products to an unloading station.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for producing products based upon demand are disclosed. In some cases, the products include containers and the contents therein. The containers are disposed on vehicles and are independently routable along a track system and are deliverable to at least one unit operation station. A control system: receives demand for finished products; determines a route for vehicles based upon the status of one or more unit operation stations; and causes a vehicle to progress along a determined route to create one or more of the demanded finished products. The system may be used to produce the same fluent products, different fluent products, and other types of products including assembled products.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for producing products based on demand data, said system comprising:
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a plurality of vehicles for articles; a track system comprising a track on which article-loaded vehicles are propellable; a plurality of unit operation stations disposed along the track system and configured to cooperate to create at least one finished product; wherein each article is disposed on a vehicle and the plurality of vehicles are independently routable along the track system to deliver at least some of the articles to at least one unit operation station; a control system comprising one or more controller units which are in communication with said track system and said unit operation stations, and which control system; receives demand for finished products to be made; determines a route for a vehicle, where said route is determined based on a status of one or more unit operation stations; and causes a vehicle to be propelled to progress along said determined route so as to create one or more of said demanded finished products and delivers said one or more finished products to an unloading station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification