CONVEYOR SYSTEM

• US 3,670,867 A
• Filed: 11/17/1969
• Issued: 06/20/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert J. Traube
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Traube
• Inventors: Traube, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sroka, Edward A.
• Application Number:
  US04/871,298
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 198/38,75 186/1,1.1 209/122,125 214/11,16.4
• US Class Current: 198/349.8
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1378 the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas

Abstract

A storage and retrieval system for goods has two power operated conveyors movable in separate endless loops past two (or more) spaced apart picking stations, each picking station common to both conveyors. Each conveyor has bins with compartments in which goods are stored. Although the bins on each conveyor remain in the same sequence, the bins are movable relative to each other on the conveyor to define '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'buffer'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' zones which permit simultaneous picking by two spaced apart pickers. The control system for the conveyors includes a reader which receives digital data concerning a group of orders to be picked from a stack of cards, each card giving the identity, quantity and distribution of one of the articles to be picked. The two conveyors are automatically stopped alternately with the bins containing ordered goods at the picking stations, and the operator at each picking station picks goods from the bins in accordance with a read-out unit which displays the card data. A plurality of packing lanes originate at each picking station and terminate at a plurality of packing stations. Each picker distributes goods to the separate packing lanes in accordance with the read-out unit at the picking station.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising at least two power operated storage conveyors having bins to store goods, said conveyors defining separate endless paths past a common picking station, and control apparatus to receive coded input data and to effect coordinated operation of said conveyors in response to said data to halt selected bins at said picking station, said control apparatus including a stop member for each conveyor, a reader, and bin identifying mechanism, said control apparatus having a control network connected between said reader and said stop members, said stop members operable in response to said reader and bin identifying mechanism to halt a selected bin of a selected conveyor at said picking station.

2. A storage system comprising at least two power operated storage conveyors having bins to store goods, said conveyors defining separate endless paths past a common picking station, and control apparatus to receive coded input data and to regulate the operation of said conveyors in response to said data to halt selected bins at said picking station, said control apparatus having a stop member and including a reader, said control apparatus having a control network connected between said reader and said stop member, said stop member operable to halt a selected bin of a selected conveyor at said picking station, said control apparatus including a read-out unit to indicate to the operator the selected bin in which goods to be picked are stored and to indicate to the operator the quantity of said goods to be picked.

3. A storage system comprising two power operated live storage conveyors to store goods received thereon, said conveyors movable past the same picking station to transport the stored goods on each thereto, and control apparatus to receive input data on goodS required to be picked at the picking station and to regulate the operation of both conveyors in response to said data, said control apparatus responsive to input data to produce signals for picking articles from one conveyor in the picking station and to produce signals to condition the other conveyor to stop at the picking station when predetermined desired goods thereon reach the picking station.

4. A storage system comprising at least two power operated storage conveyors having bins to store goods, said conveyors defining separate endless paths past a common picking station, and control apparatus to receive coded input data and to effect coordinated operation of said conveyors in response to said data to halt selected bins at said picking station, said control apparatus responsive to input data substantially simultaneously to produce instructions for picking articles from a bin on one conveyor when said bin is in the picking station and to condition the other conveyor to stop a selected bin in the picking station.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 in which said control apparatus produces instructions for distribution of the articles picked.