Product handling process and system
First Claim
1. A product handling system, comprising:
- a storage structure comprising a plurality of product pallet lanes, each of which having a quantity of pallets of product cases therein;
a transporter for replenishing pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes with pairs of corresponding product pallets; and
a control system for (i) controlling said transporter to automatically and simultaneously replenish the pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes, (ii) recording the quantity of product pallets in each of said product pallet lanes, (iii) determining if there is a product pallet lane depleted of pallets such that the quantity of pallets therein is below a first predetermined quantity, and (iv) automatically halting said transporter from replenishing the pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes if the control system determines that there is a product pallet lane depleted of pallets such that the quantity of pallets therein is below the first predetermined quantity, and directing said transporter to replenish only the depleted product pallet lane until the quantity of pallets therein increases to a second predetermined quantity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process for handling products comprising the steps of providing a product handling system having a storage structure comprising a plurality of product pallet lanes having product pallets therein, simultaneously replenishing pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes with corresponding pairs of pallets, determining if there is a product pallet lane depleted of product pallets such that the quantity of product pallets therein is below a first predetermined quantity; and automatically suspending the simultaneous replenishment of pairs of juxtaposed lanes if it is determined that there is a depleted lane, and replenishing only the depleted lane until the quantity of product pallets therein increases to a second predetermined quantity.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A product handling system, comprising:
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a storage structure comprising a plurality of product pallet lanes, each of which having a quantity of pallets of product cases therein; a transporter for replenishing pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes with pairs of corresponding product pallets; and a control system for (i) controlling said transporter to automatically and simultaneously replenish the pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes, (ii) recording the quantity of product pallets in each of said product pallet lanes, (iii) determining if there is a product pallet lane depleted of pallets such that the quantity of pallets therein is below a first predetermined quantity, and (iv) automatically halting said transporter from replenishing the pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes if the control system determines that there is a product pallet lane depleted of pallets such that the quantity of pallets therein is below the first predetermined quantity, and directing said transporter to replenish only the depleted product pallet lane until the quantity of pallets therein increases to a second predetermined quantity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A product handling system, comprising:
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a storage structure comprising a plurality of product pallet lanes, each of which having a quantity of pallets of product cases therein; at least one input conveyor having a plurality of stacks of product cases thereon; a fast-out conveyor for receiving products that are to be promptly shipped; a floor storage area; a monitor for measuring the spacing between the stacks of product cases to form groups of stacks; a destination selector for directing a particular group of stacks to a specific destination chosen from said storage structure, said fast-out conveyor and said floor storage area; a palletizer for palletizing groups of stacks of product cases destined for said storage structure; a transporter for retrieving pairs of product pallets from corresponding pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes, and replenishing pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes with pairs of corresponding product pallets; and a control system for (i) controlling said transporter to automatically and simultaneously retrieve pairs of product pallets from corresponding pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes, and automatically and simultaneously replenish pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes with pairs of corresponding product pallets, (ii) recording the quantity of product pallets in each of said product pallet lanes, (iii) determining the presence of a product pallet lane depleted of pallets such that the quantity of pallets therein is below a first predetermined quantity, and (iv) automatically halting said transporter from replenishing the pairs of juxtaposed pallet lanes if the control system determines that there is a product pallet lane depleted of pallets such that the quantity of pallets therein is below the first predetermined quantity, and directing said transporter to replenish only the depleted product pallet lane until the quantity of pallets therein increases to a second predetermined quantity.
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Specification