Order preparation method, an order picking cart and order preparation system

• US 5,730,252 A
• Filed: 02/27/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Herbinet, Fran.cedilla.ois
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartuska, F. J.
• Application Number:
  US08/607,665
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 186/55, 186/56, 186/61, 186/52, 235/383, 414/21, 414/278, 414/529
• US Class Current: 186/52
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1371 with data records
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1375 the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2209/04 Indication location means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2209/06 Use of order trucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

An order preparation method includes assembling, in a receptacle placed on an autonomous cart, articles listed in an order from a customer and stored in a warehouse. The unit weight of each article in stock is associated with an identification of this article and the receptacle is weighed after each article is deposited and the total weight of the articles deposited is deduced. This total weight is compared with a theoretical weight equal to the unit weight of the article to be picked multiplied by the corresponding quantity of articles, and a warning signal is emitted in the event that the total weight of the articles deposited is different, plus or minus a tolerance error, from the theoretical weight calculated.

Claims

1. An order preparation method comprising assembling, in a receptacle placed on an autonomous cart, articles listed in an order from a customer and stored in a warehouse, comprising the following steps:

a) from the order, creating a list of articles to be picked indicating an identification of each article and quantity thereof,

b) arranging the articles in the list according to their location in the warehouse, starting with the first article on the list so arranged,

c) moving the cart in the warehouse to a point near the storage location of the article to be picked,

d) picking the proper quantity of the articles,

e) depositing the article or articles picked in the receptacle, and

f) iterating, starting from step c), for the next article in order in the arranged list, until the list is complete,

each stored article having a given weight associated with the identification and, between steps e) and f), conducting a process comprising weighing the receptacle, deducing the total weight of the articles deposited in step e), comparing this total weight with a theoretical weight equal to the unit weight of the article to be picked multiplied by the quantity of articles, and delivering a warning signal if the total weight of the articles deposited is different, plus or minus a tolerance value, from the theoretical weight.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a different receptacle is associated with each order, multiple receptacles are located on the autonomous cart, in step a) all the orders are merged to produce a list of articles indicating the identification, quantity, and destination receptacle of each article and, in step e) above, the article or articles picked is or are deposited in the corresponding receptacle.

3. An autonomous picking cart for preparing an order comprising:

a) a surface provided with receptacle-receiving areas, at least some of said areas comprising a pan of a weighing device,

b) an electronic device provided with a display unit, able to record a list of articles in the order and sequentially display an identification, quantity, and destination receptacle of each article on the list,

c) a memory associated with each weighing device for recording a first value indicated by the weighing device at a given point in time,

d) means for calculating the difference between a second value indicated by each weighing device and the first value recorded in the corresponding memory,

e) a comparator to compare the difference between the first and second values with a predetermined theoretical weight, and

f) a warning device to emit a warning signal in the event the difference between the first and second values is different, plus or minus a tolerance error, from the predetermined theoretical value.

4. An order preparation system comprising:

a) at least one autonomous picking cart for holding one or more receptacles to be loaded with articles comprising;

(i) a surface provided with receptacle-receiving areas, at least some of said areas comprising a pan of a weighing device,

(ii) an electronic device provided with a display unit, able to record a list of articles in an order and sequentially display an identification, quantity, and destination receptacle of each article on the list,

(iii) a memory associated with each weighing device for recording a first value indicated by the weighing device at a given point in time,

(iv) means for calculating the difference between a second value indicated by each weighing device and the first value recorded in the corresponding memory,

(v) a comparator to compare the difference between the first and second values with a predetermined theoretical value, and

(vi) a warning device to emit a warning signal in the event the difference between the first and second values is different, plus or minus a tolerance error, from the predetermined theoretical value; and

b) a list preparation device comprising means for;

(i) creating a list of articles to be picked indicating an identification of the article, quantity of articles to be picked, and destination receptacle of each article of one or more orders,

(ii) arranging the articles in the list according to the locations of the articles in the warehouse, and

(iii) transmitting the list so prepared to the cart.

5. An order preparation system according to claim 4, wherein said system also comprises means for calculating theoretical weights for each article to be picked by multiplying the unit weight of the article by the quantity of articles to be picked and associating the theoretical weight with each article on the list of articles to be picked.