Automated order pick process

• US 6,289,260 B1
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: St. Onge Company
• Original Assignee: St. Onge Company
• Inventors: Narayan, Shankar, Bradley, Robert E., Shingleton, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O.
• Application Number:
  US09/238,877
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 700/214, 700/216, 700/219, 414/273, 414/280, 414/267, 414/626, 414/627
• US Class Current: 700/216
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1376 the orders being assembled on a commissioning conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0258 Trays, totes or bins
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2209/08 Orders with a high and a low volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method for controlling order setup and operation of order fulfillment devices, which devices include dispensers that dispense low quantities of low-demand articles from an inventory containing a very large number of different low-demand articles. The method arranges the articles in totes so the dispensers have efficient access thereto, and efficiently refills the totes based upon past orders.

Claims