System for sorting commercial articles and method therefor

• US 6,784,391 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chiyuki Takizawa
• Original Assignee: Chiyuki Takizawa
• Inventors: Takizawa, Chiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US10/339,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20030116480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 198/580, 198/370.01, 198/347.1, 198/347.4, 209/552, 209/583, 209/912
• US Class Current: 209/583
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/005 Computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1375 the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1378 the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2209/04 Indication location means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/5104 for articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/933 Accumulation receiving separated items

Abstract

A shipment sorting system is provided. The system comprises a plurality of inflow lines each thereof conveys cargoes each containing articles to be shipped; a plurality of first buffer lines each thereof includes a first loop storage line for circulating and storing cargoes transferred from the inflow lines and a plurality of first straight storage lines for storing cargoes; a second buffer line including a second loop storage line connected to output ends of the first straight storage lines for circulating and storing cargoes, a plurality of second straight storage lines, and a plurality of return lines for returning excess unit cargoes in one of the second straight storage lines which is fill of unit cargoes to another second straight storage line; and a shipment sorting area for sorting cargoes transferred from the second straight storage lines to the plurality of shoot lines by sorters according to different shipment requirements.

Claims

1. A shipment sorting system comprising:

a plurality of inflow lines each thereof conveys cargoes each containing articles to be shipped;

a plurality of first buffer lines each thereof includes a first loop storage line for circulating and storing cargoes transferred from the inflow lines and a plurality of first straight storage lines, arranged in parallel and connected to the first loop storage line, for storing cargoes;

a second buffer line including a second loop storage line connected to output ends of the first straight storage lines for circulating and storing cargoes, a plurality of second straight storage lines arranged in parallel and connected to the second loop storage line, and a plurality of return lines for returning excess unit cargoes in one of the second straight storage lines which is full of unit cargoes to another second straight storage line; and

a shipment sorting area, connected to output ends of the second straight storage lines and including a plurality of shoot lines, for sorting cargoes transferred from the second straight storage lines to the plurality of shoot lines by means of sorters according to different shipment requirements.

2. The shipment sorting system according to claim 1 wherein cargoes are separately stored in the first straight storage lines according to weight and categories of cargoes, and cargoes are separately stored in the second straight storage lines according to weight, purchaser, category and stacking priority of cargoes.

3. The shipment sorting system according to claim 1 wherein the shoot lines are arranged into an array of multi-layered shoot lines.

4. The shipment sorting system according to claim 1, wherein a sensor to detect the pressure of a cargo and a display device to indicate the shipement requirement of a cargo, and working required for handling a cargo are provided to an end of each shoot line.

5. The shipment sorting system according to claim 2, wherein a sensor to detect the presence of a cargo and a display device to indicate the shipment requirement of a cargo, and working required for handling a cargo are provided to an end of each shoot line.

6. The shipment sorting system according to claim 3, wherein a sensor to detect the presence of a cargo and a display device to indicate the shipment requirement of a cargo, and working required for handling a cargo are provided to an end of each shoot line.

7. A shipment sorting system comprising:

a plurality of inflow lines each thereof conveying cargoes with articles to be shipped;

a plurality of first buffer lines each thereof includes a first loop storage line for circulating and storing the cargoes transferred from the inflow lines and a plurality of first straight storage lines, arranged in parallel and connected to the first loop storage line, for storing the cargoes;

a second buffer line including a second loop storage line connected to output ends of the first straight storage lines for circulating and storing the cargoes, a plurality of second straight storage lines arranged in parallel and connected to the second loop storage line, and a plurality of return lines for returning excess unit cargoes from one of the second straight storage lines to another of the plurality of second straight storage lines; and

a shipment sorting area, connected to output ends of the second straight storage lines and including a plurality of shoot lines, for sorting the cargoes transferred from the second straight storage lines to the plurality of shoot lines by means of sorters according to different shipment requirements.