Carousel product for use in integrated restocking and dispensing system
First Claim
1. A carousel for use in conjunction with a database, said database providing data indicative of items to be picked from the carousel to fill orders, comprising:
- a drive track;
a plurality of bins arranged into rows, said bins being driven by said drive track;
a drive mechanism for driving said drive track;
a sensor for sensing the position of said rows of bins;
a computer responsive to said sensor and data representative of a plurality of items to be picked for more than one order for controlling said drive mechanism; and
a plurality of indicia responsive to said computer, said indicia located adjacent each row as each row is brought into a pick position and wherein said indicia identifies a quantity to be picked.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A carousel used in a restocking system is comprised of a drive track. A plurality of bins are arranged into rows, with the rows being driven by said drive track. A drive mechanism, e.g. an electric motor, drives the drive track. A sensor is provided to sense the position of the rows of bins. A processor is responsive to the sensor and data representative of a plurality of picks for more than one order for controlling the drive mechanism. By combining picks from different orders into a batch, the time spent driving the rows and time between picks is minimized. The carousel may be divided into a plurality of columns, each with its own drive track, drive mechanism, and sensor, to enable several rows to be brought into a pick position simultaneously.
411 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A carousel for use in conjunction with a database, said database providing data indicative of items to be picked from the carousel to fill orders, comprising:
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a drive track;
a plurality of bins arranged into rows, said bins being driven by said drive track;
a drive mechanism for driving said drive track;
a sensor for sensing the position of said rows of bins;
a computer responsive to said sensor and data representative of a plurality of items to be picked for more than one order for controlling said drive mechanism; and
a plurality of indicia responsive to said computer, said indicia located adjacent each row as each row is brought into a pick position and wherein said indicia identifies a quantity to be picked. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for use in conjunction with a database, said database providing data indicative of items to be picked from a carousel to fill orders, said system comprising:
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a carousel comprising a drive track;
a plurality of bins arranged into rows, said bins being driven by said drive track;
a drive mechanism for driving said drive track;
a sensor for sensing the position of said rows of bins;
a computer responsive to said sensor and data representative of a plurality of items to be picked to fill orders for controlling said drive mechanism; and
a plurality of indicia responsive to said computer, said indicia located adjacent each row as each row is brought into a pick position; and
a plurality of storage locations each having an indicator, said computer controlling said storage location indicators, said indicia identifying a number of items to be picked and said storage location indicators identifying a storage location to which each of the picked items belongs. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A system for use in conjunction with a database, said database providing data indicative of items to be picked from a carousel to fill orders, said system comprising:
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a carousel comprising a drive track;
a plurality of bins arranged into rows, said bins being driven by said drive track;
a drive mechanism for driving said drive track;
a sensor for sensing the position of said rows of bins;
a computer responsive to said sensor and data representative of a plurality of items to be picked for controlling said drive mechanism;
a printer responsive to said computer;
a hand-held device for communicating to said computer when a picking of an item is completed and for displaying another item to be picked, and a dispensing device; and
a restocking package designed to be filled at said carousel and one of inserted into and connected to said dispensing device. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A system for use in conjunction with a database, said database providing data indicative of items to be picked from a carousel to fill orders, said system comprising:
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a carousel comprising a drive track;
a plurality of bins arranged into rows, said bins being driven by said drive track;
a drive mechanism for driving said drive track;
a sensor for sensing the position of said rows of bins;
a computer responsive to said sensor and data representative of a plurality of items to be picked for controlling said drive mechanism; and
a plurality of indicia responsive to said computer, said indicia located adjacent each row as each row is brought into a pick position;
a printer responsive to said computer; and
a hand-held device for communicating to said computer when a picking of an item is completed and for displaying another item to be picked. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A system for use in conjunction with a database, said database providing data indicative of items to be picked from a carousel to fill orders, said system comprising:
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a carousel comprising a drive track;
a plurality of bins being driven by said drive track;
a drive mechanism for driving said drive track;
a sensor for sensing the position of said rows of bins; and
a computer responsive to said sensor and data representative of a plurality of picks for controlling said drive mechanism; and
a transportable restocking package configured to be filled at said carousel, transported to a dispensing device, and attached to the dispensing device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification