Product storage and picking system and method of storing and picking products
First Claim
1. A product storage and picking system comprising:
- a plurality of shelf units each having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides,the plurality of shelf units arranged in first and second side-by-side rows with the shelf units in each of the first and second rows having an orientation and arranged in front-to-rear relationship,the plurality of shelf units movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be removed to fill an order,at least one of the shelf units movable in a predetermined manner during a portion of the cycle without changing the orientation of the at least one of the shelf units and without moving other shelf units in the plurality of shelf units.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A product storage and picking system having a plurality of shelves each with a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides. The plurality of shelf units are arranged in first and second side-by-side rows with the shelf units in each of the first and second rows arranged in front-to-rear relationship. A plurality of shelf units are movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be removed to fill an order. At least one of the shelf units is movable in a predetermined manner during a portion of the cycle without moving other shelf units in the plurality of shelf units.
41 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A product storage and picking system comprising:
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a plurality of shelf units each having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides, the plurality of shelf units arranged in first and second side-by-side rows with the shelf units in each of the first and second rows having an orientation and arranged in front-to-rear relationship, the plurality of shelf units movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be removed to fill an order, at least one of the shelf units movable in a predetermined manner during a portion of the cycle without changing the orientation of the at least one of the shelf units and without moving other shelf units in the plurality of shelf units.
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2. A product storage and picking system comprising:
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a plurality of shelf units each having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides, the plurality of shelf units arranged in first and second side-by-side rows with the shelf units in each of the first and second rows arranged in front-to-rear relationship, the plurality of shelf units movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be removed to fill an order, at least one of the shelf units movable in a predetermined manner during a portion of the cycle without moving other shelf units in the plurality of shelf units, wherein the at least one shelf unit translates in a sideways linear path as the at least one shelf unit moves in the predetermined manner during the portion of the cycle.
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3. A product storage and picking system comprising:
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a plurality of shelf units each having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides, the plurality of shelf units arranged in first and second side-by-side rows with the shelf units in each of the first and second rows arranged in front-to-rear relationship, the plurality of shelf units movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be removed to fill an order, at least one of the shelf units movable in a predetermined manner during a portion of the cycle without moving other shelf units in the plurality of shelf units, the product storage and picking system further comprising a wall structure defining a space within which the plurality of shelf units reside and there is an opening in the wall structure at the pick position communicating to externally of the space. - View Dependent Claims (4, 18, 19)
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5. A product storage and picking system comprising:
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a plurality of shelf units each having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides, the plurality of shelf units arranged in first and second side-by-side rows with the shelf units in each of the first and second rows arranged in front-to-rear relationship, the plurality of shelf units movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be removed to fill an order, at least one of the shelf units movable in a predetermined manner during a portion of the cycle without moving other shelf units in the plurality of shelf units, wherein the plurality of shelf units have flat sides and flat sides on shelf units in the first row reside in adjacent parallel relationship to flat sides on shelf units in the second row. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. A product storage and picking system comprising:
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a plurality of shelf units each having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides, the plurality of shelf units arranged in first and second side-by-side rows with the shelf units in each of the first and second rows arranged in front-to-rear relationship, the plurality of shelf units movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be removed to fill an order, at least one of the shelf units movable in a predetermined manner during a portion of the cycle without moving other shelf units in the plurality of shelf units, the product storage and picking system further comprising at least a first rail for guiding movement of the shelf units in the first row in a substantially linear first path and at least a second rail for guiding movement of the shelf units in the second row in a substantially linear second path that is substantially parallel to the first path.
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13. A product storage and picking system comprising:
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a plurality of shelf units each having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides, the plurality of shelf units arranged in first and second side-by-side rows with the shelf units in each of the first and second rows arranged in front-to-rear relationship, the plurality of shelf units movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be removed to fill an order, at least one of the shelf units movable in a predetermined manner during a portion of the cycle without moving other shelf units in the plurality of shelf units, the product storage and picking system further comprising a drive system comprising a plurality of drive assemblies, and a control system for coordinatingly operating the drive assemblies to cause the shelf units to move in the cycle. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A product storage and picking system comprising:
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a plurality of shelf units each having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides, the plurality of shelf units arranged in first and second side-by-side rows with the shelf units in each of the first and second rows arranged in front-to-rear relationship, the plurality of shelf units movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be removed to fill an order, at least one of the shelf units movable in a predetermined manner during a portion of the cycle without moving other shelf units in the plurality of shelf units, wherein the product storage and picking system further comprises a control system, the control system capable of receiving an order for product and processing the order for product by generating a pick list through which products in the order for product are serially identified to an operator at the shelf units at the pick position as the shelf units are moved during the cycle.
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16. A product storage and picking system comprising:
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a plurality of shelf units each having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides, the plurality of shelf units arranged in first and second side-by-side rows with the shelf units in each of the first and second rows arranged in front-to-rear relationship, the plurality of shelf units movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be removed to fill an order, at least one of the shelf units movable in a predetermined manner during a portion of the cycle without moving other shelf units in the plurality of shelf units, wherein the plurality of shelf units are arranged in a squared array as viewed from above. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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20. A product storage and picking system comprising:
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a plurality of shelf units each having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides; and a wall structure bounding a space within which the plurality of shelf units reside, the wall structure blocking access to product on the shelf units and having an opening, the plurality of shelf units movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be accessed through the wall structure opening and removed to fill an order, wherein the plurality of shelf units are arranged in a squared array as viewed from above. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A product storage and picking system comprising:
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a plurality of shelf units each having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and spaced sides; and a wall structure bounding a space within which the plurality of shelf units reside, the wall structure blocking access to product on the shelf units and having an opening, the plurality of shelf units movable guidingly in a cycle to selectively place each of the shelf units serially at a pick position so that product on the shelf unit at the pick position can be accessed through the wall structure opening and removed to fill an order, the product storage and picking system further comprising a control system, the control system capable of receiving an order for product and processing the order for product by generating a pick list through which products in the order for product are serially identified to an operator at the shelf units at the pick position as the shelf units are moved during the cycle.
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Specification