Automated system for the delivery, grouping and distribution of articles connected to one another by a restraining loop

• US 7,467,503 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swisslog Italia SPA (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Swisslog Italia SPA (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Inventors: Gambarelli, Franco, Davolio, Maurizio
• Primary Examiner(s): Gerrity; Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US10/508,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20050188652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 535/91, 534/95, 531/341, 531/361, 531/281, 531/394, 531/391, 535/42, 535/31, 531/47, 535/82, 535/89, 100/8, 100/12, 100/26, 206/554
• US Class Current: 53/495
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 15/00 Attaching articles to cards, sheets, strings, webs, or other carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

An automatic system for the delivery and distribution of articles in groups comprises a store of articles, a unit for the collection and delivery of articles from the store and a controller associated with the collection and delivery unit in order to control the selective collection of articles from the store and their output as sets of articles logically grouped together. The system further comprises a grouping device which receives the sets of articles logically grouped together as inputs and outputs corresponding packs, groups or bundles of articles physically connected to one another by a restraining loop or strip.

Claims

1. An automated system for the delivery and distribution of articles in groups, comprising:

a store of articles;

means for the collection and delivery of articles from the store;

control means associated with the collection and delivery means for controlling the selective collection of articles from the store and their output as sets of articles logically grouped together; and

a grouping device receiving at its input the sets of articles logically grouped together and outputting corresponding packs, groups or bundles of articles physically connected to one another by restraining means,

wherein the restraining means comprises an elongate member that is closed into a loop in order to group a respective one of said sets of articles together, the elongate member passing through holes or openings provided on the articles.

2. An automated system according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprises electronic processor means, and the articles are grouped together logically in the sets and physically connected in the corresponding packs, groups or bundles in accordance with corresponding orders or instructions entered and/or stored in the electronic processor means.

3. An automated system according to claim 1, further comprising means for generating labels identifying the orders or instructions, wherein the grouping device associates the labels with each corresponding group of articles.

4. The automated system according to claim 3, wherein the elongate member acts as the label.

5. The automated system according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member is a thread.

6. The automated system according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member is a strip.

7. The automated system according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member is a notched band.

8. The automated system according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member is made of materials that can be welded in order to form the loop.

9. The automated system according to claim 1, further comprising a unit for supporting and moving the elongate member for said passing of said elongate member through said holes.

10. The automated system according to claim 1, further comprising cutting means for cutting the elongate member, the cutting means comprising a blade and a linear actuator connected to the blade by a ball joint.

11. An automated system for delivering and distributing articles in bundles, comprising:

a store for storing articles in a storage location, said articles having holes therein;

collection and delivery means for collecting and delivering groups of said articles from the store for subsequent bundling;

control means connected to the collection and delivery means for controlling the collection and delivery means to selectively collect said articles from the store such that said articles are grouped together as logical sets of said articles;

restraining means comprising an elongate member that is provided in an open condition and can be closed into a loop in a closed condition in order to bundle each said logical set of said articles together, the elongate member being inserted through said holes provided on articles in said open condition; and

a grouping device for receiving the logical sets of said articles when grouped together, inserting said elongate member in the open condition through said holes and closing said elongate member to said closed condition, and outputting, corresponding to the logical sets of articles, bundles of said articles physically connected to one another by the elongate member.

12. The automated system according to claim 11, wherein the grouping device comprises a load-bearing structure, means for supporting the articles, a feed unit for supplying the elongate members, guide means for forming a path for the elongate members being inserted through said holes on said articles, and joining means for joining end portions of the elongate members together in said loop in said closed condition in order to connect said articles together.

13. The automated system according to claim 12, wherein the feed unit is operable in a direct-feed mode in order to urge the elongate member through the guide means and in a reverse-feed mode in order to return the elongate member.