Position indicator apparatus and method

• US 7,564,349 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2007
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellheimer Metallwerk GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bellheimer Metallwerk GmbH
• Inventors: Robey, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US11/772,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 3405681-5729, 340/545.6, 340/545.9, 340/686.1, 340/686.3, 340/815.45, 340/5.91, 340/5.92, 705/22, 705/28, 235/385, 221 4- 6, 414 2263- 2267, 414/148, 414/222.02, 414266-272
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2209/04 Indication location means

Abstract

An apparatus and method for indicating a position of an item to be processed from a shelf is disclosed. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a frame member and an indicator moveable on the frame member. The indicator is positionable in front of the item to be processed from the shelf. In an embodiment of a method for indicating a position of an item to be processed from a shelf, the method includes moving the indicator on the frame member such that the indicator is positioned in front of the item to be processed from the shelf.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating a position of an item to be processed from a shelf, comprising:

a frame member; and

an indicator moveable on the frame member such that the indicator is positionable in front of the item to be processed from the shelf, wherein the movable indicator is a moveable bar and wherein an indicator light is included on the moveable bar such that the light is moveable such that it is illuminatable in front of the item to be processed from the shelf.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame member is disposed vertically, wherein the indicator is disposed horizontally, and wherein the indicator is vertically moveable on the frame member.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame member is disposed horizontally, wherein the indicator is disposed vertically, and wherein the indicator is horizontally moveable on the frame member.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicator includes a first bar and a second bar and wherein the first bar and the second bar are positionable such that the item to be processed from the shelf is located between the first bar and the second bar.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bar includes identification information associated with the item to be processed from the shelf.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover associated with the indicator, wherein the cover is adjustable such that an item not to be processed from an other shelf is disposed behind the cover.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of photocells associated with the frame member.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicator includes an RFiD reader.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shelf is included in a horizontal carousel system.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a monitor disposed in an upper area of the frame member.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the monitor is a flat panel display screen.

10. A method for indicating a position of an item to be processed from a shelf, comprising the steps of:

moving a moveable indicator on a frame member such that the moveable indicator is positioned in front of the item to be processed from the shelf, wherein the movable indicator is a moveable bar and wherein an indicator light is included on the moveable bar such that the light is moveable; and

illuminating the indicator light in front of the item to be processed from the shelf.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the frame member is disposed vertically, wherein the indicator is disposed horizontally, and wherein the step of moving the indicator includes the step of vertically moving the indicator.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the frame member is disposed horizontally, wherein the indicator is disposed vertically, and wherein the step of moving the indicator includes the step of horizontally moving the indicator.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the indicator includes a first bar and a second bar and further comprising the step of moving the first bar and the second bar such that the item to be processed from the shelf is located between the first bar and the second bar.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of providing identification information on the bar associated with the item to be processed from the shelf.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of covering an item not to be processed from an other shelf by a cover associated with the indicator.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of detecting an activity by at least one of a plurality of photocells associated with the frame member.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of identifying the item by an RFiD reader included on the indicator.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the shelf is included in a horizontal carousel system.

21. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of displaying information related to the item to be processed from the shelf on a monitor disposed in an upper area of the frame member.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the monitor is a flat panel display screen.