Method and apparatus for sorting items
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A delivery vehicle operable with a material handling system having a plurality of sort locations and a guide system, wherein the delivery vehicle comprises:
- a platform for receiving an item to be conveyed to one of the sort locations;
a motor for driving the vehicle to one of the sort locations;
a drive system cooperable with the guide system to guide the vehicle to one of the sort locations, wherein the drive system is configured to maintain the orientation of the vehicle relative to the horizon as the vehicle changes from a first direction of travel to a second direction of travel, wherein the first direction is at an angle to the second direction;
a releasable retainer for positively engaging the item to be delivered by the vehicle, wherein the retainer includes a release for releasing the retainer when the vehicle is adjacent the one sort location; and
an ejector for ejecting the item from the vehicle toward the one sort location after the retainer releases the item to be delivered to the one sort location;
wherein the drive system for the vehicle is operable to move the vehicle in a first direction and a second direction transverse the first direction, and wherein the ejector is operable to eject the item along a third direction that is transverse both the first and second directions.
1 Assignment
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a track that guides the delivery vehicles to the sort destinations, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate sort destination, the delivery vehicle ejects the item to the sort destination and returns to receive another item to be delivered.
212 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A delivery vehicle operable with a material handling system having a plurality of sort locations and a guide system, wherein the delivery vehicle comprises:
-
a platform for receiving an item to be conveyed to one of the sort locations; a motor for driving the vehicle to one of the sort locations; a drive system cooperable with the guide system to guide the vehicle to one of the sort locations, wherein the drive system is configured to maintain the orientation of the vehicle relative to the horizon as the vehicle changes from a first direction of travel to a second direction of travel, wherein the first direction is at an angle to the second direction; a releasable retainer for positively engaging the item to be delivered by the vehicle, wherein the retainer includes a release for releasing the retainer when the vehicle is adjacent the one sort location; and an ejector for ejecting the item from the vehicle toward the one sort location after the retainer releases the item to be delivered to the one sort location; wherein the drive system for the vehicle is operable to move the vehicle in a first direction and a second direction transverse the first direction, and wherein the ejector is operable to eject the item along a third direction that is transverse both the first and second directions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A system for sorting or retrieving a plurality of items, comprising:
-
a plurality of destination areas for receiving items, wherein the destination areas are arranged in a first array of columns or rows; a plurality of vehicles for delivering the items to or from the destination areas, wherein each vehicle comprises an on-board motor for driving the vehicle; and a track system for guiding the delivery vehicles to the destinations, wherein the track system forms a loop having a forward leg leading away from a loading station along the track where materials are loaded onto the delivery vehicles and a return leg leading back to the station, wherein the track system comprises; an upper generally horizontal track section a lower generally horizontal track section vertically spaced apart from the upper track section; a first generally vertical track section intersecting the upper track section to form a first intersection, and intersecting the lower horizontal track section to form a second intersection; a second generally vertical track section intersecting the upper track section to form a third intersection, and intersecting the lower track section to form a fourth intersection; wherein the intersections provide paths between a generally horizontal path of travel along one of the horizontal track sections, and a generally vertical path of travel along one of the vertical track sections; wherein the array of destination areas are positioned along the track system so that the flow of material between a delivery vehicle and a destination area is in a third direction that is transverse both the horizontal direction of the upper and lower track and the vertical direction of the first and second vertical track section; wherein each vehicle comprises a drive element that interacts with the track system to maintain the general orientation of the vehicle relative to the horizon as the vehicle moves between a vertical track and a horizontal track. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22)
-
-
18. A system for sorting or retrieving a plurality of items, comprising:
-
a plurality of destination areas for receiving items, wherein the destination areas are arranged in a first array of columns or rows; a plurality of vehicles for delivering the items to or from the destination areas, wherein each vehicle comprises an on-board motor for driving the vehicle; and a track system for guiding the delivery vehicles to the destinations, wherein the track system forms a loop having a forward leg leading away from a loading station along the track where materials are loaded onto the delivery vehicles and a return leg leading back to the station, wherein the track system comprises; a first track section extending in a first direction; a second track section spaced apart from the first track section extending generally in the first direction; a third track section extending in a second direction transverse the first direction, intersecting the first track section to form a first intersection, and intersecting the second track section to form a second intersection; a fourth track section extending generally in the second direction, intersecting the first track section to form a third intersection, and intersecting the second track section to form a fourth intersection; wherein the intersections provide paths between a path of travel along the first direction and a path of travel along the second direction; wherein the array of destination areas are positioned along the track system so that the flow of material between a delivery vehicle and a destination area is along a third axis that is transverse both the first direction and the second direction; wherein each vehicle comprises a drive element that interacts with the track system to maintain the general orientation of the vehicle relative to the horizon as the vehicle moves between the first track section and the third track section. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification