Method and apparatus for sorting or retreiving items
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A material handling system, comprising:
- a plurality of storage locations;
a track adjacent the storage locations;
a plurality of vehicles for delivering items to the storage locations or retrieving items from the storage locations, wherein each vehicles comprises an onboard motor for driving the vehicle along the track to or from one of the storage locations;
a controller for independently controlling each vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to control one of the vehicles carrying a first item that the vehicle retrieved from a first storage location, wherein the controller;
identifies a second storage location at which a second item is to be retrieved by the vehicle;
identifies a storage location available to receive the first item;
attempts to minimize the travel distance between the storage location identified for receiving the first item and the storage location where the second item is located;
directs the vehicle to the storage location identified for receiving the first item; and
directs the vehicle to the storage location at which the second item is located after the vehicle discharges the first item;
wherein the vehicle comprises a transfer mechanism for transferring the second item onto the vehicle so the vehicle can convey the second item to a location where the second item can be removed from the vehicle to fill an order for the second item.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. 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/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A material handling system, comprising:
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a plurality of storage locations; a track adjacent the storage locations; a plurality of vehicles for delivering items to the storage locations or retrieving items from the storage locations, wherein each vehicles comprises an onboard motor for driving the vehicle along the track to or from one of the storage locations; a controller for independently controlling each vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to control one of the vehicles carrying a first item that the vehicle retrieved from a first storage location, wherein the controller; identifies a second storage location at which a second item is to be retrieved by the vehicle; identifies a storage location available to receive the first item; attempts to minimize the travel distance between the storage location identified for receiving the first item and the storage location where the second item is located; directs the vehicle to the storage location identified for receiving the first item; and directs the vehicle to the storage location at which the second item is located after the vehicle discharges the first item; wherein the vehicle comprises a transfer mechanism for transferring the second item onto the vehicle so the vehicle can convey the second item to a location where the second item can be removed from the vehicle to fill an order for the second item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling a material handling system having a plurality of storage locations, a track adjacent the storage locations and a plurality of vehicles for delivering items to the storage locations or retrieving items from the storage locations, comprising the steps of:
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driving one of the vehicles carrying a first item that the vehicle retrieved from a first storage location; identifying a second storage location at which a second item is to be retrieved by the vehicle; identifying a storage location available to receive the first item, wherein the step of identifying a storage location available to receive the first item comprises attempting to minimize the travel distance between the storage location identified for receiving the first item and the storage location where the second item is located; driving the vehicle to the storage location identified as being available to receive the first item; transferring the first item into the storage location identified as being available to receive the first item; driving the vehicle to the storage location at which the second item is located after the vehicle discharges the first item; transferring the second item onto the vehicle and conveying the second item to an output location; transferring the second item from the vehicle at the output location. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A material handling system, comprising:
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a plurality of storage locations arranged; a track adjacent the storage locations; a plurality of vehicles for delivering items to the storage locations or retrieving items from the storage locations, wherein each vehicles is configured to ride along the track to or from one of the storage locations; a plurality of gates along the track, wherein each gate is operable between a first position and a second position for selectively changing the direction of travel for a vehicle as the vehicle travels along the track; wherein each vehicle comprises; a transfer mechanism for transferring items between the vehicle and one of the storage locations; a drive element operable to drive the transfer mechanism a gate actuator operable between a first position in which the actuator does not actuate the gate and a second position in which the actuator is operable to actuate the gate, wherein actuating the drive element of the transfer mechanism actuates the gate actuator from the first position to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A material handling system, comprising:
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a plurality of locations for receiving one or more items; a track adjacent the locations; a plurality of vehicles for delivering items to the locations or retrieving items from the locations, wherein each vehicles comprises an onboard motor for driving the vehicle along the track to or from one of the locations; a controller for independently controlling each vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to control one of the vehicles carrying a first item that the vehicle retrieved from a first of the plurality of locations, wherein the controller; identifies a second of the plurality of location at which a second item is to be retrieved by the vehicle; attempts to minimize the travel distance between the second location and a third of the plurality of locations, which is available to receive the first item; directs the vehicle to the third location; and directs the vehicle to the second location after the vehicle discharges the first item at the third location; wherein the vehicle comprises a transfer mechanism for transferring the second item onto the vehicle so the vehicle can convey the second item to a picking location where the second item can be removed from the vehicle to fill an order for the second item. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification