System and method for automated overhead warehousing
First Claim
1. An automated overhead warehousing system for use in a warehouse having a plurality of storage racks, said automated warehousing system comprising:
- a plurality of drawers, each of said drawers being individually divided into multiple compartments to contain a variety of different parcels therein, said each drawer being positioned at a designated parcel retrieval location of one of a plurality of individual cells in each of said plurality of storage racks, said each drawer having thereon an identification marker transmitting a signal identifying said each drawer at said designated parcel retrieval location and also identifying which of said different parcels are contained in said multiple compartments thereof, said each drawer being adapted to be opened and closed relative to said one individual cell in one of said storage racks;
a plurality of drones, each of said drones having a gripper head translatable relative to an opened one of said drawers at said designated parcel retrieval location of said respective one individual cell for retrieving a parcel from a designated one of said multiple compartments of said opened one of said drawers; and
a communication subsystem providing each of said drones in communication with said identification markers on said drawers at said designated parcel retrieval locations of said plurality of individual cells to receive said signals transmitted by said identification markers identifying said drawers at said designated parcel retrieval locations and said different parcels contained in said multiple compartments of each of said drawers, said communication subsystem also in communication with each of said drones for plotting a flight trajectory for said each drone and controlling flying of said drone to said designated parcel retrieval location of said respective one individual cell, opening said designated one drawer at said respective one individual cell in conjunction with arrival of said drone at said designated parcel retrieval location of said respective one individual cell, and identifying said compartment of said designated one drawer containing a designated one of said different parcels, said communication subsystem further in communication with said at least one drone for controlling translation of said gripper head relative to said opened one of said drawers to retrieve the designated one of said different parcels from said identified compartment of said designated one drawer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated warehousing system for use in a warehouse having a storage racks includes drawers partitioned into multiple compartments to contain different parcels, the drawers being at designated locations of individual cells in the storage racks and adapted to be opened and closed. The system also has a plurality of drones configured to identify a designated one of the drawers at a designated location and a designated one compartment of the designated one drawer. The drones have gripper heads translatable relative to opened drawers to retrieve parcels therefrom. The system further has a communication subsystem communicating with the drones to control their flying and also to control their gripper heads relative to opened drawers and communicating with individual cells for opening and closing drawers as drones approach and depart the selected individual cells.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automated overhead warehousing system for use in a warehouse having a plurality of storage racks, said automated warehousing system comprising:
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a plurality of drawers, each of said drawers being individually divided into multiple compartments to contain a variety of different parcels therein, said each drawer being positioned at a designated parcel retrieval location of one of a plurality of individual cells in each of said plurality of storage racks, said each drawer having thereon an identification marker transmitting a signal identifying said each drawer at said designated parcel retrieval location and also identifying which of said different parcels are contained in said multiple compartments thereof, said each drawer being adapted to be opened and closed relative to said one individual cell in one of said storage racks; a plurality of drones, each of said drones having a gripper head translatable relative to an opened one of said drawers at said designated parcel retrieval location of said respective one individual cell for retrieving a parcel from a designated one of said multiple compartments of said opened one of said drawers; and a communication subsystem providing each of said drones in communication with said identification markers on said drawers at said designated parcel retrieval locations of said plurality of individual cells to receive said signals transmitted by said identification markers identifying said drawers at said designated parcel retrieval locations and said different parcels contained in said multiple compartments of each of said drawers, said communication subsystem also in communication with each of said drones for plotting a flight trajectory for said each drone and controlling flying of said drone to said designated parcel retrieval location of said respective one individual cell, opening said designated one drawer at said respective one individual cell in conjunction with arrival of said drone at said designated parcel retrieval location of said respective one individual cell, and identifying said compartment of said designated one drawer containing a designated one of said different parcels, said communication subsystem further in communication with said at least one drone for controlling translation of said gripper head relative to said opened one of said drawers to retrieve the designated one of said different parcels from said identified compartment of said designated one drawer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automated warehousing method for use in a warehouse having a plurality of storage racks, said automated warehousing method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of drawers each being individually divided into multiple compartments to contain a variety of different parcels therein, said each drawer being positioned at a designated parcel retrieval location of one of a plurality of individual cells in each of said plurality of storage racks; providing said each drawer with an identification marker thereon transmitting a signal identifying said each drawer at said designated parcel retrieval location and also identifying which of said different parcels are contained in said multiple compartments thereof, said each drawer being adapted to be opened and closed relative to said one individual cell in one of said storage racks; providing a plurality of drones each having a gripper head translatable relative to an opened one of said drawers at said designated parcel retrieval location of said respective one individual cell for retrieving a parcel from a designated one of said multiple compartments of said opened one of said drawers; communicating to each of said drones said signals transmitted by said identification markers on said drawers at said designated parcel retrieval locations of said plurality of individual cells so as to identify the one of said drawers at said designated parcel retrieval location and the compartment of said identified one drawer containing the designated one of said different parcels contained in said identified one drawer and to open said identified one drawer before arrival of said drone; and communicating with each of said drones for controlling translation of said gripper head relative to said opened one of said drawers to retrieve the designated one of said different parcels from said identified compartment of said designated one drawer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification