METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORING OR RETRIEVING ITEMS

• US 20180037410A1
• Filed: 10/16/2017
• Published: 02/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Opex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Opex Corporation
• Inventors: DeWitt, Robert R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,457,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/087 the objects being taken up in transport files or holders which are not part of the conveyor belts cable post B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/04 mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0485 Check-in, check-out devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0492 with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/06 with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level B65G1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/065 with self propelled cars
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for storing and retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. A storage and retrieval system stores and retrieves items as needed and transfer items from storage locations to transfer locations. A separate picking system conveys the items from the transfer locations to a picking station or an input out station so that the item can be selected.

Claims

1. A material handling system, comprising:

a storage and retrieval system, comprising;

a plurality of storage locations for storing items;

a displaceable storage and retrieval device movable between the plurality of storage locations and operable to retrieve items from the storage locations and move the items to one or more transfer locations;

a picking system operable to transport items to and from the one or more transfer locations, wherein the picking system comprises;

a plurality of picking vehicles for transporting items;

a picking track for guiding the picking vehicles, wherein the track comprises a loop;

an input/output station along the track configured so that an item can be removed from one of the delivery vehicles;

wherein the picking track is configured so that the picking vehicles are operable to circulate around the loop between the input/output station and one or more of the transfer locations;

wherein each vehicle comprises a drive system for driving the vehicle around the picking track and a motor for driving the drive system;

wherein the picking system is configured to control operation of the picking vehicles so that the vehicles are driven along the track to an area adjacent one of transfer locations to transfer items between the picking vehicle and the storage and retrieval system at the transfer location; and

wherein the picking system is configured to control operation of the picking vehicles so that the picking vehicles are driven from one of the transfer locations to the input/output station to allow removal of items from the picking vehicle.

2. The material handling system of claim 1 wherein the displaceable storage and retrieval device is configured differently than the picking vehicles.

3. The material handling system of claim 1 wherein the displaceable storage and retrieval device comprises a plurality of storage and retrieval vehicles, wherein the storage and retrieval vehicles are of a first type and the picking vehicles are of a second type that is different than the first type.

4. The material handling system of claim 1 wherein the displaceable storage and retrieval device comprises a plurality of storage and retrieval vehicles and the storage and retrieval system comprises a storage and retrieval track that guides the storage and retrieval vehicles and wherein the storage and retrieval track is separate from the picking track.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the storage and retrieval track terminates separate from the picking track to prevent storage and retrieval vehicles from entering the picking track.

6. The system of claim 4 comprising a stop that impedes displacement of the storage and retrieval vehicles onto the picking track.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the stop comprises a wall of the picking track.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage and retrieval system is configured to impede displacement of the displaceable storage and retrieval device into the picking track.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein each picking vehicle comprises a substantially horizontal support for supporting items in a generally horizontal orientation.

10. The system of claim 1 comprising a transfer mechanism for transferring items from the storage and retrieval devices to the transfer locations.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the transfer mechanism is mounted on one of the picking vehicles.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein each transfer location comprises two sections, a first section configured to receive items from the displaceable storage and retrieval device and a second section configured to receive items from the picking vehicles.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein each transfer location comprises a conveyor for conveying items between the first section and the second section.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage and retrieval system is configured so that the displaceable storage and retrieval device is operable to transfer items directly onto one of the picking vehicles.

15. A material handling system, comprising:

a storage and retrieval system, comprising;

a plurality of storage locations for storing items;

a plurality of independently operable displaceable storage and retrieval vehicles operable to retrieve items from the storage locations and convey the items to one or more transfer locations;

an input/output system operable to transfer items to and from the one or more transfer locations, wherein the input/output system comprises;

a plurality of picking vehicles for transporting items;

a picking track for guiding the picking vehicles, wherein the track comprises a loop;

an input/output station along the track configured to facilitate removal of an item from one of the delivery vehicles;

wherein the picking vehicles circulate around the loop between the input/output station and the one or more transfer locations;

wherein the picking vehicles are configured differently than the displaceable storage and retrieval vehicles.

16. The material handling system of claim 15 wherein the storage and retrieval system comprises a storage and retrieval track that guides the storage and retrieval vehicles and wherein the storage and retrieval track is separate from the picking track.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the storage and retrieval track terminates separate from the picking track to prevent storage and retrieval vehicles from entering the picking track.

18. The system of claim 16 comprising a stop that impedes displacement of the storage and retrieval vehicles onto the picking track.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the stop comprises a wall of the picking track.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the storage and retrieval system is configured to impede displacement of the storage and retrieval vehicles into the picking track.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein each picking vehicle comprises a substantially horizontal support for supporting items in a generally horizontal orientation.

22. The system of claim 15 comprising a transfer mechanism for transferring items from one of the storage and retrieval vehicles to the transfer locations.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the transfer mechanism is mounted on the one storage and retrieval vehicles.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein each transfer location comprises two sections, a first section configured to receive items from the storage and retrieval vehicles and a second section configured to receive items from the picking vehicles.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein each transfer location comprises a conveyor for conveying items between the first section and the second section.

26. The system of claim 15 wherein the storage and retrieval system is configured so that the storage and retrieval vehicles are operable to transfer items directly onto one of the picking vehicles.

27. The system of claim 15 wherein the storage and retrieval vehicles are displaceable between the plurality of storage locations.