Back to results
US 10,947,044 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for storing or retrieving items
AssigneeOpex Corporation
InventorRobert R. DeWitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims16
A material handling system, comprising:
- a plurality of destination areas for receiving one or more items;
- a plurality of independently operable delivery vehicles operable to deliver items to the destination areas, wherein each delivery vehicle comprises a transfer mechanism for loading items onto the delivery vehicle and discharging items from delivery vehicle;
- wherein each destination area is configured to accumulate a plurality of items delivered by a plurality of the delivery vehicles;
- an input station for loading items onto the delivery vehicles to deliver the items to the destination areas;
- a guide track positioned along the destination areas, wherein the guide track in configured to guide the delivery vehicles to the destination areas;
- a controller configured to control operation of the delivery vehicles so that the delivery vehicles stop at the input station to facilitate items being loaded onto the delivery vehicles;
- and
- a plurality of independently operable retrieval vehicles operable to selectively retrieve items from the destination areas and displace the items away from the destination areas, wherein each retrieval vehicle comprises a loading mechanism for loading items onto the retrieval vehicle from one of the destination areas, wherein the transfer mechanism is configured differently than the loading mechanism.
5 more elements
A method for delivering items to destination areas and retrieving items from the destination areas, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- driving a plurality of independently operable delivery vehicles to deliver items to a plurality of destination areas, wherein each destination area is configured to receive a plurality of items, wherein the step of driving comprises driving the vehicles along a guide track positioned along the destination areas;
- loading items onto the delivery vehicles, wherein the step of loading comprises the steps of:
- stopping each of the delivery vehicles at an input station;
- and
- while each of the delivery vehicles is stopped at the input station, operating a transfer mechanism on each of the delivery vehicles to load one or more items onto the delivery vehicle;
- accumulating a plurality of items at the destination areas by operating the transfer mechanism of each of a plurality of the delivery vehicles to discharge items at the destination areas;
- controlling a plurality of independently operable retrieval vehicles to selectively retrieve items accumulated in the destination areas wherein the step of selectively retrieving items accumulated in the destination areas comprises operating a loading mechanism that is configured differently that the transfer mechanism;
- and
- displacing the retrieval vehicles to displace the selectively retrieved items away from the destination areas.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.