Material Handling Apparatus for Delivering or Retrieving Items
AssigneeOpex Corporation
InventorsRobert R. DeWitt, George L. DeWitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims13
A material handling system for delivering a plurality of items to or from a plurality of destination areas, comprising:
- a plurality of delivery vehicles for delivering item to the destination areas, wherein the destination areas are arranged into a first array of columns and rows and a second array of columns and rows, wherein each vehicle comprises:
- a power source for driving the vehicle;
- and
- a transfer mechanism for transferring an item forwardly or rearwardly to transfer an item between the delivery vehicle and one of the destination areas;
- a track for guiding the delivery vehicles to the bins, wherein the track is positioned between the first array of destination areas and the second array of destination areas so that when a delivery vehicle is stopped at a point along the track, the transfer mechanism can transfer an item forwardly between the vehicle and a destination area in the first array and the transfer mechanism can transfer an item rearwardly between the vehicle and a destination in the second array;
- a destination module operable to identify the destination area to which one item is to be delivered to or retrieved from by one of the delivery vehicles, wherein the destination module identifies the destination area based on a marking on the item;
- and
- a controller for controlling the operation of the one vehicle as the vehicle delivers the item to the identified bin.
A material handling system for delivering a plurality of items to or from a plurality of destination areas, wherein the system comprises:
- a plurality of destination areas for receiving the items;
- a plurality of delivery vehicles for delivering the items, wherein each vehicle comprises an on-board motor for driving the vehicle and a rechargeable power source for powering the motor;
- and
- track for guiding the delivery vehicles, wherein the track comprises a substantially vertical portion and a horizontal portion providing a continuous path from horizontal to vertical direction, wherein the track comprises a charging strip along a track section and the charging strip terminates along the track section, wherein the charging strip is operable to recharge the rechargeable power source as the vehicle travels along the charging strip.
A delivery vehicle operable with a material handling system having a plurality of destination areas and a guide system, wherein the delivery vehicle comprises:
- a platform for receiving an item to be conveyed to one of the destination areas;
- a motor for driving the vehicle to one of the destination areas;
- a drive system cooperable with the guide system to guide the vehicle to one of the destination areas, wherein the drive system is configured to maintain the orientation of the vehicle relative to the horizon as the vehicle changes from a horizontal direction of travel to a vertical direction of travel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.