US 5,472,309 AGranted

System for delivery

AssigneeComputer Aided Systems, Inc.

InventorsClay Bernard, II, Robert D. Lichti, Sr., Stanley H. Lukken, Daniel C. Perry

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An integrated warehousing system for storing and retrieving goods as well as preparing the goods for their ultimate disposition is disclosed. The warehousing system includes numerous modular components that may be added to or subtracted from the system to accommodate a particular warehousing need. Inventoried goods placed in containers are stored on a rotational storage carousel, A plurality of work stations, each having an associated temporary storage queues are integrated with the carousel to facilitate high volume handling operations. Containers, delivered from the storage carousel, are brought to the temporary queue where they are held until an operator is prepared to work with the goods stored therein. The container is then delivered to a work area, where the operator performs the desired task. The containers, may then be delivered either to another appropriate work station or back to the storage carousel.

A method of operating a storage system, the system including a plurality of operational stations connected by a conveyor network for conveying containers between the operational stations, a first operational station comprising a storage structure having a multiplicity of container racks for holding the containers, means for rotating the container racks about a continuous track, and means for inserting containers into and for extracting containers from the storage structure, a second operational station comprising a work center having a work area for selectively adding goods to, withdrawing goods from or working goods within said containers, and a vertical storage queue for holding a plurality of containers in a region adjacent the work area, each said container having at least one compartment therein and an identifying indicia thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

loading goods to be stored into the containers;
recording the identity of the goods placed in each said container and maintaining an inventory record of the contents of each said container;
inserting loaded containers onto the container racks of the storage structure while the container racks are in continuous motion about the track;
receiving a request for a particular good stored within the storage system and checking the inventory record to identify a selected one of said containers that carries the particular good;
extracting the selected container from the storage structure while the container racks are in continuous motion about the track;
delivering the selected container to the vertical storage queue to be held thereon with other selected containers;
transferring containers disposed on the vertical storage queue to the work area as required to fulfill a request;
adding goods to, withdrawing goods from, or working goods in the containers transferred to the work area from the vertical storage queue;
and
transferring the containers from the work area to the vertical storage queue after the step of adding, withdrawing or working the goods is completed, and returning the containers to the storage structure for insertion thereon.

7 more elements

Facts

Application

08/310,012Filed 21 Sep 1994 · continuation

Priority

13 May 1985

Granted

5 Dec 1995

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B65G 1/127
With separate article supports or holders movable in a closed circuit to facilitate insertion or removal of articles the articles being books,…:…
B65G 1/0485
Mechanical: check-in, check-out devices
B65G 1/1371
With arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed: with data records
B65G 17/002
Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying…:…

Family

Serial732,927Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 13 May 1985

Serial800,337Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Nov 1985

Serial815,808Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Jan 1986

Serial821,257Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Jan 1986

Serial824,718Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Jan 1986

Serial15,083Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Feb 1987

Serial31,989Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Mar 1987

Serial158,310Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Feb 1988

Serial481,719Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Feb 1990

Serial568,534Parent of this division · filed 15 Aug 1990

Serial712,485Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Jun 1991

Serial125,371Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Sep 1993

US 5,246,332 AParent of this continuation

US 5,171,120 AParent of this division

US 4,752,175 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 5,472,309 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Abstract

Claims2