Order pick system

An automated process for filling multiple orders containing at least one article, comprising the steps of:

• storing articles with each cell containing only one type of article;
• entering orders into a computer;
• sorting orders to determine the ordered low frequency of selection articles required to fill the orders in the next order filling operation;
• placing cells containing the low frequency of selection articles in a picking zone;
• filling a dispenser with high frequency of selection articles;
• assigning a drop-off zone to each individual order;
• picking individual ordered articles from the cells placed in the picking zone;
• transporting each picked article to the assigned drop-off zone;
• releasing the picked article into the assigned drop-off zone;
• moving the order drop-off zone assigned to an order containing a high frequency of selection article to the dispenser and dispensing the ordered high frequency of selection article into the assigned drop-off zone;
• and
• transporting the filled order to a packaging station.

An automated process for filling multiple orders containing at least one article, comprising the steps of:

• storing articles in individual cells with each cell containing only one type of article;
• tracking the location of the cells, and the type of articles therein, in a computer;
• entering orders into the computer;
• sorting orders to determine the ordered low, intermediate and high frequency of selection articles required to fill orders in the next order filling operation;
• placing cells containing the low frequency of selection articles in a picking zone;
• filling an intermediate frequency of selection article dispenser with articles having an intermediate frequency of selection;
• filling a high frequency of selection article dispenser with articles having a high frequency of selection;
• assigning a drop-off zone to each individual order;
• picking individual ordered articles from the cells placed in the picking zone;
• transporting each picked article to the assigned drop-off zone;
• releasing the article into the assigned drop-off zone;
• moving the order drop-off zone assigned to an order containing intermediate frequency of section articles adjacent to the intermediate frequency of selection article dispenser and dispensing the ordered intermediate frequency of selection article into the drop-off zone assigned to the order;
• moving the order drop-off zone assigned to an order containing high frequency of selection articles adjacent to the high frequency of selection article dispenser and dispensing the ordered high frequency of selection article into the drop-off zone assigned to the order;
• and
• transporting filled orders to a packaging station.

An automated process for filling orders of articles with one order having both a high frequency of selection article and a low frequency of selection article, comprising the steps of:

• storing articles in individual cells in storage cells with each cell having only one type of article;
• entering orders into a computer;
• determining the low frequency of selection articles required for filling the orders in the next order filling operation;
• positioning cells containing the low frequency of selection articles required for filling the orders in the next order filling operation in a pick zone adjacent a picking mechanism;
• filling a high volume dispenser with high frequency of selection articles;
• providing a conveyor belt system running adjacent the picking mechanism and the high volume dispenser;
• assigning a drop-off zone for the one order having both high and low frequency of selection articles on a first segment of the conveyor belt system adjacent one of the picking mechanism and the high volume dispenser;
• filling the one order with at least one article from the adjacent one of the picking mechanism and the high volume dispenser;
• moving the drop-off zone to be adjacent to the other of the picking mechanism and the high volume dispenser;
• filling the one order with at least one article from the other of the picking mechanism and the high volume dispenser;
• and
• transporting the drop-off zone containing the order filled by both the picking mechanism and high volume dispenser to a packaging station.

A process for automated filling of orders which each contain one or more articles selected from an inventory of such articles, comprising the steps of:

• storing the articles in stacks so that the articles in a respective stack are identical;
• storing the stacks in a plurality of storage cells each adapted to contain a single stack therein;
• providing an article pick zone in association with a conveyor for selecting individual articles and for depositing such articles onto the conveyor;
• defining on the conveyor an assigned order-receiving space which is moved through the pick zone;
• providing a pick interface for the pick zone which is adjacent and extends longitudinally along at least one side of the conveyor;
• positioning a plurality of cells each containing a stack of articles therein at said pick interface so that the cells are positioned in adjacent relationship lengthwise along the pick interface;
• and
• automatically picking individual articles from the cells at the pick interface and transferring the picked articles toward the conveyor for subsequent deposit on the assigned order-receiving space.

A process for automated filling of orders which each contain one or more articles from an inventory of such articles, comprising the steps of:

• entering orders of articles into a computer;
• storing the articles in stacks so that the articles in a respective stack are identical;
• removably storing the stacks in a plurality of storage cells each adapted to contain a single stack therein;
• arranging the cells, which contain the ordered articles, in rows and columns so that one end of the cells defines a two dimensional pick face;
• storing the location of each cell and the type of article in each cell in the computer;
• providing a conveyor moving generally parallel to and adjacent the pick face;
• assigning an order receiving space on the conveyor;
• and
• moving an automated article pick mechanism along the pick face to align a pick head with an ordered one of the articles, and moving the pick head transverse to the pick face to remove the ordered article from the associated cell for subsequent deposit in the order receiving space.