US3667588A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor system
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1968-08-21
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Granted: 1972-06-06
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Expires: 1988-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A storage and retrieval system for goods has two power operated conveyors movable in separate endless loops past two (or more) spaced apart picking stations, each picking station common to both conveyors. Each conveyor has bins with compartments in which goods are stored. Although the bins on each conveyor remain in the same sequence, the bins are movable relative to each other on the conveyor to define ''''buffer'''' zones which permit simultaneous picking by two spaced apart pickers. The control system for the conveyors includes a reader which receives digital data concerning a group of orders to be picked from a stack of cards, each card giving the identity, quantity, and distribution of one of the articles to be picked. The two conveyors are automatically stopped alternately with the bins containing ordered goods at the picking stations, and the operator at each picking station picks goods from the bins in accordance with a read-out unit which displays the card data. A plurality of packing lanes originate at each picking station and terminate at a plurality of packing stations. Each picker distributes goods to the separate packing lanes in accordance with the read-out unit at the picking station.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J Traube
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:49
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/137; B65G1/1373; B65G1/1378
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A storage and retrieval system comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of containers for the storage of material therein, said containers mounted on the conveyor for movement past a plurality of picking stations in a predetermined sequence, said containers movable on the conveyor relative to each other without disturbing the sequence of the containers to permit a container to be stopped at one picking station for removal of material therefrom without stopping containers moving toward the other picking station, and means responsive to input data on material to be picked to control the movement of said containers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A storage and retrieval system comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of containers for the storage of material therein, said containers mounted on the conveyor for movement past a plurality of picking stations in a predetermined sequence, said containers movable on the conveyor relative to each other without disturbing the sequence of the containers to permit a container to be stopped at one picking station for removal of material therefrom without stopping containers moving toward the other picking station, and means responsive to input data on material to be picked to control the movement of said containers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
106 words
A storage and retrieval system comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of containers for the storage of articles therein, a plurality of picking stations adjacent the conveyor, each picking station having means therein to instruct the picker at that station concerning the articles to be picked from the containers, means to move said containers past the picking stations in a predetermined sequence with each container movable on the conveyor relative to adjacent containers to permit banking of containers at a picking station to await picking by the picker, and means operable in coordination with said picker instructing means to control the movement of the containers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
A storage and retrieval system comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of containers for the storage of articles therein, a plurality of picking stations adjacent the conveyor, each picking station having means therein to instruct the picker at that station concerning the articles to be picked from the containers, means to move said containers past the picking stations in a predetermined sequence with each container movable on the conveyor relative to adjacent containers to permit banking of containers at a picking station to await picking by the picker, and means operable in coordination with said picker instructing means to control the movement of the containers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
131 words
A storage and retrieval system comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of containers for the storage of articles therein, a plurality of picking stations adjacent the conveyor, each picking station having a read-out unit therein to instruct the picker at that station concerning the articles to be picked from the containers, means to move said containers past the picking stations in a predetermined sequence with each container movable on the conveyor relative to adjacent containers to provide buffer zones on the conveyors, means to supply picking data to said read-out units coordinated in accordance with the containers approaching each picking station, and means operable in coordination with said picking data to control the movement of containers relative to the picking stations to stop selected containers at the stations for picking.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
131 words
A storage and retrieval system comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of containers for the storage of articles therein, a plurality of picking stations adjacent the conveyor, each picking station having a read-out unit therein to instruct the picker at that station concerning the articles to be picked from the containers, means to move said containers past the picking stations in a predetermined sequence with each container movable on the conveyor relative to adjacent containers to provide buffer zones on the conveyors, means to supply picking data to said read-out units coordinated in accordance with the containers approaching each picking station, and means operable in coordination with said picking data to control the movement of containers relative to the picking stations to stop selected containers at the stations for picking.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
A storage and retrieval system comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of coded containers for the storage of articles therein, said containers occupying less than all the space on said conveyor to leave slack thereon, a plurality of picking stations adjacent the conveyor, each picking station having a read-out unit therein to instruct the picker at that station concerning the articles to be picked from the containers, means to move said containers past the picking stations in a predetermined sequence with each container movable on the conveyor relative to adjacent containers to provide buffer zones on the conveyor whereby a container can be stopped at one picking station without stopping all the other containers on the conveyor, a reader to supply picking data to each of said read-out units coordinated in accordance with the containers approaching each station, and a control system including means to sense said codes on the containers, said control system operable in response to said reader to stop selected containers to be picked at each picking station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
172 words
A storage and retrieval system comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of coded containers for the storage of articles therein, said containers occupying less than all the space on said conveyor to leave slack thereon, a plurality of picking stations adjacent the conveyor, each picking station having a read-out unit therein to instruct the picker at that station concerning the articles to be picked from the containers, means to move said containers past the picking stations in a predetermined sequence with each container movable on the conveyor relative to adjacent containers to provide buffer zones on the conveyor whereby a container can be stopped at one picking station without stopping all the other containers on the conveyor, a reader to supply picking data to each of said read-out units coordinated in accordance with the containers approaching each station, and a control system including means to sense said codes on the containers, said control system operable in response to said reader to stop selected containers to be picked at each picking station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
181 words
A storage and retrieval system comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of coded containers for the storage of articles therein, said containers movable with respect to each other on the conveyor and occupying less than all the space on said conveyor to leave slack thereon, a plurality of picking stations adjacent the conveyor, each picking station having a read-out unit therein to instruct the picker at that station concerning the articles to be picked from the containers, drive means on said conveyor to continuously advance each bin which is not restrained past the picking stations in a predetermined sequence, stops at each picking station operable when actuated to stop the next approaching container and subsequent containers reaching the picking station while the stop is actuated, a reader to supply picking data to the read-out units at each station, said data coordinated in accordance with containers approaching the respective stations, and means responsive to operation of the reader and the codes on the containers to actuate the stops at each station when containers containing articles to be picked reach the station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
181 words
A storage and retrieval system comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of coded containers for the storage of articles therein, said containers movable with respect to each other on the conveyor and occupying less than all the space on said conveyor to leave slack thereon, a plurality of picking stations adjacent the conveyor, each picking station having a read-out unit therein to instruct the picker at that station concerning the articles to be picked from the containers, drive means on said conveyor to continuously advance each bin which is not restrained past the picking stations in a predetermined sequence, stops at each picking station operable when actuated to stop the next approaching container and subsequent containers reaching the picking station while the stop is actuated, a reader to supply picking data to the read-out units at each station, said data coordinated in accordance with containers approaching the respective stations, and means responsive to operation of the reader and the codes on the containers to actuate the stops at each station when containers containing articles to be picked reach the station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |