Material handling apparatus with vehicle track for reducing vehicle damage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11453553-B2
Application number	US-202217672275-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2022
Priority date	Feb 18, 2021
Publication date	Sep 27, 2022
Grant date	Sep 27, 2022

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for delivering items to a plurality of storage locations is provided. The system includes a plurality of storage locations. The storage locations may be positioned to provide an aisle and a plurality of delivery vehicles may be operable within the aisle to deliver items to the storage locations. The system may include a track that the guides the vehicles to the storage locations. A reorientation assembly may be provided for re-orienting the vehicles relative to the track to reduce misalignment between the vehicles and the track.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A material handling apparatus for sorting items into a plurality of destination areas, comprising:
a plurality of destination areas for items wherein the destination areas are arranged in a plurality of columns or rows;
a plurality of vehicles for transporting items to or from the destination areas; and
a track for guiding the delivery vehicles to the destination areas, wherein the track comprises a plurality of columns or rows adjacent the plurality of destination areas, wherein the track comprises engagement elements;
wherein at least one of the vehicles comprises:
a motor for driving the vehicle to one of the destination areas;
a drive system cooperable with the track to guide the vehicle to one of the destination areas, wherein the drive system comprises:
a first wheel;
a second wheel; and
a plurality of drive elements that positively engage the engagement elements on the track;

wherein the track comprises a reorientation section configured to selectively disengage the drive elements of the vehicle from the engagement elements of the track to selectively reorient the first wheel relative to the second wheel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drive elements are formed separately from the first wheel and the second wheel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reorientation section is configured to permit the first wheel to slide along the track relative to the second wheel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the track includes a front track and a rear track spaced apart from the front track to form an aisle between the front track and the rear track and wherein the vehicle moves within the aisle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the vehicle comprises:
a first axle having the first wheel on a first end and the second wheel on a second end;
a second axle having a third wheel on a first end and a fourth wheel on a second end;
wherein the first wheel and the third wheel engage the front track;
wherein the second wheel and the fourth wheel engage the rear track;
wherein the drive elements comprise a third drive element associated with the third wheel and a fourth drive element associated with the fourth wheel;
wherein the reorientation section comprises a second segment having a second gap formed between engagement elements and wherein the second segment is configured and positioned relative to the first segment so that the third drive element and fourth drive element are positioned within the second gap when the first drive element is positioned within the first gap so that the second wheel engages the engagement elements to drive the drive first drive element through the first gap and the third drive element and fourth drive element through the second gap.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the front track is configured to guide the first wheel of the vehicle and the rear track is configured to guide the second wheel of the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the drive elements comprise a first drive element associated with the first wheel and a second drive element associated with the second wheel; and wherein the reorientation section comprises a segment of track along the front track having a first gap formed between engagement elements so that the first drive element disengages the engagement elements while the second drive element positively engages the engagement elements to drive the vehicle along the track.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 comprising means for impeding lateral displacement of the first and second drive element as the first wheel passes through a portion of the reorientation section.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means for impeding lateral displacement is configured to impede lateral displacement as the first wheel passes through the first gap.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means for impeding lateral displacement comprises a fence positioned along an edge of the front track or the rear track.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the drive system is operable to maintain the orientation of the vehicle relative to the horizon as the vehicle changes from a first direction of travel to a second direction of travel, wherein the first direction is at an angle to the second direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the vehicle comprises a transfer mechanism for transferring an item between the vehicle and one of the destination areas, wherein the transfer mechanism is operable to transfer the item along a third direction that is transverse both the first and second directions.

13. A method for sorting items into a plurality of sort locations, comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of sort locations for receiving items such that an aisle is formed between the plurality of sort locations;
loading an item onto a vehicle;
driving the vehicle within the aisle to deliver an item to one of the sort locations, wherein the step of driving comprises driving a first drive element along a first track having a plurality of first engagement elements and driving a second drive element along a second track spaced apart from the first track having a plurality of second engagement elements;
disengaging the first drive element from the first engagement elements while engaging the second engagement element with the second drive elements to allow the first drive elements to slide along the first track; and
engaging the first drive element with the first engagement elements to drive the vehicle along the track after the step of disengaging.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising the step of transferring an item from the delivery vehicle into the bin.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of driving comprises driving the vehicle around a loop a plurality of times to deliver a plurality of items and wherein the method comprises the step of disengaging each time the vehicle drives around the loop.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the vehicle comprises a third drive element and a fourth drive element and wherein the step of driving comprises engaging the third drive element with the first engagement elements and engaging the fourth drive element with the second engagement elements.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of disengaging comprises disengaging the third drive element from the first engaging elements and the fourth drive element from the second engaging elements while the second drive element engages the second engagement elements.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and third drive elements comprise rotatable gears cooperable with the first engaging elements and the second and fourth drive elements comprise rotatable gears cooperable with the second engaging elements.

Assignees

• Opex Corp

Inventors

• York Michael
• Lakawicz Joseph
• Ligo Stuart

Classifications

• B07C3/04

  Drum-type sorting machines {or having circularly arranged sorting compartments} · CPC title

• B07C5/36

  Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution {(sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02)} · CPC title

• B65G1/0492 Primary

  with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles · CPC title

• B07C3/082

  In which the objects are carried by transport holders and the transport holders form part of the conveyor belts (conveyors with carriers B65G47/00) · CPC title

• B65G1/1373

  for fulfilling orders in warehouses · CPC title