Material handling apparatus having seperate workstation and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11713193-B2
Application number	US-202117403814-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2021
Priority date	Aug 14, 2020
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

A workstation for a material handling system is provided. The system may include a plurality of vehicles for retrieving items from a plurality of storage locations located in one or more racks. The workstation is configured to accommodate the vehicles so that the vehicles drive into the workstation and drive upwardly along a track in the workstation. In one configuration, the track is configured to tilt the vehicle at a predetermined angle relative to the horizon as the vehicle is driven upwardly. After the vehicle is tilted to the predetermined angle the vehicle continues to drive upwardly while maintaining the predetermined angle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A workstation for material handling system having a plurality of independently operable vehicles delivering items, comprising:
a housing having a first opening configured to accommodate vehicles entering the workstation in a first horizontal orientation, wherein the opening is configured to permit the vehicles to pass through the opening while the vehicles carry containers;
a track positioned within the housing so that vehicles driving through the opening in the housing drive into operative engagement with the track, wherein the track is configured to guide vehicles vertically upwardly and wherein the track comprises:
a lower section having a curved profile configured to tilt the vehicle to a tilted orientation that forms a predetermined angle with the first horizontal orientation;
an upper section having a substantially linear profile configured to lift the vehicle vertically at the tilted orientation.

2. The workstation of claim 1 comprising a monitor for identifying the items to be removed from the container delivered by the vehicle to the pick station.

3. The workstation of claim 1 wherein the lower section and the upper section each comprise a plurality of vertical tracks.

4. A method for presenting items to an operator at a workstation for a material handling system having a plurality of delivery vehicles operable to retrieve containers from a rack of storage locations, wherein each delivery vehicle comprises a vertical drive, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
driving one of the delivery vehicles to a workstation while the delivery vehicle carries one of the containers;
driving the vertical drive of the delivery vehicle at the workstation in a first direction to lift the vehicle upwardly, wherein the step of driving the vertical drive comprises:
driving the vertical drive a first time to drive the vehicle upwardly and wherein the step of driving the vertical drive a first time comprises tilting the container at an angle relative to the horizon;
driving the vertical drive a second time to drive the vehicle upwardly while maintaining the container at the angle relative to the horizon.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising the step of driving the vertical drive of the delivery vehicle in a second direction to lower the delivery vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising the step of driving the delivery vehicle away from the workstation after the step of driving the vertical drive in a second direction.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the workstation comprises a track having a plurality of first drive teeth and a plurality of second drive teeth configured differently than the first drive teeth, wherein the step of driving the vertical drive a first time drives the vehicle along the first drive teeth and wherein the step of driving the vertical drive a second time drives the vehicle along the second drive teeth.

8. The workstation of claim 1 wherein the track comprises a plurality of teeth and the lower section of the track comprises a first track element having a first tooth pitch and a second track element having a second tooth pitch.

9. The workstation of claim 8 wherein the first track element opposes the second track element so that a first wheel of the vehicle is engageable with the first track as a second wheel of the vehicle in engageable with the second track.

10. The workstation of claim 8 wherein the upper section comprises a first track element connected with the first track element of the lower section and a second track element connected with the second track element of the lower section.

11. The workstation of claim 10 wherein the first and second track elements of the upper section have the first tooth pitch.

12. The workstation of claim 11 wherein the plurality of independently operable delivery vehicles comprise vertical drive elements and the workstation comprises a transfer gear cooperable with the vertical drive elements and the track.

13. The workstation of claim 12 wherein the transfer gear comprises a first section having a first tooth pitch for cooperating with the first tooth pitch of the second track element of the upper track and a second tooth pitch for cooperating with the second tooth pitch of the second track element of the lower section.

14. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of driving the vertical drive a second time comprises selectively driving the vertical drive in response to the height of the container on the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the distance that the vertical drive is driven during the step of driving the vertical drive a second time is inversely proportional to the height of the container on the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of selectively driving the vertical drive in response to the height of the container on the vehicle comprises selectively driving the vertical drive a first distance for a container having a first height and selectively driving the vertical drive a second distance for a container having a second height that is different from the first height.

17. A material handling system comprising:
a plurality of independently operable vehicles for delivering items, comprising: a rechargeable power supply and a vertical drive;
a workstation, comprising:
a housing having a first opening configured to accommodate vehicles entering the workstation in a first horizontal orientation, wherein the opening is configured to permit the vehicles to pass through the opening while the vehicles carry containers;
a track positioned within the housing so that vehicles driving through the opening in the housing drive into operative engagement with the track, wherein the track is configured to guide vehicles vertically upwardly and wherein the track comprises:
a lower section having a curved profile configured to tilt the vehicle to a tilted orientation that forms a predetermined angle with the first horizontal orientation;
an upper section having a substantially linear profile configured to lift the vehicle vertically at the tilted orientation.

18. The material handling system of claim 17 comprising a controller configured to provide signals for controlling movement of the vehicles to selectively drive the vertical drive of one of the vehicles in response to the height of the container on the one vehicle.

19. The material handling system of claim 17 wherein each vehicle comprises a pair of spaced apart vertical drive elements and wherein the lower section of the track comprises a first curved track having a first tooth pitch and a second curved track spaced apart from the first curved track having a second tooth pitch.

20. The material handling system of claim 19 wherein the upper section of the track comprises a first straight track projecting from an end of the first curved track transverse the horizon and a second straight track projecting from an end of the second curved track parallel with the first straight track portion.

Assignees

• Opex Corp

Inventors

• Valinsky Joseph
• Stevens Alexander
• Bloch Nathan
• Muttathil George
• Baines David

Classifications

• B65G1/1378 Primary

  the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas · CPC title

• B65G1/0464

  with access from above · CPC title

• B65G1/0492 Primary

  with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles · CPC title

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title