Storage, retrieval and sortation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9334113-B2
Application number	US-201514698010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

A material handling systems provides efficient storage, retrieval and sortation of articles, utilizing a plurality of carts capable of traveling under storage areas with a three dimensional warehouse system and on multiple levels. The carts may convey items from storage to a goods to operator user interface. The carts may function as decoupled sortation units capable of providing sortation at multiple mobile sortation locations, providing vertical sortation. Carts may include conveying surfaces, and sort articles from between carts. Carts may transport more than one article and a plurality of carts may transport a single article.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A material handling system for storing and retrieving containers or articles, comprising:
a grid comprising
a first plurality of first paths defined by a plurality of spaced apart tracks extending in a first direction; and
a second plurality of second paths defined by a plurality of spaced apart tracks extending in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first plurality of first paths;

a plurality of carts having a first set of wheels configured to selectively travel along said first paths and having a second set of wheels configured to selectively travel along said second paths;
a plurality of storage areas, respective portions of a third plurality of said second paths underlying said storage areas, said storage areas configured to support containers or articles above said respective underlying portions such that said carts may travel along said underlying portions without being impeded by containers or articles held by said storage areas; and
a controller in communication with said plurality of carts, wherein said controller comprises at least one processor that executes instructions to cause said carts to perform operations, said operations comprising selectively traveling to any of a plurality of locations within said grid, said travel including traveling along respective underlying portions of said second paths to reach destinations not on said respective underlying portions.

2. The material handling system of claim 1 , wherein a first plurality of said plurality of carts is configured with a lift configured to engage containers or articles held within said storage area such that said carts may remove such engaged containers or articles from said storage area.

3. The material handling system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said plurality of carts comprises respective conveying surfaces.

4. The material handling system of claim 1 , wherein said grid comprises a plurality of levels, and said instructions cause a plurality of said carts to travel to locations on more than one level.

5. The material handling system of claim 4 , wherein said grid comprises at least one third path leading between said levels, and wherein said instructions cause said carts to travel along said third paths when traveling between locations on different levels.

6. The material handling system of claim 5 , wherein said at least one third path comprises an elevator.

7. The material handling system of claim 5 , wherein said at least one third path comprises an inclined path.

8. A material handling system for transporting articles, comprising:
a first path and a second path, a portion of said first path overlying a portion of said second path at a first location;
at least one first cart configured to travel along said first path;
at least one second cart configured to travel along said second path; and
a controller in communication with at least said at least one first cart, wherein said controller comprises at least one processor that executes instructions to cause said at least one first cart to perform operations, said operations comprising discharging an article carried by said first cart onto said second cart when said first and second carts are proximal said first location.

9. The material handling conveyor of claim 8 , wherein said at least one first cart comprises an upper conveying surface, and said article is discharged off of a side of said at least one first cart.

10. The material handling conveyor of claim 8 , wherein said at least one first cart comprises a bottom which moveable to a position at which said cart has an open bottom such that said article is discharged through said open bottom.

11. A material handling system for transporting containers or articles, comprising:
a first path;
a first cart configured to travel along said first path, said first cart comprising an upper conveying surface;
a second cart configured to travel along said first path, said second cart comprising an upper conveying surface; and
a controller in communication with at least said first cart, wherein said controller comprises at least one processor that executes instructions to cause said first cart to perform operations, said operations comprising discharging a container or article carried by said first cart as least partially onto said second cart when said first and second carts are proximal each other.

12. The material handling system of claim 11 , wherein said operations further comprise said first and second carts traveling in unison to transport the article positioned on both said first and second carts.

13. A controller for controlling a material handling system comprising a grid comprising a first plurality of first paths defined by a plurality of spaced apart tracks extending in a first direction; and a second plurality of second paths defined by a plurality of spaced apart tracks extending in a second direction; a plurality of carts having a first set of wheels configured to selectively travel along said first paths and having a second set of wheels configured to selectively travel along said second paths; and a plurality of storage areas, respective portions of a third plurality of said second paths underlying said storage areas, said storage areas configured to support containers or articles above said respective underlying portions such that said carts may travel along said underlying portions without being impeded by containers or articles held by said storage areas; wherein said wherein the controller comprises at least one processor that executes instructions to cause said carts to perform operations, said operations comprising selectively traveling to any of a plurality of locations within said grid, said traveling including traveling along respective underlying portions of said second paths to reach destinations not on said respective underlying portions.

14. The controller of claim 13 , wherein said operations comprise causing said first one of said carts to return to said first path after said second one of said carts has passed.

15. A controller for controlling a material handling system comprising a first path, a first cart configured to travel along said first path, said first cart comprising an upper conveying surface, a second cart configured to travel along said first path, said second cart comprising an upper conveying surface, the controller comprises at least one processor that executes instructions to cause said first cart to perform operations, said operations comprising discharging a container or article carried by said first cart at least partially onto said second cart when said first and second carts are proximal each other.

16. The controller of claim 15 , wherein said operations further comprise said first and second carts traveling in unison to transport the article positioned on both said first and second carts.

17. A material handling system for storing and retrieving containers or articles, comprising:
a grid comprising
a first plurality of first paths defined by a plurality of spaced apart tracks extending in a first direction; and
a second plurality of second paths defined by a plurality of spaced apart racks extending in a second direction;

a plurality of carts configured to selectively travel along said first and second paths, wherein at least one first cart comprises a bottom which moveable to a position at which said cart has a selectably open bottom such that an article is selectively discharged through said open bottom;
a plurality of storage areas, respective portions of a third plurality of said second paths und

Assignees

• Intelligrated Headquarters Llc

Inventors

• Naylor John R

Classifications

• B65G1/0492 Primary

  with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles · CPC title

• B65G1/065

  with self propelled cars · CPC title