An auto sort and label (ASL) system includes a conveyor, a controller, a sensor, and a label, print, and apply (LPA) system. The conveyor conveys articles through the ASL system. The sensor is positioned along the conveyor and identifies an article. The controller receives sensor data from the sensor. The LPA is positioned alongside the conveyor and prints labels in sequence with the corresponding article as it travels along the conveyor and applies the labels to the corresponding articles as the article passes the LPA. The controller controls the conveyor such that a gap and/or pitch between a first article and a second article is adjusted to an optimal distance to match the operation capability of the LPA. The controller verifies placement and contents of the label upon the article as defined by sensor data and accepts or rejects the labeled article for further handling based on the verification.
An order fulfillment control system for a warehouse in accordance with the present invention includes a controller, a memory module, and a training module. The controller controls mobile autonomous devices, fixed autonomous devices, and issues picking orders to pickers. The controller controls fulfillment activities in the warehouse using hierarchically tiered algorithms, and records operational data for the fulfillment activities in the warehouse. The memory module holds the operational data. The training module retrains the algorithm using reinforcement learning. The training module performs the reinforcement learning on the operational data to retrain/update the algorithms. The training module retrains a macro algorithm according to a first set of priorities for optimal operation of the warehouse and retrains a plurality of micro algorithms according to corresponding second sets of priorities for optimal operation of a particular location and/or activity within the warehouse. The controller adaptively controls the fulfillment activities using the updated algorithms.
A sound attenuated conveyor roller assembly reduces the noise or vibration produced by the conveyor roller assembly during operation, and includes a conveyor roller having a cylindrical portion to which a sound damper may be coupled. The conveyor roller may include an unreduced outer surface and a reduced outer surface, in which the sound damper is disposed at the reduced outer surface such that an outer surface of the damper and the unreduced outer surface of the conveyor roller are located at substantially equal radial distances from a longitudinal axis of the conveyor roller. A tapered end connector having a tapered plastic tip may be coupled to each end of the conveyor roller to further reduce noise and vibration in the conveyor roller assembly.
A motor driven roller transmission system for a conveyance assembly includes a transmission assembly connected between a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member, in which the first and second rotatable members are oriented at an angle from one another. The transmission assembly is adapted to efficiently transfer rotational motion of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member. Rotation of the second rotatable member causes a conveyance surface to move in order to convey an object. The transmission assembly decreases the power required to drive the first rotatable member in order to move the conveyance surface by increasing the torque output of the first rotatable member, while also reducing the rotational speed required of the first rotatable member to drive the conveyance surface at a desired speed, thus extending the operational life of the first rotatable member.
B65G 47/54 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices between conveyors which cross one another at least one of which is a roller-way
A system and method are provided for loading trays with articles using a first tray conveyor on which empty trays are delivered and an article conveyor on which articles are delivered to be transferred onto empty trays. The trays include a frame with a peripheral raised edge and a base having at least one aperture and a transport plate for the articles, the transport trays being positioned on the base of the frame. A lifting apparatus is provided for the transport plate of the tray at a height that is about equal to the height of the article conveyor, such as about 10 millimeters (10 mm) or less to reduce or eliminate drop forces as articles as transferred from the article conveyor onto the tray.
A multi-directional or omni-roller for a conveyor system includes a first transport surface portion formed by a cylindrical roller body, and a second transport surface portion formed by multi-directional wheels. The wheels have a main body that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the roller, and a set of secondary wheels around an outer circumference of the main body. The secondary wheels rotate perpendicular relative to the rotation of the roller, and permit articles or drive belts to travel over the roller in a conveyance direction in a driven manner and permit articles to move laterally across the second transport surface portion without transferring lateral forces to a conveyor frame. For skew roller beds, a drive belt may drive the roller about the secondary wheels, substantially without lateral forces being transferred or introduced to the drive belt.
A system and method are provided for decanting inbound goods into optimally dimensioned compartments of totes for storage in an ASRS storage system. The system includes decant workstations with multiple tote decant positions each dedicated to receive totes having a compartment configuration different than for those at the other decant positions. The method includes presenting a decant operator with multiple totes such that the operator substantially always has an empty or partially filled compartment of each available compartment size which to place inbound items into. A warehouse control system guides the operator to which presented tote and which compartment within that tote to place the items. The warehouse control system monitors each of the totes at the decant positions and once a tote's compartments are all filled to capacity, that tote is returned to the storage system and replaced with another tote having an identical compartment configuration.
An omnichannel order fulfilment and sortation system and method for operating same are provided for optimizing order fulfilment processes within an order fulfilment facility. The system includes multiple automated storage and retrieval systems or units, including aisle-based systems, grid-based systems, and full case handling systems. A continuous loop sorter is positioned centrally relative to the storage units to receive a multitude of items for many different work in progress orders. Order consolidators are provided adjacent the sorter to receive items for individual orders from the sorter. The quantity consolidators is significantly higher than the quantity of storage units and inducts of the storage units, providing for many orders consolidation locations such that the storage units need not necessarily wait for consolidation locations to become available before retrieving items for other orders. The consolidator selected to receive a particular order is optimized to reduce the strain on resources within the system.
A real-time belt tension sensing system includes an engagement assembly that is adapted to remain in substantially continuous contact with a belt that is being driven in a conveyance or drive direction. As the belt is driven in the drive direction, it simultaneously causes the position of the engagement assembly to move in a slack direction that is substantially perpendicular to the drive direction. A tension sensor produces a slack position signal based on the current position of a portion of the engagement assembly. The slack position signal is transmitted to a controller or control circuit in electronic communication with the tension sensor. The control circuit interprets the slack position signal to produce a tension measurement.
G01L 5/107 - Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes for measuring tension in flexible members, e.g. ropes, cables, wires, threads, belts or bands using electrical means for measuring a reaction force applied on an element disposed between two supports, e.g. on a plurality of rollers or gliders
10.
RECEPTACLE WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED LID FOR AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
An automated warehouse system and method are provided for controlling internal microclimates of totes within a warehouse or order fulfilment facility. The system provides independent environmental condition monitoring and regulation for each tote. The system enables individual totes to be maintained at adequate or substantially ideal conditions, independent of its position within a storage system or the environmental conditions of adjacent totes. The storage system includes environmental control inputs at individual storage locations to adjust or maintain environmental conditions within a tote at a particular storage location. The totes engage the environmental control inputs when they are stored at a storage location. The system may utilize standard or commercially available totes. The system is operable to monitor and control the microclimate of a tote while it is stored at a storage location and may be operable to monitor the totes while they travel throughout the system.
An automated warehouse system and method are provided for controlling the internal microclimate of receptacles within a warehouse or order fulfilment facility. The system provides independent environmental condition monitoring and regulation for each tote. The system enables individual totes to be maintained at adequate or substantially ideal conditions, independent of its position within a storage system or the environmental conditions of adjacent totes in the storage system. The totes may include self-contained environmental control systems and/or the storage system may include environmental control inputs to adjust or maintain the environmental conditions within a particular tote. The system is operable to monitor and control the microclimate of a tote while it is stored at a storage location within the storage system or in a buffer, and may be operable to monitor and/or control the microclimates of the totes while they travel throughout the system.
G05B 15/02 - Systems controlled by a computer electric
F25D 15/00 - Devices associated with refrigerating machinery not covered by group or , e.g. non-self-contained movable devices
F25D 17/06 - Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating gas, e.g. by natural convection by forced circulation
12.
AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM AND MICROCLIMATE-CONTROLLED RECEPTACLES FOR PHARMACEUTICALS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME
An automated warehouse system and method for climate controlled storage and order fulfilment comprises a control system, an automated storage and retrieval system (“ASRS”) with a storage rack defining storage locations for storage receptacles for containing goods, where either at least some of the storage receptacles are individually temperature controllable or the storage rack is at least partially disposed in a frozen environment. A transportation system is coupled with the ASRS for transporting storage receptacles to and from the automated storage and retrieval system, and a workstation is in communication with the transportation system for picking goods to a temperature-controlled order receptacle. The control system directs order fulfilment operations comprising directing goods requiring stable temperature control from the ASRS to the workstation and directs an operator to pick the goods from the storage receptacle to the temperature-controlled order receptacle to maintain the goods within a required temperature range.
A right angle transfer device has a conveying surface defined by a plurality of conveying members that are driven to convey objects in a conveyance direction. A diverting conveying member is mounted to a frame and is driven to divert objects in a direction angled away from the conveyance direction. A lift drive rotates a cam to move a bar in a substantially horizontal direction. The movement of the bar causes a frame link connected to the bar and the frame to raise and lower the frame. Once the frame has been moved upward to a sufficient extent, the diverting conveying member will be raised above the conveying members to come into contact with the object to thereby move and divert the object away from the conveyance direction.
B65G 47/54 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices between conveyors which cross one another at least one of which is a roller-way
B65G 43/00 - Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
Methods are provided for optimizing retail inventory receiving and putaway processes within a retail store. The methods include segregating items from inbound inventory loads by unloading and identifying each of the items in the load. Based on the identity of an item, a computer directs the operator to segregate each item to a putwall, such as to a container on a mobile inventory cart. A pick to light (PTL) system is utilized to direct the operator's segregation processes. Each item is segregated into a family or sub-family grouping of inventory items that correspond to a particular department or sub-department of the retail floor of the store. Segregated family or sub-family groupings are distributed to respective departments to be putaway by an associate on the retail floor. The methods may be adapted to process e-commerce orders for shipment out of the store or for in-store customer pickup.
An assessment system and method are provided for determining whether an item handled in a material handling system is stable and conveyable or unstable and non-conveyable. If an item is deemed non-conveyable, it is diverted or otherwise removed from the material handling system before it is transported downstream where it may affect the operation of the system or cause damage to the system and/or item. The system utilizes a dimension sensor system, such as including photo arrays, to measure contact region dimensions between an item being conveyed and the conveyor surface. The contact region is observed under constant conveyance rates, accelerating conveyance rates, and decelerating conveyance rates to determine whether the item orientation changes due to shifts in momentum. Any measured contact region changes are compared to a maximum allowed value, and if the measured change is greater than the maximum, the item is deemed non-conveyable.
A network module configured to provide switched auxiliary (AUX) power for E-stop system functionality in a network system. The network module includes a switching module and a controller. The switching module is configured to control the passage of power through a switched AUX cable for E-stop functionality. The switching module is configured to receive an unswitched AUX cable and the switched AUX cable. The controller is communicatively coupled to a communications cable. The controller is configured to control the switching actions of the switching module as defined by switching instructions received via the communications cable.
A system and method are provided for auditing the inventory within an automated warehouse utilizing RFID technology. The system and method enable real-time tracking and monitoring of inventory and load units as they travel through and are stored in the warehouse. The system may require only a single RFID reader coupled with an automated shuttle for traversing a majority of the warehouse storage system to read, recognize, and audit the inventory as stored in load units stored in the system. The system may utilize multiple RFID readers throughout the warehouse to provide ample coverage, enabling real-time, whole warehouse inventory tracking. The system and method of the present invention contemplate both readily available RFID technologies, as well as advanced or improved RFID technologies having greater detection range, larger information storage capabilities, and the ability to determine precise spatial location of tags relative a reader.
An RFID enabled system and method for tracking, directing, verifying, and validating item level order picking functions within order fulfilment and warehouse facilities having different SKUs sharing an inventory tote. RFID tags are coupled to each inventory item to be read by one or more RFID reader(s) in the facility. The system and method verify that a required item is picked and transferred correctly by the picker. The system provides feedback to the picker without requiring additional verification steps and preferably without any visual inspection by the picker. The picker may be guided to the required item and later directed to a location to place the retrieved item. The verification system may be adapted for use in a material handling system to monitor and direct material handling functions based on relative positions of RFID tags on individual items relative to RFID readers positioned throughout the facility.
A dynamic storage wall with reconfigurable storage cubbies and methods of operating the storage wall are provided for a storage facility. The storage wall includes a shelf with multiple storage cubbies and one or more repositionable dividers defining boundaries between the cubbies. The storage wall includes a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor array adjacent to the shelf for measuring positions of each of the repositionable dividers. The ToF is also adapted for recognizing when an item has been retrieved from or placed at either of said storage locations. A workflow control system with a computer is connected to the sensor array. The control system utilizes data from the ToF sensor array to determine when a repositionable divider has been moved and/or when an item has been retrieved from a storage location. The system may automatically or manually recognize when a divider is moved and that new measurement is required.
A sound attenuated material handling element reduces vibration and sound in a material handling system. The material handling element may be a sound attenuated roller for use in a roller conveyer or a sound attenuated nestable tote for receiving and transporting articles in the material handling system. Reducing vibration in material handling element reduces the noise produced by the element. The sound attenuated roller includes sound attenuating material disposed inside of the roller and in contact with the inner surface of the roller body. The sound attenuated nestable tote includes sound dampening material disposed in or formed with the tote structure. The sound damping material may be integrally formed with the roller or tote in order to maximize vibration and noise attenuation. Three dimensional computer analysis may be used to determine optimized locations for placement of the sound damping material on the roller or tote.
A time tracking and indicator system and method are provided for tracking and indicating initialization-to-completion times for order fulfilment operations, such as order packaging and shipping operations. The system includes a put-wall with multiple order storage locations and indicators at each of the storage locations. The indicators are independently addressable by a computer and may include color changeable lights and/or alphanumeric displays. The method and system provide visual prompts to an operator of the put-wall to indicate multiple statuses for an order at a particular storage location. Prompts include indications that (i) an order is ready to be attended to, (ii) an operation time limit has been exceeded, and (iii) that an operation for that location is exceedingly overdue. Time limits and prompts may be preset by a user or may be automatically set and adjusted by the computer based on historic operation completion times.
A tolerance adjuster and wear device, e.g. spring clip, is provided for automatically adjusting the tolerance or clearance between a pusher shoe surface and an adjacent surface of a linear slat of a positive displacement sorter. The spring clip includes an engagement portion to couple the clip to a pusher shoe and a wear portion to automatically bias or adjust a tolerance between the pusher shoe and a corresponding slat. The engagement portion includes a retainer, in the form of a pair of opposing elastic grips or teach that are insertable through a receiver in a surface of the shoe. The wear portion includes a wear surface and spring element, such as a spring arm or convex dome. The spring element is elastic to provide a consistent and automatic bias against the slat surface. Preferably, the spring clip is extruded from a resilient, wear-resistant self-lubricating polymer.
B65G 47/82 - Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels
B65G 43/00 - Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
23.
MULTI-FUNCTION ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM WITH GRID STORAGE
A system and methods for utilizing a grid storage array for high rate picking in a micro-fulfilment facility. The system includes a grid storage array and multiple transfer ports that are dedicated to a particular directional function, i.e. discharge ports and intake ports. The system includes a multi-function workstation that can operate as either a picking station or a decant station. A conveyor loop is provided and includes right-angle-transfers (RATs) and accumulators to transport and sequence the flow of storage bins and order totes. The combination and configuration of the grid storage array, conveyor loop, and multi-function workstation optimizes space utilization which is particularly beneficial in micro-fulfilment facilities where space is at a premium.
A method for operating an order fulfilment warehouse utilizing a gig-based labor force (e.g. freelance delivery drivers) performing picking functions in the warehouse and subsequently delivering the order to the customer. Preferably, the facility is staffed with only supervisory labor and receiving/putaway labor to replenish the warehouse inventory. The delivery driver may access an order database via a mobile application to accept a customer's online order, such as a grocery item order. The customer's order may additionally include retrieving items from another facility, such as a restaurant. The grocery order may be from a limited or dedicated warehouse facility that has a curated group of items/SKUs. The delivery driver enters the warehouse, checks in, and then proceeds to pick the order from the warehouse. The driver validates the order and then departs the facility and proceeds toward delivery of the order directly to the customer.
An automated warehouse material movement system and method of moving material in a warehouse, includes a computer based warehouse executive subsystem (WEX) that is programed with computer code to maintain inventory location and quantity information, schedule inventory movement and track inventory movement within the warehouse and a computer based mobile robot automation subsystem (MAS) that is programed with computer code to maintain information of floor layout of the warehouse, maintain information on mobile robots in the warehouse, allocate and deallocate mobile robots to particular missions, control and track movement of mobile robots and provide situational reporting of the mobile robots. A computer based vehicle tasking subsystem (VTS) is programed with computer code to respond to mission commands from the WEX to issue commands to the MAS to reserve and schedule mobile robots including movement of inventory between a source and a destination within the warehouse and to report status information from the MAS to the VTS regarding status of missions. At least one microservice component is configured to be tightly designed, stateless and loosely coupled with said WEX and MAS. The VTS is the at least one microservice component.
A method and system for opportunistically picking order items during decant processes. An order management system determines which items required for a pending order are depleted within a decant function or storage system and orders replenishment, such as inbound vendor cases containing the depleted required items, to the decant function. Operators at decant workstations pick the required items from the inbound vendor cases into order containers while simultaneously decanting any remaining, non-required vendor items into inventory containers. The order containers and the inventory items are stored in a storage system until all required items for an order are present therein. Once all required items are present, the items are released to a downstream picking workstation, sorter, and/or packing station. The method with opportunistic decant may enable minimized facility space requirements, labor reductions, and resource reductions while improving facility throughput.
A system and method for consolidating order items into individual or batch orders within an order fulfilment workstation and discharging the order items to a takeaway device, such as a trackable segmented conveyor. The system includes a temporary holding container at the workstation and a discharge mechanism to release or transfer the contents of the temporary container to the takeaway device. The system and method reduce or eliminate the process of an operator replenishing order transport containers to the workstation once a completed order container has dispatched from the workstation. Empty order containers are supplied the workstation via the takeaway device. The empty order container is positioned adjacent the temporary container such that the discharge mechanism may transfer the order items from the temporary container into the empty order container. The discharge mechanism may transfer the order items directly to the surface of the takeaway device.
G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
B65G 15/22 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration comprising a series of co-operating units
A contactless order dispensing system is provided for dispensing e-commerce orders to customers at a store without a person-to-person interaction. The dispensing system includes a customer access portal for presenting orders to the customer, preferably at an exterior location. A transportation system (e.g. conveyer system) transports orders from a storage buffer system to the customer access portal. The storage buffer holds customer orders until the customer arrives to retrieve them and may store portions of orders at different temperatures. The dispensing system includes a confirmation sensor system to verify whether a customer has retrieved their entire order or whether the customer has rejected one or more of the order items. The dispensing system provides the order to the customer within about two minutes of the customer indicating that they are at the access portal and ready for their order.
Methods and systems are provided for verifying a pick/put operation within an order fulfilment workstation or a storage rack. An optical device observes an operator performing a pick/put operation at the workstation. An indicia is located on the operator such that it is visible to the optical device. Image data of the indicia captured by the optical device is transmitted to a control system of the workstation. The control system determines a relative location of the indicia and then determines the location at which an item was picked from or put to relative to the workstation within a high degree of positional accuracy. The method verifies that the operator has completed the assigned pick/put operation at the required location. The methods and systems may be adapted to track or monitor relative positions of mobile and stationary equipment in an automated warehouse.
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
30.
TOUCHLESS CONFIRMATION FOR PICK AND PUT SYSTEM AND METHOD
A confirmation system including a touchless sensor and method for confirming that an order fulfilment operation has been performed. The system includes at least one touchless sensor to sense or recognize a gesture given by an operator, wherein the gesture confirms that a desired operation has been performed. The touchless sensor is connected to a workflow control system configured to transmit order fulfilment information to and from the touchless sensor. The touchless sensor is configurable to recognize a plurality of gestures, and may be configured to recognize those gestures at a plurality of distances away from the touchless sensor. The touchless system is configurable to provide alerts to operators to indicate locations requiring action. The confirmation system may be provided with a cubby or bin order fulfilment system. Additional features include placement or retrieval sensors, cubby illumination lights, pick-to and put-to lights, and information scanners.
A system and method is provided for controlling an automated warehouse or order fulfillment facility. The system includes a sequencing tower, which functions as a buffer for inbound items and shipping containers, and various pick/decant workstations which are connected between the sequencing tower and an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). The sequencing tower is adapted for receiving, storing, and releasing newly erected shipping containers and inbound vendor cases. The pick/decant workstations function as a hub between the sequencing tower and the ASRS, where operators at the pick/decant workstations pick order items to shipping containers to fulfil orders or pick inbound/vendor items to inventory containers to be stored in the ASRS. The system and methods synchronize the sequencing tower and ASRS to release items to arrive at the workstations simultaneously to optimize efficiency and throughput of the facility.
A de-traying method and apparatus for removing articles from trays, each of the trays having a base, a rim around the base and an opening in said base and a bottom covering said opening and liftable from said base. A tray supporting an article is transported to a detraying assembly where the article is detrayed by elevating the bottom at least to the level of the tray rim with an article lifter having a lifting base and a plurality of lifting blocks. The lifting blocks are sized and arranged to engage the tray bottom through the opening in response to the lifting base being elevated, and to maintain orientation of the tray with at least one of said blocks positioned outside of the tray adjacent the rim. The article is displaced off of the elevated tray bottom.
An automated storage and retrieval system and method of storing articles to and retrieving articles from at least one stacked storage rack that is configured to store articles double deep in each storage location with one article at a front position and another article at a back position behind the one article includes a robot having an end of arm tool (EOAT). The EOAT has a platform and an extendable article manipulator. The platform is sized to support at least two articles. The robotic arm selectively positions the end of arm tool to retrieve articles from front and back storage positions of said at least one stacked storage rack and storing at least one of the articles from the platform to a front or back storage position after the robot rotates the EOAT about a generally vertical axis.
A method, a palletizing sleeve, and a hand truck are provided for preparing a plurality of shipments of goods and transporting each shipment to one of a plurality of delivery destinations. The method includes determining the goods for the shipment, virtually building an optimized stacking configuration of those goods, physically building the stack based on the optimized configuration, transporting the shipment to a pre-determined delivery destination, and unloading the shipment at the delivery destination. The palletizing sleeve includes a base and a vertical wall that cooperate to support and stabilize a stack of goods that make up a portion of the shipment. Standoffs on the sleeve base provide openings to accept forks from the hand truck so that the hand truck can engage the sleeve from underneath the base. A fork height adjustment system selectively adjusts the fork height relative to the bottom of the hand truck.
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
G06Q 10/0835 - Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
B65G 61/00 - Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for
G06Q 10/0875 - Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
B62B 1/14 - Hand carts having only one axis carrying one or more transport wheels; Equipment therefor in which the load is intended to be transferred totally to the wheels involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
B07C 1/18 - Orientating articles other than in a stream
A method of sorting articles with a sorter apparatus and a sorter apparatus having a conveying surface that is adapted to transport articles in a direction of conveyance and a mechanism adapted to displace articles on the conveying surface, the sorter apparatus having an endless web of bodies travelling in an endless loop defining the conveying surface includes a distributed drive system having at least one drive that is adapted to produce to provide force with at least one of the bodies to propel the endless web. A diagnostic device traveling with the web and positioned at one of the bodies of the endless web. The diagnostic device is adapted to monitor operation of the sorter apparatus and includes at least one sensor that is adapted to detect at least one parameter of a proximate drive that is proximate to the at least one sensor, and a controller adapted to receive the at least one parameter from the at least one sensor. A stationary thermal sensor may also monitor the endless loop via another controller including receiving thermal data from the stationary thermal sensor and the another controller correlates the thermal images with a portion of the endless loop.
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
B07C 5/36 - Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
B65G 43/00 - Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
An automatic belt biasing device is provided for biasing a drive belt into frictional contact with rollers of a conveyor. The belt biasing device maintains a drive belt in contact with rollers of a live roller conveyor to provide drive for the rollers to propel items or packages along the conveyor. A spring attached to a pivot arm or pair of scissoring pivot arms adjusts a biasing force applied by guide wheels of the belt biasing device to the drive belt due to changes in drive belt tension. The belt biasing device may be selectively adjustable based on required roller pitch distances. The belt biasing device is pivotably coupled to the roller conveyor allowing the guide wheels to apply equal pressure to the drive belt while allowing the pivot arms to actuate and increase or decrease the biasing force provided by the belt biasing device.
A method and system for fulfilling customer orders having a data base that is adapted to store a plurality of customer orders and identity of warehouse inventory items and return inventory items that make up each of the customer orders. Some of the orders are single item orders with only one inventory item assigned to that order. Some of the orders are multiple item orders with multiple inventory items assigned to that order. Returned items that are processed and determined to be acceptable to be re-distributed are re-introduced into the inventory data base and are available to be assigned to an order. Warehouse inventory and return inventory are maintained independent of each other to reduce redundant operations. The order fulfilment system retrieves items from either or both of the warehouse inventory and return inventory to fulfil customer orders. The order fulfilment system may utilizes human associates or robot associates.
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 1/08 - Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level the articles being fed by gravity
B65G 9/00 - Apparatus for assisting manual handling having suspended load-carriers movable by hand or gravity
A multiple temperature automated storage system includes a rack with multiple levels of shelves defining item storage positions, an aisle at each level, and a plurality of shuttles adapted to operate in the aisles for storing items to and retrieving items from the storage positions. A thermally insulated enclosure encloses some of the levels of the rack to define a low temperature zone with the remaining levels of the rack defining a higher temperature zone. A method of storing items at two different temperatures in a common automated storage system includes having a first portion of the automated storage system enclosed in a thermally insulated enclosure and a second portion of the automated storage system outside of the thermally insulated enclosure. A lift is provided in the second portion for supplying items to and retrieving items from both of the first and second portions, without entering the first portion.
F25D 13/06 - Stationary devices associated with refrigerating machinery, e.g. cold rooms with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space
F25D 17/00 - Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
A positive displacement sorter and method of diverting articles includes a conveying surface configured to convey articles in a longitudinal direction and at least one diagonal take-away lane, extending diagonally from the conveying surface to receive articles being diverted from said conveying surface. A plurality of pushers are configured to move together in a lateral direction in order to displace an item on the conveying surface to the diagonal take-away lane. A rotational system is configured to rotate a leading portion of a diverted article in the direction of the take-away lane. A belt drive system is provided for driving live roller conveyors about a curved section of a roller conveyor of the sorter. The drive belt is guided along a single conical drive plane that maintains the orientation of the drive belt relative to the single conical drive plane and limits twisting and stress in the drive belt.
B65G 13/07 - Roller driving means having endless driving elements
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
B65G 13/071 - Roller driving means with frictional engagement
A material handling system having object handling and transportation devices and method of receiving objects into a warehouse having a material handling system includes scanning a machine readable code of an incoming load forming at least a portion of an order and comparing the machine readable code with an order file listing objects on the incoming load. For each object on the load, object data including a 3D image and product code of the object removed from the incoming load is received with an image capture station and reconciled with the order file. Each object is identified by comparing the 3D image of the object captured with the image capture station with the 3D images in the database. The material handling system is controlled as a function of the identity of the objects being handled and transported by the material handling system.
A method of order fulfillment, and system for carrying out the method, includes storing individual items as inventory items in an automated storage and retrieval system and retrieving inventory items from the automated storage and retrieval system in response to an order for those inventory items. The retrieved inventory items are sorted into order batches and transported to an automatic induct for an automated put wall. The order batches are automatically inducted to the automated put wall as individual items. The individual items are segregated for each order at a location on the put wall that is assigned to that order. Individual items for an order are removed together from the automated put wall and transported together to a packing function.
An inventory warehouse management system includes a portable computing device that is coupled to a heads up display and a scanner. The display is configured to display and interact with information received from the computing device. The scanner is operable to identify a container identification (ID) of a container in a warehouse. The computing device is operable to send the container ID to a server via a network. The computing device is operable to receive container information from the server in response to the container ID, and is further operable to communicate the container information to the display. The display is operable to initiate a delivery confirmation for the server when the container is delivered. The scanner and display are operable to audit a first container and provide an audit result of the first container to the server. The audit comprises container information compared with contents of the container.
A continuous flow material handling system and method for consolidating articles into article groups, includes a plurality of article sources and a plurality of article destinations. A plurality of article merges and at least one sorter are between the article sources and destinations, with each of the merges having a plurality of queue lanes and a discharge. The at least one sorter has an inbound lane and a plurality of outbound lanes. The merges combine articles from a plurality of queue lanes and discharge to a downstream merge or sorter inbound lane. The article queue lanes of an upstream merge receiving articles from the article sources and the sorter outbound lanes discharging to the article destinations. A control system receives data from a warehouse management system (WMS). The control system activates each group at a merge in a same sequence as the group is released to the material handling system. The control activates a new group at a merge when all of the articles of the group that is already activated at that merge have cleared that merge. Approaches for group activation including revolving bubble, sliding bubble, and sliding bubble with strict sequencing.
A system for replenishing a pick face includes a storage and retrieval machine (SRM) that traverses an aisle of a warehouse and monitors a replenishment position of each pick location of a pick face. The SRM transmits a message to the system indicating which ones of the replenishment positions are empty. The SRM delivers a replenishment load to a pick location that is indicated as empty in the message. Each pick location includes a flow lane configured to direct the motion of package loads sliding down to a picking position of the pick face. The flow lane includes a lever arm assembly that constrains and brakes the motion of package loads sliding down the flow lane. A bar stop of the lever arm assembly constrains a replenishment load, while a retainer bar of the lever arm assembly constrains a forward load. The replenishment load is behind the forward load.
A load handling system and method of handling a load includes a load handling device with a load support that is configured for engaging a load and a first drive is adapted to drive said load support with respect to a load. A conveyor is moveable along the load support and a second drive is adapted to propel the conveyor with respect to the load support. The first and second drives are operated to handle a load. The load support may be a pair of forks or a platen or the like.
An order fulfillment system and method includes a data base that is adapted to store data defining a plurality of customer orders. Each of the customer orders is a single item order having only one particular inventory item assigned to that order or a multiple item order having multiple particular inventory items assigned to that order. An inventory area stores inventory items that are available for fulfilling customer orders, and is responsive to said data base to retrieve particular inventory items from said inventory area that are assigned to customer orders in order to fulfill those orders. A sortation system combines particular inventory items together that make up an order. The sortation system has an automated induct subsystem and a sorter. The induct subsystem receives inventory items from the inventory area and forwards, in responsive to the data base, particular inventory items assigned to multiple-items orders to the sorter to be combined together to make up the multiple-item orders, but not particular inventory items assigned to single item orders. The sorter includes a pouch sorter having individual pouches and an overhead conveyor with tracts that route individual pouches to various destinations. The induct subsystem places a particular inventory item assigned to a multiple item order in an individual pouch and doesn't place a particular inventory items assigned to a single item order in a pouch. In this manner, handling of the particular inventory items for single items orders is separate from the pouch sorter thus reducing handling of inventory items and increasing system through-put.
B65G 47/61 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices to or from conveyors of the suspended, e.g. trolley, type for articles
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 17/48 - Controlling attitudes of load-carriers during movement
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions
A method of sorting articles with a sorter apparatus and a sorter apparatus having a conveying surface that is adapted to transport articles in a direction of conveyance and a mechanism adapted to displace articles on the conveying surface, the sorter apparatus having an endless web of bodies travelling in an endless loop defining the conveying surface includes a distributed drive system having at least one drive that is adapted to produce to provide force with at least one of the bodies to propel the endless web. A diagnostic device traveling with the web and positioned at one of the bodies of the endless web. The diagnostic device is adapted to monitor operation of the sorter apparatus and includes at least one sensor that is adapted to detect at least one parameter of a proximate drive that is proximate to the at least one sensor, and a controller adapted to receive the at least one parameter from the at least one sensor. A stationary thermal sensor may also monitor the endless loop via another controller including receiving thermal data from the stationary thermal sensor and the another controller correlates the thermal images with a portion of the endless loop.
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
B65G 43/00 - Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
B07C 5/36 - Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
An article sortation system and method of sorting articles includes an article sorter having an article support surface moving in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of discharge conveyors extending from the article support surface. The sorter is adapted to discharge articles from the article support surface to said discharge conveyors. One or more of the discharge conveyors includes an active aligner having a driven surface that is adapted to reorient at least some of the diverted articles.
B65G 47/71 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor the articles being discharged to several conveyors
B65G 47/68 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
B65G 47/244 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane
A method of training a robot to pick a plurality of articles includes determining an identity of an article and determining if the article has a uniform distribution of weight. If the article has a uniform distribution of weight, a three-dimensional (3D) model of the article is created and stored in a database record associated with the identity. If the article does not have a uniform distribution of weight, a 3D model is created, two-dimensional (2D) images of each side of the article are created, and a 3D center of gravity of the article is determined. The 3D model, the 2D images, and the 3D center of gravity of the article are stored in a database record associated with the identity of the article.
A zoneless pick-to-light method and system initially inducts a group of totes into an initial picking station by scanning a tote identifier for each tote in the group. A product order is assigned to each tote in the inducted group of totes, such that matching a product in the picking station with the order causes a light to be illuminated adjacent to the corresponding product needed to fulfill the order. A user scans a personal identification and picks and places the desired quantity of the product to fulfill the product order for each tote at the station. The group of totes are moved in a flow direction to an adjacent picking station, where the user can elect to either follow the group of totes to the adjacent downstream picking station or abandon the group of totes, such that a different user may complete the product orders for the group of totes.
A mobile lighted pick or put cart includes a frame and transport members on the frame that facilitate movement of the frame. The frame defines a plurality of vertically spaced shelves. An electronic system supported with the frame includes a portable computing device and a plurality of lamp strips, one mounted to each of the shelves. An application program that is operated by the portable computing device is adapted to determine a quantity of items to be picked from or put to a physical location and illuminate a number of individual lamps on one of the strips at a particular location on one of said shelves. The number of individual lamps illuminated is equal to the quantity of items to be picked from or put to the physical location.
A belt conveyor having a pair of side frames between which a belt is moved for conveying items includes a pair of idler rollers about which the belt is disposed for conveying items there between, a tension roller that is biased into engagement with the belt, and a driven roller operative to drive the belt about the idler and tension rollers. The tension and driven rollers are mounted between the side frames and are disposed lower than the idler rollers, with the tension roller mounted by a tensioner mount configured to impart a biasing force to the tension roller against the belt.
B65G 15/26 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration comprising a series of co-operating units extensible, e.g. telescopic
B65G 15/60 - Arrangements for supporting or guiding belts, e.g. by fluid jets
A method and system for picking articles from a collection of articles and arranging articles into placement locations, includes capturing an image with a first vision system from a collection of articles at a first pick location and determining coordinate data for at least some of the articles in the collection of articles. The coordinate data for an article in the collection of articles is provided to a first robotic manipulator. That article is picked from the collection of articles with the first robotic manipulator according to the coordinate data for that article and that article placed at a first place location. The position and orientation data of that article are obtained at a second pick location and provided along with a desired position and orientation of that article at a second place location to a second robotic manipulator. That article is picked with the second robotic manipulator using the position and orientation data of that article at the second pick location and that article is placed at the second place location at the desired position and orientation.
An order-picking method includes autonomously routing a plurality of mobile robotic units in an order fulfillment facility and picking articles to or putting articles from the robotic units in the order fulfillment facility. A material-handling robotic unit that is adapted for use in an order fulfillment facility includes an autonomous mobile vehicle base and a plurality of article receptacles positioned on the base. A visual indicator associated with the receptacle facilitates picking articles to or putting articles from the robotic unit.
An automated guided vehicle (AGV) that is configured to operate with a navigation and guidance system includes a base frame structure that supports a material handling apparatus. Casters may be attached at peripheral portions of the base frame structure to movably support the base frame structure away from a ground surface. Drive wheel assemblies may be disposed between two of the casters and configured to propel and steer the AGV. A suspension system may have intersecting swing arms that are pivotally mounted at the base frame structure and independently attach at each of the drive wheel assemblies. The suspension system biases the drive wheel assemblies against the ground surface to maintain friction of the drive wheel assemblies against the ground surface, such as for traversing sloped or uneven surfaces.
B60P 1/64 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading the load supporting or containing element being readily removable
B60G 3/08 - Resilient suspensions for a single wheel with a single pivoted arm the arm being essentially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle the arm being rigid the arm forming the axle housing
B60K 1/02 - Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units comprising more than one electric motor
B60K 7/00 - Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel
B60P 1/48 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using pivoted arms raisable above the load supporting or containing element
B60P 1/52 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using rollers in the load supporting or containing element
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
B66C 11/00 - Trolleys or crabs, e.g. operating above runways
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
A bulk bin forming system configured as a container forming cell includes a multi-axis robot to which is attached a multifunction tool. One or more collapsed card board boxes are located at a first station of the container forming cell adjacent the robot. The robot and multifunction tool are configured to operate to grasp and move an individual box, orient and pre-form the box by folding flaps at a second station of the cell, and then move the box to a third station of the cell to mount the box to a support configured as a pallet to thereby form a bulk bin or bulk box container referred to as a gaylord container. The tool may include vacuum grippers for grasping the boxes and staplers for securing the formed box to the pallet, and may also be used to fold the bottom flaps prior to mounting the box to the pallet.
B31B 50/00 - Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
B31B 50/78 - Opening and distending flattened articles mechanically
B31B 50/80 - Opening and distending flattened articles pneumatically
B25J 11/00 - Manipulators not otherwise provided for
B31F 5/02 - Attaching together sheets, strips or webs; Reinforcing edges by crimpling or slotting
B25J 15/06 - Gripping heads with vacuum or magnetic holding means
B31B 105/00 - Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by assembling separate sheets, blanks or webs
B25J 9/04 - Programme-controlled manipulators characterised by movement of the arms, e.g. cartesian co-ordinate type by rotating at least one arm, excluding the head movement itself, e.g. cylindrical co-ordinate type or polar co-ordinate type
B65D 5/02 - Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body
B65G 59/04 - De-stacking from the top of the stack by suction or magnetic devices
A plurality of diverters each selectively divert at least one article moving member having a diverting member from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along said sorter to a diverting rails in a diverting state. At least one of the diverters has a gate having a diverting surface. The gate is selectively rotatable between the diverting state and a non-diverting state about a generally horizontal axis. An actuator moves the gate between the non-diverting state and the diverting state. The actuator is an electrically operated rotary actuator that is rotatable about another generally horizontal axis of rotation.
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
B65G 19/02 - Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors for articles, e.g. for containers
58.
Order fulfillment system and method with sortation at induct
An order fulfillment system and method includes storing a plurality of inventory items in a warehouse and a plurality of customer orders in a data base, wherein the inventory items make up the customer orders. Some of the orders being a single item order having only one inventory item assigned to that order and other of the orders being multiple item orders having multiple inventory items assigned to that order. Inventory items withdrawn from the warehouse are identified with an identifier and the identity of each withdrawn inventory item applied to the data base and matched item with a customer order. Inventory items are combined together that make up an order with a sortation system. The sortation system has an induct subsystem and the induction subsystem has an input. Inventory items are transported from the warehouse to the induction subsystem input with a transportation system. Inventory items assigned to multiple-item orders are forwarded to the sortation system with the induct subsystem responsive to the data base. Inventory items assigned to single item orders are forwarded to a packing station bypassing the sortation system responsive to the data base.
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B65G 47/61 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices to or from conveyors of the suspended, e.g. trolley, type for articles
B65G 17/48 - Controlling attitudes of load-carriers during movement
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions
A motor driven roller support assembly includes a motorized roller having a cylindrical outer surface that is configured to rotate, a support frame within which the roller is mounted, and a roller support connected to the support frame and engaging the outer surface of the motorized roller. The roller support may include a pair of support wheels for contacting the outer surface of the motorized roller, and include a pivot whereby the roller support is moveable relative to the support frame. The assembly may be integrated with a transfer conveyor, such as a right angle transfer having transfer blades that include belts driven by the motorized roller. The roller support engages the motorized roller in a direction that is generally opposite from the direction in which the belts engage the motorized roller to thereby counteract forces imparted by the belts on the motorized roller.
B65G 47/00 - Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
B65G 47/52 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices
B65G 47/54 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices between conveyors which cross one another at least one of which is a roller-way
A method of filling orders and order fulfillment system includes storing inventory receptacles in an automated warehouse, some having a plurality of different types of inventory items. A queue of orders is maintained in a computer system, each including at least one inventory item. Each order is selected from the queue and assigned to a pick station. The computer system retrieves inventory receptacle(s) from the automated warehouse for the selected order and supplies the receptacle(s) to the pick station. The computer system identifies to an operator which inventory item is to be segregated with the selected order in at least one put receptacle. One or more of the put receptacles receives inventory items for at least one individual order and is directed to a secondary order processing station where items are separated into individual orders. The operator may be provided the capability to consolidate inventory items from inventory receptacles while picking orders to consolidate partially filled inventory receptacles in a consolidated inventory receptacle.
G06F 7/00 - Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
G05B 15/02 - Systems controlled by a computer electric
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control (DNC), flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), integrated manufacturing systems (IMS), computer integrated manufacturing (CIM)
61.
Pick or put station with controllable receptacle exchange
A receptacle exchange for a pick or put receptacle and method for exchanging a pick or put receptacle includes a process location at which an operator processes a receptacle by picking articles from or putting articles to a receptacle. A lift moves a receptacle from a supply location to the process location. An extractor retrieves a receptacle from the process location to an extracted location. A first drive elevates the lift between the supply location and process location and moves the extractor between the process location and extracted location. A second drive moves an inclination of the extractor. A control controls the first and second drives.
An order fulfillment system and method of fulfilling orders, each with at least one article, includes at least one mobile robotic unit that is capable of autonomous routing in an order fulfillment facility. A stationary robotic order-picking station with a stationary robot and vision equipment sorts articles into orders. The at least one mobile robotic unit transfers articles to or from the stationary robotic order-picking station.
A method for managing container information in a warehouse system. The method includes identifying a container identification (ID) of a container with a scanner communicatively coupled to a portable computing device. The container ID is sent from the portable computing device to a warehouse server via a network. The container information is received at the portable computing device from the warehouse server in response to the container ID. The container information is communicated to a heads up display communicatively coupled to the portable computing device. Delivering the container to a target destination in the warehouse, based in part on the container information for the container. A delivery confirmation is initiated at the heads up display for the warehouse server when the container is delivered to the target destination. The delivery confirmation occurs at the time of delivery to the target destination.
An automated order fulfillment system and automated method for fulfilling orders includes a donor-handling system having at least two donor buffers and a recipient-handling system having at least one recipient buffer. An item-handling system includes a vision system and an item manipulator. The vision system has a field of view encompassing the at least two donor receptacle buffers. A control causes the vision system to scan items in a donor receptacle at one of the donor buffers to obtain a pick list of location data of items in the scanned donor receptacle. The control causes the manipulator to pick an item from a donor receptacle at the other of the donor buffers under guidance of the vision system and place the picked item to a recipient receptacle at the at least one recipient buffer using the location data of items in that donor receptacle.
A method and apparatus for supplying a unit of work in a material-handling process includes a set-point of work units desired at a material-processing station and an actual measure of work units at the material-processing station. A feedback control algorithm is performed to establish the set point of work units at the material-processing station and an error between the work units at the material-processing station and the set-point of work units at the material-processing station. The feedback control algorithm also determines a desired amount of units that should be supplied to the material-processing station as a function of the error. The feedback control algorithm causes a work unit to be released from the inventory store for a particular processing station when the actual amount of work units supplied to that processing station is less than the amount of work units that should be supplied to that processing station.
A method and apparatus for fulfilling orders with a system having an automated warehouse that is adapted to store a plurality of inventory receptacles. The automated warehouse includes a plurality of vehicles that are adapted to storing inventory receptacles and retrieving inventory receptacles and an outbound device that is adapted to exchanging inventory receptacles between a pick station and the vehicles. Orders of items are received with an order queue. Orders are disbursed from the order queue to a vehicle queue associated with each vehicle. Inventory receptacles are retrieved with the vehicles having items for at least one of the orders. The inventory receptacles are retrieved according to the vehicle queue for that vehicle. Inventory receptacles are deposited by the vehicles to an outbound queue associated with the outbound device and forwarded from the outbound device to the pick station according to the requirements of the pick station. Items are retrieved from the product receptacles at the pick station and put into transportation receptacles.
A method of fulfilling orders and order fulfillment system includes a mobile assembly cart having a plurality of order assembly positions and a pointer assembly. The pointer assembly generates a beam and directs the beam to at least one of said assembly positions for selectively identifying at least one of the assembly positions for putting an item to or retrieving an order from each identified position. The assembly cart can be positioned with respect to the pointer assembly for the picking or putting and moved away from the pointer assembly after the picking or putting.
G02B 27/20 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups , for optical projection, e.g. combination of mirror and condenser and objective for imaging minute objects, e.g. light-pointer
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
A mixed article sortation system and method of sorting the bulk flow of mixed articles being of various sizes and shapes to separate destinations includes at least two bulk flow singulators, each configured to receive a bulk flow of mixed articles and arrange the articles to respective first and second single-file flows. A first article induct arranges the first flow of articles from one of the singulators to a first flow of gapped articles and a first article sensor senses the identity and weight of each article. A second article induct arranges the single-file flow of articles from the other singulator to a second flow of gapped articles and a second article sensor senses the identity and weight of each article in said second single-file flow. A combiner combines the first and second single-file flow of articles into a third single-file flow of articles. A sorter receives the third single-file flow of mixed articles and sorts the articles to separate destinations.
B65G 47/30 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a series of conveyors
B65G 47/26 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles
B65G 47/68 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor
B07C 1/02 - Forming articles into a stream; Arranging articles in a stream, e.g. spacing, orientating
B65G 47/28 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a single conveyor
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
A method of filling orders and order fulfillment system includes storing inventory receptacles in an automated warehouse, some having a plurality of different types of inventory items. A queue of orders is maintained in a computer system, each including at least one inventory item. Each order is selected from the queue and assigned to a pick station. The computer system retrieves inventory receptacle(s) from the automated warehouse for the selected order and supplies the receptacle(s) to the pick station. The computer system identifies to an operator which inventory item is to be segregated with the selected order in at least one put receptacle. One or more of the put receptacles receives inventory items for at least one individual order and is directed to a secondary order processing station where items are separated into individual orders. The operator may be provided the capability to consolidate inventory items from inventory receptacles while picking orders to consolidate partially filled inventory receptacles in a consolidated inventory receptacle.
An automated warehouse system and method of storing articles to and retrieving articles from an automated warehouse system includes at least two stacked longitudinally extending racks that are laterally separated by an aisle, each of said racks having a plurality of levels, with storage locations on each of the levels. An automated carriage at each of said levels travels longitudinally along the associated aisle and is adapted to store articles to and retrieve articles from each of the racks at that level. A lift arrangement for delivering articles to and retrieving articles from the levels of the stacked racks includes more than one lift assembly for at least one of the racks.
A method of sorting articles using a positive displacement sorter having a plurality of slats arranged in parallel to define a conveying surface moving in a longitudinal direction, a plurality of pusher shoes, each of said shoes travelling laterally along at least one of said slat and a diverting station comprising at least one diverting rail arranged diagonally under said conveying surface and at least one diverting switch for selectively diverting at least two pusher shoes to the diverting rail whereby the pusher shoes travel laterally across said conveying surface in a diagonal path in order to divert an article to a take-away lane includes pre-orienting articles prior to the diverting station wherein a side of each article is oriented at approximately a same orientation as the diagonal path and operating the at least one diverting switch and diverting at least one article that is pre-oriented.
B65G 47/14 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding
B65G 47/46 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors with distribution, e.g. automatically, to desired points
B65G 47/244 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane
B65G 47/84 - Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
A method and system for fulfilling orders includes establishing a queue of orders that are available to be filled, each order in the queue containing at least one unique item type. An order from the order queue is selected and opened as a first order. Another order from the order queue is selected and opened as a second order. Inventory containers each having a unique item type for at least one of the orders are delivered and an operator picks the unique item type from the inventory container. The orders are assembled at order assembly locations that are a particular distance from the operator. The orders are selected and/or the assembly locations assigned in a manner that improves order fulfillment productivity, such as by reducing order fulfillment time, reducing operator travel distance, and the like.
An order-picking method includes autonomously routing a plurality of mobile robotic units in an order fulfillment facility and picking articles to or putting articles from the robotic units in the order fulfillment facility. A material-handling robotic unit that is adapted for use in an order fulfillment facility includes an autonomous mobile vehicle base and a plurality of article receptacles positioned on the base. A visual indicator associated with the receptacle facilitates picking articles to or putting articles from the robotic unit.
A conveyor assembly comprising a main conveyor having a first side frame and a second side frame, with the first and/or second side frames including a side portion and a support surface. One or more input conveyors having a discharge end are joined to the main conveyor with a bottom portion of the discharge end being positioned on the support surface whereby the input conveyors are accurately mounted in close proximity to the main conveyor to promote the conveyance of items from the input conveyors onto the main conveyor.
B65G 47/72 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices transferring materials in bulk from one conveyor to several conveyors or vice versa
B65G 47/68 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor
A picking method includes having in a mobile device data and an application running on the mobile device. An order made up of a number of items to be picked from the warehouse is communicated from a host to a client application of the mobile device. The mobile device provides instructions of a sequence of locations to pick and the items to be picked at each location without further communications from the host. A corresponding picking system is provided.
G06F 7/00 - Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
G06Q 50/28 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping
G06Q 10/04 - Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem"
A method of disconnecting a slat from a wheel assembly that is used with a positive displacement sorter having a plurality of parallel laterally extending slats and a pair of wheel assemblies, each interconnecting common end portions of the slats thereby defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction. An upper surface of the web defines an article-conveying surface. The sorter has a plurality of pusher shoes travelling along the slats in order to laterally displace articles on said conveying surface. The sorter further has a plurality of attachment mechanisms, each attaching an end portion of one of the slats to one of the wheel assemblies. Each of the attachment mechanisms includes at least one locking member. The locking member includes a pin on the slat engaging an opening in one of the wheel assemblies. A retraction tool is positioned against one of the wheel assemblies adjacent to the slat to be disconnected. The retraction tool is pivoted about the wheel assembly to retract the pin from the opening. The slat is disconnected from the wheel assembly with the pin being retracted from the opening.
B65G 47/46 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors with distribution, e.g. automatically, to desired points
B25B 27/14 - Hand tools or bench devices, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for for assembling objects other than by press fit or detaching same
A conveyor underguard that is adapted for use with a conveyor having a pair of spaced apart side channels, each having a lower flange and a plurality of openings on each flange, includes a guard surface and a pair of mounting members, each extending outwardly generally parallel to the guard surface and defining fastener openings. The fastener openings are spaced apart in a manner that aligns with the through-openings of the conveyor. A pair of side members connect the guard surface with the mounting members in a manner that offsets the guard surface from the mounting members away from each flange. The conveyor underguard is defined by a polymeric material body having a planar body pan integrally connected to opposed first and second side walls and to first and second end walls. A first side flange is integrally connected to the first side wall and extends for an entire length of the first side wall. A second side flange is integrally connected to the second side wall and extends for an entire length of the second side wall. Multiple mounting flanges are integrally connected to and extend away from each of the first and second side flanges. Each of the mounting flanges has an elongated aperture. Multiple equally spaced and parallel slots are created in a surface of the body pan.
A multiple cable strain relief and electronic assembly having such multiple cable strain relief includes a body, a plurality of cable cutouts and a compression member. The body has at least two spaced apart sidewalls thereby defining a cavity between the sidewalls. The plurality of cable cutouts are in each of the sidewalls. Each cable cutout in one of the sidewalls is aligned with a cable cutout in the other of sidewalls thereby defining a cable cutout pair. The compression member has a retention position that is at least partially extending into the cavity. With the compression member in the retention position a cable extending though a cable cutout pair is deflected in the cavity to retain that cable between the sidewalls and the compression member.
A crossbelt sorter system and method of sorting articles includes a track assembly and a plurality of carriers attached to each other to travel along the track assembly. Each of the carriers includes at least front and rear corner portions thereof and a trolley at each of the front and rear corner portions. Each trolley is configured to travel along the track assembly. A hitch assembly joins adjacent ones of the carriers. A propulsion system propels the carriers along the track assembly. Each trolley is mounted to the associated carrier to pivot in at least two different directions. In this manner, the track assembly may have one or more spiral portions thereof. Each trolley is adapted to pivot in the two different directions to support the associated carrier as it moves through the spiral portion.
B65G 47/53 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices between conveyors which cross one another
B65G 17/34 - Individual load-carriers having flat surfaces, e.g. platforms, grids, forks
B65G 47/96 - Devices for tilting links or platforms
80.
Roller conveyor system and axle retainer for use in mounting the rollers
A conveyor system includes a conveying surface for conveying articles as defined by a plurality of rollers and a frame. Each of the rollers has an axle. The frame is made up of at least two frame members that are spaced apart a distance that corresponds with a length of at least one of the plurality of rollers. A plurality of axle retainers is connected with at least one of the frame members. Each of the axle retainers has a base and a plurality of axle retaining openings that are each adapted to receiving an axle at an end of one of the rollers. At least two of the openings are fixedly at different angles to the base. In this manner, the axle retainers are capable of mounting the rollers at more than one angle with respect to the at least one of the frame members as determined by which of the axle-retaining openings receives the axle. Each roller-mounting angle corresponds to a different orientation of the base with respect to the at least one of the frame members.
A positive displacement sorter includes a plurality of parallel laterally extending slats and a pair of wheel assemblies, each interconnecting common end portions of the slats thereby defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction. An upper surface of the web defines an article-conveying surface. A plurality of pusher shoes travel along the slats in order to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A plurality of attachment mechanisms are provided. Each of the attachment mechanisms attaches an end portion of one of the slats to one of the wheel assemblies. Each of the attachment mechanisms includes a shoulder and a collar and at least one locking member. The collar engages the shoulder thereby providing retention of the slat to the wheel assembly. The locking member provides retention of the collar on the shoulder.
B65G 39/20 - Arrangements of rollers attached to moving belts or chains
B65G 47/34 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors
B25B 27/00 - Hand tools or bench devices, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for
82.
Diagnostic device for material handling system and method of diagnosing
A technique is provided for diagnosing deficiencies in a material handling system having a track and a material support member adapted to travel on the track. A diagnostic device travels with the material support member and includes one or more sensors that measure one or more parameters of the material support member. Such parameters may include an amount of force exerted laterally against one or more restraining members or the accelerations of the material support member. The material handling system may include a plurality of slats connected in an endless web that defines a conveying surface upon which articles are transported.
A conveyor system includes a transport member having a conveying surface that is configured to transport articles in a transport direction, an endless strip and a drive for propelling the endless strip. A power tap off is provided between the strip and the transport member. The power tap off has an input that is driven by the strip and an output that drives the transport member. The power tap off provides a positive transfer of power from the strip to the transport member.
A goods-to-person picking station and method of picking goods from a product container and placing the goods in at least one order container includes a product container-handling mechanism and at least one order container-handling mechanism juxtaposed with the product container-handling mechanism. The product container-handling mechanism supplies a product container to a pick area. The at least one order container-handling mechanism supplies at least one order container to the pick area. In this manner, an operator can pick goods from a product container at the pick area and place the goods selectively to the at least one order container at the pick area. The product container-handling mechanism includes a product container elevator assembly and a product container extractor assembly. The elevator assembly elevates a product container from the feed area to the pick area. The extractor assembly transfers a product container from the pick area. The elevator assembly and the extractor assembly may be operated from a common drive assembly.
A conveyor system and method of laterally displacing articles includes a conveyor defining a conveying surface and conveying articles in a longitudinal direction with the conveying surface. A diverting assembly is positioned diagonally at least partially across the conveying surface. The diverting assembly travels generally vertically between a non-actuated position below the conveying surface and an actuated position extending above the conveying surface. The diverting assembly has a diverting surface that is adapted to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface when in the actuated position.
An article singulating conveyor assembly and method of singulating articles includes providing a conveying surface defining a plurality of tandem zones. The conveying surface travels in a longitudinal direction. Each of the zones includes a pair of laterally spaced side frame members and a plurality of generally parallel elongated driven rollers that are supported at the side frame members. The driven rollers are adapted to provide lateral variation in the longitudinal speed of the conveying surface. Each of the zones includes at least one drive motor that is adapted to drive the driven rollers in that zone. At least one article sensor is provided that is adapted to sensing articles in the zones. The driven rollers may be divided into a plurality of segmented rollers that are separately rotatable with a separate drive motor to drive corresponding segments for a zone. The drive motors for adjacent zones may be activated in a manner that creates a longitudinal gap between longitudinally adjacent articles.
An induction subsystem for a conveying system includes a plurality of induction conveying units that are controlled by a plurality of controls in a manner that delivers articles to a release conveyor with gaps between the articles that approach a desired length. The conveying units may be controlled using algorithms that examine a planned release time for an article and a time at which the article would be released were it to complete the rest of its travel through the induction subsystem at one or more nominal speeds. The difference is used to determine an appropriate speed for at least one of the conveying units. The conveying unit may alternatively be controlled using algorithms that determine desired speed ratios for the conveying units, and which may seek to control the centerline to centerline spacing of articles as they reach the release point such that desired gaps are created.
B65G 47/31 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a series of conveyors by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series
A positive displacement sorter and method of diverting articles includes providing a plurality of interconnected parallel slats defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction, an upper surface of which defines an article-conveying surface and a plurality of pusher shoes. Each of the shoes travels along at least one of the slats in order to laterally divert articles on the conveying surface. Each of the shoes has a diverting member extending below the conveying surface. A plurality of diverting rails below the conveying surface are each capable of engaging the diverting member to cause the associated shoe to travel laterally to divert an article. A plurality of diverters are provided for selectively diverting at least one of the diverting members from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along the sorter to one of said diverting rails in a diverting state. At least one of the diverters has a gate having a diverting surface. The gate is selectively moveable between the diverting state and a non-diverting state. An actuator moves the gate between the non-diverting state and the diverting state. The actuator may include a rotary actuator having a generally horizontal axis of rotation. An electronic divert control may be provided to apply an activation control signal to the actuator to move the gate between one of the states and the other of the states. The control monitors movement of the gate and adjusts the activation control signal as a function of the movement of the gate.
A method of reducing drag on the web of a positive displacement sorter is used with a web made up of a plurality of parallel slats interconnected at their opposite ends with chain assemblies in an endless loop. A plurality of pusher shoes each travel along at least one of said slats. The sorter further includes a driven sprocket assembly and a non-driven sprocket assembly. Each of the sprocket assemblies includes at least two sprockets on a shaft, each for engaging one of the chain assemblies. The sprocket assemblies support the chain assemblies at opposite ends of the web. The method includes auditing the sorter including determining if the slats are skewed with respect to the direction of travel of the web. If it is determined that the slats are skewed, then the chain assemblies and the non-driven sprocket assembly are modified. The chain assemblies are modified by adding side thrust wheels on opposite sides of the web. The non-driven sprocket is modified by locking the sprockets to the shaft such that the sprockets rotate together.
A method of replacing a continuous belt on a belt conveyor having a frame assembly includes providing a removable belt module with a removable belt module frame, the removable belt module frame having at one end a rotatably mounted drive pulley and having at an opposite end a rotatably mounted other pulley. The continuous belt is reeved around the drive pulley and the other pulley. The removable belt module is removed from at least one attachment surface of the frame assembly while the continuous belt remains under tension. A replacement removable belt module is then placed at the attachment surface. Optionally, the continuous belt has a low modulus characteristic, and the removable belt module may include at least one pivot arm for mounting at least one of the drive pulley and the other pulley to the removable belt module frame.
B65G 21/00 - Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors
B65G 41/00 - Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames
B65G 23/44 - Belt- or chain-tensioning arrangements
B65G 47/31 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a series of conveyors by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series
A conveying system may include a frame that supports a plurality of rollers which carry articles thereon. At least one of the rollers may be a motorized roller with first and second motors adapted to rotate an outer cylindrical shell of the motorized roller. A controller external to the motorized roller may send speed control commands to the motorized roller to control both the first and second motors in a manner that increases torque of the motorized roller. The motors may be controlled in four quadrant mode, or two quadrant mode, or a combination thereof. The motorized roller may be used in a right angle transfer mechanism, or in other components of a conveying system.
A stacking apparatus and method of multi-layer stacking of objects of different sizes on a support to form a stacked support includes providing a support handler. A support is elevated with the support handler and objects of different sizes and shapes are stacked on the support to form a stacked support. A stacked support is removed and an empty support supplied with the support handler. A placeholder is provided above the support handler. The placeholder has a first mode for receiving objects on the placeholder. The placeholder has a second mode for providing access to a support on the support handler. The placeholder is put in the first mode while the support handler removes a stacked support and supplies an empty support. The placeholder is put in the second mode when the support handler is elevating a support being stacked with articles. Objects that have been received on the placeholder during the first mode are deposited from the placeholder to the support when changing the placeholder from the first mode to the second mode.
A roller transport conveyor and method provides a device for conveying items along a plurality of rollers, in which the device may be set up and operated and serviced by manually raising and lowering one or more contact members that transmit force from a spring to urge a drive belt into contact with an underside of the rollers. The contact member is adjustable by raising and lowering the contact member to expand and contract the spring, or by raising and lowering a base on which the spring is supported, so that the drive belt may be engaged with and disengaged from the rollers. A gravity take-up includes a mass suspended from a cable that is routed to a pulley having the drive belt reeved thereon. The cable is wound upon a winch that compensates for belt stretch, or for belts of various lengths.
A conveyor system aligner, method of aligning and continuous aligning belt includes providing a belt support assembly having a generally vertical support surface and a channel defined in the support surface. A belt drive propels the aligning belt along the support surface and items, such as cartons, are conveyed past the aligning belt. A continuous aligning belt is provided that has a contact portion and a guide member. The contact portion has a contact surface and a glide surface. The glide surface is configured to travel along the support surface. The guide member is adapted to be captured by the channel and travels in the channel to support the aligning belt.
B65G 47/26 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles
Systems and methods for accumulating articles on transport conveyors, for efficiently merging articles, and for automatically controlling sortation speed are disclosed. Transport conveyor beds upstream of an accumulation conveyor bed may be controlled to more densely pack articles, as well as to more timely deliver articles to the downstream subsystem when accumulation terminates. Slugs of articles in a merge subsystem may be released based on a prioritization scheme that heavily weighs the ability of the slug to attach to the next-most downstream slug. A combination of closed and open-looped control of the slug's movement may be used to accurately position slugs on the merge bed. A downstream sortation speed may be automatically adjusted based on the amount of merge traffic.
A belt conveyor includes at least one belt module defined by at least one drive pulley and at least one other pulley that is generally an idler pulley positioned between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and having a continuous belt routed around the drive pulley and the other pulley. The drive pulley is operable to drive the continuous belt around the pulleys to move articles along the zone assembly. The belt conveyor may incorporate features that allow for improved maintenance methods and reduced down time during service intervals. These features may include a removable belt module, at least one pulley mounted on at least one pivot arm, or a combination thereof. The belt may have a low modulus characteristic and may be initially stretched when the belt is reeved or routed around the pulleys and the pivot arms are moved into their operating position.
B65G 21/00 - Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors
B65G 41/00 - Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames
B65G 23/44 - Belt- or chain-tensioning arrangements
B65G 47/31 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a series of conveyors by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series
A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of interconnected slats defining an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface. A plurality of pusher shoes are provided, each moving along at least one of the plurality of slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. Each of the pusher shoes includes a diverting portion extending above the conveying surface. The diverting portion includes a diverting surface and a stop surface. The diverting surface contacts an article and laterally displaces that article. A lifting force is applied by the diverting surface to a portion of the article being diverted. The stop surface limits movement of the article relative to the pusher shoe.
A sortation system and method of sorting product includes providing a sorter assembly and a supply system supplying product that is received by the sorter assembly. Product supplied to the sorter assembly is monitored and a parameter is determined that is indicative of the relationship between product supplied to the sorter assembly and product being sorted by the sorter assembly. The supply system is controlled as a function of a value of the parameter.
A roller shaft mount or support secures a shaft end of a conveyor roller at and between opposite sidewalls of a conveyor. The shaft support includes a mounting portion mountable to a sidewall of the conveyor and a clamping portion. The clamping portion is movably attached to the mounting portion and movable relative thereto. The shaft support receives a roller shaft at least partially therethrough. The clamping portion is movable relative to the mounting portion so as to clamp the roller shaft within the shaft support in response to movement of the clamping portion relative to the mounting portion. The clamping portion may move along a ramped surface toward and into engagement with the shaft of the roller in response to adjustment of a fastener to clamp the roller shaft within the shaft support.
A conveyor system, such as an induction subsystem for supplying articles to a sortation subsystem, and method of conveying articles includes providing a conveying surface for conveying a series of articles and at least one sensor for sensing the articles on the conveying surface. A control is provided which establishes at least one parameter for each of the articles and controls the conveying surface as a function of the at least one parameter of each of the articles. The control includes a computer and a program for the computer. The program includes at least one probability estimator. The control determines the at least one parameter of each of the articles at least in part by the at least one probability estimator. The control controls gaps between articles or synchronizes arrival of articles at the sortation system.
patents
