초록 ▼

An order selection system is disclosed having a downwardly sloped plate, and stationary and movable dispensing means both of which are responsive to a system controller of the system. The system controller has an electronic, device such as a microprocessor preprogrammed with operating routines, whic

An order selection system is disclosed having a downwardly sloped plate, and stationary and movable dispensing means both of which are responsive to a system controller of the system. The system controller has an electronic, device such as a microprocessor preprogrammed with operating routines, which are responsive to a selected order request issued by an external device. The system controller correlates the control of both type dispensers so that each of the products in the selected order request is retrieved from its storage location and placed on the moving gathering belt within a dynamically assigned order space. The operation of both type dispensers is controlled by the system controller so that the controller dynamically assigns space on the moving gathering belt, allowing the controller to service simultaneous order selection requests that may occur from one or more external devices.

대표청구항 ▼

An order selection system for retrieving products stored in predetermined storage locations and delivering such retrieved products to a central gathering station by one or more conveyors comprising a dynamically moving gathering belt, said stored products being classified in accordance with their pu

An order selection system for retrieving products stored in predetermined storage locations and delivering such retrieved products to a central gathering station by one or more conveyors comprising a dynamically moving gathering belt, said stored products being classified in accordance with their public demand as being slow, medium or fast moving, said storage locations comprising one or more tiers arranged on vertically oriented frame members and having X, Y and Z axes, some of said tiers having drive means responsive to a system controller for moving a mechanism longitudinally along the X-axis of the tier, said predetermined storage locations each having predetermined coordinates of said X, Y and Z axes, said system comprising: (a) a plurality of plates for supporting said products thereon, each plate having at least a downwardly contoured portion located above said gathering belt, said plates further having a plurality of slots each extending through and into at least a part of said contoured portion, said slots being arranged to be in communication with said products, said plates extending longitudinally along the X axis of said storage modules and segmented into first and second portions; (b) at least one stationary dispensing means having at least one vertically extending cog and located at a predetermined slot along said first portion of said plates, said stationary dispensing means being responsive to said system controller; (c) at least one movable dispensing means having at least one vertically extending cog, and having means responsive to said drive means and means responsive to said system controller, said movable dispensing means being longitudinally movable along said second portion of said plates to a preselected slot thereof; and (d) a system controller having means responsive to and servicing a selected order request issued by an external device, said selected order request including a specified quantity of each product that makes up said selected order request, said system controller dynamically assigning a space on said gathering belt to said selected order request, said system controller comprising: (i) means for controlling said at least one stationary dispensing means located at said predetermined slot of said first portion of said plate so that its said cog is moved at a preselected time and for a predetermined distance; (ii) means for controlling said at least one movable dispensing means so that said movable dispensing means is moved at a preselected time to a preselected slot of said second portion of said plate, after which, its said cog is moved at a preselected time and for a predetermined distance; (iii) means for identifying a storage location corresponding to each product included within said selected order request; (iv) means for determining a total space on said moving gathering belt needed to accommodate all of the products included within said selected order request, said total space comprising a dynamically assigned order space on said moving gathering belt for said selected order request; and (v) means for correlating said means for controlling said stationary dispensing means with said means for controlling said movable dispensing means, so that each of said products is retrieved from its storage location and placed on said gathering belt within said dynamically assigned order space while said gathering belt is moving.