Patent ID: 6705523
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: G05B,G06Q,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for delivering supplies to a production line comprising:labeling a plurality of supply loads with barcodes comprising a production line delivery station identifier; loading said supply loads on a conveyor, said conveyor comprising a plurality of positions; scanning said barcodes on each of said supply loads loaded on said conveyor; transferring each of said supply loads on said conveyor into one of said plurality of positions on said conveyor; entering into a computer said barcodes and said position for each of said supply loads; receiving at said computer a request for one of said plurality of supply loads on said conveyor, said request received from a production line delivery station; locating a supply load on said conveyor to match said request, said supply load located by said computer in accordance with said production line delivery station identifier and said barcode and said position for each of said supply loads; transferring said located supply load from said conveyor position to a pickup station; dispatching an automated guided vehicle to transport said located supply load from said pickup station to said production line delivery station; and transporting by said automated guided vehicle said located supply load from said pickup station to said production line delivery station.