Patent ID: 8622194
Filing Date: 2014-01-07
Classification: B07C,B61B,B61C,B65G,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A material handling system for delivering a plurality of items to or from a plurality of destination areas, comprising: a plurality of delivery vehicles for delivering item to the destination areas, wherein the destination areas are arranged into a first series of columns extending generally vertically and a second series of columns extending generally vertically, wherein each vehicle comprises: a track for guiding the delivery vehicles to the destination areas, wherein the track is positioned between the first series of columns and the second series of columns so that a delivery vehicle can move vertically between the first series of columns and the second series of columns, and wherein when a delivery vehicle is stopped at a point along the track, the transfer mechanism can transfer an item forwardly between the vehicle and a destination area in the first series of columns and the transfer mechanism can transfer an item rearwardly between the vehicle and a destination in the second series of columns; a destination module operable to identify the destination area to which one item is to be delivered to or retrieved by one of the delivery vehicles, wherein the destination module identifies the destination area based on a marking on the item; and a controller for controlling the operation of the one vehicle as the vehicle delivers the item to the identified destination area.