Patent ID: 6377867
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A process for automated filling of orders which each contain one or more items selected from an inventory of such items, which said inventory includes a first plurality of different high frequency selection items and a second plurality of different low frequency selection items, the number of different low frequency selection items defining said second plurality being several times greater than the number of high frequency selection items defining said first plurality, comprising the steps of:storing said items in vertical stacks so that the items in a respective stack are identical; storing said stacks in totes which define therein a plurality of upwardly opening storage cells each adapted to contain a single said stack therein; storing said totes containing said stacks therein in a storage rack so that the totes are disposed in horizontally elongate rows which are disposed vertically one above the other with said rows being accessible from an aisle which extends along one side thereof; providing an elongate and moving conveyor system having first and second generally elongate conveyor sections which-connect with one another along said system; providing a first pick zone in association with said first conveyor section for selecting individual low frequency selection items and for depositing such items onto said first conveyor section; providing a second pick zone located in series with said first pick zone relative to said conveyor system for permitting individual high frequency selection items to be deposited on said second conveyor section; defining on said conveyor system an assigned order-receiving space which is moved sequentially through both said pick zones so as to be defined on said first and second conveyor sections at sequentially different times; providing a pick interface for said first pick zone which is adjacent and extends longitudinally along at least one side of said first conveyor section; automatically transferring totes containing said low frequency selection items from said storage rack to said pick interface so that the cells of the totes in said pick interface are vertically accessible from above; automatically picking individual items from the cells at the pick interface and transferring the picked items toward the first conveyor belt section for subsequent deposit on the assigned order-receiving space; providing in said second pick zone an item dispensing mechanism which contains therein a plurality of upwardly arranged columns of identical items; and selectively dispensing a lowermost item from a column of the dispenser for deposit on the assigned order-receiving space on said second conveyor section.