INTEGRATED STACKING DEVICE AND CONVEYOR
The invention comprises a container stacking operation integrated into a conveyor system for transporting products such as totes or containers. In a preferred embodiment a vertical stacking operation is located proximal to a product delivery station so that the use and storage of containers or totes can be efficiently integrated into a product conveying system.
1 . An integrated container stacking device and container sorting device comprising at least one tote sorting or delivery location and a tote stacking operation station positioned so that the tote stacking occurs proximate to the sorting or delivery location; and comprising a controller to count and manage the location of stacked empty totes.
2 . The device of claim one that can set up for either or both of a tote stacking operation or a tote destacking operation.
3 . The device of claim 1 further comprising an on demand empty tote feed/dispensing unit.
4 . The device of claim 1 further comprising an on demand empty tote buffering or storage unit
5 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising an omni-directional, multifunctional, and compact vertical transport unit for totes.
6 . A vertical distribution module capable of being used in a conveying system.
7 . A method of stacking and destacking totes in a conveying system comprising receiving totes at a delivery station, moving an empty tote to a vertical stacking station, and stacking a desired number of empty totes for a desired period of time in a conveying operation.