Method and apparatus for storing or retrieving items
A method and apparatus are provided for storing and retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. A storage and retrieval system stores and retrieves items as needed and transfer items from storage locations to transfer locations. A separate picking system conveys the items from the transfer locations to a picking station or an input out station so that the item can be selected.
1. A material handling system, comprising:
a plurality of destination areas for receiving one or more items;
a plurality of independently operable delivery vehicles operable to deliver items to the destination areas, wherein each delivery vehicle comprises a transfer mechanism for loading items onto the delivery vehicle and discharging items from delivery vehicle;
wherein each destination area is configured to accumulate a plurality of items delivered by a plurality of the delivery vehicles;
an input station for loading items onto the delivery vehicles to deliver the items to the destination areas;
a guide track positioned along the destination areas, wherein the guide track in configured to guide the delivery vehicles to the destination areas;
a controller configured to control operation of the delivery vehicles so that the delivery vehicles stop at the input station to facilitate items being loaded onto the delivery vehicles; and
a plurality of independently operable retrieval vehicles operable to selectively retrieve items from the destination areas and displace the items away from the destination areas, wherein each retrieval vehicle comprises a loading mechanism for loading items onto the retrieval vehicle from one of the destination areas, wherein the transfer mechanism is configured differently than the loading mechanism.
2. The material handling system of claim 1 wherein the guide track comprises a loop and the vehicles circulate around the loop between the input station and the destination areas.
3. The material handling system of claim 1 wherein the guide track includes a vertical portion for guiding the delivery vehicles vertically upwardly.
4. The material handling system of claim 1 wherein each delivery vehicle comprises a substantially horizontal support for supporting items in a generally horizontal orientation.
5. The material handling system of claim 1 wherein the retrieval vehicles are configured to operate outside the guide track.
6. The material handling system of claim 5 comprising a second track separate from the guide track wherein the second track is configured to guide the retrieval vehicles.
7. The material handling system of claim 6 wherein the second track is configured differently than the guide track.
8. The material handling system of claim 6 wherein each delivery vehicle comprises two pairs of opposing wheels and the guide track comprises a front track for guiding a first pair of the opposing wheels and rear track for guiding a second pair of the opposing wheels.
9. The material handling system of claim 8 wherein an aisle is formed between the front track and the rear track and the delivery vehicles are displaceable within the aisle to deliver items to the destination areas.
10. A method for delivering items to destination areas and retrieving items from the destination areas, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
driving a plurality of independently operable delivery vehicles to deliver items to a plurality of destination areas, wherein each destination area is configured to receive a plurality of items, wherein the step of driving comprises driving the vehicles along a guide track positioned along the destination areas;
loading items onto the delivery vehicles, wherein the step of loading comprises the steps of:
stopping each of the delivery vehicles at an input station; and
while each of the delivery vehicles is stopped at the input station, operating a transfer mechanism on each of the delivery vehicles to load one or more items onto the delivery vehicle;
accumulating a plurality of items at the destination areas by operating the transfer mechanism of each of a plurality of the delivery vehicles to discharge items at the destination areas;
controlling a plurality of independently operable retrieval vehicles to selectively retrieve items accumulated in the destination areas wherein the step of selectively retrieving items accumulated in the destination areas comprises operating a loading mechanism that is configured differently that the transfer mechanism; and
displacing the retrieval vehicles to displace the selectively retrieved items away from the destination areas.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein each delivery vehicle comprises two pairs of opposing wheels and the guide track comprises a front track for guiding a first pair of the opposing wheels and rear track for guiding a second pair of the opposing wheels wherein an aisle is formed between the front track and the rear track, wherein the step of driving the delivery vehicles comprises driving the delivery vehicles within the aisle to deliver items to the destination areas.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of driving the delivery comprises driving the delivery vehicles vertically upwardly.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of driving comprises maintaining the horizontal orientation of the delivery vehicles as the delivery vehicles drive from a vertical direction to a horizontal direction.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of driving comprises driving the delivery vehicles around a loop having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of displacing the retrieval vehicles comprises displacing the retrieval vehicles away from the guide track.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of displacing the retrieval vehicles comprises driving the retrieval vehicles along a second track that is separate from the guide track.