US3624792A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Order picking system
Assignee: MCCALL PATTERN COMPANY A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1970-01-30
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1990-01-30
Abstract
Abstract An electromechanical system which can select from a multiplicity of storage compartments any item corresponding to a decimal number input. The storage compartments are arranged in a grid pattern. One portion of the decimal number input triggers a solenoid which activates a picking mechanism along a coordinate axis. The other portion of the number input activates a second picking mechanism along a coordinate axis which intersects with the first coordinate axis. The point of intersection of the two axes occurs at the storage bin form which it is desired to select an article, by the interaction of the two complementary operating mechanisms on a picking mechanism. Picking of an article occurs only at such a point in the grid network. The device may operate on two or more crossed coordinates simultaneously or in rapid succession to provide ultrarapid assembly of a number of items to complete a specific order therefor.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Ernest Lipfert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K17/00; G06K17/0003; G06K17/0012; B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/0407; B65G1/0435; B65G1/137; B65G1/1373; B65G1/1378
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
An order-picking system for selecting at least one item having at least one surface from a plurality of items stored in bins, said system comprising a main frame including a plurality of bins comprising support means to support a plurality of items arranged in successive order, said bins having exit means in grid arrangement; in combination with picking means having portions in perpendicular, coordinate, grid arrangement, operation means for the picking means comprising a first set of operating means portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a first set of coordinates of said grid arrangement, and a second set of operating portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a second set of coordinates of said grid arrangement substantially perpendicular to said first set of coordinates, in which; the portions of the first set of operating means each operate carrier means having picking means, along the first set of coordinates, and the portions of the second set of operating means each operate valve means attached to vacuum compressor means and to vacuum line means communicating to each of the picking means along said second set of coordinates, together with order selecting means comprising circuit means leading to each of the first set of operating means portions, and circuit means leading to each of the second set of operating means portions, whereby selection of a circuit means of a first set and a selection of a circuit means of the second set will provide activation to all of the picking means common to the coordinate selected, resulting in operation of the picking means where the coordinate lines cross.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
268 words
An order-picking system for selecting at least one item having at least one surface from a plurality of items stored in bins, said system comprising a main frame including a plurality of bins comprising support means to support a plurality of items arranged in successive order, said bins having exit means in grid arrangement; in combination with picking means having portions in perpendicular, coordinate, grid arrangement, operation means for the picking means comprising a first set of operating means portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a first set of coordinates of said grid arrangement, and a second set of operating portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a second set of coordinates of said grid arrangement substantially perpendicular to said first set of coordinates, in which; the portions of the first set of operating means each operate carrier means having picking means, along the first set of coordinates, and the portions of the second set of operating means each operate valve means attached to vacuum compressor means and to vacuum line means communicating to each of the picking means along said second set of coordinates, together with order selecting means comprising circuit means leading to each of the first set of operating means portions, and circuit means leading to each of the second set of operating means portions, whereby selection of a circuit means of a first set and a selection of a circuit means of the second set will provide activation to all of the picking means common to the coordinate selected, resulting in operation of the picking means where the coordinate lines cross.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A through feed system as claimed in claim 1, in which articles to be dispensed are bundle-fed from the rear, are disengaged from the bundle once in place, and are engaged with the feed at the front.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The order-picking system as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for restraining and withdrawing envelopes one at a time from a tray comprising a top fixed restraint and a deflectable bottom restraint.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The order-picking system as claimed in claim 1, in which the bin comprises a platform and a feed arm, said feed arm being mounted on guide means associated with potential energy means positioned to urge said feed arm toward said exit, said feed arm having an item contact portion and a curved portion curving away from said item contact portion to said guide means, said arm being rotatably mounted on said guide means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The order-picking system as claimed in claim 4, in which there is indicator means comprising a band attached to said arm and disposed in a continuous pathway, a portion of which is visible from outside the frame and including a calibration means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The order-picking system as defined in claim 4, in which each bin has a pull back rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The order-picking system as claimed in claim 1, in which the exit means each have a portion substantially adjacent a plane common to all of said portions of said exit means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An order-picking system as claimed in claim 1, in which the operating portions comprise electrically activated solenoids, and in which the selection system comprises at least one circuit connection between at least one selector switch positioned in a selection area with at leaSt one solenoid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An order-picking system as claimed in claim 1, in which the operating portions comprise electrically activated solenoids, and wherein selected pairs of solenoids are connected by circuit means to switch means operated by a single selector button.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The order-picking system as claimed in claim 1, in which there are a plurality of storage units each having 100 bins, and the selector system comprises selecting means to select first a storage unit and then the coordinates of the 100 bins of the storage unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The order-picking system as claimed in claim 1, in which there are collection means and a collection station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An order-picking system as claimed in claim 1, in which the exit gate means has restraining element means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The order-picking system as claimed in claim 1, in which the picking means portions are vacuum operated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The order-picking system as claimed in claim 1, in which the picking means portions are in the form of vacuum cups having offset resilient connections.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
The order-picking system as claimed in claim 1, in which the portions of the first set of operating means each operating carrier means are a first set of solenoids each operating a bar, and the portions of the second set of operating means each operating valve means attached to vacuum compressor means are a second set of solenoids each operating a valve attached to a vacuum compressor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
163 words
An order-picking system for selecting at least one item having at least one surface from a plurality of items stored in bins, said system comprising a main frame including a plurality of bins comprising support means to support a plurality of items arranged in successive order, said bins having exit means in grid arrangement; in combination with picking means having portions in perpendicular, coordinate, grid arrangement, operation means for the picking means comprising a first set of operating means portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a first set of coordinates of said grid arrangement, and a second set of operating portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a second set of coordinates of said grid arrangement substantially perpendicular to said first set of coordinates, in combination with order selecting means comprising a binary-to-decimal translator having means to receive binary-coded material and means to translate the binary code to a decimal system operating switches to close circuits to the grid system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
163 words
An order-picking system for selecting at least one item having at least one surface from a plurality of items stored in bins, said system comprising a main frame including a plurality of bins comprising support means to support a plurality of items arranged in successive order, said bins having exit means in grid arrangement; in combination with picking means having portions in perpendicular, coordinate, grid arrangement, operation means for the picking means comprising a first set of operating means portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a first set of coordinates of said grid arrangement, and a second set of operating portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a second set of coordinates of said grid arrangement substantially perpendicular to said first set of coordinates, in combination with order selecting means comprising a binary-to-decimal translator having means to receive binary-coded material and means to translate the binary code to a decimal system operating switches to close circuits to the grid system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
202 words
An order-picking system for selecting at least one item having at least one surface from a plurality of items stored in bins, said system comprising a main frame including a plurality of bins comprising support means to support a plurality of items arranged in successive order, said bins having exit means in grid arrangement; in combination with picking means having portions in perpendicular, coordinate, grid arrangement, operation means for the picking means comprising a first set of operating means portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a first set of coordinates of said grid arrangement, and a second set of operating portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a second set of coordinates of said grid arrangement substantially perpendicular to said first set of coordinates, in which the picking means portions are in the form of vacuum cups affixed to a series of shafts in parallel arrangement, and connected to a series of vacuum lines in parallel arrangement, said parallel shafts and parallel lines being generally perpendicular to form a picking means grid arrangement with coordinates corresponding to coordinates formed by the first mentioned exit means grid arrangement, with each of said shafts and vacuum lines having operating means portions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
202 words
An order-picking system for selecting at least one item having at least one surface from a plurality of items stored in bins, said system comprising a main frame including a plurality of bins comprising support means to support a plurality of items arranged in successive order, said bins having exit means in grid arrangement; in combination with picking means having portions in perpendicular, coordinate, grid arrangement, operation means for the picking means comprising a first set of operating means portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a first set of coordinates of said grid arrangement, and a second set of operating portions to activate picking means portions aligned along a second set of coordinates of said grid arrangement substantially perpendicular to said first set of coordinates, in which the picking means portions are in the form of vacuum cups affixed to a series of shafts in parallel arrangement, and connected to a series of vacuum lines in parallel arrangement, said parallel shafts and parallel lines being generally perpendicular to form a picking means grid arrangement with coordinates corresponding to coordinates formed by the first mentioned exit means grid arrangement, with each of said shafts and vacuum lines having operating means portions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The order-picking system as defined in claim 17, in which the operating means portions comprise vacuum solenoids for the vacuum lines, and shaft operating solenoids for the shafts, together with selection means comPrising switch means to selectively operate said solenoids.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The order-picking system as defined in claim 18, in which the shaft-operating solenoids are associated with switching means adapted to be selectively connected to the operating means for at least one vacuum solenoid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The order-picking system as defined in claim 19, in which there is at least one hold relay in the selection circuit adapted to keep the circuit to at least one vacuum solenoid closed when the closed circuits to at least one shaft-operating solenoid opens.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
The order-picking system as defined in claim 20, in which at least one selected shaft moves its vacuum cups toward and away from items stored at the exit grid while at least one selected vacuum line exerts exhaust pressure on its vacuum cups to move at least one selected vacuum cup at a selected pair of coordinates in the picking means grid arrangement to contact at least one item at a selected pair of coordinates in the exit grid arrangement.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
85 words
The order-picking system as defined in claim 21, in which the grid arrangements are in the form of 10 by 10 grids, and there are 10 shafts, each having an operating solenoid, and 10 vacuum lines, each having a vacuum solenoid, and there is selector circuit means including an operating switch normally open for each of said solenoids, and selector means having 100 switch throwing means, each of said switch throwing means being adapted to close a shaft solenoid switch and a vacuum solenoid switch.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The order-picking system as defined in claim 22, in combination with a translator for translating binary-coded signals from tape or cards to a decimal system, and a decoder, and a block storage device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
The order-picking system as defined in claim 22, in which there are a plurality of main frames or storage units and the selector means includes further switching means to provide for the selection of one of the plurality of storage units in addition to the selection of the 10''s and units coordinates contained in said storage unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |