US3786944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for applying labels to articles in a warehouse system
Assignee: Rapistan Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-28
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1992-09-28
Abstract
Abstract An article retrieval system includes an operator carrying picking vehicle for batch picking of customer orders in a warehouse. The vehicle includes a labeler supplied with a sequence of individual labels for positioning on each article picked. Each label includes article storage location, quantity and destination information and display means are provided for displaying this label information to the operator. A tape includes sorting information recorded thereon for each article to be picked and is synchronized with the sequence of labels placed in the labeler. A tape playback mechanism controls destination coding apparatus such that an article picked by the operator will leave the vehicle with both a label and sorting indicia thereon. The sorting information on the tape is also displayed to the operator to provide a check for synchronization between the tape and the sequence of labels. The articles are then routed via an accumulation conveyor to a sorting area where the sorting indicia is detected to control the diverting of articles to predetermined destination areas.
Inventors
- 👤 J Daigle
- 👤 J Habegger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:47
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/137; B65G1/1371
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
For use in a warehouse for storing predetermined articles at preselected storage locations, a system for batch picking articles and labeling and sorting the articles by destination, said system including a mobile picking vehicle comprising: a vehicle movable to desired storage locations within said warehouse; labeling means positioned on said vehicle for sequentially applying labels to articles, said labels including article location and quantity to be picked information thereon; means for displaying said information on a label to be applied to the next article to be picked; tape playback means positioned on said vehicle for reproducing article sort location information recorded on a tape in a sequence corresponding to the sequence of labels to be applied to articles retrieved from storage; coding means programmed by said tape playback means for applying a sort code to each article; conveying means positioned on said vehicle for receiving an article from storage and transferring said article into position to receive a label and a separate sort code from said labeling means and said coding means respectively; and control means for synchronizing the application of labels and sort codes to articles such that labeled articles receive corresponding sort code information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
For use in a warehouse for storing predetermined articles at preselected storage locations, a system for batch picking articles and labeling and sorting the articles by destination, said system including a mobile picking vehicle comprising: a vehicle movable to desired storage locations within said warehouse; labeling means positioned on said vehicle for sequentially applying labels to articles, said labels including article location and quantity to be picked information thereon; means for displaying said information on a label to be applied to the next article to be picked; tape playback means positioned on said vehicle for reproducing article sort location information recorded on a tape in a sequence corresponding to the sequence of labels to be applied to articles retrieved from storage; coding means programmed by said tape playback means for applying a sort code to each article; conveying means positioned on said vehicle for receiving an article from storage and transferring said article into position to receive a label and a separate sort code from said labeling means and said coding means respectively; and control means for synchronizing the application of labels and sort codes to articles such that labeled articles receive corresponding sort code information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said labels include sort location information displayed by said display means, and wherein said picking vehicle further includes additional display means for displaying corresponding sort location information reproduced by said tape playback means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including manually operable data generating means selectively coupled to said coding means to provide sort location programming information thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said system further includes a sorting area for receiving labeled and coded articles, and an accumulation conveyor for transferring articles from a plurality of picking vehicles to said sorting area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said sorting area includes: a plurality of discharge chutes for articles having different destinations, said chutes identified by unique sorting codes assigned to each chute; a sort code detector for detecting the sort code information on each article transferred to said sorting area; conveying means transferring articles from said sort code detector to said discharge chutes; and divert means controlled by said sort code reader for diverting articles to a discharge chute corresponding to the sort code information on the article.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of batch picking articles stored in a warehouse and applying sort code indicia thereon comprising the steps of: prOviding a plurality of labels for individual articles to be picked; displaying information from preselected ones of said labels indicative of the storage location and quantity to be picked of each article; providing prerecorded sort location information corresponding to each label; applying labels to articles retrieved from storage; applying code indicia to each article retrieved from storage in accordance with the prerecorded sort location information; synchronizing the label applying and code applying steps such that a labeled article receives corresponding code indicia thereon.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of batch picking articles stored in a warehouse and applying sort code indicia thereon comprising the steps of: prOviding a plurality of labels for individual articles to be picked; displaying information from preselected ones of said labels indicative of the storage location and quantity to be picked of each article; providing prerecorded sort location information corresponding to each label; applying labels to articles retrieved from storage; applying code indicia to each article retrieved from storage in accordance with the prerecorded sort location information; synchronizing the label applying and code applying steps such that a labeled article receives corresponding code indicia thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 and further including the additional step of sequentially displaying sort location information corresponding to one of said preselected labels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
150 words
A warehouse article picking vehicle for carrying an operator to preselected storage locations within the warehouse and positioning the operator for manually transferring articles from storage onto the picking vehicle, said picking vehicle including: labeling means receiving a sequence of individual preprinted labels corresponding to articles to be picked for applying a label onto each article; means for displaying preselected label information prior to the application of the displayed label onto an article; tape means including article sorting information programmed therein in a sequence corresponding to the sequence of labels to be applied by said labeler; tape playback means adapted to receive said tape and provide signals representative of the information thereon; coding means programmed by said tape playback means for separately applying sort code indicia to an article; and control means for synchronizing the application of labels and sort code indicia such that labeled articles receive corresponding code information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
150 words
A warehouse article picking vehicle for carrying an operator to preselected storage locations within the warehouse and positioning the operator for manually transferring articles from storage onto the picking vehicle, said picking vehicle including: labeling means receiving a sequence of individual preprinted labels corresponding to articles to be picked for applying a label onto each article; means for displaying preselected label information prior to the application of the displayed label onto an article; tape means including article sorting information programmed therein in a sequence corresponding to the sequence of labels to be applied by said labeler; tape playback means adapted to receive said tape and provide signals representative of the information thereon; coding means programmed by said tape playback means for separately applying sort code indicia to an article; and control means for synchronizing the application of labels and sort code indicia such that labeled articles receive corresponding code information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 8 and further including a digital display for displaying to an operator on said picking vehicle, the sort code information on said tape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said labels include article location, quantity to be picked, and sort location information; and wherein said first named display means includes a television camera positioned to scan this information on adjacent labels and a television monitor positioned to display this information to an operator on said picking vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 10 and further including an electrical data keyboard, and means coupling one of said keyboard and tape playback means to said coding means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said coding means includes a control circuit receiving data from said tape or keyboard, and at least one indicia applicating device positioned on said picking vehicle and movably programmed by said control circuit to apply sort indicia on an article.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |