Merchandising – Customer service – Store service
Patent
1983-06-30
1985-09-24
Rolla, Joseph J.
Merchandising
Customer service
Store service
186 58, 221 2, 221 21, 221268, 209564, 414134, E04H 304
Patent
active
045428085
ABSTRACT:
An order filling apparatus includes an elongated belt conveyor having a bin-on switch and a bin-off switch at opposite ends thereof. A plurality of item dispensers are positioned along the conveyor, and each dispenser is loaded with a single type of item. An order filling control computer has a bus cable extending along the conveyor, and each dispenser has a dispenser control board connected to the bus. Each control board includes an address decoder and circuitry for relaying command signals from the controller to the dispenser and for generating status signals indicating the operational status of the dispenser. A conveyor travel encoder provides a position signal indicative of conveyor travel. The controller stores orders to be filled with items. An order filling method includes a conveying item receptacle bins past the dispensers to receive items therefrom. As each bin engages the bin-on switch, an order is activated and associated with the bin. The controller is operative to track each bin on the conveyor, detect the presence of each bin at a dispenser loaded with items called for by the order associated therewith, control the dispenser to dispense a quantity of items required by the associated order, detect whether each attempt to dispense an item actually occurs, deactivate each order as the associated bin engages the bin-off switch, and effect the printing of a report listing any items which were called for but not dispensed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2570918 (1951-10-01), Chodziesner
patent: 3200934 (1965-08-01), Payn et al.
patent: 3247929 (1966-04-01), Langley
patent: 3746130 (1973-07-01), Bullas
patent: 3920100 (1975-11-01), Dunphy
patent: 4299326 (1981-11-01), Ulch
patent: 4354613 (1982-10-01), Desai et al.
Huggins Hoyt W.
Lloyd, Jr. Harry J.
Lyon Michael R.
McGovney William E.
Thayer David N.
House of Lloyd, Inc.
Rolla Joseph J.
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