Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-18
2004-03-23
Crawford, Gene O. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S216000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06711458
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for manual handling of items constituting a range of items. Furthermore, the invention relates to an indication system, a mobile communication unit and an indication unit.
2. Description of Related Art
An example of a field of application would typically be in relation to large central warehouses where storing and picking typically take place in accordance with fairly primitive guidelines, as a warehouse employee picks one product number at a time from a list, locates the storage position of the product number, and picks the number of products stated in the picking list.
Meanwhile, tests have shown that this picking process is quite time-consuming as the individual warehouse employee spends quite a significant amount of time on locating the individual storage positions in the warehouse. This has prompted the desire to have a system constructed which makes the working process of the warehouse employees easier in such a manner that they spend only a minimum amount of time on locating the various warehouse storage positions.
An example of such a system is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,273 where a storage room is provided with a number of storage positions. The system is designed for manual operation where a number of warehouse employees pick from the storage positions based on order slips. Also, the system has been provided with a number of light indicators at the various storage positions together with light direction indicators. Thus, one light indicator indicates the desired storage position while the light direction indicator guides the warehouse employee from position to position. If the system is to support more than one warehouse employee, each employee must be assigned a particular colour.
One disadvantage of the above-mentioned technique is, among other things, that the system is only capable of supporting a limited number of warehouse employees as each employee must be assigned a new particular colour. Various colour combinations may thus be difficult for the employees to interpret. Apart from that, the hardware construction is quite complicated and will be difficult to implement by large systems since the colour indicators must necessarily be able to guide a particular employee from one given position to another.
EP patent No. 531.645 introduces a mobile headset to be worn by a warehouse employee comprising a micro processor, speakers, a microphone, a display, a wireless modem and an optical bar code scanner. The micro processor transforms orders in terms of names or words provided by the employee into the microphone to machine code and the modem forwards the machine code to a central control unit. The central control unit sends the picking/direction instructions to the headset via the modem, either as audio signals to the speakers or visual signals on the display in the visual area.
One disadvantage of the above-mentioned invention is that the warehouse employee still requires a picking list of goods. Furthermore, the storage positions are not provided with indicators clearly showing the requested location to the warehouse employee at a distance whereby the warehouse employee may experience problems in locating a particular product in quite large warehouses. Another problem with the above-mentioned technique is that a headset of the above-mentioned nature is quite uncomfortable to wear due to its weight.
JP patent No. 7.172.521 introduces a storage control system comprising a central control unit, a mobile wireless communication unit with a bar code scanner, a display and a printer. The central control unit receives the inputs made by the warehouse employee via the communication unit in terms of scanning of the bar code on the individual shelf/rack and compares the received bar code with the stored picking list. The result of the search is subsequently transmitted back to the communication unit and the warehouse employee may read it on the display or in print.
The above-mentioned system does not concern a system guiding the employee to a given product. Thus, time spent on locating a given storage position should be added.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a system for handling of items constituting a range of items The systems comprises at least one central control unit, at least one mobile unit capable of generating audio and/or visual location signals based on preferably wireless communication signals generated by the central control unit(s), the system featuring at least one return signal path between the mobile communication unit and the central control unit. The items are located in macro zones with at least one underlying hierarchy of elementary zones, wherein each macro zone comprises at least one additional visual indication system being directly or indirectly controlled by the central control unit in dependency of a current location handling.
With this system, an efficient and inexpensive handling system has been obtained that may be used for as well location as distribution of items constituting a range of items.
It should be noted that manual picking and distribution also include aiding means for handling purposes such as trolleys, trucks, conveyor belts etc. The important issue is that the individual warehouse employee carries out the decentralized handlings in relation to the elementary zones as opposed to robot systems where human resources are only used to monitor an established distribution system.
The term items include e.g. products in storage such as in wholesale warehouses, spare parts storage facilities, certain types of libraries etc.
A standardized handling process comprises a given syntax for the given desired action and may e.g. include a definition of the item to be handled, information of wherefrom and whereto the handling must be carried out, the number of handled items etc.
A location signal comprises e.g. audio signals that may guide the warehouse employee to the desired elementary zone through the mobile communication unit. The location signals will mainly be provided by the mobile communication unit as a number of processing steps until the final elementary zone is located. An example of such a location process consisting of several pieces of cooperating information to the employee may be a first location signal guiding the employee to a macro zone, after which the employee receives another location signal in terms of e.g. a particular light indication of the elementary zone within the macro zone.
Depending on the range of items, the location process may consist of several cooperating process steps.
A significant advantage of the invention is that intelligence may be sustained centrally between the central unit and the picking or distributing employees provided with the communication units. This makes it possible to carry out relatively complex distribution or picking programs whereby the utilization rate of the total system may be optimized while at the same time avoiding conflicts and misunderstandings between the picking and distributing employees.
Another advantage of the invention is that the system may easily be used reversibly or multi-directionally. Thus, hardware modifications are not required if the system is to be reversed and used for distribution of items to various elementary zones instead of being used for picking purposes.
Combined with the possibilities of individual feedback from the decentralized communication units, central intelligence makes it possible to redefine the system entirely under certain circumstances in relation to e.g. the number of picking employees, changes and adjustments of elementary zones, changes in the range of items etc.
Thus, a significant advantage of the system is that current maintenance may be carried out purely by software operations, irrespective of variations in the number of employees or product numbers.
In that connection, it should be noted that a system according to the invention may be utilized to the maximum in terms of the number of picking employees which may b
Apport Systems A/S
Cantor & Colburn LLP
Crawford Gene O.
LandOfFree
Handling system and indication system for same does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Handling system and indication system for same, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Handling system and indication system for same will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3250370