Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-12
2001-02-27
Le, Thien M. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S378000, C235S383000, C235S454000, C235S487000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193160
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an installation for preparing orders by picking products from a storage area, such as the installations being used in the food products industry for loading parcels according to orders to be met, and for delivering independently into each parcel. It particularly is related to an installation comprising at least a portable electronic device, of the bar code reader type or similar, to be used for realizing and checking the product picking according to the orders.
The invention also is related to a method for putting together a parcel in said installation, as well as a device for reading and processing information, available as optical indicia, intended in particular for such an installation.
Within the scope of this invention, the term “bar codes” should be understood in its broad sense. It in particular includes conventional linear bar codes (code 39, code 128, code I 2/5, code EAN13, and so on), but also the so called bidimensional or matricial codes (code “one”, code PDF 417, code “Datamatrix”, and so on), and in a more general way, any optical readable signs, including alphanumeric characters.
Similarly, the term “products” indifferently includes all types of goods, objects or various pieces. For purpose of simplification, such a product will hereinbelow be termed an item, without this limiting in any way the scope of the invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Code reading is effected in a conventional manner by scanning with the help of a semiconductor laser or similar techniques. Optoelectronic devices (photodiodes, charge coupling devices or CCD, etc.) convert the information which they read, and which appears under the shape of light intensity variations, into electronic signals which are stored and are utilized in situ, or still transmitted to a remote central computer system. Generally, the reading instrument includes a display member such as a liquid crystal display, a keyboard for entering data or programming instructions, as well as information processing and data storage circuitry.
The most recent bar code reading apparatuses are built around a microcomputer architecture; they can be coupled to a central computer system in various ways: hertz waves, wired link, modem, optical (infrared) channel, and so on. They can record a large number of data, which data can concern both information being read from these bar codes and various pre-recorded information and/or instructions.
Apparatus of this type is in particular used for preparing parcels according to a customer order, by loading those products, to be delivered, which are available in a storage installation provided for various items. Within the scope of the invention, the expression “storage installation” relates to any type of warehouse for logistically distributing various products, items, goods, pieces or objects.
As schematically illustrated in
FIG. 1
, appended to the present description, a distribution warehouse
1
, when it is complex, includes several distinct areas, for instance the following areas:
a reception area Z
1
intended for unloading vehicles, checking the received goods, identifying products and grouping same in storage areas. Those areas can vary according to the nature of the products being considered (pallets, bins, bags, and so on).,
one or more, for instance two, so called mass storage areas, Z
2
a
and Z
2
b,
as illustrated in
FIG. 1
, which are intended for keeping products in as small a volume as possible. When several storage areas exist, the products distribution between them may for instance be effected by taking into account their packaging or storage mode (pallets, cases, shelves, and so on),
an order preparing and packing area Z
3
, which is more directly related to the invention. In this area is effected the so-called “picking” towards a parcel, which can be an intermediate container or directly a cardbox or a crate to be shipped for delivery. Some sorting of initially picked items possibly is executed. Checking the picked items, and closing and labelling the prepared parcels, also are effected in this area Z
3
, and
a parcel sorting and grouping area Z
4
, in which said prepared parcels are sorted and grouped according to various parameters such as consignee addresses, carrier addresses, and so on. Finally, the last operation in this area consists of loading such filled parcels into said carrier vehicles.
Within the scope of this invention, the notion of parcel should be understood in its broadest sense and the same is true for the notion of container. The latter might be a simple bin which the items corresponding to the batch of customer ordered items are temporarily put into, or a cardboard which will be closed when filled with such a batch, or still a cardboard in a bin.
As regards more particularly the order preparation area Z
3
, it should be noted that the latter can be included with the storage area or areas Z
2
a
and Z
2
b,
also called picking areas, wherein the picking is effected from cases or other storage containers by means of stackers which allow the operators to pick up items, pieces or other products located in elevated positions. It also, while being included in these Z
2
a
and Z
2
b,
may be located on the lower levels, allowing an easier access to the items to be picked. It still, as a specific preparation area Z
4
, can be separated from the storage area, as illustrated in FIG.
1
.
Otherwise, the prior art provides many order preparation methods. The exemplary, although non exhaustive, following methods which are the most popular can be quoted:
a picking round being effected with a check list, to be checked off or, in other words, discharged each time a product has been picked and put into the container for preparing an ordered batch;
a picking round being effected with labels and implying adhering said label on the corresponding picked product;
a picking round being directly effected by loading into the batch shipping cardbox, with several lists to be checked off in the case of several parcels per round, one of said lists giving item locations while the others indicate the items for each parcel.
These methods and systems however suffer from the inconvenience of needing many hand operations.
Many attempts certainly were made for mechanizing and automating the picking operations. These attempts however only were successful in very specific economic sectors. Let us mention here the automated distributors for pharmaceutical product distribution.
Mechanizing only in a partial manner also was devised: preparation systems on conveyors with automatic item sorting, or preparation systems with multiple branches, also called order preparation systems with sectors (or with stations).
In these systems, the parcel (cardboard, bin or other, possibly intermediate, container) is carried over to the picking area, wherein products bearing the predetermined references should be picked for parcel filling. As an example, let us consider a system including a plurality of sectors, numbered
1
,
2
,
3
, . . . Suppose that the order comprises several items, but that these items only concern two distinct references, arbitrary labelled A and B. Let us also suppose that the items referenced as “A” are located in sector #
2
and the items referenced as “B” in sector #
3
.
Under these conditions, a parcel to be prepared, which was built up upstream of the system, is carried by a motorized conveyor, and is branched off by a shifting member towards sector #
2
without passing through sector #
1
. This branching is made possible by an identification label (or a similar member) placed on the parcel at initiation time. This label is automatically read at each sector entrance and a shifting member associated with the sector only is actuated if an item stored in this sector should be loaded into the parcel constituting the receiving container.
Generally, the label is provided with bar codes, but other equivalent container codification means also exist (such as for instance a honeycomb reflector, a transponder, an electronic label, and so
Felten Daniel S.
Fulbright & Jawoski, LLP
Le Thien M.
LandOfFree
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