MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL SORTING OF ITEMS USING A DYNAMICALLY CONFIGURABLE SORTING ARRAY

    公开(公告)号:US20200269284A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-08-27

    申请号:US16871774

    申请日:2020-05-11

    申请人: Opex Corporation

    摘要: A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. A scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item fed into the apparatus. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles are individually driven to sort destinations. Once at the appropriate sort destination, the delivery vehicle ejects the item to the sort destination and returns to receive another item to be delivered. A re-induction conveyor may be provided for receiving select items from the vehicles and conveying the items back to the input station for re-processing. Additionally, a controller is provided to control the movement of the vehicles based on a characteristic each item being delivered by each vehicle. When an item to be manually sorted is encountered, a visual alert aligned with a selected destination is activated until manual transfer is confirmed.

    MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL SORTING OF ITEMS USING A DYNAMICALLY CONFIGURABLE SORTING ARRAY

    公开(公告)号:US20200047218A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-02-13

    申请号:US16658849

    申请日:2019-10-21

    申请人: Opex Corporation

    摘要: A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. A scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item fed into the apparatus. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles are individually driven to sort destinations. Once at the appropriate sort destination, the delivery vehicle ejects the item to the sort destination and returns to receive another item to be delivered. A re-induction conveyor may be provided for receiving select items from the vehicles and conveying the items back to the input station for re-processing. Additionally, a controller is provided to control the movement of the vehicles based on a characteristic each item being delivered by each vehicle. When an item to be manually sorted is encountered, a visual alert aligned with a selected destination is activated until manual transfer is confirmed.