Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for sensing correct item placement for multi-destination picking

US8301294B1 · kind B1 · utility

31Cited by
8References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 2011
Grant dateOct 30, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 20, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB07C5/38
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Method and apparatus for multi-destination pick using motes. In embodiments, each receptacle may be assigned to a destination and may have a sensor that detects when an item is placed in the receptacle to deactivate the indicator and/or to verify that the item was placed in the correct receptacle. The sensor may be coupled via a wired or wireless connection to a mote that may include a communication interface for communicating with a control system and with other motes in an ad-hoc network. In some embodiments, each mote may also include an indicator that may be activated by a control system to indicate to the agent that the receptacle is the destination receptacle for a picked item. The agent may then place the item in the indicated destination receptacle. In one embodiment, the mote on the destination receptacle may be activated when the picked item is scanned by the agent.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.