	US 11,938,517 B2
	Material handling apparatus for delivering or retrieving items
George Hayduchok, Mount Holly, NJ (US); and Robert R. DeWitt, Marlton, NJ (US)
Assigned to OPEX Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Filed by OPEX Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/095,976.
Application 18/095,976 is a continuation of application No. 17/949,008, filed on Sep. 20, 2022, granted, now 11,565,283.
Application 17/949,008 is a continuation of application No. 17/870,706, filed on Jul. 21, 2022, granted, now 11,491,513, issued on Nov. 8, 2022.
Application 17/870,706 is a continuation of application No. 17/743,403, filed on May 12, 2022, granted, now 11,478,825, issued on Oct. 25, 2022.
Application 17/743,403 is a continuation of application No. 17/515,122, filed on Oct. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,358,175, issued on Jun. 14, 2022.
Application 17/515,122 is a continuation of application No. 16/750,596, filed on Jan. 23, 2020, granted, now 11,192,144, issued on Dec. 7, 2021.
Application 16/750,596 is a continuation of application No. 16/039,713, filed on Jul. 19, 2018, granted, now 10,576,505, issued on Mar. 3, 2020.
Application 16/039,713 is a continuation of application No. 15/618,744, filed on Jun. 9, 2017, granted, now 10,052,661, issued on Aug. 21, 2018.
Application 15/618,744 is a continuation of application No. 14/690,541, filed on Apr. 20, 2015, granted, now 9,687,883, issued on Jun. 27, 2017.
Application 14/690,541 is a continuation of application No. 14/149,282, filed on Jan. 7, 2014, granted, now 9,010,517, issued on Apr. 21, 2015.
Application 14/149,282 is a continuation of application No. 13/631,817, filed on Sep. 28, 2012, granted, now 8,622,194, issued on Jan. 7, 2014.
Application 13/631,817 is a continuation of application No. 13/361,490, filed on Jan. 30, 2012, granted, now 8,276,740, issued on Oct. 2, 2012.
Application 13/361,490 is a continuation of application No. 12/983,726, filed on Jan. 3, 2011, granted, now 8,104,601, issued on Jan. 31, 2012.
Application 12/983,726 is a continuation of application No. 12/014,011, filed on Jan. 14, 2008, granted, now 7,861,844, issued on Jan. 4, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/884,766, filed on Jan. 12, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2023/0158552 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. B07C 3/08 (2006.01); B07C 7/00 (2006.01); B07C 7/02 (2006.01); B61B 13/02 (2006.01); B61C 11/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B65G 67/02 (2006.01)

CPC B07C 3/087 (2013.01) [B07C 7/005 (2013.01); B07C 7/02 (2013.01); B61B 13/02 (2013.01); B61C 11/04 (2013.01); B65G 1/04 (2013.01); B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B65G 67/02 (2013.01); Y02T 30/00 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A method for sorting items into destination areas using a plurality of vehicles wherein a first group of the destination areas extend along a first side of an aisle and a second group of the destination areas extend along a second side of the aisle and the method comprises the steps of:

loading the items onto the plurality of vehicles at a loading location, comprising the steps of:

loading a first item onto a first of the plurality of vehicles while the first vehicle is positioned in the aisle;

loading a second item onto a second of the plurality of vehicles while the second vehicle is positioned in the aisle;

displacing the first vehicle within the aisle along a first path forming a first vertical loop;

during the step of displacing the first vehicle, displacing the second vehicle along a second path forming a second vertical loop within the aisle;

stopping the first vehicle within the aisle along the first vertical loop;

stopping the second vehicle within the aisle along the second vertical loop;

transferring the first item into a first of the destination areas during the step of stopping the first vehicle, comprising the step of driving a first conveyor belt of the first vehicle to displace the first item transverse the first vertical loop;

transferring the second item into a second of the destination areas during the step of stopping the second vehicle, comprising the step of driving a second conveyor belt of the second vehicle to displace the second item transverse the second vertical loop;

wherein the step of displacing the first vehicle along a first path forming a first vertical loop comprises displacing the first vehicle to the loading location along the first vertical loop after the step of transferring the first item so that another item can be loaded onto the first vehicle; and

wherein the step of displacing the second vehicle along a second path forming a second vertical loop comprises displacing the second vehicle to the loading location along the second vertical loop after the step of transferring the second item so that another item can be loaded onto the second vehicle.