| CPC B65G 1/1375 (2013.01) | 20 Claims |
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1. A system comprising:
a queue comprising a storage portion and a delivery portion separated by an operating space, the storage portion being configured to receive inventory holders and the delivery portion being configured to receive carriers;
a transfer apparatus operable to perform item transferring operations for the queue, the transfer apparatus comprising:
a laterally movable frame movable at least within the operating space;
an upright frame supported by the laterally movable frame; and
a header movably coupled to the upright frame and configured to move in a vertical direction, wherein the header comprises:
an item carriage having a bottom open portion;
an extractor coupled to the item carriage to pull an item from an inventory holder into the item carriage over the bottom open portion; and
a claw assembly disposed along the bottom open portion of the item carriage and configured to open for releasing the item through the bottom open portion; and
a controller configured to control movement of the laterally movable frame within the operating space of the queue, the header in the vertical direction to align with the item from the inventory holder in the storage portion, the extractor to pull the item from the inventory holder into the item carriage and into position over the claw assembly, and the claw assembly to open to release the item so as to be directly dropped off onto a carrier in the delivery portion.
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16. A method of operating a transfer apparatus for transferring items, the method comprising:
moving a transfer apparatus in a lateral direction to an assigned storage location of an item, the transfer apparatus comprising a laterally movable frame, a upright frame attached to the laterally movable frame, and a header movably coupled to the upright frame, the header comprising an extractor and a claw assembly;
translating the header of the transfer apparatus in a vertical direction to align with the item to be extracted;
extending the extractor of the header along a depth direction to engage with the item, the depth direction being perpendicular to the vertical direction and the lateral direction;
retracting the extractor to position the item over the claw assembly of the header;
moving the transfer apparatus in the lateral direction to align the header with an assigned delivery location of the item; and
actuating the claw assembly to drop off the item at the assigned delivery location.
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