US 12,134,519 B2
Material handling system using a plurality of vehicles in a plurality of modes of operation
Alexander Stevens, Moorestown, NJ (US); and Joseph Valinsky, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Assigned to OPEX Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Filed by OPEX Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/381,253.
Application 18/381,253 is a continuation of application No. 17/884,672, filed on Aug. 10, 2022, granted, now 11,827,452.
Application 17/884,672 is a continuation of application No. 16/992,859, filed on Aug. 13, 2020, granted, now 11,554,917, issued on Jan. 17, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/886,602, filed on Aug. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0109725 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B65G 1/10 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/69 (2024.01); G05D 1/692 (2024.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01)
CPC B65G 1/1375 (2013.01) [B25J 9/1687 (2013.01); B65G 1/0471 (2013.01); B65G 1/0492 (2013.01); B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B65G 1/10 (2013.01); B65G 1/1371 (2013.01); B65G 1/1373 (2013.01); B65G 1/1376 (2013.01); B65G 1/1378 (2013.01); G05D 1/0027 (2013.01); G05D 1/69 (2024.01); G05D 1/692 (2024.01); G06Q 10/087 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
14. A material handling system for processing a plurality of items, comprising:
a plurality of storage locations in a plurality of racks;
a track having a vertical section adjacent one of the racks;
a plurality of material handling vehicles, wherein each vehicle comprises:
a horizontal drive operable to drive along a horizontal surface;
a vertical drive operable to drive the vehicle vertically upwardly along the track; and
a transfer mechanism operable to transfer items onto or off the vehicle;
an accessory module having an opening configured to cooperate with a first of the plurality of vehicles:
a central controller comprising a microprocessor programmed to provide control signals to control the delivery vehicles to perform the steps of:
determining whether a mode of operation to perform an inventory management task is a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation;
in response to determining that the mode of operation is the first mode of operation, controlling the operation of the first vehicle to perform the inventory management task in the first mode, wherein the first mode comprises the steps of:
controlling the horizontal drive of the first vehicle to drive the first vehicle horizontally along the horizontal surface;
controlling the vertical drive of the first vehicle to drive the first vehicle vertically along the track;
controlling the transfer mechanism to transfer an item onto or off the first vehicle;
in response to determining that the mode of operation is the second mode of operation, controlling the operation of the first vehicle to perform the inventory management task in the second mode, wherein the second mode comprises the steps of:
controlling the horizontal drive of the first vehicle to drive the first vehicle along the horizontal surface to align the first vehicle with the opening in the first accessory;
controlling the horizontal drive of the first vehicle to drive the first vehicle into the opening of the first accessory;
actuating the vertical drive to move the first accessory vertically after the first vehicle is driven into the opening of the first accessory;
performing the inventory management task using the first vehicle and the first accessory while the first vehicle is positioned within the opening.