Dematic Gmbh

Utica Enterprises, Inc.

The Stanley Works

David M Berghorn

Michael S Khodl

Michael James Bleau

William Robert Budry, Jr

Mohamad A Sebai

Douglas J Goetz

Todd S Hunter

Mark D O'Brien

Dennis J Schuitema

Kenneth J Kooistra

Matthew T Brayman

Nolan R Pilarz

James P Johnson

Stephen C Wolf

William P Bray

John Martini

David M Grasch

Rene D Alfaro

Shaojun Gao

Matthew Geldersma

H Thad German

Riju Kuruvila

Bruce E Taylor

Mark D O´Brien

René D Alfaro

An order-picking method includes autonomously routing a plurality of mobile robotic units in an order fulfillment facility and picking articles to or putting articles from the robotic units in the order fulfillment facility. A material-handling robotic unit that is adapted for use in an order fulfillment facility includes an autonomous mobile vehicle base and a plurality of article receptacles positioned on the base. A visual indicator associated with the receptacle facilitates picking articles to or putting articles from the robotic unit.

Autonomous mobile picking

An automated guided vehicle (AGV) that is configured to operate with a navigation and guidance system includes a base frame structure that supports a material handling apparatus. Casters may be attached at peripheral portions of the base frame structure to movably support the base frame structure away from a ground surface. Drive wheel assemblies may be disposed between two of the casters and configured to propel and steer the AGV. A suspension system may have intersecting swing arms that are pivotally mounted at the base frame structure and independently attach at each of the drive wheel assemblies. The suspension system biases the drive wheel assemblies against the ground surface to maintain friction of the drive wheel assemblies against the ground surface, such as for traversing sloped or uneven surfaces.

Free ranging automated guided vehicle and operational system

An automated order fulfillment system and automated method for fulfilling orders includes a donor-handling system having at least two donor buffers and a recipient-handling system having at least one recipient buffer. An item-handling system includes a vision system and an item manipulator. The vision system has a field of view encompassing the at least two donor receptacle buffers. A control causes the vision system to scan items in a donor receptacle at one of the donor buffers to obtain a pick list of location data of items in the scanned donor receptacle. The control causes the manipulator to pick an item from a donor receptacle at the other of the donor buffers under guidance of the vision system and place the picked item to a recipient receptacle at the at least one recipient buffer using the location data of items in that donor receptacle.

Automated order fulfillment system and method

An order fulfillment system and method of fulfilling orders, each with at least one article, includes at least one mobile robotic unit that is capable of autonomous routing in an order fulfillment facility. A stationary robotic order-picking station with a stationary robot and vision equipment sorts articles into orders. The at least one mobile robotic unit transfers articles to or from the stationary robotic order-picking station.

A material-handling system and method includes at least one first processing station, each having an input and an output. A linear transfer system made up of a plurality of transfer units that travel in unison in a linear motion past the input and output of the first processing station(s) either receives articles from the output and discharges articles to the input or transfers articles between the first processing station and a second processing station. A control sequences articles between the transfer units and the first input and output or between the first processing station and a second processing station in a manner that enhances operation of the processing station(s).

Transfer system and material-handling system and method using such transfer system

A conveyor assembly comprising a main conveyor having a first side frame and a second side frame, with the first and/or second side frames including a side portion and a support surface. One or more input conveyors having a discharge end are joined to the main conveyor with a bottom portion of the discharge end being positioned on the support surface whereby the input conveyors are accurately mounted in close proximity to the main conveyor to promote the conveyance of items from the input conveyors onto the main conveyor.

Conveyor merge assembly

A method of reducing drag on the web of a positive displacement sorter is used with a web made up of a plurality of parallel slats interconnected at their opposite ends with chain assemblies in an endless loop. A plurality of pusher shoes each travel along at least one of said slats. The sorter further includes a driven sprocket assembly and a non-driven sprocket assembly. Each of the sprocket assemblies includes at least two sprockets on a shaft, each for engaging one of the chain assemblies. The sprocket assemblies support the chain assemblies at opposite ends of the web. The method includes auditing the sorter including determining if the slats are skewed with respect to the direction of travel of the web. If it is determined that the slats are skewed, then the chain assemblies and the non-driven sprocket assembly are modified. The chain assemblies are modified by adding side thrust wheels on opposite sides of the web. The non-driven sprocket is modified by locking the sprockets to the shaft such that the sprockets rotate together.

Reducing drag on the web of a positive displacement sorter

A sheet metal washer system for cleaning metal blanks includes a washer cassette with an open bottom that is selectively mounted on a tank assembly, a drive motor assembly and a filter assembly. The washer cassette includes an inlet opening and an exit opening with upper and lower entry rollers having a first predetermined durometer positioned adjacent to the inlet opening and upper and lower exit rollers having a second predetermined durometer positioned adjacent the exit opening. Upper and lower manifolds for delivering cleaning fluid from the filter assembly to the interior of the washer cassette are positioned between the entry and exit rollers. The sheet metal blank is cleaned by the entry rollers and dried by the exit rollers, as it passes through the sheet metal washer. The washer cassette preferably includes a safety mechanism for locking the upper entry and exit rollers into a storage position when the washer system is not in use. The washer cassette preferably further includes at least one quick disconnect air and fluid connection plate to permit one-step removal of all air and fluid lines from the washer cartridge. An optional exit spray system for coating the sheet metal blanks after being cleaned may be integrated within the washer cassette.

Sheet metal washer including tank assembly and washer cassette mounted on the tank assembly

Sheet metal washer having washer cassette mountable on tank

Sheet metal blank washer system

A method for the assembly of doors having a pair of skins and a core of synthetic resin forms a first door element including forming a first skin and a peripheral wall to provide an upwardly opening cavity into which a foamable synthetic resin formulation is introduced. A second skin is then assembled over the cavity, and the resultant door assembly is passed through an elongated heating zone while controlling the thickness dimension of the door assembly to expand and cure the resin formulation in the cavity into a cellular resin insulating core and to bond the skins and core. The several steps are conducted seriatim at stations along a conveyor assembly.

Method for making foam filled doors and apparatus therefor

A metal door has a unitary rectangular frame of generally uniform cross section providing stiles and rails, and a pair of substantially rectangular panels which are secured to the frame. The panels have opposed flanges overlying and engaged with the adjacent side margins of the stiles of the frame to secure the panels thereto. The door is fabricated by forming an elongate metal strip into a frame element of generally uniform cross section with channels between a generally planar central portion and inwardly offset marginal portions. A predetermined length of the strip is bent to form a substantially rectangular frame, the ends of which are fastened together. The panels have lips on their flanges and are assembled to the frame with the flanges inserted into the channels and the lips frictionally engaging the side walls thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Waterford, MI, United States of America

David M Berghorn