Savoye

Université De Technologie De Compiègne

Jean-Michel Collin

Stephane Pietrowicz

Blandine Vacher

Antoine Jouglet

Dritan Nace

Stéphane Pietrowicz

A system for buffer storage and sequencing of items that receives unsequenced items and delivers sequenced items is provided. The system includes: a buffer storage unit having N input levels each having a FIFO conveyor, where N&#x2265;2; reciprocating input and output elevators positioned respectively at the input and output of N input levels; and a control unit configured to organize, under a constraint of delivery to at least one forward output conveyor of at least one sequence of items, various movements of items (from at least one forward input conveyor to the reciprocating input elevator, from the reciprocating input elevator to the N input levels, from the N input levels to the reciprocating output elevator, and from the reciprocating output elevator to the at least one forward output conveyor).

System of buffer storage and sequencing of items comprising two elevators

A method for sequencing loads in an automated load-distribution system having k sources with k&#x2265;2; at least one destination; k FIFO-type source buffer devices, each receiving loads from one of the k sources; a collector collecting the loads from the k source buffer devices and transporting them to the at least one destination. The collector includes k successive nodes each configured to collect the loads from one of the source buffer devices. The control system processes customer orders listing loads for a given destination and being each associated with a sequential order number of destination. The control system: builds a collection list containing n loads to be collected and reducing a disorder of the n loads relative to a rising order of the sequential order numbers of destination; and controls the collector and the source buffer devices to collect loads compliant with the collection list.

Method for sequencing loads in an automated distribution system, with reduction of disorder during a collection of loads on a collector

A method for managing a buffer storage and load sequencing system, receiving non-sequenced loads, providing a sequence of loads, and including a buffer storage unit (having entrance levels, at least one recirculation level, and an entrance elevator facing entrances and an exit elevator facing exits of the levels. A management unit iteratively manages the entrance elevator by, at each iteration (even if there are loads to be recirculated in the system): selecting a load at exit from an entrance conveyor or at exit from the recirculation level; if the selection of one of the entrance levels is completed, generating a task for the entrance elevator of transferring the selected load to the entrance of the selected level; if not, selecting a level of loads to be recirculated and assigning the load(s) on this level a 'load(s) to be recirculated' status without generating a task of transfer for the entrance elevator.

Method for the management, in sorting mode, of a buffer storage and load sequencing system, and corresponding management unit

A method for managing a buffer storage and load sequencing system. The system receives non-sequenced loads and provides at least one sequence of loads, and includes a buffer storage unit having entrance levels, at least one recirculation level, an entrance elevator facing entrances and an exit elevator facing exits of the levels. A management unit iteratively manages the entrance elevator. At each iteration the entrance elevator: has a 'waiting for recirculation' status for a load to be recirculated in the system; holds this elevator until the load to be recirculated has been transferred to the recirculation level, else selects a load at exit from an entrance conveyor or at exit from the recirculation level; if the selection of the entrance level is completed, generates a task, for the entrance elevator, of transferring the selected load to the selected level; if not assigns this load the 'awaiting recirculation' status.

Method for the management, in flow mode, a buffer storage and load sequencing system, and corresponding management unit

A method of sequencing loads in an automated distribution system having sources, at least one destination, a collector having successive nodes, and a control system to process customer orders. The method includes, for an analyzed node, injection including, to decide whether a load C having a sequential order number of destination for a given destination can be injected into the collector: creating, among the loads to be collected by at least one node downstream to the analyzed node, a list LIof loads having an order number of destination lower than the given order number of destination and a list LIof loads that are interposed between a load of the list LIand the collector; determining whether 'the list LIis empty' and/or 'the list LIis not empty and the list LIis empty'; if one of the two conditions is verified, then injection of the load C.

Method for sequencing loads in an automated distribution system

A method for sequencing loads in an automated load-distribution system having k sources with k&#x2265;2; at least one destination; k FIFO-type source buffer devices, each receiving loads from one of the k sources; a collector collecting the loads coming from the k source buffer devices and transporting them to the at least one destination. The collector has k successive nodes each collecting the loads coming from one of the source buffer devices. The control system processes customer orders listing loads for a given destination and being associated with a sequential order number of destination. The control system: builds a collection list containing n loads to be collected and reducing a disorder of the n loads relative to a rising order of the sequential order numbers of destination; and controlling the collector and the source buffer devices to collect loads on the collector in compliance with the collection list.

A system of buffer storage and sequencing of loads is configured to receive non-sequenced loads coming from at least one external unit and to provide sequenced loads to at least one preparing station. The system includes: a reciprocating lift having a single nacelle with K levels each enabling transportation of at least one load with K&#x2265;2; at least one buffer storage unit; and a managing unit configured to organize first movements of loads from at least one inbound forward conveyor to the at least one buffer storage unit through the reciprocating lift, and second movements of loads from the at least one buffer storage unit to at least one outbound forward conveyor through the reciprocating lift.

System of buffer storage and sequencing of loads upstream to at least one preparing station

A method is provided for preparing instructions that each list unit loads. The method includes: obtaining unit loads; inputting the unitloads into a sorting system under the supervision of a control system; sorting the unit loads using a sorting system in accordance with the instructions from and under the supervision of the control system; and, for each instruction, providing, via the sorting system, unit loads listed in the instruction. The step of obtaining unit loads is followed by forming logistical units, each including one or more unit loads, on the basis of the instructions from and under the supervision of the control system. The inputting, sorting, and providing steps are carried out by handling the logistical units obtained.

Method for preparing orders listing unit loads

A system for sequencing a preparing station that sequences loads coming from an external unit via an entering outbound conveyor. The system includes a paternoster, a buffer location and a managing unit, which processes each load that comes to an entrance of the paternoster according to one of the following modes (selected as a function of a place desired for the load in a sequence): (a) after introduction into the paternoster, the load undergoes a bypass transfer between two nacelles positioned face to face and then presented to an exiting outbound conveyor; (b) after introduction into the paternoster, the load undergoes a buffer transfer towards a given buffer location and then subsequently re-positioned again in the paternoster and finally presented to the exiting outbound conveyor; (c) after introduction into the paternoster, the load is transported therein without bypass transfer or buffer transfer and then presented to the exiting outbound conveyor.

System and method of sequencing for at least one preparing station

An automated storage/retrieval system is proposed. The system includes a control system, at least one storage unit having several levels at which loads can be picked or deposited and at least one interface conveyor for entries/exits of loads into and out of the system, and at least one elevator for a transfer of loads between the at least interface conveyor and the at least one storage unit. The at least one elevator is a multi-level elevator, and the automated storage/retrieval system furthermore includes at least one multi-level transfer device capable of simultaneously receiving, on several levels, a set of loads intended for or coming from at least one elevator; and at least one sequencer provided with elements of vertical moving and capable of transferring loads between the at least one multi-level transfer device and the at least one interface conveyor.

Automated storage/retrieval system comprising an elevator cooperating with a transfer device and a sequencer

There is proposed a unit including a station for preparing orders, controlled by a control system. The station has a first circuit that includes a first outward conveyor, which receives containers for storing products, and an accumulator for accumulating a predetermined quantity of storage containers received on the first outward conveyor. The accumulator includes: at least one first shaft comprising superposed mobile positions that can each receive and downwardly move at least one storage container, the at least one first shaft vertically accumulating and sequentially dispensing storage containers previously placed in the positions; and at least one first elevator moving vertically along the at least one first chute up to each of the locations of the at least one first chute.

Growing community of inventors

Merceuil, France

Jean-Michel Collin