Brian T Doherty

US Patent:

20070092359, Apr 26, 2007

Filed:

Oct 13, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/580697

Inventors:

Richard Pickreign - Harvard MA, US
Jeffrey Tawyer - Danvers MA, US
Brian Doherty - Weston MA, US

International Classification:

B65G 1/00

US Classification:

414281000

Abstract:

An improved automated material handling system that allows an overhead hoist supported by a suspended track to access Work-In-Process (WIP) parts from storage locations beside the track. The automated material handling system includes an overhead hoist transport vehicle for transporting an overhead hoist on a suspended track, and one or more storage bins for storing WIP parts located beside the track. Each storage bin is either a movable shelf or a fixed shelf. To access a WIP part from a selected shelf, the overhead hoist transport vehicle moves along the suspended track to a position at the side of the shelf. Next, the movable shelf moves to a position underneath the overhead hoist. Alternatively, overhead hoist moves to a position above the fixed shelf. The overhead hoist is then operated to pick a desired WIP part directly from the shelf, or to place one or more WIP parts directly to the shelf. Once the WIP part is held by the overhead hoist, the overhead hoist transport vehicle moves the WIP part to a workstation or processing machine on the product manufacturing floor.