FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to material handling systems and, more particularly, to systems that utilize a plurality of storage locations in one or more storage racks. More particularly, the present invention relates to such material handling systems that utilize one or more automated delivery vehicles for delivering items to the storage locations

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of automated storage and retrieval has significantly improved the efficiency of material handling. For instance, in the order fulfillment application, automated storage and retrieval systems have significantly reduced the time required to retrieve the items required to fulfill a customer order. A variety of automated storage and retrieval systems are currently known. One exemplary type of system utilizes one or more storage racks, a plurality of vehicles and a track for guiding the vehicles to the storage locations on the racks. The vehicles deliver items to storage locations or bins where operators may remove the items from the storage locations to fulfill orders. Over time, the vehicles may tend to jam or become damaged from interaction with the track. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a system having a track that minimizes wear and damage to the vehicles that travel along the track.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a material handling apparatus that includes a plurality of sort locations for receiving items. The system may include one or more vehicles for delivering items to the sort location. The vehicles may travel along a track. The track may include a section for improving interaction between the vehicles and the track. In one embodiment, the section includes a portion that reduces engagement between driving elements on the vehicle and the track.

Optionally, the vehicle includes a drive mechanism that engages the track and the track includes a section that allows portions of the drive mechanism to disengage portions of the track.

The track may optionally include a profile configured to positively engage the drive mechanism of the vehicles.

According to a preferred embodiment, the track optionally includes teeth or recesses that engage mating elements of the drive mechanism of the vehicles.

While the methods and apparatus are described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventive methods and apparatus for sorting items using a dynamically reconfigurable sorting array are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit embodiments to the particular form disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the methods and apparatus for sorting items using one or more dynamically reconfigurable sorting array defined by the appended claims. Any headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used herein, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including, but not limited to.

