摘要:
In a warehouse having horizontal rows and vertical columns of bins in which packages are stored by a code-controlled courier, problems of alignment occur particularly when the bin columns are quite high. Horizontal and vertical movements bring the courier in front of a bin and left or right movements of the package supporting table move the package into or out of left and right bins, respectively. Since horizontal movement is controlled by a single series of code bars mounted along the top or bottom of the bin columns, any misalignment of the bins in a column from the vertical will cause a problem in stopping the courier at the middle of the bin particularly with respect to those bins spaced farthest from such series of code bars. To solve this problem, the code bars are arranged to stop the courier beyond the center of the bin and an integrated circuit logic system automatically causes slow reverse movement of the courier to ''''fine position, '''' that is, photocells detect reflective tape at the center of the bin and stop the courier thereat. After the table has been extended and retracted, this integrated circuit logic system automatically controls return of the courier to the former code reading position to provide a read code for comparison with the input code for control of the next movement. This movement of the courier to fine position is an optional feature, requiring only simple jumper connections for use of the system without it where the columns are not high. In such case, the code reader or code bars may be positioned to stop the courier at the center of the bin under control of the code bars.