Method and system for directing articles to work stations.

摘要

A method and system (10) for controlling the flow of articles within a work area including a plurality of work stations (12) and for acquiring real time information relating to the status of articles in process. The system comprises a sorting conveyor (16, 18, 22) for delivering articles to be processed to the work stations (12) from a storage area (14), means (64, 68) at each work station for indicating that an unprocessed article is requested at the station, and computer means (28, 73) coupled to the sorting conveyor and to the indicating means for controlling the movement of articles from the storage area to the work stations in response to work station requests and for providing information, based on articles dispatched to each work station, relating to the status of articles in process.