Conveyor Systems Ltd just the
tonic for accurate NHS order
picking
Due to a large growth in order
volumes, the NHS identified the need
to improve efficiency in both picking
times and transit times to not just
cope with present day levels but to
allow for future expansion.
After a thorough bidding process CSL
were selected as provider, and were
subsequently asked to implement
this project over its competitors, from
design through to installation. The
new specification required a versatile
system to handle both tote bins and
plastic trays through 5 picking zones
and down the spiral lowerator to a
ground floor packing/dispatch area.
As part of the design process, CSL All good reads are sent to the main Each code is checked against a
incorporated some elements of the picking line on the mezzanine via a static look-up table and transfers
original system, as it was still in series of conveyors and 90° right the totes into the required pick zone
perfect working order and therefore angled chain transfer. siding. Once products from that
contributed to the ROI. The new
picking system begins in front of 3
vertical storage towers, whereby the
empty tote/tray has a barcode label
applied with a tote/tray ID number
and any products from the vertical
storage system are placed into the
relevant container.
Once the tote is released onto the
conveyor system, an initial scan of the
bar code is carried out, using a Cognex
vision camera, to validate the integrity
of the code, with any no-read/failures
routed to a reject lane, separate
from the main system, for manual
identification and re-routing.
20 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk
The picking operation was designed
to function as a zonal pick system, to
which CSL incorporated several off-
line powered roller sidings which run
both parallel and side-by-side with
the main transit line.
As picking accuracy for health
products is paramount, at each of
the sidings the totes are re-read and
validated by an additional bar code
reader mounted to read the code on
the front face of the totes.
area have been picked, totes are
manually pushed back onto the line
for re-distribution to other zones or
completed orders automatically fed
to the spiral for feeding down to the
ground floor despatch.
An NHS Spokesperson commented
“we have worked with CSL previously
and after many years of reliable
operation we decided to use CSL
again to design, supply and carry
out the installation. As with the last
system the benefits became almost
immediately evident”
www.conveyorsystemsltd.co.uk