Interference frames
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A structure, comprising:
- a barrier that when installed on a floor space of a station defines a worker area of the floor space and a mobile drive unit area of the floor space; and
a frame that defines an opening extending between the worker area and the mobile drive unit area, the frame comprising;
a first pair of vertical posts that when installed at the station are aligned with a first vertical plane and define the opening between the worker area and the mobile drive unit area, each vertical post of the first pair of vertical posts, when installed at the station, being in contact with the floor space adjacent to the opening and being spaced apart from the other vertical post of the first pair at a first width that is greater than or equal to an inventory holder width,a second pair of vertical posts that when installed at the station are aligned with a second vertical plane that is horizontally offset from the first vertical plane at an offset distance that is greater than or equal to the inventory holder width, each vertical post of the second pair of vertical posts, when installed at the station, being in contact with the floor space within the mobile drive unit area and being spaced apart from the other vertical post of the second pair at a second width; and
an interference member that when installed at the station is spaced above a portion of the floor space in the mobile drive unit area and is connected to at least one of the first pair of vertical posts or the second pair of vertical posts, the interference member when installed at the station being positioned to;
allow free passage of a mobile drive unit and an inventory holder underneath the interference member when the inventory holder is lifted and supported by the mobile drive unit in an upright orientation; and
physically contact a topside of the inventory holder when the inventory holder is in a tilted orientation, thereby preventing further tilting of the inventory holder beyond the tilted orientation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A structure installed at a station can include an interference member held above a mobile drive unit area of the station. The interference member can be positioned to allow an inventory holder and a mobile drive unit to pass underneath. The interference member can also be positioned to contact a topside of the inventory holder to prevent the inventory holder from tipping into a worker area of the station that is adjacent to the mobile drive unit area.
16 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A structure, comprising:
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a barrier that when installed on a floor space of a station defines a worker area of the floor space and a mobile drive unit area of the floor space; and a frame that defines an opening extending between the worker area and the mobile drive unit area, the frame comprising; a first pair of vertical posts that when installed at the station are aligned with a first vertical plane and define the opening between the worker area and the mobile drive unit area, each vertical post of the first pair of vertical posts, when installed at the station, being in contact with the floor space adjacent to the opening and being spaced apart from the other vertical post of the first pair at a first width that is greater than or equal to an inventory holder width, a second pair of vertical posts that when installed at the station are aligned with a second vertical plane that is horizontally offset from the first vertical plane at an offset distance that is greater than or equal to the inventory holder width, each vertical post of the second pair of vertical posts, when installed at the station, being in contact with the floor space within the mobile drive unit area and being spaced apart from the other vertical post of the second pair at a second width; and an interference member that when installed at the station is spaced above a portion of the floor space in the mobile drive unit area and is connected to at least one of the first pair of vertical posts or the second pair of vertical posts, the interference member when installed at the station being positioned to; allow free passage of a mobile drive unit and an inventory holder underneath the interference member when the inventory holder is lifted and supported by the mobile drive unit in an upright orientation; and physically contact a topside of the inventory holder when the inventory holder is in a tilted orientation, thereby preventing further tilting of the inventory holder beyond the tilted orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A structure, comprising:
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a first interference member that when installed at a station is spaced above a surface of the station that is configured to support a mobile drive unit including an inventory holder, the first interference member when installed at the station being positioned to; allow free passage of the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder underneath the first interference member when the inventory holder is lifted and supported by the mobile drive unit in an upright orientation; and physically contact a topside of the inventory holder when the inventory holder is in a first tilted orientation, thereby preventing further tilting of the inventory holder beyond the first tilted orientation; and a second interference member that when installed at the station is spaced above the surface, the second interference member when installed at the station being positioned to; allow free passage of the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder underneath the second interference member when the inventory holder is lifted and supported by the mobile drive unit in the upright orientation; and physically contact the topside of the inventory holder when the inventory holder is in a second tilted orientation, thereby preventing further tilting of the inventory holder beyond the second tilted orientation. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A station, comprising:
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a vertical barrier that when installed at the station defines a worker area and a mobile drive unit area, wherein an opening is formed in the vertical barrier that allows human access to an inventory holder when a mobile drive unit and the inventory holder are positioned in the mobile drive unit area; an interference member that when installed at that station is positioned in the opening of the vertical barrier and extends into the mobile drive unit area, the interference member when installed at the station is positioned above the mobile drive unit area to physically contact a topside of the inventory holder when the inventory holder is tilted toward the opening, thereby preventing further tilting of the inventory holder; and a slidable set of stairs that when installed at the station is laterally moveable with respect to the opening between; a first position in which the slidable set of stairs is positioned adjacent to the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder; and a second position in which the slidable set of stairs is offset from the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A station, comprising:
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a vertical barrier formed at least in part by a first pair of vertical members that when installed at the station defines a worker area and a mobile drive unit area, wherein an opening is formed in the vertical barrier that allows human access to an inventory holder when a mobile drive unit and the inventory holder are positioned in the mobile drive unit area; a second pair of vertical members that when installed at the station is positioned in the mobile drive unit area and offset horizontally from the first pair of vertical members; and a pair of upper members that when installed at the station extend between the first pair of vertical members and the second pair of vertical members; an interference member that when installed at that station; connects to each upper member of the pair of upper members; is positioned in the opening of the vertical barrier; and extends into the mobile drive unit area so as to physically contact a topside of the inventory holder when the inventory holder is tilted toward the opening, thereby preventing further tilting of the inventory holder. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification