Method and system for automated transport of items
First Claim
1. An automated distribution center comprising:
- a storage array including stacked racks with predetermined storage locations, for storage containers, arranged along at least one aisle;
at least one of the aisles having a base or floor, and a mezzanine platform above the base or floor so that the base or floor and the mezzanine platform are configured so as to provide both human picker access and automated guided vehicle access to the predetermined storage locations of the racks along the at least one aisle;
at least one automated guided vehicle picker configured for traverse of the base or floor and the mezzanine platform to the predetermined storage locations along the at least one aisle, and configured for holding and transporting one of the storage containers to and from the storage locations;
the base or floor and mezzanine platform each having a corresponding floor rack aisle and mezzanine platform rack aisle, each respective floor rack aisle and mezzanine platform rack aisle defining a different and undeterministic traverse surface corresponding to the base or floor and mezzanine platform respectively for the automated guided vehicle picker, and the automated guided vehicle picker is configured so that each of the different undeterministic traverse surfaces of each respective floor rack aisle and mezzanine platform rack aisle provides holonomic selectable paths for the automated guided vehicle picker substantially everywhere on a respective one of the different undeterministic traverse surface, each of the paths being freely selectable by the automated guided vehicle picker for traversing along the aisle on the base or floor;
and an order filling station, where one or more goods are picked from one or more of the storage containers to fill one or more orders;
wherein the automated guided vehicle picker is configured to pick the one of the storage containers from one of the storage locations along the at least one aisle and transport the one of the storage containers on the respective one of the undeterministic traverse surface between the storage array and the order filling station.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated distribution center includes an array with storage locations arranged along aisle(s) having a floor, and a mezzanine platform above the floor, the floor and mezzanine being configured for human picker access to the storage locations, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) configured for traverse of the floor and mezzanine to the storage locations, and for transporting a storage container to and from the storage locations, the floor and mezzanine each having an undeterministic traverse surface for the AGV, the AGV is configured so that the surface provides holonomic selectable paths for the AGV substantially everywhere on the surface, each path being selectable by the AGV, and an order filling station, where one or more goods are picked from container(s) to fill order(s), wherein the AGV is configured to pick the container from a storage location and transport the container on the surface between the storage array and the station.
32 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An automated distribution center comprising:
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a storage array including stacked racks with predetermined storage locations, for storage containers, arranged along at least one aisle; at least one of the aisles having a base or floor, and a mezzanine platform above the base or floor so that the base or floor and the mezzanine platform are configured so as to provide both human picker access and automated guided vehicle access to the predetermined storage locations of the racks along the at least one aisle; at least one automated guided vehicle picker configured for traverse of the base or floor and the mezzanine platform to the predetermined storage locations along the at least one aisle, and configured for holding and transporting one of the storage containers to and from the storage locations; the base or floor and mezzanine platform each having a corresponding floor rack aisle and mezzanine platform rack aisle, each respective floor rack aisle and mezzanine platform rack aisle defining a different and undeterministic traverse surface corresponding to the base or floor and mezzanine platform respectively for the automated guided vehicle picker, and the automated guided vehicle picker is configured so that each of the different undeterministic traverse surfaces of each respective floor rack aisle and mezzanine platform rack aisle provides holonomic selectable paths for the automated guided vehicle picker substantially everywhere on a respective one of the different undeterministic traverse surface, each of the paths being freely selectable by the automated guided vehicle picker for traversing along the aisle on the base or floor; and an order filling station, where one or more goods are picked from one or more of the storage containers to fill one or more orders; wherein the automated guided vehicle picker is configured to pick the one of the storage containers from one of the storage locations along the at least one aisle and transport the one of the storage containers on the respective one of the undeterministic traverse surface between the storage array and the order filling station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for transporting items in a storage array comprising:
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stacked racks with predetermined storage locations, for storage containers, arranged along at least one aisle having a base or floor, the method includes providing at least one of the aisles with a mezzanine platform supported by the stacked racks above the base or floor so that the base or floor and mezzanine platform allow human picker access to the predetermined storage locations of the racks along the at least one aisle; providing at least one automated guided vehicle picker configured for traverse of the base or floor and the mezzanine platform to the predetermined storage locations along the at least one aisle, and configured for holding and transporting one of the storage containers to and from the storage locations; effecting transport of the one of the storage containers, with the at least one automated guided vehicle picker, on a respective undeterministic traverse surface of a rack aisle of each of the base or floor and mezzanine platform where the respective undeterministic traverse surface of the rack aisle of the base or floor is different than the underterministic traverse surface of the rack aisle of the mezzanine platform and each of the different undeterministic traverse surfaces of each respective rack aisles of the base or floor and the mezzanine platform provides holonomic selectable paths for the automated guided vehicle picker substantially everywhere on the respective undeterministic traverse surface and each of the paths is freely selectable by the automated guided vehicle picker for traversing along the aisle on the base or floor; providing an order filling station, where one or more goods are picked from one or more of the storage containers to fill one or more orders; and effecting, at least one automated guided vehicle picker, picking of the one of the storage containers from one of the storage locations along the at least one aisle and transporting the one of the storage containers on the respective undeterministic traverse surface to the order filling station. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification