Modular automated inventory sorting and retrieving
First Claim
1. An inventory management system, comprising:
- a workspace;
a plurality of drive units operable to navigate the workspace; and
a plurality of inventory holders capable of supporting inventory thereon and capable of being transported by the one or more drive units;
a drive unit-navigable grid in the workspace and defining areas where the drive units can navigate;
a modular sorting station comprising;
a frame defining a first inbound bay and a first outbound bay, wherein each bay is sized to accommodate a drive unit of the one or more drive units with a supported inventory holder containing inventory, and wherein each bay is aligned with the drive unit-navigable grid;
a sensor connected with the modular sorting station and operable to identify the inventory;
a unique identifier associated with the modular sorting station; and
a robotic grasper operable to grasp inventory from the inbound bay and release the inventory at the outbound bay;
wherein the robotic grasper further comprises at least two robotic arms mounted to respective gantries above the inbound and outbound bays defined by the frame anda management component configured with executable instructions, in order to, at least;
maintain a virtual representation of the workspace including a first grid position associated with the unique identifier of the modular sorting station;
receive information relating to an inventory item in the inventory system;
instruct a first drive unit of the one or more drive units to retrieve a first inventory holder containing the inventory item;
instruct the first drive unit to transport the first inventory holder to the inbound bay of the modular sorting station based on the grid position associated with the unique identifier of the modular sorting station;
sense, via the sensor, the inventory item in the first inventory holder; and
cause the robotic grasper to move the inventory item from the first inventory holder to the outbound bay of the modular sorting station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular sorting station includes a frame defining an inbound bay and an outbound bay, each of the inbound and outbound bays being sized to receive an inventory holder containing inventory thereon. A robotic grasper is mounted to the frame and positioned above one of the inbound and outbound bays and operable to transfer inventory items from the inbound bay to the outbound bay, and a sensor mounted to one of the frame or robotic grasper and operable to identify inventory at the inbound bay when the inventory holder is present in the inbound bay. The frame is sized and arranged to align with a material handling grid and permit drive units to transport inventory holders into and out of the inbound bay and/or outbound bays while moving along the material handling grid; and the frame is portable such that the modular sorting station can be moved as a modular unit for rapid deployment.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An inventory management system, comprising:
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a workspace; a plurality of drive units operable to navigate the workspace; and a plurality of inventory holders capable of supporting inventory thereon and capable of being transported by the one or more drive units; a drive unit-navigable grid in the workspace and defining areas where the drive units can navigate; a modular sorting station comprising; a frame defining a first inbound bay and a first outbound bay, wherein each bay is sized to accommodate a drive unit of the one or more drive units with a supported inventory holder containing inventory, and wherein each bay is aligned with the drive unit-navigable grid; a sensor connected with the modular sorting station and operable to identify the inventory; a unique identifier associated with the modular sorting station; and a robotic grasper operable to grasp inventory from the inbound bay and release the inventory at the outbound bay;
wherein the robotic grasper further comprises at least two robotic arms mounted to respective gantries above the inbound and outbound bays defined by the frame anda management component configured with executable instructions, in order to, at least; maintain a virtual representation of the workspace including a first grid position associated with the unique identifier of the modular sorting station; receive information relating to an inventory item in the inventory system; instruct a first drive unit of the one or more drive units to retrieve a first inventory holder containing the inventory item; instruct the first drive unit to transport the first inventory holder to the inbound bay of the modular sorting station based on the grid position associated with the unique identifier of the modular sorting station; sense, via the sensor, the inventory item in the first inventory holder; and cause the robotic grasper to move the inventory item from the first inventory holder to the outbound bay of the modular sorting station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A modular sorting station, comprising:
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a frame defining an inbound bay and an outbound bay, each of the inbound and outbound bays being sized to receive an inventory holder containing inventory thereon; a robotic grasper mounted to the frame and positioned above one of the inbound and outbound bays and operable to transfer inventory items from the inbound bay to the outbound bay; and a sensor mounted to one of the frame or robotic grasper and operable to identify inventory at the inbound bay when the inventory holder is present in the inbound bay;
wherein;the frame is arranged to align with a material handling grid and sized to permit a drive unit to transit into or out of the inbound bay while carrying the inventory holder from at least two directions along the material handling grid; the frame is portable such that the modular sorting station can be moved as a modular unit; and the modular sorting station has a unique identifier suitable for association with a position in a drive unit-navigable grid in a virtual representation of a workspace, wherein the robotic grasper further comprises at least two robotic arms mounted to respective gantries above the inbound and outbound bays defined by the frame. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification