Inventory system with vertically mobile drive units
First Claim
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1. An inventory management system, comprising:
- an inventory system comprising;
a first level;
a second level above the first level; and
a vertical element extending upward from the first level and passing through or adjacent to the second level;
a drive unit comprising;
a horizontal drive mechanism;
a vertical element grasping mechanism; and
a vertical drive mechanism; and
a management component configured with executable instructions, in order to, at least;
receive information relating to a resource in the inventory system;
instruct the drive unit to retrieve the resource at a first location on the first level using the horizontal drive mechanism;
instruct the drive unit to navigate from the first location to the vertical element using the horizontal drive mechanism;
instruct the drive unit to grasp the vertical element with the vertical element grasping mechanism;
instruct the drive unit to ascend the vertical element to the second level using the vertical drive mechanism;
instruct the drive unit to translate horizontally while connected with the vertical element to position the drive unit above and proximate to the second level; and
instruct the drive unit to detach from the vertical element to place the drive unit on the second level such that the horizontal drive mechanism can operate on the second level; and
instruct the drive unit to move the resource to a second location on the second level using the horizontal drive mechanism.
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Abstract
Disclosed inventory systems, methods, and devices can be used to retrieve and transport resources from one location to another. Specifically, a vertically mobile drive unit including a vertical element grasping mechanism can be controlled by a management component to retrieve a resource, transport the resource from one floor to a different floor in an inventory system, and deposit the resource at a destination. The vertically mobile drive unit can transit vertically along a vertically disposed element in an inventory system, such as a structural pole or column.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An inventory management system, comprising:
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an inventory system comprising; a first level; a second level above the first level; and a vertical element extending upward from the first level and passing through or adjacent to the second level; a drive unit comprising; a horizontal drive mechanism; a vertical element grasping mechanism; and a vertical drive mechanism; and a management component configured with executable instructions, in order to, at least; receive information relating to a resource in the inventory system; instruct the drive unit to retrieve the resource at a first location on the first level using the horizontal drive mechanism; instruct the drive unit to navigate from the first location to the vertical element using the horizontal drive mechanism; instruct the drive unit to grasp the vertical element with the vertical element grasping mechanism; instruct the drive unit to ascend the vertical element to the second level using the vertical drive mechanism; instruct the drive unit to translate horizontally while connected with the vertical element to position the drive unit above and proximate to the second level; and instruct the drive unit to detach from the vertical element to place the drive unit on the second level such that the horizontal drive mechanism can operate on the second level; and instruct the drive unit to move the resource to a second location on the second level using the horizontal drive mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-implemented method of managing a resource, comprising:
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selecting a drive unit, the drive unit comprising a horizontal drive mechanism and a vertical drive mechanism; instructing the drive unit to transit to a vertical element using the horizontal drive mechanism; instructing the drive unit to grasp the vertical element; instructing the drive unit to ascend or descend the vertical element to a second level in a multi-level facility using the vertical drive mechanism; instructing the drive unit to translate horizontally while connected with the vertical element to position the drive unit above and proximate to the second level; and instructing the drive unit to detach from the vertical element to place the drive unit on the second level such that the horizontal drive mechanism can move the drive unit on the second level. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A drive unit, comprising:
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a body; a horizontal drive mechanism; a vertical element grasping mechanism; a vertical drive mechanism; and a management component configured to receive executable instructions, in order to, at least; instruct the drive unit to navigate to a vertical element using the horizontal drive mechanism; and instruct the drive unit to position the vertical element grasping mechanism at a vertical element; instruct the vertical element grasping mechanism to engage the vertical element with a grasping means in an open position; instruct the vertical element grasping mechanism to grasp the vertical element with the grasping means in a closed position; instruct the drive unit to ascend or descend the vertical element from a first level of an inventory system to a second level of the inventory system by the vertical drive mechanism; instruct the drive unit to translate horizontally while connected with the vertical element to position the drive unit above and proximate to the second level; instruct the drive unit to detach from the vertical element to place the drive unit on the second level such that the horizontal drive mechanism can move the drive unit on the second level; and instruct the drive unit to move a resource at one of the first or second levels of the inventory system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A drive unit, comprising:
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a body; a horizontal drive mechanism; a vertical drive mechanism; and a management component configured to receive executable instructions, in order to, at least; instruct the drive unit to move a first resource at a first level of an inventory system from a first location to a second location using the horizontal drive mechanism; instruct the drive unit to navigate to a vertical element using the horizontal drive mechanism; instruct the drive unit to move vertically along the vertical element from the first level to a second level using the vertical drive mechanism; instruct the drive unit to translate horizontally while connected with the vertical element to position the drive unit above and proximate to the second level; instruct the drive unit to detach from the vertical element to place the drive unit on the second level such that the horizontal drive mechanism can move the drive unit on the second level; and instruct the drive unit to move a second resource at the second level using the horizontal drive mechanism.
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Specification