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Storage material handling system

  • US 10,399,777 B2
  • Filed: 08/07/2018
  • Issued: 09/03/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A storage fill and retrieval system for a storage space, the system comprising:

  • a multiplicity of fixed storage locations distributed in the storage space in a predetermined ordered configuration, the multiplicity of fixed storage locations defining at least one human pick zone arranged for human picker access, the fixed storage locations are arrayed in the at least one human pick zone so as to pick or place items from the fixed storage locations in the at least one human pick zone;

    at least one robot picker configured for holding and transporting a tote within the storage space, the at least one robot picker having an end effector arranged for autonomous transfer of the tote between the at least one robot picker and a tote holding station, and between the at least one robot picker and at least one collection tote location disposed within at least one of the at one human pick zone; and

    a storage management system including a controller, the storage management system is configured to communicate with the at least one robot picker and is configured to associate each robot picker of the at least one robot picker with a related human pick zone;

    each of the related human pick zones having at least one stored item in the fixed storage locations of the related human pick zone corresponding to a store or customer pick order of the storage management system;

    wherein the at least one robot picker is configured to transport the tote to the at least one collection tote location within each related human pick zone, and the controller is configured to associate each collection tote location of the at least one collection tote location and the related human pick zones to collectively form a robot path, the robot path is decoupled from a related human picker path of each human picker within a respective related human pick zone; and

    the controller associates each collection tote location to a corresponding store or customer pick order.

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