System and method for arranging an order
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an interface configured to display an unpacking sequence; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the interface and operable to;
determine a packing arrangement for a facility according to the unpacking sequence, wherein the packing arrangement is used to set a packing order of a plurality of items for a package; and
instruct one or more mobile drive units, wherein a mobile drive unit comprises a self-powered device, to transport the package along a replenishment path at the facility while docked with the package, the replenishment path comprising information that is received wirelessly by the mobile drive unit from a management module, wherein the replenishment path is calculated by the management module according to an inventory unpacking sequence that is based on an arrangement of items in the package and the inventory holders receive items from the package along the path;
instruct the one or more mobile drive units to stop at points along the replenishment path such that the items in the package are unloaded from the package at the points that correspond to inventory holders designated to receive the items.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes obtaining, by a management module, an inventory unpacking sequence for a remote facility. The inventory unpacking sequence indicates a sequence for unpacking a shipment at the remote facility. An order associated with the remote facility is received that includes inventory items. The management module determines an order packing arrangement for the inventory items based on the inventory unpacking sequence. Mobile drive units are instructed to transport one or more inventory holders storing the inventory items to an inventory station, where the inventory items are packed into a shipment according to the order packing arrangement. The shipment is arranged to be unpacked at the remote facility according to the inventory unpacking sequence.
119 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an interface configured to display an unpacking sequence; and a processor communicatively coupled to the interface and operable to; determine a packing arrangement for a facility according to the unpacking sequence, wherein the packing arrangement is used to set a packing order of a plurality of items for a package; and instruct one or more mobile drive units, wherein a mobile drive unit comprises a self-powered device, to transport the package along a replenishment path at the facility while docked with the package, the replenishment path comprising information that is received wirelessly by the mobile drive unit from a management module, wherein the replenishment path is calculated by the management module according to an inventory unpacking sequence that is based on an arrangement of items in the package and the inventory holders receive items from the package along the path; instruct the one or more mobile drive units to stop at points along the replenishment path such that the items in the package are unloaded from the package at the points that correspond to inventory holders designated to receive the items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a plurality of inventory holders at a facility that store a plurality of items and are operable to receive items from a container; and a mobile drive unit comprising a self-powered device operable to; dock with the container at the facility; transport the container along a replenishment path at the facility while docked with the container, the replenishment path comprising information that is received wirelessly by the mobile drive unit from a management module, wherein the replenishment path is calculated by the management module according to an inventory unpacking sequence that is based on an arrangement of items in the container and the inventory holders receive items from the container along the path; and stop at points along the replenishment path such that the item in the container are unloaded from the container at the points that correspond to inventory holders designated to receive the items. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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obtaining, by a management module, an unpacking sequence for a facility, the unpacking sequence indicating a sequence for unpacking a package at the facility; receiving an order associated with the facility comprising a plurality of items; determining, by the management module, a packing arrangement for the plurality of items based on the unpacking sequence; instructing one or more mobile drive units, wherein a mobile drive unit comprises a self-powered device, to transport one or more inventory holders storing the plurality of items to an inventory station, wherein the plurality of items are packed at the inventory station into a package according to the packing arrangement, such that the package is arranged to be unpacked at the facility according to the unpacking, sequence; and instructing, by the management module, one or, more mobile drive units to transport the package along a replenishment path at the facility while docked with the package, the replenishment path based on information that is received wirelessly by the mobile drive unit from the management module, wherein the replenishment path is calculated by the management module according to the unpacking sequence. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification