Method and system for transporting inventory items
First Claim
1. A method for transporting inventory holders, comprising:
- moving a mobile drive unit beneath an inventory holder, the mobile drive unit having an optical sensor on a top surface of the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder having a holder identifier positioned on the inventory holder, wherein the inventory holder comprises a frame and a plurality of legs, wherein the legs are arranged to form at least one device opening that allows the mobile drive unit to move under the inventory holder;
optically aligning the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder using the holder sensor on the top surface of the mobile drive unit and the holder identifier on the inventory holder while the mobile drive unit is underneath the inventory holder, including optically sensing, by the optical sensor, the holder identifier;
lifting the inventory holder with the mobile drive unit; and
moving the mobile drive unit while the inventory holder is lifted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder capable of storing inventory items and a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is capable of moving to a first point with the inventory holder at least one of coupled to and supported by the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is additionally capable of determining a location of the inventory holder and calculating a difference between the location of the inventory holder and the first point. The mobile drive unit is then capable of determining whether the difference is greater than a predetermined tolerance. In response to determining that the difference is greater than the predetermined tolerance, the mobile drive unit is also capable of moving to a second point based on the location of the inventory holder, docking with the inventory holder, and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to the first point.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for transporting inventory holders, comprising:
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moving a mobile drive unit beneath an inventory holder, the mobile drive unit having an optical sensor on a top surface of the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder having a holder identifier positioned on the inventory holder, wherein the inventory holder comprises a frame and a plurality of legs, wherein the legs are arranged to form at least one device opening that allows the mobile drive unit to move under the inventory holder; optically aligning the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder using the holder sensor on the top surface of the mobile drive unit and the holder identifier on the inventory holder while the mobile drive unit is underneath the inventory holder, including optically sensing, by the optical sensor, the holder identifier; lifting the inventory holder with the mobile drive unit; and moving the mobile drive unit while the inventory holder is lifted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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an inventory holder comprising a plurality of vertical support members that form at least one device opening and a holder identifier; and a mobile drive unit having a top surface and an optical holder sensor on the top surface, the mobile drive unit operable to; move through one or more of the at least one device openings of the inventory holder; move to a position under the inventory holder including moving the optical holder sensor on the top surface beneath the inventory holder and facing the inventory holder; align with the inventory holder by adjusting the position by optically sensing the inventory identifier with the optical holder sensor; and couple with the inventory holder at an adjusted position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising
a drive module comprising a plurality of wheels; -
a housing that seats the drive module, the housing having a top surface and an optical holder sensor on the top surface; and a control module that is controllably coupled to the drive module and operable to; move the housing through at least one device opening formed by a plurality of support members of an inventory holder, the inventory holder having a holder identifier; move the housing, including the optical holder sensor to a position under the inventory holder such that the optical holder sensor is facing the inventory holder; adjust the position of the housing to align the housing with the inventory holder by optically sensing the inventory identifier with the optical holder sensor under the inventory holder; and enable an actuator to couple the housing with the inventory holder at an adjusted position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification