SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANEUVERING A MOBILE DRIVE UNIT
First Claim
1. A method of rotating an inventory holder, comprising:
- moving an inventory holder towards a rotation area along a straight segment of a path with a first face of the inventory holder facing a first direction, wherein the rotation area comprises a portion of a workspace designated for rotation of inventory holders;
moving the inventory holder into the rotation area along a first arced segment with an orientation of the first face perpendicular to the first arced segment;
executing a rotation maneuver within the rotation area; and
moving the inventory holder out of the rotation area along a second arced segment with a second face facing the first direction.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of rotating an inventory holder includes moving an inventory holder towards a rotation area along a straight segment of a path with a first face of the inventory holder facing a first direction. The rotation area includes a portion of a workspace designated for rotation of inventory holders. The method further includes moving the inventory holder into the rotation area along a first arced segment with an orientation of the first face perpendicular to the first arced segment. The method additionally includes executing a rotation maneuver within the rotation area and moving the inventory holder out of the rotation area along a second arced segment with a second face facing the first direction.
221 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of rotating an inventory holder, comprising:
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moving an inventory holder towards a rotation area along a straight segment of a path with a first face of the inventory holder facing a first direction, wherein the rotation area comprises a portion of a workspace designated for rotation of inventory holders; moving the inventory holder into the rotation area along a first arced segment with an orientation of the first face perpendicular to the first arced segment; executing a rotation maneuver within the rotation area; and moving the inventory holder out of the rotation area along a second arced segment with a second face facing the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for transporting inventory items, comprising:
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a plurality of inventory holders operable to store inventory items; a workspace comprising a plurality of workspace cells and one or more rotation areas; a plurality of mobile drive units, each mobile drive unit operable to transport an inventory holder without rotating the inventory holder while moving through one or more workspace cells and to selectively rotate the inventory holder while moving through one of the rotation areas. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A mobile drive unit for transporting an inventory holder, operable to:
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move an inventory holder towards a rotation area along a straight segment of a path with a first face of the inventory holder facing a first direction, wherein the rotation area comprises a portion of a workspace designated for rotation of inventory holders; move the inventory holder into the rotation area along a first arced segment with an orientation of the first face perpendicular to the first arced segment; execute a rotation maneuver within the rotation area; and move the inventory holder out of the rotation area along a second arced segment with a second face facing the first direction.
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27. A system for transporting inventory items, comprising:
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means for moving an inventory holder towards a rotation area along a straight segment of a path with a first face of the inventory holder facing a first direction, wherein the rotation area comprises a portion of a workspace designated for rotation of inventory holders; means for moving the inventory holder into the rotation area along a first arced segment with an orientation of the first face perpendicular to the first arced segment; means for executing a rotation maneuver within the rotation area; and means for moving the inventory holder out of the rotation area along a second arced segment with a second face facing the first direction.
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28. A method for moving inventory items, comprising:
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docking a mobile drive unit to an inventory holder; moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder in a first direction; while the mobile drive unit is docked with the inventory holder, rotating the mobile drive unit without rotating the inventory holder; and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A mobile drive unit for moving inventory items, the mobile drive unit operable to:
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dock with an inventory holder; move the inventory holder in a first direction; while docked with the inventory holder, rotate the mobile drive unit without rotating the inventory holder; and move the inventory holder in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification