Inventory System with Connectable Inventory Holders
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a mobile drive unit operable to transport one or more of a plurality of inventory holders that store inventory items; and
a management module operable to;
instruct the mobile drive unit to transport a first inventory holder to a shipping station;
instruct the mobile drive unit to connect the first inventory holder to a second inventory holder at the shipping station to form a group of connected inventory holders, wherein at least the first inventory holder includes a connection module operable to connect the first inventory holder to the second inventory holder in response to a command by the mobile drive unit;
detecting that a vehicle is available for shipping the group of connected inventory holders;
in response detecting that the vehicle is available, determine to move the group of one or more connected inventory holders onto a vehicle for shipment;
instruct the mobile drive unit to move the group of one or more connected inventory holders onto a vehicle for shipment by docking with the first inventory holder and moving the group of one or more inventory holders while docked with the first inventory holder.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes an interface and a processor. The interface is operable to wirelessly transmit instructions to one or more mobile drive units. The processor is communicatively coupled to the interface and is operable to instruct a mobile drive unit to transport a first shipping container storing at least one completed order to a shipping station, instruct the mobile drive unit to connect the first shipping container to a second shipping container to form a group of connected shipping containers. The processor is also operable to detect a trigger event, and in response to detecting the trigger event, coordinate movement of one or more mobile drive units to transport the group of connected shipping containers onto a vehicle for shipment.
42 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a mobile drive unit operable to transport one or more of a plurality of inventory holders that store inventory items; and a management module operable to; instruct the mobile drive unit to transport a first inventory holder to a shipping station; instruct the mobile drive unit to connect the first inventory holder to a second inventory holder at the shipping station to form a group of connected inventory holders, wherein at least the first inventory holder includes a connection module operable to connect the first inventory holder to the second inventory holder in response to a command by the mobile drive unit; detecting that a vehicle is available for shipping the group of connected inventory holders; in response detecting that the vehicle is available, determine to move the group of one or more connected inventory holders onto a vehicle for shipment; instruct the mobile drive unit to move the group of one or more connected inventory holders onto a vehicle for shipment by docking with the first inventory holder and moving the group of one or more inventory holders while docked with the first inventory holder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus comprising:
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an interface operable to wirelessly transmit instructions to one or more mobile drive units; and a processor communicatively coupled to the interface and operable to; instruct a mobile drive unit to transport a first shipping container storing at least one completed order to a shipping station; instruct the mobile drive unit to connect the first shipping container to a second shipping container to form a group of connected shipping containers; detect a trigger event; in response to detecting the trigger event, coordinate movement of one or more mobile drive units to transport the group of connected shipping containers onto a vehicle for shipment. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
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16. A method, comprising:
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instructing, by a management module, one or more mobile drive units to form a group of inventory holders at a shipping station, wherein the inventory holders in the group are arranged in at least a column of connected inventory holders; detecting, by the management module, a trigger event comprising an availability of a vehicle upon which the group of connected inventory holders is designated for shipment; and instructing, by the management module, one or more mobile drive units to move the group of inventory holders onto the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification