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Inventory system with mobile drive unit and inventory holder

  • US 7,402,018 B2
  • Filed: 10/14/2004
  • Issued: 07/22/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for transporting inventory, comprising:

  • an inventory holder, the inventory holder comprising;

    a frame operable to store inventory items;

    a docking plate operable to receive a docking head from underneath; and

    a braking mechanism operable to disable movement of the inventory holder when the inventory holder is not docked; and

    a mobile drive unit, comprising;

    a docking head operable to;

    couple to the docking plate when the mobile drive unit is positioned beneath the inventory holder and the docking head is raised to the docking plate;

    disengage the braking mechanism when the mobile drive unit is docked with the inventory holder; and

    decouple from the docking plate when the docking head is lowered; and

    a drive module operable to propel the mobile drive unit; and

    wherein the mobile drive unit is operable to move the inventory holder when the docking head is coupled to the inventory holder.

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