Method and system for fulfilling requests in an inventory system
First Claim
1. An inventory system, comprising:
- a plurality of inventory holders arranged within a plurality of storage locations within a workspace, the plurality of inventory holders configured to store inventory items;
an inventory station configured to process inventory items received from one or more inventory holders, wherein the inventory station is adjacent to a queue of inventory holders; and
a mobile drive unit comprising a self-powered robotic device that is capable of transporting an inventory holder to the inventory station for inventory item processing by;
moving towards a storage location of the inventory holder;
moving beneath at least a portion of the inventory holder;
lifting the inventory holder by engaging a docking head against a lower receiving surface of the inventory holder;
transporting the inventory holder to an intermediate location that is remote from the queue of the inventory station, such that the inventory holder is at least temporarily stored at a location that is closer to the inventory station than the storage location; and
in response to a queue space being available in the queue to the inventory station, transporting the inventory holder from the intermediate location to the inventory station.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system includes receiving a request indicating an activity to be completed. The method also includes selecting a holder to fulfill the request and an inventory station at which to fulfill the request. The inventory station is associated with a queue that includes a plurality of queue spaces. The method further includes moving the selected holder from a first location to a second location remote from the selected inventory station. Additionally, the method also includes determining that a trigger event has occurred and, in response to determining that the trigger event has occurred, moving the selected holder from the second location to a queue space of a queue associated with the selected inventory station.
86 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inventory system, comprising:
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a plurality of inventory holders arranged within a plurality of storage locations within a workspace, the plurality of inventory holders configured to store inventory items; an inventory station configured to process inventory items received from one or more inventory holders, wherein the inventory station is adjacent to a queue of inventory holders; and a mobile drive unit comprising a self-powered robotic device that is capable of transporting an inventory holder to the inventory station for inventory item processing by; moving towards a storage location of the inventory holder; moving beneath at least a portion of the inventory holder; lifting the inventory holder by engaging a docking head against a lower receiving surface of the inventory holder; transporting the inventory holder to an intermediate location that is remote from the queue of the inventory station, such that the inventory holder is at least temporarily stored at a location that is closer to the inventory station than the storage location; and in response to a queue space being available in the queue to the inventory station, transporting the inventory holder from the intermediate location to the inventory station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A mobile drive unit comprising:
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a wireless receiver operable to receive instructions from a remote transmitter; and one or more actuators operable to cause the mobile drive unit to; move to a storage location of an inventory holder; couple with the inventory holder; transport the inventory holder from the storage location to a second location, the second location comprising a drift location, wherein the drift location is an intermediate location that is remote from an inventory station; and remain at the intermediate location until a location at the inventory station is available. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An inventory system comprising:
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a first mobile drive unit operable to transport a first inventory holder from a first storage location to a queue space associated with an inventory station; and a second mobile drive unit operable to transport a second inventory holder from a second storage location to a drift location, wherein the drift location is an intermediate location that is remote from the inventory station, such that the second inventory holder is at least temporarily stored at a location that is closer to the inventory station than the second storage location; and in response to the first mobile drive unit exiting the queue space, transport the second inventory holder from the drift location to the inventory station. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification