Exchange of containers
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of managing inventory, the method comprising:
- receiving a customer order for an inventory item;
identifying, by a processor, a first container stowed in a container holder, the first container holding at least the inventory item;
instructing, by the processor, a first unmanned mobile drive unit to move the container holder from a storage area of a workspace to an inventory queue of a container exchange station of the workspace, the container holder configured to removably receive one or more containers of a plurality of containers, and each of the plurality of containers configured to receive one or more inventory items;
instructing, by the processor, a second unmanned mobile drive unit to move a container shuttle from an inventory processing area of the workspace to a shuttle queue of the container exchange station, the container shuttle configured to removably receive one or more other containers of the plurality of containers, the container shuttle configured to receive at least one of;
a container holding at least one inbound inventory item identified to be stowed within the storage area of the workspace, or a container holding at least one outbound inventory item identified to be picked at a pick station;
instructing, by the processor, removal of the first container from the container holder and placement of the first container on the container shuttle at the container exchange station prior to the container shuttle being moved to the pick station; and
instructing, by the processor, removal of a second container from the container shuttle and placement of the second container on the container holder at the container exchange station prior to the container holder being moved to the storage area, the second container holding at least one inbound inventory item identified to be stowed within the storage area of the workspace.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A container exchange station is provided in connection with a workspace of an inventory system. At the container exchange station, containers are exchanged between container holders and container shuttles. The container holders are configured to hold one or more containers having consolidated inventory items in high density storage. The container shuttles are also configured to hold one or more containers for performing other operations with respect to inventory items in the one or more containers. The containers are configured to hold inventory items while the inventory items move for various operations throughout the workspace and while the inventory items are stowed in high density storage in the workspace.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of managing inventory, the method comprising:
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receiving a customer order for an inventory item; identifying, by a processor, a first container stowed in a container holder, the first container holding at least the inventory item; instructing, by the processor, a first unmanned mobile drive unit to move the container holder from a storage area of a workspace to an inventory queue of a container exchange station of the workspace, the container holder configured to removably receive one or more containers of a plurality of containers, and each of the plurality of containers configured to receive one or more inventory items; instructing, by the processor, a second unmanned mobile drive unit to move a container shuttle from an inventory processing area of the workspace to a shuttle queue of the container exchange station, the container shuttle configured to removably receive one or more other containers of the plurality of containers, the container shuttle configured to receive at least one of;
a container holding at least one inbound inventory item identified to be stowed within the storage area of the workspace, or a container holding at least one outbound inventory item identified to be picked at a pick station;instructing, by the processor, removal of the first container from the container holder and placement of the first container on the container shuttle at the container exchange station prior to the container shuttle being moved to the pick station; and instructing, by the processor, removal of a second container from the container shuttle and placement of the second container on the container holder at the container exchange station prior to the container holder being moved to the storage area, the second container holding at least one inbound inventory item identified to be stowed within the storage area of the workspace. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-implemented method of managing inventory, the method comprising:
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instructing, by the processor, a first mobile drive unit to move a container holder from a storage area of a workspace to an inventory queue of a container exchange station of the workspace, the container holder configured to removably receive one or more containers of a plurality of containers, each of the plurality of containers configured to receive one or more inventory items; instructing, by the processor, a second mobile drive unit to move a container shuttle from an inventory processing area of the workspace to a shuttle queue of the container exchange station, the container shuttle configured to removably receive one or more other containers of the plurality of containers; instructing, by the processor, removal of a first container from the container holder and placement of the first container on the container shuttle at the container exchange station, the first container holding at least one outbound inventory item; and instructing, by the processor, removal of a second container from the container shuttle and placement of the second container on the container holder at the container exchange station, the second container holding at least one inbound inventory item identified to be stowed within the storage area of the workspace. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system of managing inventory, the system comprising:
- a plurality of container holders arranged within a storage area of a workspace, individual container holders of the plurality of container holders configured to removably receive one or more containers of a plurality of containers, and each of the plurality of containers configured to receive one or more inventory items;
a plurality of container shuttles configured to removably receive one or more other containers of the plurality of containers; a plurality of unmanned mobile drive units, at least some of the unmanned mobile drive units configured to move the plurality of container holders and to move the plurality of container shuttles; a container exchange station within the workspace, the container exchange station comprising; a first queue and a second queue, each queue configured to receive at least; container holders of the plurality of container holders coupled to unmanned mobile drive units of the plurality of unmanned mobile drive units; and
container shuttles of the plurality of container shuttles coupled to other unmanned mobile drive units of the plurality of unmanned mobile drive units; andan exchange area configured for exchanging containers of the plurality of containers; and a management module configured to; instruct movement, by a first unmanned mobile drive unit, of a container holder from the storage area of the workspace to the first queue of the container exchange station; instruct movement, by a second unmanned mobile drive unit, of a container shuttle from an inventory processing area of the workspace to the second queue of the container exchange station; instruct removal of the first container from the container holder and placement of the first container on the container shuttle; and instruct removal of a second container from the container shuttle and placement of the second container on the container holder. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
- a plurality of container holders arranged within a storage area of a workspace, individual container holders of the plurality of container holders configured to removably receive one or more containers of a plurality of containers, and each of the plurality of containers configured to receive one or more inventory items;
Specification