Palletizing mobile drive units
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a pallet comprising a support surface and one or more openings extending through the support surface,a base comprising one or more protrusions, the one or more protrusions arranged to correspond with the one or more openings such that the base and the pallet are configurable between (1) an engaged configuration in which the one or more protrusions of the base are positioned within the one or more openings of the pallet, and (2) a separate configuration in which the one or more protrusions of the base are positioned at least partially removed from the one or more openings of the pallet;
wherein the one or more protrusions and the one or more openings are arranged such that at least one of;
movement from the engaged configuration to the separate configuration, when a feature of a mobile drive unit is positioned over a protrusion that is positioned in a corresponding opening of the pallet in the engaged configuration, results in the feature of the mobile drive unit being positioned within the opening;
ormovement from the separate configuration to the engaged configuration, when a mobile drive unit is supported on the support surface of the pallet in the separate configuration such that a feature of the mobile drive unit is positioned within an opening of the pallet, results in the feature of the mobile drive unit being positioned at least partially removed from the opening by a corresponding protrusion.
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Abstract
An inventory system includes a pallet and a base for palletizing or unpalletizing a mobile drive unit. The pallet has a set of openings corresponding with features of the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit features may extend into the pallet openings. The base includes protrusions corresponding to the pallet openings. Engaging the pallet and base can position the base protrusions in the pallet openings. Positioning the base protrusions in the pallet openings can displace the mobile drive unit features from the pallet openings and/or provide a surface upon which the mobile drive unit can navigate.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a pallet comprising a support surface and one or more openings extending through the support surface, a base comprising one or more protrusions, the one or more protrusions arranged to correspond with the one or more openings such that the base and the pallet are configurable between (1) an engaged configuration in which the one or more protrusions of the base are positioned within the one or more openings of the pallet, and (2) a separate configuration in which the one or more protrusions of the base are positioned at least partially removed from the one or more openings of the pallet; wherein the one or more protrusions and the one or more openings are arranged such that at least one of; movement from the engaged configuration to the separate configuration, when a feature of a mobile drive unit is positioned over a protrusion that is positioned in a corresponding opening of the pallet in the engaged configuration, results in the feature of the mobile drive unit being positioned within the opening;
ormovement from the separate configuration to the engaged configuration, when a mobile drive unit is supported on the support surface of the pallet in the separate configuration such that a feature of the mobile drive unit is positioned within an opening of the pallet, results in the feature of the mobile drive unit being positioned at least partially removed from the opening by a corresponding protrusion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A pallet comprising:
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a support surface; and one or more openings extending through the support surface, the one or more openings arranged to correspond with one or more protrusions of a base such that the pallet and the base are configurable between (1) an engaged configuration in which the one or more openings of the pallet receive the one or more protrusions of the base, and (2) a separate configuration in which the one or more openings of the pallet do not receive the one or more protrusions of the base; wherein the one or more openings are arranged such that at least one of; movement from the engaged configuration to the separate configuration, when a feature of a mobile drive unit is positioned over a protrusion that is received in a corresponding opening of the pallet in the engaged configuration, results in the feature of the mobile drive unit being positioned within the opening;
ormovement from the separate configuration to the engaged configuration, when a mobile drive unit is supported on the support surface of the pallet in the separate configuration such that a feature of the mobile drive unit is positioned within an opening of the pallet, results in the feature of the mobile drive unit being positioned at least partially removed from the opening by a corresponding protrusion received in the opening. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A base comprising:
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one or more protrusions, the one or more protrusions arranged to correspond with one or more openings extending through a support surface of a pallet such that the base and the pallet are configurable between (1) an engaged configuration in which the one or more protrusions of the base are positioned within the one or more openings of the pallet, and (2) a separate configuration in which the one or more protrusions of the base are positioned at least partially removed from the one or more openings of the pallet; wherein the one or more protrusions are arranged such that at least one of; movement from the engaged configuration to the separate configuration, when a feature of a mobile drive unit is positioned over a protrusion that is positioned in a corresponding opening of the pallet in the engaged configuration, results in the feature of the mobile drive unit being positioned within the opening;
ormovement from the separate configuration to the engaged configuration, when a mobile drive unit is supported on the support surface of the pallet in the separate configuration such that a feature of the mobile drive unit is positioned within an opening of the pallet, results in the feature of the mobile drive unit being positioned at least partially removed from the opening by a corresponding protrusion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification