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Inventory system with efficient operator handling of inventory items

  • US 9,475,639 B2
  • Filed: 11/24/2014
  • Issued: 10/25/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method comprising, under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions:

  • receiving information regarding a receipt receptacle moved from a shipping vehicle to a position on a case shuttle, the receipt receptacle containing one or more inventory items and moved from the shipping vehicle to the position on the case shuttle without separating or sorting the one or more inventory items contained in the receipt receptacle such that the one or more inventory items contained in the receipt receptacle are unseparated or unsorted;

    instructing storage of the case shuttle with the receipt receptacle containing the unseparated or unsorted one or more inventory items;

    receiving an order for a first item of the unseparated or unsorted one or more inventory items;

    in response to receiving the order, instructing movement, using a mobile drive unit, of the case shuttle to a receiving station, removal of the receipt receptacle from the case shuttle at the receiving station, and stowing of the first item of the unseparated or unsorted one or more inventory items from the receipt receptacle into an inventory holder;

    instructing movement, using a mobile drive unit, of the inventory holder with the stowed first item to an order-compiling station;

    instructing transfer of the stowed first item from the inventory holder into an order receptacle at the order-compiling station;

    instructing movement of the order receptacle with the first item to an order shuttle configured to be moved by a mobile drive unit to a shipping station; and

    instructing transfer of the order receptacle with the first item from the order shuttle to a shipping vehicle at the shipping station.

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