Automated shipment set item consolidation
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for consolidating items of a shipment set, comprising:
- under control of one or more processors configured with instructions for consolidating items of a shipment set, the instructions when executed by the one or more processors causing the one or more processors to at least;
determine an item;
determine a shipment set associated with the item;
determine that the item is placed at an initial position on an item conveyor, wherein the item conveyor includes a plurality of positions between an initial position on the item conveyor and a consolidation position on the item conveyor;
determine a buffer position of a consolidation tote associated with the shipment set;
cause a first robot to pick the consolidation tote from the buffer position and place the consolidation tote at an initial position on a consolidation conveyor, wherein the initial position on the item conveyor corresponds to the initial position on the consolidation conveyor;
cause the item conveyor to convey the item from the initial position on the item conveyor to the consolidation position on the item conveyor;
cause the consolidation conveyor to convey the consolidation tote from the initial position on the consolidation conveyor to a consolidation position on the consolidation conveyor, wherein the item conveyor and the consolidation conveyor convey the item and the consolidation tote in a sequenced manner; and
cause a second robot to transition the item from an item tote to the consolidation tote.
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Abstract
Described are systems, methods, and apparatus for automated item sortation and consolidation of items of a consolidation set. The system includes a consolidation station in which a series of automated devices, robotic arms, conveyors, scanners, etc., move and consolidate items of consolidation sets. The automated devices are controlled by an inventory management system that sends instructions to the various devices to coordinate operation of those devices and to coordinate flow of items through the consolidation station.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for consolidating items of a shipment set, comprising:
under control of one or more processors configured with instructions for consolidating items of a shipment set, the instructions when executed by the one or more processors causing the one or more processors to at least; determine an item; determine a shipment set associated with the item; determine that the item is placed at an initial position on an item conveyor, wherein the item conveyor includes a plurality of positions between an initial position on the item conveyor and a consolidation position on the item conveyor; determine a buffer position of a consolidation tote associated with the shipment set; cause a first robot to pick the consolidation tote from the buffer position and place the consolidation tote at an initial position on a consolidation conveyor, wherein the initial position on the item conveyor corresponds to the initial position on the consolidation conveyor; cause the item conveyor to convey the item from the initial position on the item conveyor to the consolidation position on the item conveyor; cause the consolidation conveyor to convey the consolidation tote from the initial position on the consolidation conveyor to a consolidation position on the consolidation conveyor, wherein the item conveyor and the consolidation conveyor convey the item and the consolidation tote in a sequenced manner; and cause a second robot to transition the item from an item tote to the consolidation tote. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A consolidation station, comprising:
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a first conveyor configured to convey an item towards a consolidation position associated with the first conveyor; a second conveyor configured to convey a consolidation tote toward a consolidation position associated with the second conveyor; a first robot positioned adjacent the second conveyor and configured to place the consolidation tote on the second conveyor; and a second robot positioned adjacent the consolidation position associated with the first conveyor and positioned adjacent the consolidation position associated with the second conveyor, wherein the second robot is configured to pick the item when the item is at the consolidation position associated with the first conveyor and place the item in the consolidation tote when the consolidation tote is at the consolidation position associated with the second conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system, comprising:
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a first conveyor configured to convey item totes toward a consolidation position associated with the first conveyor; a second conveyor configured to convey consolidation totes toward a consolidation position associated with the second conveyor; a first robot positioned adjacent the second conveyor and configured to place consolidation totes on the second conveyor; and a second robot positioned adjacent the consolidation position associated with the first conveyor and positioned adjacent the consolidation position associated with the second conveyor; a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for consolidating items of a shipment set, the instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to at least; determine a shipment set associated with an item positioned at an initial position on the first conveyor; determine a consolidation tote associated with the shipment set; send instructions that cause the first robot to place the consolidation tote at a position on the second conveyor, wherein the position on the second conveyor corresponds with the initial position on the first conveyor; send instructions that cause the first conveyor to convey the item to the consolidation position associated with the first conveyor; send instructions that cause the second conveyor to convey the consolidation tote to the consolidation position associated with the second conveyor; and send instructions that cause the second robot to transfer the item from the consolidation position associated with the first conveyor into the consolidation tote at the consolidation position associated with the second conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification