Inventory system with swiveling vertically mobile drive units
First Claim
1. An inventory management system, comprising:
- an inventory system comprising;
a first level;
a second level above the first level; and
a vertical element extending upward from the first level and passing through or adjacent to the second level;
a drive unit comprising;
a body;
a horizontal drive mechanism connected with the body;
a vertical element grasping mechanism connected with the body; and
a vertical drive mechanism connected with the vertical element grasping mechanism, wherein the vertical drive mechanism is operable to rotate with respect to the drive unit; and
a management component configured with executable instructions, in order to, at least;
receive information relating to a resource in the inventory system;
instruct the drive unit to retrieve the resource at a first location on the first level using the horizontal drive mechanism;
instruct the drive unit to grasp the vertical element with the vertical element grasping mechanism;
instruct the drive unit to ascend the vertical element to the second level using the vertical drive mechanism;
instruct the drive unit to rotate around the vertical element by actuating the vertical drive mechanism; and
instruct the drive unit to move the resource to a second location on the second level.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed inventory systems, methods, and devices can be used to retrieve and transport resources from one location to another. Specifically, a vertically mobile drive unit including a vertical element retention mechanism can be controlled by a management component to retrieve a resource, transport the resource from one floor to a different floor in an inventory system, and deposit the resource at a destination. The vertically mobile drive unit can transit vertically along a vertically disposed element in an inventory system, such as a structural pole or column; and can rotate around the structural pole or column in order to set down on an upper level after ascending, or to clear the upper level prior to descending.
43 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An inventory management system, comprising:
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an inventory system comprising; a first level; a second level above the first level; and a vertical element extending upward from the first level and passing through or adjacent to the second level; a drive unit comprising; a body; a horizontal drive mechanism connected with the body; a vertical element grasping mechanism connected with the body; and a vertical drive mechanism connected with the vertical element grasping mechanism, wherein the vertical drive mechanism is operable to rotate with respect to the drive unit; and a management component configured with executable instructions, in order to, at least; receive information relating to a resource in the inventory system; instruct the drive unit to retrieve the resource at a first location on the first level using the horizontal drive mechanism; instruct the drive unit to grasp the vertical element with the vertical element grasping mechanism; instruct the drive unit to ascend the vertical element to the second level using the vertical drive mechanism; instruct the drive unit to rotate around the vertical element by actuating the vertical drive mechanism; and instruct the drive unit to move the resource to a second location on the second level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-implemented method of managing a resource, comprising:
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selecting a drive unit from a plurality of drive units, each of the drive units comprising a body, a horizontal drive mechanism connected with the body, a vertical element grasping mechanism connected with the body, a vertical drive mechanism connected with the vertical element grasping mechanism, and a rotating mechanism connected with the vertical element grasping mechanism; instructing the drive unit to transit a first level of a multi-level facility using the horizontal drive mechanism to a vertical element; instructing the drive unit to grasp the vertical element by the vertical element grasping mechanism; instructing the drive unit to ascend or descend to a second level in a multi-level facility using the vertical drive mechanism; instructing the drive unit to rotate around the vertical element via the rotating mechanism while grasping the vertical element to position the drive unit at least partially above the second level; and instructing the drive unit to detach from the vertical element while on the second level. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vertically mobile drive unit, comprising:
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a body; a horizontal drive mechanism connected with the body; a vertical element grasping mechanism connected with the body and operable to grasp a vertical element; a vertical drive mechanism connected with the vertical element grasping mechanism, the vertical drive mechanism being operable to cause the drive unit to transit vertically along the vertical element; and a rotating element connected with the vertical element grasping mechanism and operable to cause the drive unit to rotate around the vertical element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification