Order fulfillment system and method with sortation at induct
US10781044B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 2019 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G2203/046
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An order fulfillment system and method includes a data base that is adapted to store data defining a plurality of customer orders. Each of the customer orders is a single item order having only one particular inventory item assigned to that order or a multiple item order having multiple particular inventory items assigned to that order. An inventory area stores inventory items that are available for fulfilling customer orders, and is responsive to said data base to retrieve particular inventory items from said inventory area that are assigned to customer orders in order to fulfill those orders. A sortation system combines particular inventory items together that make up an order. The sortation system has an automated induct subsystem and a sorter. The induct subsystem receives inventory items from the inventory area and forwards, in responsive to the data base, particular inventory items assigned to multiple-items orders to the sorter to be combined together to make up the multiple-item orders, but not particular inventory items assigned to single item orders. The sorter includes a pouch sorter having individual pouches and an overhead conveyor with tracts that route individual pou…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.