Inventory system with efficient operator handling of inventory items

US9475639B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Michael C. Mountz · Lexington, US
• Jonathan Harris Schechter · Cambridge, US
• John Joseph Enright · Somerville, US
• Joseph W. Durham · Arlington, US
• Ibolya Horvath · Pembroke, US
• Eryk Brian Nice · Medford, US
• Michael Harrison Decker · Concord, US
• Peter R. Wurman · Acton, US
• Robert R. Ambrogi · Manchester, US
• Timothy Bragg · Winterport, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 24, 2014
• Grant date: Oct 25, 2016
• Expiry date: Feb 5, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G2209/08
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An inventory system can receive a receipt receptacle from a shipping vehicle. The receipt receptacle can be moved to a case shuttle without separating or sorting inventory items in the receipt receptacle. A mobile drive unit can move the case shuttle to a receiving station, where the receipt receptacle can be removed and where the inventory items can be stowed in a pickable inventory holder. A mobile drive unit can move the pickable inventory holder to an order-compiling station, where inventory items can be picked from the inventory holder into order receptacles. A mobile drive unit can move an order shuttle carrying order receptacles with completed orders to a shipping station, where the completed order receptacles can be transferred to a shipping vehicle.