Re-arrange stored inventory holders

US9663295B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Peter R. Wurman · Acton, US
• Jeremiah David Brazeau · Hudson, US
• Pardeep Singh Farwaha · Medford, US
• Ryan A. Holt · North Andover, US
• Joseph W. Durham · Arlington, US
• John Joseph Enright · Somerville, US
• Alex Glazkov · Boston, US
• Jared Brian Holcomb · Haverhill, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 14, 2016
• Grant date: May 30, 2017
• Expiry date: Apr 14, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/087
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Inventory holders in an inventory system can be moved among differing storage positions. The moves can be performed by mobile drive units not otherwise transporting inventory holders directly to or from inventory stations. A free mobile drive unit can move an inventory holder not likely to be useful soon at any nearby station from a storage position near the station to a position farther away from the station. A mobile drive unit can move an inventory holder likely to be useful soon from a storage position farther away from one or more stations to a storage position nearby one or more stations.