Order filling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016140488-A1
Application number	US-201414896106-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 5, 2014
Priority date	Jun 6, 2013
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets for the fully- and/or partly automated handling of goods are disclosed. In particular, the disclosure provides improvements in the handling of goods in fulfillment of orders for items of mixed sizes, weights, and other dimensions.

First claim

1 . An order fulfillment system comprising:
a facility placing pre-picked bulky items in containers; a storage facility, for storage of bins each having one or more pre-picked bulky items pending picking of an order containing at least other one item stored in a storage and retrieval system; and a retrieval and picking system configured to retrieve pre-packed bins and enable placement therein of one or more additional items from the storage and retrieval system, and to deliver packed bins containing the bulky and at least one other item to a dispatch facility.

2 . The order fulfillment system of claim 1 comprising: at least one processor configured to: determine whether any of a plurality of incoming items will be pre-picked at a facility placing pre-picked bulky items in containers based on received or accessed information associated with incoming items.

3 . The order fulfillment system of claim 2 wherein the at least one processor is configured to: determine whether any of the plurality of incoming items will be pre-picked based on a predicted demand for incoming items.

4 . The order fulfillment system of claim 3 wherein the predicted demand is based on received orders which include incoming items.

5 . The order fulfillment system of claim 3 wherein the predicted demand is based on historical order data and is periodically updated based on new orders.

6 . The order fulfillment system of claim 2 wherein the at least one processor is configured to: determine whether any of a plurality of incoming items will be pre-picked based on inventory information associated with incoming items.

7 . The order fulfillment system of claim 2 wherein the received or accessed information associated with incoming items includes at least one of: an incoming item weight, an incoming item volume, an incoming item dimension.

8 . The order fulfillment system of claim 1 at least a part of which is environmentally controlled.

9 . The order fulfillment system of claim 1 , wherein the storage facility is physically separate from the storage and retrieval system.

10 . The order fulfillment system of claim 1 , wherein the storage facility comprises: at least one logically segregated portion of the storage and retrieval system.

11 . The order fulfillment system of claim 2 wherein the at least one processor is configured to: receive information regarding an order to be fulfilled; and determine whether pre-picked bulky items are to be retrieved from the storage facility to fulfill the order.

12 . A method of handling items in at least a semi-automated order fulfillment system, the method comprising:
identifying bulky items for pre-packing; storing at least one identified bulky item in each of at least one bin, prior to storing any relatively less bulky item therein, to form at least one pre-packed container; placing the at least one pre-packed container in storage; and, upon receipt of an order containing a request for the at least one pre-packed bulky item and at least one non-bulky item:
retrieving one of the at least one pre-packed containers;
using an order picking system, adding the at least one non-bulky item to the retrieved pre-packed container; and
providing the retrieved pre-packed container containing the at least one non-bulky item to a dispatch facility.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein identifying the bulky items for pre-packing is based on at least one physical characteristic of an item, and on a predicted demand for the item.

14 . The method of claim 12 or 13 , comprising: storing a plurality of identified bulky items in each of the at least one bin or other container to form the pre-packed container.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of bulky items is substantially identical.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one identified bulky item is heavier or larger than the at least one non-bulky item.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the storage is physically separated from storage in which the at least one non-bulky item is stored prior to picking.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the storage is logically separated from storage in which the at least one non-bulky item is stored prior to picking.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the storage is environmentally controlled.

20 . The method of claim 12 , performed at least partially by a processor of an automatic control system.

Assignees

• Ocado Innovation Ltd

Inventors

• Lindbo Lars Sverker Ture

Classifications

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06Q30/0635

  replenishment orders; recurring orders · CPC title

• B65G2209/10

  Partial order forming · CPC title

• B65G1/02

  Storage devices (furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F) · CPC title

• G05B19/418

  Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM] · CPC title