Automated materials handling facility

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9600798-B2
Application number	US-201514857668-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2015
Priority date	Aug 12, 2015
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for an automated materials handling facility. The automated materials handling facility uses a series of automated devices, such as automated guidance vehicles, mobile drive units, robotic arms, automated sorters, etc., to facilitate item receive, stow, pick, shipping and other aspects of materials handling. The automated devices are controlled by a materials handling control system that sends instructions to the various devices to coordinate operation of those devices and to coordinate flow of items through the materials handling system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for automated picking and routing of an item within a materials handling facility, comprising:
a first automated device configured to pick an inventory holder from an inventory location within the materials handling facility and route the inventory holder to a pick/stow station, wherein the inventory holder contains a tote that includes the item;
a second automated device positioned at the pick/stow station configured to pick the item from the tote;
an automated sorter configured to route the item to a packing slot associated with the item;
a third automated device configured to retrieve the item from the packing slot and place the item in a container; and
at least one additional automated device configured to insert protective material in the container, insert additional material in the container, seal the container, or apply a shipping label to the container.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fourth automated device positioned at the pick/stow station configured to pick the tote from the inventory holder and position the tote at a location within the pick/stow station to enable picking of the item by the second automated device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the tote includes a plurality of cells and the item is positioned in a cell of the plurality of cells.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a conveyor configured to route the container to a shipping station; and
a fourth automated device configured to load the container on a transportation vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a materials handling facility control system in communication with each of the first automated device, the second automated device, the third automated device, and the automated sorter, wherein the materials handling facility control system is configured to send instructions to each of the first automated device, the second automated device, the third automated device, and the automated sorter to at least coordinate operation of the first automated device, the second automated device, the third automated device, and the automated sorter and to coordinate the automated picking and routing of the item.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tote includes:
a plurality of dividers that may be positioned within the tote for forming a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of dividers may be positioned in different configurations to form a different number of cells or different sizes of cells.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second automated device is further configured to place or reposition the plurality of dividers within the tote.

8. A system for automated picking and routing of an item within a materials handling facility, comprising:
a first automated device configured to pick an inventory holder from an inventory location within the materials handling facility and route the inventory holder to a pick/stow station, wherein the inventory holder contains a tote that includes the item;
a second automated device positioned at the pick/stow station configured to pick the item from the tote;
an automated sorter configured to route the item to a packing slot associated with the item;
a third automated device configured to retrieve the item from the packing slot and place the item in a container;
another first automated device configured to pick a second inventory holder from a second inventory location within the materials handling facility and route the second inventory holder to a second pick/stow station, wherein the second inventory holder contains a second tote that includes a second item, wherein the item and the second item are part of a shipment set;
another second automated device positioned at the second pick/stow station configured to pick the second item from the second tote; and
an induction transport configured to transport the second item from the second pick/stow station to the automated sorter;
wherein:
the automated sorter routes the second item to the packing slot; and
the third automated device retrieves the item and the second item from the packing slot and places the item and the second item in the container.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the automated sorter encompasses the first automated device, the inventory holder, the inventory location, the second automated device, the pick/stow station, the other first automated device, the second inventory holder, the second inventory location, the other second automated device, and the second pick-stow station.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the inventory location is on a first level of the materials handling facility; and
the second inventory location is on a second level of the materials handling facility.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the automated sorter is the only automated sorter included in the system.

12. A system for automated picking and routing of an item within a materials handling facility, comprising:
a first automated device configured to pick an inventory holder from an inventory location within the materials handling facility and route the inventory holder to a pick/stow station, wherein the inventory holder contains a tote that includes the item;
a second automated device positioned at the pick/stow station configured to pick the item from the tote;
an automated sorter configured to route the item to a packing slot associated with the item; and
a third automated device configured to retrieve the item from the packing slot and place the item in a container;
wherein the automated sorter is a continuous conveyor and routes items to packing slots such that the item is routed from an induction location into the automated sorter to the packing slot in less than a single revolution around the automated sorter.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the automated sorter encompasses the first automated device, the inventory holder, the inventory location, the second automated device, and the pick/stow station.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the automated sorter is the only automated sorter included in the system.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the automated sorter is configured to route items to a plurality of packing slots that are distributed at least one of around or on either side of the automated sorter.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the third automated device comprises a plurality of third automated devices distributed around the automated sorter, each of the plurality of third automated devices being associated with one or more of the plurality of packing slots.

17. A computing system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor and storing program instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to at least:
send first instructions that cause one or more automated devices to at least:
autonomously retrieve an item from a receive station within a materials handling facility;
autonomously route the item from the receive station to an inventory location within the materials handling facility; and
autonomously stow the item at the inventory location;

receive a request to include the item in a shipment set that is to be shipped from the materials handling facility;
send second instructions that cause the one or more automated devices to at least:
autonomously retrieve the item from the inventory location;
autonomously at least one of insert protective material in a container with the item, insert additional material in the container with the item, seal the container with the item, or apply a shipping label to the i

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Battles Jon Stuart
• Jochim Jayson Michael
• Aalund Martin Peter
• Lecky Ned
• Garrett Samuel Gardner
• Raines Jr Paul Roy
• Mani Kaushik
• Yan Yan
• Clark David Henry
• Tan John

Classifications

• B25J9/16

  Program controls (total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, G05B19/418) · CPC title

• B65G1/1373

  for fulfilling orders in warehouses · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• G06Q10/087 Primary

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

• B65G1/04

  mechanical · CPC title