CN104903922A - Filling order at inventory pier - Google Patents

Filling order at inventory pier Download PDF

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Publication number
CN104903922A
CN104903922A CN201380058814.4A CN201380058814A CN104903922A CN 104903922 A CN104903922 A CN 104903922A CN 201380058814 A CN201380058814 A CN 201380058814A CN 104903922 A CN104903922 A CN 104903922A
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CN
China
Prior art keywords
stock
retainer
order
support
article
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CN201380058814.4A
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Chinese (zh)
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CN104903922B (en
Inventor
麦克尔·C·蒙士
彼得·R·吴曼
史蒂文·A·威尔逊
卡洛琳·F·马乐丽
彭舟舟
约瑟夫·W·杜伦汉
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Amazon Technologies Inc
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Amazon Technologies Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US13/644,679 external-priority patent/US20140100999A1/en
Priority claimed from US13/644,591 external-priority patent/US9792577B2/en
Priority claimed from US13/644,646 external-priority patent/US9009072B2/en
Application filed by Amazon Technologies Inc filed Critical Amazon Technologies Inc
Publication of CN104903922A publication Critical patent/CN104903922A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN104903922B publication Critical patent/CN104903922B/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
    • G06Q10/087—Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system includes an inventory pier and a mobile drive unit. The inventory pier includes a first side and a second side, The first side includes defined areas at which inventory holders are designated to be stationed. The inventory pier is operable to receive inventory items from at least one of the inventory holders at least one of the defined areas. The mobile drive unit is operable to transport an order holder along the second side of the inventory pier, wherein the order holder is operable to receive an inventory item from the inventory pier at a location along the second side of the inventory pier.

Description

Order is filled at stock's support place
Background of invention
Modern inventory system faces the demand of the increase of effectively fulfiling order, and the no matter complexity that increases of stock and order and diversity.Suffer poor efficiency to use the inventory system of system resource to face low system throughput, do not complete or delay task and make us the unacceptable response time.Therefore, this inventory system faces more effective storage life, space, equipment and manpower with the challenge of the demand meeting it and promote.
Accompanying drawing is sketched
In order to more completely understand the present invention and advantage thereof, with reference to the description done below in conjunction with accompanying drawing, wherein:
Fig. 1 is the skeleton view that diagram comprises the assembly of the inventory system of the stock's support according to example implementations;
Fig. 2 diagram can use stock's support to fill the side view of each assembly of the inventory system of order;
Fig. 3 diagram can use multiple stock's support to fill the top view of another example implementations of the inventory system of order;
Fig. 4 diagram can use multiple stock's support to fill the vertical view of another example implementations of the inventory system of order;
The particular technology of Fig. 5 diagram for using stock's support to fulfil order;
Fig. 6 is the process flow diagram using stock's support to fill the case method of order;
Fig. 7 is the process flow diagram that diagram promotes to fulfil at stock's support place the case method of order;
Fig. 8 is the process flow diagram that diagram promotes the example of fulfiling at stock's support place; And
Fig. 9 diagram can be used for the example calculation system of the one or more parts in system and method disclosed herein.
Embodiment
Many entities utilize inventory system to carry out store and management stock.Such as, some retailers can utilize the warehouse shelf storing stock article in each hopper.Work as a retailer when needing to fill the order of particular item of inventory, staff is usually from the hopper retrieval stock article storing stock article.
Inventory system of the present disclosure can utilize one or more mobile driver element to carry out to store from warehouse retrieval stock retainer automatically.Stock's retainer can be complete shelf, and wherein each frame has the hopper for each stock article.Mobile driver element can be the robot device being configured to independent movement around warehouse.Frame can be transported to station for performing inventory operations by mobile driver element.Stand and can comprise operating personnel and/or automation equipment to remove required stock article from stock's retainer and to complete order.Mobile driver element transports stock article and arrives at a station to perform the ability of inventory operations instead of staff from fixed mount MS manual search stock article or efficiency and the yield-power that in addition greatly can increase inventory system.Such as, by utilizing mobile driver element, inventory system more per hourly than Previous solutions can fulfil more order.Mobile unit can move in response to the order received from robotization guidance system and/or instruction and/or retrieve stock's retainer around warehouse.Such as, administration module can control supervision and the coordination of particular element in warehouse and/or task.Administration module can receive the order of the stock article in warehouse and coordinate to fulfil the task assignment of order, comprise provide instruction to mobile driver element with by have the frame of request stock article be transported to stock station to complete order.Administration module also can provide the guidance of how Assembly Order at stock station.
In order to use simple declaration, in the distribution depot in office supply shop, administration module can receive the order of printer, some print cartridges and carton.Administration module can determine the position in the storage rack of these article in distribution depot.Described article can such as on the frame of three independent shelves.Administration module can release tasks make the retrieval of three difference mobile driver elements keep each shelf of printer, print cartridge and paper respectively, and mobile driver element is transported keep these article can be packaged into the shelf at stock station for loading and transporting in box to the order of wherein three article.When so doing, administration module can coordinate all orders that each task makes to fulfil in an efficient way administration module reception.
In many inventory systems, the high speed of little number percent and/or high volume stock are responsible for the overall system activity of large number percent.High speed stock can refer to the stock of welcome large number percent order request, and high volume stock can refer to the large volume stock of order request.Volume can refer to the physical quantity of the cubic space that particular item of inventory needs in warehouse.High volume stock article can refer to the article that large-scale or block article and/or individual orders are made a big purchase in large quantities.In particular bin deposit system, the stock article of maximum 1% can account for the total system activity more than 20%.Well received article may need the respective heights of mobile driver element to use so that stock's retainer is transported to stock station.Similarly, high volume stock may need relatively more labour with stock's retainer of this article of supplementary storage, makes this article disassemble in stock's retainer and may use stock's more poor efficiency than the mode only arrived from wholesale dealer with it for order.Stock's support can be used to realize the more effective ways of the order of filling this article.Stock's support can store the stock of well received and/or high volume.Stock's retainer that is welcome or high volume stock can be stored along the location, side of stock's support.Therefore stock's support can be configured to comprise the fixed position of configurable number for maximum stock articles.For the case library deposit system of storage 3,000 unique stock article, less as 30 unique stock articles can account for the high number percent of system activity due to the high speed of this article or high volume.Therefore, in this inventory system, stock's support can comprise the localized area of q.s to store 30 maximum stock articles at stock's support place.Order retainer can be such as shelf, and it is configured to box or the container of the order kept being used for filling stock article.Each box or container can be relevant to specific indent.Such as, order retainer can store for some print cartridges and some cardboard cases making the shipment of the order of paper.The order retainer with the order needing this article can correspond to the position of stock's retainer of the stock article stored needed for order along the access of stock's support.Manipulater can remove article from stock's retainer and in the suitable box be placed in order retainer or container.If needed, then order retainer can be brought to stock station to fill the article stayed on order in the box or container of order retainer.
In order to illustrate, in office supply example discussed above, paper can be high volume stock article and print cartridge can be well received article.Therefore, stock's retainer of cardboard and the various print cartridge of storage can be placed in stock's support place.Can by paper being sent to the order of the position of order retainer and some packagings of paper fillers and print cartridge along stock's support-moving order retainer relative with storing the goods plate of paper to wherein manipulater.Order retainer is then movable to relative storage print cartridge and wherein print cartridge can be sent to the position of stock's retainer of order retainer by identical or different manipulater.If the printer of asking is not stored in stock's support place, so moves driver element and order retainer can be transported to stock station, wherein another moves driver element and can transport stock's retainer containing printer, makes to fill order.
The technological merit of some embodiment of the present disclosure comprises and is provided for using stock support to fulfil the ability of the system and method for order.Technological merit can be included in the ability that high volume and/or high-speed object are laid by stock's support place.Along with the demand that stock article changes in inventory system, administration module can be included in the ability that stock's support place replaces stock, therefore guarantees that top speed and/or volume article can be used at any time at stock's support place.Another technological merit can comprise the ability based on the article being arranged in stock's support place in order, each order being grouped into order retainer.Therefore, can be fulfiled at cardinal principle same time the some orders transported by single mobile driver element by single order retainer.In addition, multiple order retainer can simultaneously and/or concurrently along stock's support-moving, the order in multiple order retainer be filled in permission substantially simultaneously.Therefore, inventory system can reach the larger operating efficiency than using conventional art otherwise to realize.The inventory system using stock's support to fulfil order can drop into less mobile driver element to fulfil order than only using stock station and/or traditional selection method.In addition, otherwise need to transport multiple stock's retainer can reduce and/or put into the driving time of filling the mobile driver element of the order of high-speed article in other task in inventory system.The further technological merit of certain embodiments of the present invention can comprise provides flexible and extendible inventory storage solution, and described solution can be suitable for adaptive system easily and increase and amendment.The further technological merit of certain embodiments of the present invention can comprise provides flexible and extendible inventory storage solution, and described solution can increase and change by adaptive system easily.From the following drawings, description and appended claims, other technological merit of the present invention will be apparent for those skilled in the art.
Although be enumerated above the instantiation with concrete advantage, each embodiment can comprise all, cited by some advantages, or does not comprise cited advantage.By reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 9, can understand embodiment of the present invention and advantage thereof best, wherein similar numbering refers to the phase Sihe corresponding part of each accompanying drawing.
Fig. 1 is the skeleton view that diagram comprises the assembly of the inventory system 10 of the stock's support 50 according to example implementations.As shown, inventory system 10 also comprises administration module 15, various mobile driver element 20, stock's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34, rubbish retainer 36 and order retainer 40.As shown, stock's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34 and rubbish retainer 36 are placed in localized area 80 place along the side of stock's support 50.Stock's retainer 30 and goods plate retainer 34 can usually keep stock article 42 when order filled by one or more manipulaters at stock's support 50 place and keep at localized area 80 place fixing.But stock's retainer 30 and goods plate retainer 34 can be transported to localized area 80 in each time and from wherein sending by mobile driver element 20.Such as, as shown, a mobile driver element 20 can remove goods plate retainer 34 from stock's support 50, and another new goods plate retainer 34 moving the goods plate of driver element 20 maintenance additional inventory article 42 replaces goods plate retainer 34.In order to fill order, order retainer 40 is moved to the position of the opposite side along stock's support 50 by mobile driver element 20.In each position, mobile driver element 20 can slow down and/or stop making the manipulater at stock's support 50 place and/or automation equipment to remove asked stock article 42 from stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 and to be placed in the container 60 order retainer 40.In some embodiments, the manipulater of stock's support 50 can be automation equipment and/or staff.As shown, order retainer 40 can start in one end of stock's support 50 and move until arrive opposite end along side.In some embodiments, order retainer 40 can directly move to the position that can receive stock article 42 at its place along stock's support 50.Then order retainer 40 can move to along the side of stock's support 50 and can receive another stock article 42 and/or can from the position wherein removing another stock article 42 from stock's support 50 at it after receiving stock article 42 (as such as indicated by the dotted arrow of Fig. 1).After access stock support 50, order retainer 40 can be transported to other appropriate location in inventory system 10.Such as, if the order in order retainer 40 completes, so order retainer 40 can be transported to point of shipment.
Administration module 15 receives and/or generates request, and can start the specific operation of other element relating to mobile driver element 20, stock's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34, order retainer 40, stock article 42, stock's support 50 and/or inventory system 10.Administration module 15 can select the assembly of inventory system 10 to perform various operation, and order, instruction and/or other suitable information are delivered to selected assembly, to have promoted that these operate.Administration module 15 can receive the order about various stock article 42, and tunable and the various suitable task of management fill order.Administration module 15 can receive order from any suitable system or assembly, and alternative or generate task extraly and the task of appointment to each assembly of inventory system 10.In specific embodiments, administration module 15 part generates task assignment based on the order of the request comprising the stock article 42 that administration module 15 receives from other assembly of inventory system 10 and/or receives from the external module communicated with administration module 15.Based on described order, what administration module 15 identifiable design will complete relate to storage maybe will be stored in the stock article in inventory system 10 and the specific operation that can represent the communication of any appropriate format.Such as, in specific embodiments, order given client can have been bought and will retrieve the particular item of inventory 42 of loading and transporting for client from inventory system 10.
After the one or more task assignment of generation, administration module 15 selects suitable assembly to complete particular task and task assignment to be transferred to selected assembly to trigger completing of inter-related task.Then associated component performs its task of assigning.One or more tasks that each task assignment definition specific components will complete.These tasks can relate to the retrieval of stock article, storage, supplement and the management of other assembly of counting and/or mobile driver element 20, stock's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34, order retainer 40, stock's support 50 and inventory system 10.The task of depending on assembly and will complete, particular task is assigned identifiable design and the position that corresponding task is associated, assembly and/or action and/or completes other adequate information any that the relevant assembly of appointment task will use relevant.
Although the suitable assembly of inventory system 10 completes appointment task, administration module 15 can with associated component alternately with guarantee effectively to use inventory system 10 can space, equipment, manpower and other resource.Such as, Management Unit 15 can from the information of each assembly reception of system 10 about its current location, state and/or further feature.Based on knowing its position of each assembly of inventory system 10, current state and/or further feature and knowing current completing of task, administration module 15 can generate task, the distribution of system resource uses, and with the task that the mode of system-level viewpoint Optimum Operation guides individual elements to complete in addition.In addition, by depending on centralization, system-level management and localization, specific decision-making assembly, the particular of inventory system 10 can support a large amount of technology of the various aspects of the operation effectively performing inventory system 10.
As a result, by implementing one or more administrative skills hereinafter described, some embodiments of administration module 15 can strengthen the efficiency of inventory system 10 and/or provide other service advantages.Such as, specific stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 that administration module 15 can determine to be placed in stock's support 50 place based on determining when to be placed on stock's support 50, can be reduced overall system activity.Similarly, order can be grouped in order retainer 40 and appointment task is to fulfil order that to make to optimize Order Fulfillment movable at stock's support 50 place by administration module 15.The more detailed description of the example operation of administration module 15 is discussed hereinafter with reference to Fig. 3-8.
Stock's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34 and/or order retainer 40 is transported between the diverse location of mobile driver element 20 in the workplace that inventory system 10 is associated.Characteristic sum based on other element of stock's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34, order retainer 40 and/or inventory system 10 configures, and mobile driver element 20 can represent any device or assembly that are suitable for using in inventory system 10.In the particular of inventory system 10, mobile driver element 20 represents independently self-powered robot device, and it is configured to move freely near associated workplace.In an alternate embodiment, mobile driver element 20 represents the element of tracked inventory system 10, and it is configured to: along the track of workplace, rail, cable or other induction element associated by traversal to move stock's retainer 30.In such an implementation, mobile driver element 20 is by receiving electric power with the connection of induction element (such as, electric power rail).In some embodiments, inventory system 10 can comprise the two or more difference all types of mobile driver element 20 with various suitable ability and specification.In addition, although shown and discuss as mobile driver element 20 is the mobile driver element of particular type, mobile driver element 20 suitably can refer to various types of mobile driver element.Such as, the mobile driver element 20 of a type can operate to transport goods plate retainer 34 and/or relatively large-scale, heavy or block stock article 42.The mobile driver element 20 of another type can operate to transport stock's retainer 30, order retainer 40 and/or relatively light and/or compacter stock article 42.Therefore mobile driver element 20 can have in various power train, load capacity and other the suitable specification various stock's retainers in inventory system 10 and transport particular item of inventory 42.
Mobile driver element 20 can communicate with administration module 15, to receive the information of the stock's retainer 30 selected by identification during operation, to transmit the position of mobile driver element 20, or other suitable information any of switch management module 15 or mobile driver element 20 use.Mobile driver element 20 can use the wired connection between mobile driver element 20 and administration module 15 and/or come in any other suitable manner to carry out radio communication with administration module 15.As an example, some embodiments of mobile driver element 20 can use Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), bluetooth (IEEE 802.15), Infrared Data Association's standard or other suitable wireless communication protocol any to carry out communicating and/or communicating each other with administration module 15.As another example, in tracked inventory system 10, track or other induction element (mobile driver element 20 moves above) can be wired, to promote the communication between mobile driver element 20 and other assembly of inventory system 10.
Stock's retainer 30 stores stock article 42.In some embodiments, stock's retainer 30 comprises multiple storage hopper, and wherein each storage hopper can keep dissimilar stock article 42.Stock's retainer 30 can be moved driver element 20 and carry, rolls or otherwise move.Each stock's retainer 30 can have multiple surface, and each hopper faces by the concrete surface of relevant stock's retainer 30 and reaches.Mobile driver element 20 rotates stock's retainer 30 between can being configured in due course, with the particular surface of hopper presenting stock's retainer 30 to other assembly of manipulater or inventory system 10 and be associated.Fig. 2 more illustrate in details the example implementations of stock's retainer 30.
Goods plate retainer 34 represents stock's retainer 30 that can operate a type of the goods plate storing stock article 42.In some embodiments, goods plate retainer 34 can be moved driver element 20 and carries, rolls or otherwise move.Goods plate retainer 34 can store block container and/or high volume stock article 42.Therefore, in specific embodiments, goods plate retainer 34 can comprise the huge stocks article 42 with single SKU.In some embodiments, goods plate retainer 34 represents the container keeping described stock article 42 when the wholesale dealer of particular item of inventory 42 or dealer receive stock article 42.Therefore, in the operation of some patterns, goods plate retainer 34 directly can move to inventory system 10 to stock's support 50 from entrance in response to the volume of the stock article 42 on specific goods plate retainer 34 and/or speed.
Rubbish retainer 36 stores rubbish and/or waste material.Rubbish retainer 36 can represent hopper, bracket, container or be configured to other structure of the waste material storing the general type generated by stock's support 50, and described waste material can generate at stock's support 50 place due to the operation of stock's support 50.Such as, when goods plate is disassembled, shrink wrapped and/or other waste material can be removed from the goods plate goods plate retainer 34.As another example, when stock article 42 is for filling order, indivedual stock article 42 can be removed from encapsulation or other one-trip container.When encapsulating or other one-trip container is empty, it can be placed in rubbish retainer 36 to cancel and abandon.In some embodiments, rubbish retainer 36 can be configured such that it can be transported by mobile driver element 20.Be described in more detail below with reference to Fig. 2, rubbish retainer 36 mode similar with stock's retainer 30 and mobile driver element can be situated between and connect.Sometimes, administration module 15 can indicate one in mobile driver element 20 rubbish retainer 36 to be transported out of the stock's support 50 that will move empty.
Order retainer 40 keeps 60 groups, container, stock article 42 can be encapsulated into order wherein.Container 60 can be configured to store the order about various stock article 42.Order retainer 40 can have any suitable structure, and to be configured to based on the type of container 60 utilized in inventory system 10 or other suitable factor any storage container 60 in any suitable manner.In some embodiments, order retainer 40 represents stock's retainer 30 of a type, and it is configured to hold cargo loading plate, and can be moved driver element 20 and move.Order retainer 40 can comprise the one or more platform or shelf of it being shelved container 60.Extraly or alternatively, order retainer 40 can comprise multiple hopper, each hopper keeps the container 60 of different size or type.Order retainer 40 and/or container 60 can be specified for being shipped to remote location, the such as point of destination.Container 60 represents the container of any appropriate format, stock article 42 can be placed in the above-described container or on it, for storage, load and transport or other suitable object.The example of container 60 includes but not limited to case, goods plate, hopper, carton and big envelope.In specific embodiments, container 60 is independent of the order retainer 40 of storage container 60, and therefore, container 60 can remove for process from order retainer 40 or be sent to other order retainer 40.As an example, container 60 can represent case or goods plate, and in described case or on described goods plate, the stock article 42 be associated with specific indent can be stored for sending, and then relevant container 60 can be shipped to the client be associated with described order.As another example, container 60 can represent hopper or other container, and wherein stock article 42 can be placed for longer-term storage, and is then moved to shipping position or removes from inventory system 10.Fig. 2 more illustrate in details the example implementations of order retainer 40 and container 60.Hereinafter with reference Fig. 2 more discusses the more detailed example of mobile driver element 20, stock's retainer 30 and order retainer 40 in detail.
Stock article 42 represents any object being suitable for storing in robotization inventory system 10, retrieving and/or process.In order to the object of this description, " stock article " can represent any one or more objects of the particular type being stored in inventory system 10.Such as, given stock article 42 can represent the single stock-keeping unit (SKU) of unique stock article.Therefore, stock article 42 can refer to special article and/or can refer to suitably have the amount of commodity of specific SKU.As an example, inventory system 10 can be expressed as the retail distribution depot that retailing facility stores block stock article 42, such as grocery store and/or merchandise warehouse.As another example, inventory system 10 can represent mail-order warehouse facility, and stock article 42 can represent the commodity be stored in warehouse facility.During operation, mobile driver element 20 can retrieve stock's retainer 30, and it is included in packaged with one or more stock articles 42 of asking in the order being delivered to client.In addition, in the particular of inventory system 10, the case self having comprised order can represent stock article.
Stock station 50 represents for process or handles any suitable assembly of stock article 42, such as monitoring stock article 42 at the scanner of inflow and the outflow of inventory system 10, for carrying out the communication interface that communicates and/or other suitable assembly any with administration module 15.Stock's support 50 comprises some localized areas 80, can lay stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 at its place.Arrange that stock's support 50 makes order retainer 40 can operate to move from the localized area 80 of stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 along opposite side.Order retainer 40 along stock's support 50 movement can receive stock article 42 from operating personnel and/or automation equipment.The operating personnel at stock's support 50 place and/or automation equipment can operate remove stock article 42 from stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 and moved in the appropriate containers 60 in order retainer 40.Stock's support 50 therefore can comprise suitable display device and/or signaling apparatus will be placed in which container 60 to indicate which stock article of manipulater 42.Additionally or alternati, stock's support 50 can comprise one or more indicator, its when starting for manipulater provides the instruction expecting that specific indent retainer 40 is parked in where and/or slows down to receive particular item of inventory 42 along stock's support 50.Indicator can be any suitable audio frequency and/or video signaling device, and such as display interface, lamp, laser maybe can supply information to other appropriate device of the manipulater of stock's support 50.
Stock's support 50 completely or partially can be controlled by operating personnel, or can be full-automatic.In addition, the operating personnel of stock's support 50 or automation mechanized operation device can perform the part of some task (such as pack stock article 42 or count) as the operation of inventory system 10 to stock article 42.Stock's support 50 can be divided into the workspace of the right quantity corresponding to each manipulater.Manipulater can work in each workspace.Workspace can by administration module 15 for balancing and/or coordinate the appointment of stock's support 50.Such as, stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be assigned to workspace based on the relative velocity at each district's intermediate equilibria stock article 42.As another example, stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be assigned to workspace based on the random velocity at each district's intermediate equilibria stock article 42.Stock's support 50 can comprise one or more raising and/or flat surface, and it is configured to promote manipulater and the interaction of stock's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34, rubbish retainer 36 and/or order retainer 40.In addition or alternatively, stock's support 50 can represent the region of specifying for the workplace of one or more activity as herein described.Therefore, stock's support 50 can represent the virtual region carrying out the inventory system 10 of the activity described in the disclosure at Qi Chu.The virtual region limiting stock support 50 can retrain the two or more sides being specified for activity described herein virtually, is included in and side locates stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 and/or order retainer 40 is moved to the position along opposite side.Administration module 15 can limit and/or be programmed the virtual region interaction come with the workplace being appointed as stock's support 50.
Localized area 80 can represent the space of contiguous stock's support 50, locates stock's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34 and/or rubbish retainer 36 when can fill order at stock's support 50 place at its place.Localized area 80 can have the area of the size corresponding to stock's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34 and/or rubbish retainer 36.Localized area 80 can represent the fixed position that the side along stock's support 50 is located.Localized area 80 can represent the Virtual Space limited by administration module 15.Although it should be noted that and be illustrated as continuous space substantially similar each other dimensionally, localized area 80 can have different size and/or can be positioned in any appropriate location relative to stock's support 50.Such as, localized area 80 can have the respective size and different sizes that depend on stock's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34 and/or rubbish retainer 36.Therefore, in some embodiments, localized area 80 can have and specifies dissimilar for particular type retainer.In other embodiments, localized area 80 can sizing make it can exchange between the dissimilar retainer at stock's support 50 place substantially.In some embodiments, localized area 80 simply can represent the region along the side of preserving in stock's support 50 for placing retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34 and/or rubbish retainer 36.
Generally speaking, stock's support 50 is used to fill the order of stock article 42.By administration module 15, stock article 42, stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be assigned to stock's support 50 based on the demand of stock article 42.Order retainer 40 by carrying being used for each container 60 of order is transported to stock's support 50 and fills the order of each stock article 42, and wherein the stock article 42 of order can be placed in container 60.In some embodiments, order retainer 40 can receive stock article 32 from the stock station of other type before or after receiving stock article 32 from stock's support 50.As hereafter described in detail, after access stock support 50, order retainer 40 can be transported to stock station to receive additional articles and/or to be transported to point of shipment for being shipped to another facility or terminal user.The detailed example of the operation of inventory system 10 is discussed hereinafter with reference to Fig. 3-8.Particularly, hereinafter with reference Fig. 5 discussion for promoting the technology of the Order Fulfillment at stock's support 50 place, and is hereafter also discussed for selecting high speed and/or high volume stock to be placed in stock's support 50 and the added technique for each order being grouped into order retainer 40 with reference to figure 6-8.
Fig. 2 diagram can use the side view of each assembly of stock's support 50 filling reservoir deposit system.Particularly, stock's retainer 30 is transported to the specific mobile driver element 20 of stock's support 50 by Fig. 2 diagram from inventory storage 48.Another moves driver element 20 and the order retainer 40 of each container 60 containing order is transported to stock's support 50.As shown, from can be a kind ofly arrange that at order retainer 40 the order vectoring station 54 at the station of the type of container 60 transports order retainer 40.At stock's support 50 place, remove stock article 42 from stock's retainer 30 and be placed into the appropriate containers 60 of order retainer 40.Order retainer 40 can be moved to another location with another appropriate location receiving another stock article 42 or be movable in inventory system 10 along the side of stock's support 50.
Mobile driver element 20 is by docking and/or be coupled to specific retainer and move retainer when docking and transport stock's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34 and/or order retainer 40.Such as, as shown, mobile driver element 20 transports stock's retainer 30 and order retainer 40 respectively.For the reason simplified, the transport of more detailed description stock retainer 30, but following description can apply some embodiments of arrival plate retainer 34 and/or order retainer 40 similarly.Mobile driver element 20 passes through to move below stock's retainer 30 and lifting Jie connects the butt junction of the part of stock's retainer 30 and transports stock's retainer 30.Butt junction can control with the actuator of the mobile driver element 20 of lifting stock retainer 30 when docking by operating.Mobile driver element 20 can be coupled to stock's retainer 30 and/or support stock's retainer 30 when mobile driver element 20 being docked to stock's retainer 30 by the butt junction of mobile driver element 20.Mobile driver element 20 can such as by lifting stock retainer 30, promotion stock retainer 30, rotation stock retainer 30 and/or mobile stock's retainer 30 utilize butt junction to handle stock's retainer 30 in any other suitable way.The butt junction of mobile driver element 20 also can comprise any suitable assembly combination with this manipulation promoting stock's retainer 30.Such as, in some embodiments, high friction portion can form all or part of butt junction, and described butt junction adjoins the part of stock's retainer 30 when mobile driver element 20 is docked to stock's retainer 30.In these embodiments, when mobile driver element 20 activates butt junction, the friction force between the high friction portion and the surface of stock's retainer 30 of butt junction can cause the translation of stock's retainer 30 and in rotary moving.
In some embodiments, when moving and/or when stopping, mobile driver element 20 can rotate its butt junction to rotate stock's retainer 30.Additionally or alternati, mobile driver element 20 can rotate butt junction or independently on the whole as the part of the movement of mobile driver element 20.Such as, mobile driver element 20 can rotate stock's retainer 30 along with when mobile driver element 20 performs and turns, and makes stock's retainer 30 continuation in the face of the inceptive direction of movement.When raised, mobile driver element 20 can control another actuator or drive electric power to the actuator of its wheel.Use wheel driver, mobile driver element 20 can not dock with stock's retainer 30 when butt junction lifting stock's retainer 30 or at mobile driver element and/or transport stock's retainer 30 from during its decoupling zero.As shown, except the driven wheel of being powered by one or more actuator, mobile driver element 20 comprises a pair stabiliser wheel.
Should note, although illustrate the specific docking calculation with stock's retainer 30, but mobile driver element 20 is by being connected to stock's retainer 30 described in stock's retainer 30, lifting and/or otherwise interactive with it and dock with stock's retainer 30 in any other way, make when docked, mobile driver element 20 is coupled to stock's retainer 30 and/or supports described stock's retainer 30 and removable stock's retainer 30.Although below describe the particular paid close attention to and be configured to mobile the driver element 20 and stock's retainer 30 docked in a specific way, the alternate embodiment of mobile driver element 20 and stock's retainer 30 can be configured to be suitable for allowing that any mode of mobile driver element 20 mobile stock's retainer 30 in inventory system 10 is docked.In addition, as mentioned below, in specific embodiments, mobile driver element 20 represents all or part of stock's retainer 30.In these embodiments, mobile driver element 20 can not dock with stock's retainer 30 and each maintenance of mobile driver element 20 continues to dock with specific stock's retainer 30 before transport stock retainer 30.
Fig. 3 diagram can use stock's support 50 to fill the top view of another example implementations of the inventory system 10 of order.Inventory system 10 comprises above with reference to each element be disposed in workplace described in figure 1 and Fig. 2.Except above-mentioned stock's support 50, inventory system 10 comprises and is stored in each stock's retainer 30 in inventory storage 48 and/or goods plate retainer 34.Inventory system 10 also comprises one or more station, such as receiving station 52, vectoring station 54, stock station 56 and/or point of shipment 58.Generally speaking, by order retainer 40 being transported to the order of the stock article 42 in stock's support 50 and each other station filling reservoir deposit system 10.The stock article 42 being placed in stock's support 50 place can be used for and/or facilitate order.In addition or alternatively, order retainer 40 can be transported to stock station 56 to receive the additional inventory article 42 in stock's retainer 30, and wherein stock's retainer 30 can be transported to stock station 56 by mobile driver element 20 and/or have the cube volume higher than other stock article 42.Therefore, although the amount of high volume stock article 42 can be less than the amount of high relative velocity article 42, the cumulative volume of high volume stock article 42 can higher than the stock article with fair speed.
Inventory system 10 can represent the Order Fulfillment facility of any suitable type.Such as, inventory system 10 can represent mail-order warehouse, and the distribution center of retail chain store, manufacturing facility maybe can utilize inventory system to carry out managed inventory and/or fulfil other facility any of order.In many embodiments, to place an order stock article 42 with different order speed.Therefore, to place an order some stock articles 42 with the frequency more much higher than other stock article 42.Equally, can the amount more much higher than other stock article 42 to place an order some stock articles 42.
Receiving station 52, vectoring station 54, stock station 56 and point of shipment 58 represent the station of any suitable assembly comprising for the treatment of or dispose stock article 42, such as monitoring stock article 42 at the scanner of inflow and the outflow of inventory system 10 far away, for carrying out the communication interface that communicates and/or other suitable assembly any with administration module 15.Stand and represent the position of appointment for completing the particular task relating to stock article.These tasks can comprise and remove stock article from stock's retainer 30, stock article is directed to stock's retainer 30, stock article in counting stock retainer 30, disassemble stock article (such as, from the group of goods plate or case size to indivedual stock article), and/or process or dispose stock article in any other suitable way.In some embodiments, stand and can only represent the physical location that wherein can complete the particular task relating to stock article in inventory system 10.Alternatively or in addition, stand all can represent physical location and for the treatment of or dispose any suitable equipment of stock article, such as monitoring stock article at the scanner of inflow and the outflow of inventory system 10, for carrying out the communication interface that communicates and/or other suitable assembly any with administration module 15.Stand and can completely or partially be controlled by operating personnel, or can be full-automatic.In some embodiments, manipulater can be automation equipment.In addition, the operating personnel of stock's support 50 or automation mechanized operation device can perform the part of some task (such as pack stock article or count) as the operation of inventory system 10 to stock article.In addition, the operating personnel of stock's support 50 or automation mechanized operation device can perform the part of some task (such as pack stock article 42 or count) as the operation of inventory system 10 to stock article 42.Receiving station 52, vectoring station 54, stock station 56 and point of shipment 58 represent the specialization station being suitable for the Processing tasks performing the particular type that inventory system 10 is supported.But generally speaking, some embodiment inventory systems 10 can comprise stock station, and the task of multiple type can be disposed in described stock station, but in any given time, it is configured to the task of only processing a kind of particular type.
Receiving station 52 represents and carries out and receive supplementing and/or replace the station of the task that stock article 42 is associated at Qi Chu.Such as, receiving station 52 can comprise loading platform and suitable treatment facility to be included in inventory system 10 by new stock article 42.At place of receiving station 52, can receive, disassemble, dispose new stock, and be sent in inventory system 10, and/or with reception stock article 42 to other the suitable task any in inventory system 10.
Vectoring station 54 represents and carries out the station with the task of assembling and/or setting up order retainer 40 and/or assembling container 60 for stock article at Qi Chu.Such as, vectoring station 54 can comprise assembling container 60 and/or the suitable material that is grouped into by container 60 in order retainer 40 and equipment.The interface at place of vectoring station 54 can provide any suitable assembly for assembling container 60, such as packing list, wrappage, Shipping Label and suitably load and transport the material relevant with the task of packaging to other.In some embodiments, vectoring station 54 can comprise appropriate device and/or interface to indicate the manipulater of vectoring station 54 how assembling container 60 and/or be grouped in order retainer 40 by container 60.Such as, given order can comprise some stock articles 42.Which which can be manipulater to provide and use the container 60 of model and the instruction be placed into by container 60 in order retainer 40.Special container 60 can be associated with the specific indent guiding to 54 places.Therefore, when container 60 receives stock article 42, " order " can refer to equally or alternatively receive stock article 42.
Except stock's support 50 or alternative stock's support 50, stock station 56 represents carries out the station with the task of fulfiling order at Qi Chu.At stock station 56, stock article 42 can be selected and/or be placed in the container 60 of order retainer 40.Stock station 56 can comprise suitable equipment to indicate manipulater to remove particular item of inventory 42 from stock's retainer 30 and to be placed into the container 60 of order retainer 40 by stock article 42.In some embodiments, stock station 56 can be situated between and connects with container 60 being transported to transportation equipment that point of shipment 58 is used for loading and transporting.Therefore, when completing specific indent, can its associated container 60 be removed from order retainer 40 and be placed into transportation equipment for delivery to point of shipment 58.In addition or alternatively, mobile driver element 20 removable order retainer 40 principle stock station 56 and order retainer 40 is transported to point of shipment 58.
Point of shipment 58 represents the position that order can be shipped to destination at its place, the terminal user of such as order and/or the special point of destination.Such as, point of shipment 58 can comprise loading platform and suitable treatment facility with from inventory system 10 pig 60.In some embodiments, point of shipment 58 and receiving station 52 can in similar or same positions.
When operating, use the order of the stock article 42 in stock's support 50 filling reservoir deposit system 10.Stock is received in inventory system 10 along with at place of receiving station 52, the goods plate of the stock article 42 of the system of replenishing the stock 10 can be placed on arrival plate retainer 34 and/or be placed in stock's retainer 30.Along stock's support 50, selected stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be moved to localized area 80 by mobile driver element 20.Be placed in the stock article 42 that stock's retainer 30 at localized area 80 place and goods plate retainer 34 can keep high relative velocity and/or high volume.
Along with inventory system 10 receives order, with the appropriate containers 60 Assembly Order retainer 40 at place of vectoring station 54.Mobile driver element moves order retainer 40 to receive the stock article 42 stored by stock's retainer 30 of localized area 80 and/or goods plate retainer 34 along stock's support 50 along stock's support 50.If complete the order on specific indent retainer 40 after access stock support 50, so order retainer 40 can be moved to point of shipment 58.If order does not complete, so by mobile driver element 20, order retainer 40 can be moved to one or more stock station 56.As an example, be relatively out of favour and/or the article of low volume if order comprises be not stored in stock's support 50 place one or more, so may order also in backlog retainer 40 after access stock support 50.At stock station 56 place, specific stock's retainer 30 of the particular item of inventory 42 of the order request in order retainer 40 is kept to be transported to stock station 56 by mobile driver element 20 from inventory storage 48.After selecting station 56 place and completing order, order retainer 40 can be transported to point of shipment 58.Although it should be noted that shown example illustrates that order retainer 40 is transported to stock's support 50 from vectoring station 54 by mobile driver element 20, this is not necessary information.In some embodiments, given order retainer 40 can be transported to one or more stock station 56 in system 10 or other position by mobile driver element 20 before order retainer 40 is transported to stock's support 50.
Administration module 15 can assign stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to arrive the localized area 80 at stock's support 50 place.Administration module 15 can specify specific stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to be placed to localized area 80 place of stock's support 50.Described appointment can based on and/or in response to the product speed of the stock article 42 be stored in respectively in stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 and/or volume.In some embodiments, administration module 15 can check each order in inventory system 10 to determine that the best of breed of stock article 42 is to be stored in stock's support 50 place.In some embodiments, best of breed can based on determining the highest total amount that can complete order at stock's support 50 place with specific stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.Such as, if paper and print cartridge are the highest volume and top speed article 42 and are selected for be placed in stock's support 50 place respectively, so administration module 15 can select the printer of specific height sale to be placed in stock's support 50 place, because many orders can ask the combination of paper, print cartridge and printer.In some embodiments, can based on determining that another higher welcome degree article preferential for the more blanket order completing stock's support 50 place are selected printer by printer.
Administration module 15 can assign stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to arrive the localized area 80 at stock's support 50 place according to any appropriate algorithm, logic and/or decision process.Such as, administration module 15 can calculate the product speed of each stock article 42 in inventory system 10.Administration module 15 can assign stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to arrive the localized area 80 at stock's support 50 place in response to the product speed statistics of stock article 42.Some inventory systems face the great fluctuation process of product speed.Such as, put out a new product the surge of the order that can excite these article.As another example, the time then of can be depending on sells the stock article 42 of holiday and/or this season with different rates.Product speed can show in the period of fixing time the frequency of the order needing particular item of inventory in system 10 and/or particular type stock article.In some embodiments, product speed can refer to that order needs in system 10 and/or prediction are by the relative quantity of each stock article of needs and/or the every stock article of type.Such as, if the order 40 in system 10 frequently needs stock article compared with other stock article, so stock article can have relatively high product speed.In some embodiments, product speed can show the demand of given stock article in the period of fixing time.Or or in addition, product speed simply can refer to the amount of the stock article 42 that the order 40 opened in inventory system 10 and/or receive is asked.In some embodiments, speed can refer to that some of historical speed, known demand and expectation demand are appropriately combined.
Small product size can refer to the relative quantity of the stock article 42 of specific indent request.Such as, block amount can to place an order specific products, such as press case and/or by goods plate.For these stock articles 42, disassembling to be placed in inventory storage 48 by case and/or goods plate may be poor efficiency.Small product size additionally or alternatively can refer to the cube volume of the particular item of inventory 42 placed an order in inventory system 10.The possible fewer size of large-scale and/or block stock article 42 and/or the relatively more labour of block article consumption are to be incorporated in stock's retainer 30.Therefore, administration module 15 can calculate the small product size of each stock's retainer 42 and determine to keep the goods plate retainer 34 of these article to be placed in stock's support 50 place.In some embodiments, administration module 15 can be determined the product speed of each stock article 42 and small product size and determine whether stock article 42 to be placed in stock's support 50 place based on product speed and small product size statistics.
Therefore administration module 15 can calculate product speed and/or the small product size statistics of stock article 42.Product speed can be determined based on the sequence information in past in inventory system 10, History Order trend, current order, present sequence information, known and/or expectation demand, and/or the following sequence information of prediction, marketing information and/or for determining the known of stock article 42 in inventory system 10 or expecting other adequate information any of demand.Based on product speed and/or small product size, administration module 15 can determine the stock article 42 with relatively high welcome degree and/or high volume.The stock article 42 with high welcome degree can refer to that multiple order is with the article of relative high frequency rate request.These stock articles 42 can cause administration module 50 to generate the task assignment of corresponding a large amount to fulfil the order of these stock articles 42 usually.Administration module 15 can assign goods plate retainer 34 and/or stock's retainer 30 based on determining to assign the amount of the task assignment generated by the order that minimizing uses stock's support 50 to fulfil these article.
Administration module 15 can consider to be associated with the demand of stock article 42 when selecting stock article 42 to be placed in stock's support 50 place each these measure.Such as, administration module 15 can determine that the amount of the stock article 42 with most high product speed and/or small product size is to be assigned to stock's support 50.As another example, administration module 15 can be determined to have the highest known or expect the amount of product of demand.The amount of selected stock's support 42 may correspond in the amount for stock's retainer 30 at stock's support 50 place and/or the localized area 80 of goods plate retainer 34.In some embodiments, administration module 15 can compare speed with subscribe threshold value determine whether stock article 42 to be placed in stock's support 50 place.Such as, stock article 42 may be needed to generate the system activity of at least scheduled volume and/or task assignment is placed on stock's support 50 place with qualified.In addition or alternatively, administration module 15 can based on the comparison, classification or the speed of analyzing each product in addition determines to have the stock article of top speed and determines to have the stock article 42 of top speed.
In order to provide example more specifically, the particular of stock's support 50 can comprise 30 localized areas 80.Administration module 15 can determine that the stock article 42 of appropriate amount is with 30 positions at filling agent stock's support 50 place of retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 in stock.Such as, goods plate retainer 34 can keep the block amount of particular item of inventory 42 specific SKU.Meanwhile, the particular of stock's retainer 30 can carry some SKU of each stock article 42.High speed article 42 can be stored in stock's retainer 30 localized area 80 place making multiple stock article 42 can be stored in stock's support 50 place in stock's retainer 30 together.Turn back to previously discussed office supply example, stock's retainer 30 can keep each SKU of welcome print cartridge, and goods plate retainer 34 can keep the high volume carton with single SKU simultaneously.As a result, although stock's support 50 place can exist such as 30 localized areas 80, administration module 15 can determine that the stock article 42 of more a large amount is to be stored in localized area 80 place.Such as, administration module 15 can specify the stock article 42 of 50-60 or more SKU with to be placed in stock's support 50 place.
But, should note, herein only provide concrete quantity for purposes of illustration, and the stock article 42 of any appropriate amount can be depending on the localized area 80 at stock's support 50 place, the configuration of stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 and layout and is placed in stock's support 50 place.Such as, administration module 15 can be determined to store the stock article 42 more less than the localized area 80 existed, and/or therefore can assign multiple stock's retainer 30 and/or the goods plate retainer 34 of the multiple SKU keeping identical SKU or stock article 42.As another example, the amount of the localized area 80 at stock's support 50 place can be depending on the system activity of inventory system 10 and changes.Therefore, although discussed the example amount of localized area 80, the localized area 80 of any appropriate amount can have been used.In addition or alternatively, in some embodiments, stock's support 50 can be depending on the amount of special time place and/or high volume stock article 42 welcome higher than the height of the minimum threshold in inventory system 10 and has the localized area 80 of configurable amount.It shall yet further be noted that administration module 15 can operate with the time be received at stock article in inventory system 10, high-speed article to be grouped in stock's retainer 30 at place of receiving station 52.Administration module 15 can provide instruction to receiving station 52 particular item of inventory 42 to be placed in stock's retainer 30.Therefore, stock's retainer 30 can be pre-configured to comprise high-speed stock article 42 make its can in due course between be placed on stock's support 50 place.
Based on selected stock article 42, administration module 15 can select the stock's retainer 30 and/or the goods plate retainer 34 that keep selected stock article 42.Administration module 15 then can be mobile driver element 20 generate and/or release tasks assign with the localized area 80 this retainer being transported to stock's support 50 place.Inventory system 10 stores 5 wherein, unique stock article 42 of 000 SKU and arrange in the example implementations of stock's support 50 with 30 localized areas 80, administration module 15 can select the combination of nearly 30 stock's retainers 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to be placed in stock's support 50 place.In some embodiments, administration module 15 can select thesaurus to deposit stock's retainer 30 of the best of breed of article 42 to be placed in stock's support 50 place.In addition or alternatively, the selection of stock's retainer 30 can complete high order line amount based on determining at stock's support 50 place.Order " line " can refer to the indivedual line article in this order.Line can refer to the specific SKU on order.Such as, the order of three different SKU can have three lines.When selecting stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to be assigned to stock's support 50, administration module 15 can determine the line total amount on the order that expectation is completed by specific stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.Based on completed line total amount, administration module 15 can be assigned give particular bin and deposit retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.Therefore administration module 15 can assign give each stock's retainer in inventory system 10 and/or can determine the highest each relative score in stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.Based on stock's retainer 30 and/or the goods plate retainer 34 with best score, administration module 15 can select this stock's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34.When stock's retainer 30 at place of supplementary receiving station 52, how administration module 15 can be being determined and the stock article 42 of which combination is placed in stock's retainer 30 and additionally or alternatively can considers similar factor.Although it should be noted that the bus considered by administration module 15 in example implementations, administration module 15 can additionally or alternatively select specific stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 based on the total amount of the order completed.
Administration module 15 can therefore selecting stock retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 for the product speed considered during stock's support 50 and/or blanket order.Such as, to place an order trend based on the inspection known demand of stock article 42 and history, the combination of the stock article 42 of the maximum order in stock's support 50 place can be fulfiled and/or be completed to administration module 15 by seletion calculation.In instances, five items for merchandising the highest in inventory system 10 can be respectively paper, print cartridge, pencil, paper and printer.Based on determining that the most frequently used order of above product is combined as print cartridge, paper and printer, therefore administration module 15 can select paper, print cartridge and printer to be stored in stock's support 50 place.
In some embodiments, administration module 15 schedulable stock retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are to be placed on stock's support 50 place.Stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 planned dispatching can be transported to stock's support 50 based on the tolerance be associated with stock article 42 by administration module 15.Such as, administration module 15 can determine the demand that stock article 42 is expected.Based on expectation demand, in future when expecting that the expectation demand of stock article 42 of other stock's retainer is higher than some times during stock article 42 in stock's retainer 30 at current stock's support 50 place, administration module 15 can determine that specific stock's retainer 30 should replace another stock's retainer 30 at stock's support 50 place.Therefore, administration module 15 can set up each stock's retainer 30 thereon and/or goods plate retainer 34 by stock's support 50 can scheduling.Administration module 15 also can determine future fulfil specific indent and or postpone fill order the stock article 42 on each order can be grouped in together.Therefore, will these article 42 more substantial be asked in the time in future and keep stock's retainer 30 of these article and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be moved to stock's support 50 in this time.Administration module 15 also can based on determining when to dispatch each stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 is transported to stock's support 50 and determines how and/or when to fill order at stock's support 50 place.
In some embodiments, administration module 15 can select specific localized area 80 to place specific stock's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34 at stock's support 50 place.Such as, administration module 15 can select specific localized area 80 based on the expectation work allocation at stock's support 50 place.Such as, stock's support 50 can comprise each manipulater respectively removing article 42 in the respective workspace stock's support 50.Based on the expectation of stock's support 50 workspace or the workload of reality, administration module 15 can distribute stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to these given zone.Any suitable tolerance of workload can be used, the such as amount of selecting per hour or the amount of selecting per minute maybe can operate the activity level measuring stock's support 50 place other suitably measure.Each workspace balancing work that administration module 15 inter-libraryly can deposit support 50 distributes.In other embodiments, administration module 15 can assign stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 across workspace with each high-speed article 42 at random.In some embodiments, administration module 15 can assign goods plate retainer 34 to the localized area 80 of specific subgroup, assigns stock's retainer 30 to the localized area 80 of another subgroup simultaneously.Such as, goods plate retainer 34 can be grouped and/or be placed into stock's support 50 place together.Goods plate retainer 34 can such as be grouped in specific Workplace.As another example, stock's retainer 30 can be grouped and/or be placed into stock's support 50 place together, and it can be in the workspace different from goods plate retainer 34.
Administration module 15 can determine order retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 by optimal allocation to each localized area 80 of stock's support 50 based on the relative velocity of the stock article in respective stock's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34.It shall yet further be noted that stock's support 50 can be depending under the specific duration of time, to be desirably in amount of work that stock's support 50 place completes and there is configurable workspace amount.Such as, especially inventory system 10 severe work, to place an order and/or during system activity level, more multioperation device can be assigned to stock's support 50.Therefore, inventory management module 15 can be distributed and/or be arranged on the speed of filling order under it based on the amount of the manipulater at stock's support 50 place at stock's support 50 place by balancing work.Therefore administration module 15 can assign more multiplex (MUX) to do and/or more speed article based on the quantity of manipulater.As hereafter more discussed in detail, the quantity of manipulater also can affect and be transported to stock's support 50 for the quantity of the order retainer 40 of Order Fulfillment and/or type.Consider that the activity level of stock's support 50 can guarantee that given task more more than actual capabilities can not be overworked and/or complete to the manipulater at stock's support 50 place.Administration module 15 also can assign the work of appropriate amount to stock's support 50.In addition, limit district 80 based on product velocity distribution stock retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to each and can allow its flowing that is more orderly and/or balance when order retainer 40 moves along stock's support 50.
In inventory system 10, the demand of stock article 42 can change frequently.Such as, along with putting out a new product and product version, stock article can become gradually and be out of favour and/or replaced by other stock article 42.Such as, the New cinema of the upper release of DVD may be highly welcome at first, but may reduce in time and/or along with the new DVD of release.Therefore, administration module 15 can the product of tracing product speed and/or stock article 42 at any time.Such as, the traceable stock article 42 of administration module 15 known demand and/or expect demand.Along with the change of the demand of stock article 42, administration module 15 can issue suitable task assignment to replace the stock article 42 being stored in stock's support 50 place based on other stock article 42 of described change.Such as, the stock article 42 that administration module 15 can determine to be stored in stock's support 50 place is reduced under another stock article 42 of current storage in inventory storage 48 on welcome degree.Administration module 15 can issue suitable task to remove this stock article 42 from stock's support 50 and to replace it with current stock article in inventory storage 48.In addition, along with stock's support 50 uses the stock article 42 from each stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34, being stored in these stock articles separately in retainer can reduce.Therefore, administration module 15 can detect, determines and/or receive some instructions of the amount of the stock article 42 in given stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.Scheduled volume can such as indicate stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to be about to exhaust and exhausted stock article 42 in the amount of stock article 42.Therefore administration module 15 release tasks can assign to transport article 42 of replenishing the stock to stock's support 50.Administration module 15 can replace with the retainer of stock article 42 storing identical type the stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 that exhaust, and/or the available different stock articles 42 had than exhausting the relative more speed of stock article 42 replace the retainer exhausted.
In some embodiments, stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can exhaust with more rapid rate on the side in the face of stock's support 50.Such as, first goods plate retainer 34 can exhaust the stock article 42 in the manipulater arriving stock's support 50.Therefore, the side closest to stock's support 50 of goods plate retainer 34 can be exhausted, and still can comprise the stock article 42 of acceptable amount back to the side of stock's support 50.Therefore, administration module 15 can be received in the state instruction of stock's retainer 30 that stock's support 50 place should rotate and/or goods plate retainer 34.Therefore, administration module 15 issues suitable task assignment to rotate suitable stock's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34 can to mobile driver element 20.Hereinafter with reference to the more details of Fig. 5 discussion for the specific operation and technology that complete this.
After selection stock retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are placed in the fixed station at stock's support 50 place, in specific embodiments, administration module 15 assigns task selected stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to be transported to localized area 80 along stock's support 50 can to specific mobile driver element 20.Such as, the task assignment of the position identifying selected stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be conveyed to selected mobile driver element 20 by administration module 15.Administration module 15 can based on selected mobile driver element 20 relative to the position of specific stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 or state, selected mobile driver element 20 completed the instruction of the task of prior assignments, predetermined scheduling and/or any other with due regard to and optional m igration driver element 20 assigns inter-related task.Administration module 15 can plan the path that mobile driver element 20 will adopt from the current location of mobile driver element to selected stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.In response to appointment task, mobile driver element 20 can ask the path of the destination of specific stock's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34.Administration module 15 current location of the mobile driver element 20 of asking and institute can be selected to ask the path between destination and the communicating information that will identify this path to mobile driver element 20.Administration module 15 can utilize current congestion, historical traffic trend, priority of task order and/or other cognition with due regard to select asked mobile driver element 20 to adopt the optimal path arriving destination.In addition, when intended path when task (or assign), administration module 15 can be made about the informed decision-making of the lifter of inventory system 10, conveyer, staircase, tunnel and/or other transmission equipment or feature is to promote the movement of relevant mobile driver element 20 in inventory system 10.
After administration module 15 RX path, then the mobile driver element 20 of asking the mode of section district by district can move to the destination of selected stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 through this path.Before beginning particular section, relevant mobile driver element 20 can ask to permit using the section from administration module 15.As a result, administration module 15 can be preserved described section and move driver element 20 for this.As a result, administration module 15 also can be responsible for solving the contention requests to the use of the specific part of inventory system 10.After arrival stock retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34, mobile driver element 20 can be coupled, docks or be otherwise connected to retainer.Such as, mobile driver element 20 can move and use retainer described in the butt junction lifting of mobile driver element below associated holder.When moving below retainer, mobile driver element 20 can make itself aim at a part for retainer the central vertical shaft of butt junction and/or mobile driver element is aimed at the central vertical shaft of retainer substantially.After coupling, docking and/or be connected to retainer, specific retainer can be transported to selected localized area 80 by mobile driver element 20.At selected localized area place, mobile driver element 20 can unlock, decline, decoupling zero, or otherwise disconnects from stock's retainer 30.Then mobile driver element 20 can move apart stock's retainer 30 and/or indicate its availability to receive another task assignment to administration module 15.
According to above principle, each in selected stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be transported to stock's support 50 by mobile driver element 20.But, although it should be noted that the instantiation discussing and how stock's retainer 30 and goods plate retainer 34 are transported to stock's support 50, any proper method can be used.Such as, in some embodiments, stock's retainer 30 can be transported to stock's support 50 by mobile driver element 20, and goods plate retainer 34 other can transport component transport by some, such as by crane, fork truck, conveyer, other industrial mobile device of the goods plate of stock article 42 maybe can be transported.In some embodiments, administration module 15 can be transported to stock's support 50 in conjunction with by stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 and utilize one or more deviation situation.Hereinafter with reference Fig. 5 is discussed by more discussing in detail of deviation situation and how it can be used for fulfiling the order at stock's support 50 place.
During the operation of inventory system 10, administration module 15 can receive the order of asking each stock article 42 in each time.In order to fulfil the order of the stock article 42 received by administration module 15, two or more order can be arranged on order retainer 40 by administration module 15.Order retainer 40 can such as be disposed in place of vectoring station 54.At place of vectoring station 54, one or more order can be grouped in container 60 and to be arranged on order retainer 40.Container 60 can be arranged on order retainer 40 based on the factor of any quantity and type, comprise the size of container 60, expect to be received in the type of stock article 42 in container 60, to receive the ability of the stock article 42 of order from stock's support 50, or other each suitable factor.In addition or alternatively, administration module 15 can complete based on desired order in given stock's retainer 34 at stock's support 50 place and determine each order that divides into groups.
Administration module 15 can be determined to be grouped in order retainer 40 by the order be associated with container 60 in any appropriate manner.Such as, administration module 15 can check the outstanding order in inventory system 10 to identify one or more stock article 42 with the order in response to one or more stock article.Administration module 15 can determine which stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 store these stock articles 42.Administration module 15 can determine whether the stock article 42 on order is stored in stock's support 50 place and/or inventory storage 48.Administration module 15 can based on determining that one or more stock articles 42 of different order request are each positioned at localized area 80 place at stock's support 50 place and the order that divides into groups.Order can have associated container 60 to receive the stock article 42 of order.Such as, as described above, container 60 can be the clamp box of suitable size or is suitable for other container of shipment.Therefore, order retainer 40 can be arranged and it kept and specifies each container 60 organized be associated for the order of the stock article 42 receiving each position along stock's support 50.
Administration module 15 can depend on the outstanding order of inventory system 10 and/or each configuration of each activity level layout order retainer 40.Such as, administration module 15 can arrange that order retainer 40 makes it comprise all to be positioned at the order of the stock article 42 at stock's support 50 place, when these order retainers 40 are transported to stock's support 50 so that the order in order retainer 40 to receive stock article 42, all orders in this order retainer 40 can complete at stock's support 50 place.Administration module 15 also can arrange that order retainer 40 makes it comprise to be arranged in the stock article 42 at stock's support 50 place and is stored in the order of stock article 42 of inventory storage 48.These order retainers 40 can partly complete at stock's support 50 place and can be transported to each stock station 56 and make the stock article 42 in inventory storage 48 can be transported to those stock stations 56 by mobile driver element 20.Administration module 15 also can arrange that order retainer 40 makes it comprise to be positioned at separately the order of the stock article 42 of inventory storage 48.These order retainers can complete at stock station 56 place.These configurations of order retainer 40 can be called only stock's support order retainer 40, hybrid order retainer 40 and/or only stock station order retainer 40.
Administration module 15 can based on the quantity of any order retainer 40 with due regard to determining to assemble and/or configuration.Such as, therefore administration module 15 can consider the work allocation of the manipulater of activity level and/or stock's support 50 and/or the overall work amount of stock's support 50.If administration module 15 determines that the workload of stock's support 50 is higher than predetermined level, so administration module 15 can determine to set up hybrid order retainer 40 and/or only stock station order retainer 40.Workload can refer to the amount of selecting of appointment per hour, the workload of appointment or suitably measure for other of the activity level of measuring stock's support 50.Such as, the manipulater of stock's support 50 can with predetermined and/or peak power Rate operation stock support 50.Administration module 15 can the amount of assigning the job to stock's support 50, it makes the manipulater of stock's support 50 with operating rate predetermined and/or maximum substantially operation as calculated.In some embodiments, maximum functional speed can be used for the best of determining to be assigned to stock's support 50 and/or maximal workload.Administration module 15 can determine that the work reducing and/or improve stock's support 50 place is to realize the best and/or maximal workload.Determine based on described, administration module 15 can select quantity and the configuration of order retainer 40.If (such as), but the workload at stock's support 50 place is higher than minimum value lower than maximal value, and so administration module 15 can determine to arrange based on predetermined scheduling the mixing of hybrid order retainer 40 and/or only stock's support order retainer 40.Can based on attempting balancing work, keeping workload higher than minimum value and determining predetermined scheduling lower than the quantity of the manipulater at maximal value, stock's support 50 place and/or other suitable factor any.If the workload at stock's support 50 place is lower than minimum value, so administration module 15 can determine that assembling separately forms the order retainer 40 of (if possible), simultaneously for the stock article 42 of the inventory storage 48 being arranged in independent order retainer 40 arranges order retainer 40 by only stock's support order retainer 40.
Administration module 15 can sort according to the layout of above principle to order and/or order retainer 40.Such as, the order that administration module 15 can allow to fulfil at stock's support 50 place has precedence over by relative larger speed or is comparatively out of favour and the order that forms of the article that may be arranged in inventory storage 48.Alternatively or in addition, independent vectoring station 54 can specify the order for disposing more unwelcome stock article 42.The bootable order retainer 40 of administration module 15 is to be assemblied in other place of vectoring station of these other article.In some embodiments, but administration module 15 can be arranged to comprise and to be stored by stock's support 50 can still determine from stock station 56 instead of the order retainer 40 of stock article 42 of fulfiling these orders at stock's support 50 based on various factors (all as discussed activity level consider).
When administration module 15 can be considered to arrange order retainer 40 extraly or alternatively, the particular item of inventory 42 by each order request is stored in the where of stock's support 50.Such as, administration module 15 inter-libraryly can deposit each workspace balancing work amount distribution of support 50.Administration module 15 can attempt even distributing when specific indent retainer 40 moves along each position at stock's support 50 place the flowing to the order retainer 40 of stock's support 50 of the amount of the stock article 42 received by it and/or balanced sequence.In order to illustrate, receive five stock articles 42 with it from stock's retainer 30 of a localized area 80, the order containing five different stock articles 42 can be arranged in five different localized areas 80 place along stock's support 50 by administration module 15.In some embodiments, the SKU of particular item of inventory 42 can be stored in two diverse locations.Administration module 15 can be determined to fulfil in order retainer 40 and used two the different stock's retainers 30 being stored in stock's support 50 place to ask the order of identical SKU, with the work of balanced stock support 50 flowing and/or the steep increasing preventing stock's support 50 activity level on the position of special time and/or stock's support 50.But, it should be noted that this example is just for purpose of explanation.Administration module 15 can distribute and/or the work at balanced stock support 50 place in any appropriate manner.
Administration module 15 can determine any appropriately combined to be arranged in order retainer 40 to minimize the amount of the order retainer 40 being transported to stock's support 50 of container 60.In some embodiments, administration module 15 can determine the order that divides into groups based on the stroke total amount needed for the mobile driver element 20 of minimizing.As discussed above, the task assignment being assigned to mobile driver element 20 by administration module 15 can relate to through particular path to destination.When order retainer 40 is transported to stock's support 50 place, mobile driver element 20 may need order retainer 40 to be transported to stock's support 50 from vectoring station 54.Afterwards, order retainer 40 can be transported to stock station 56 and/or point of shipment 58 by mobile driver element 20.Order can be grouped into order retainer 40 to minimize path increment needed for mobile driver element 20 and/or minimizing and/or to minimize the total length of the stroke needed for mobile driver element 20.Therefore, administration module 15 can attempt the total travel minimizing mobile driver element 20 when arranging order retainer 40.
After Assembly Order retainer 40, order retainer 40 can be transported to stock station support 50 in inventory system 10 and/or other destination by mobile driver element 20.Mobile driver element 20 can transport order retainer 40 in response to the suitable task assignment from administration module 15.Administration module 15 can use any one appointment task in above-mentioned task assignment and/or route planning technology to mobile driver element 20 so that order retainer 40 is transported to stock's support 50.Mobile driver element 20 moves order retainer 40 along stock's support 50.Along with order retainer 40 moves along stock's support 50, order retainer 40 receives stock article 42 along the side being stored in the localized area 80 in stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 relative to wherein stock article 42 in the position along stock's support 50.In some embodiments, stock article 42 can be sent to the appropriate containers 60 of order retainer 40 from stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 by the manipulater at stock's support 50 place.Administration module 15 can start indicator at stock's support 50 place, and where order retainer 40 slows down and/or be parked in each position that will receive stock article 42 to indicate manipulater to expect for such as lamp or other visual detector.Alternatively or in addition, adequate information can be sent to stock's support 50 to indicate manipulater to select which stock article 42 and to be put in which container 60 to place the described stock article 42 of order retainer 40 by administration module 15.
Order retainer 40 can be transported with the mode of order retainer 40 interaction along the side of localized area 80 relative in stock's support 50 according to promotion manipulater.In some embodiments, order retainer 40 can be transported along the side of stock's support 50 and manipulater be moved at inceptive direction together with given order retainer 40, until manipulater arrives the terminal of the specific Workplace of manipulater.When given order retainer 40 arrives next workspace, the manipulater of next workspace can start article to be suitably placed in order retainer 40.The manipulater in the firstth district then can turn back to this district far-end and then along with continuing stock article 42 to be placed into new order retainer 40 when it moves on inceptive direction along stock's support 50.When the starting point that order retainer 40 arrives specific Workplace can turn back to the starting point of this workspace regularly according to manipulater.Hereinafter with reference to Fig. 5, order retainer 40 is discussed to move along stock's support 50 and how the indicator at stock's support 50 place can indicate manipulater to transport discussing in detail of stock article 42.
After suitable stock article 42 is received in the container 60 of order retainer 40, mobile driver element 20 can continue the appropriate location in mobile order retainer 40 to inventory system 10.If order does not complete, so by mobile driver element 20, order retainer 40 can be moved to suitable stock station 56 and make to receive additional articles 42.When being positioned at stock station 56, additional inventory article 42 can by the order reception in order retainer 40.Additionally or alternatively, stock station 56 can prepare container 60 in order retainer 40 to be shipped to terminal user and/or the point of destination.Such as, manipulater can be finished the work by execution of order, and such as increase protective package material is to container 60 and/or close, beat, seal and/or perform other task in order to pig 60.Once complete order, order retainer 40 just can be moved driver element 20 and be transported to point of shipment 58 for shipment, but it should be noted that in some embodiments, stock station 56 can be used for and shipment order.In addition or alternatively, point of shipment 58 can perform the above order and finish the work.
Although order retainer 40 is placed in stock station 56 place, administration module 15 can at inventory storage 48 inner position additional inventory article 42.Specific stock's retainer 30 of the residue stock article 42 needed for the order of storage container 60 is transported to stock station 56 by the management task of assigning of the mobile driver element in inventory system 10.Such as, any proper technology can be used to promote article to be sent to from the stock's retainer 30 being arranged in inventory storage 48 container 60 of order retainer 40 at stock station 56.After one or more stock station 56 completes order, order retainer 40 and/or container 60 removable and/or be transported to point of shipment 58 for being shipped to terminal user and/or the point of destination.Order retainer 40 can be transported to point of shipment 58 to do finally to load and transport preparation as discussed above by mobile driver element 20.
Fig. 4 diagram can use stock's support 50 to fill the top view of another example implementations of the inventory system 10 of order.In the diagram, inventory system 10 is arranged with multiple stock's support 50a, 50b and 50c.When used in combination, stock's support 50a-50c can complete all substantially orders of the stock article 42 be stored in the inventory storage 48 of inventory system 10.As shown, inventory system 10 can when making any suitable amendment to support to operate to be similar to mode described in reference diagram 3 substantially above when some stock's supports 50.
Inventory storage 48 can be arranged in make between stock's support 50 mobile driver element can according to above technology based on product speed and/or volume displaced go out stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate 34.In addition, can arrange that the path that receiving station 52 makes the order retainer 40 in inventory system 10 pass through is shortened.Therefore, receiving station 52 can be positioned at the areas adjacent of the inventory storage 48 storing the stock article 32 received by these specific receiving stations 52.As shown, receiving station 52 makes it can be faced by the mobile driver element 20 near the specific region operating in inventory storage 48 to reach between stock's support 50.Additionally or alternati, the path that receiving station 52 makes manipulater to have to travel to and fro between stock's support 50 can be arranged and can not intersect the path of mobile driver element 20.But although it should be noted that the layout illustrating specific stock's support 50, vectoring station 54, point of shipment 58 and receiving station 52, any particular geometric form of inventory system 10 and layout can be suitable and can use.In addition, stock's support 50 of any right quantity and/or type can be used.
In operation, after mobile driver element 20 accesses stock's support 50a, if order retainer 40 has the order that request is stored in the stock article 42 at stock's support 50b place, so move driver element 20 and order retainer 40 can be transported to stock's support 50b.Stock article 42 is being received and after access stock 50b, order retainer 40 can be transported to stock's support 50c by mobile driver element 20 from stock's support 50b.Or, if order retainer 40 needs the stock article 42 at stock's support 50b place, so move driver element 20 and can proceed to stock's support 50c and not access stock's support 50b.In some embodiments, if be ready to complete for shipment after the article of all requests of the order reception in order retainer 40 and/or one or more in these stock's supports 50 of access, so moved driver element 20 and can proceed to point of shipment 58 after accessing stock support 50a and/or 50b.Therefore, in some embodiments, order retainer 40 only access can have stock's support 50a, 50b, 50c of the stock article 42 of the order request in order retainer 40.In addition or alternatively, administration module 15 can operate and distribute with balancing work between each stock's support 50a-50c in inventory system 10, makes to avoid workload to exceed maximum and/or lower than minimum.Such as, stock's support 50a and 50b can each storage particular item of inventory 42.Administration module 15 can based on determining lower than the workload at stock's support 50a place, the workload at stock's support 50b place determines that specific indent retainer 40 should receive particular item of inventory 42 from stock's support 50b instead of stock's support 50a, should note, the instantiation of work allocation balance is discussed for purpose of explanation, and administration module 15 can determine the workload at balanced stock support 50a-50c place in any appropriate manner.Administration module 15 also can arrive each localized area 80 of each stock's support 50 according to previously discussed balancing technique distribution stock retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.
The particular technology of Fig. 5 diagram for using the stock's support 50 in inventory system 10 to fulfil order.Inventory system 10 can comprise one or more deviation situation 90A to 90D.Administration module 15 can operate using the specific region in specified bank deposit system 10 as deviation situation 90.Therefore, administration module 15 can use one or more drift space to promote to fulfil order in conjunction with stock's support 50.Fig. 5 also illustrates the technology rotating and be arranged in stock's retainer 30 of the localized area 80 at stock's support 50 place.Finally, Fig. 5 illustrates stock's support 50 and starts indicator 64 to promote the ability of manipulater movement in its separately workspace.Indicator 64 can indicate given order retainer 40 to be stopped the position of relative stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.Each by what sequentially discuss in these technology.
Inventory system 10 can utilize and be called that the technology of " drift " promotes to fulfil order at stock's support 50 place according to order packing arrangement herein.The assembly of drift tolerable inventory system 10 moves towards specific destination or otherwise locates to reduce to the traveling time of relevant destination during completing the particular task relating to this element.Fulfil in the context of the order at stock's support 50 place in promotion, drifting about to can be used for stock article 42 to collect near stock's support 50 makes it when localized area 80 becomes available with regard to nearby.The following stock article 42 can expecting the drift of one or more volume order retainer 40 needs.Therefore, displacement can be reduced according to more uncomplicated technology and/or replace the time needed for the stock article 42 being placed in stock's support 50 place.
" drift " position 90 represents specifies for carrying the mobile driver element " drift " of stock's retainer until appropriate time is to pack the position of the stock of order needs near the stock station in warehouse.Deviation situation 90 can be used as wherein to replace welcome stock article 42 into localized area 80 with from the position wherein displaced at special time and/or on demand along stock's support 50.Such as, stock's retainer 30 that deviation situation 90 can be used for stock article 42 replaces for another stock's retainer 30 that is low and that be stored more speed stock article 42 recently remains near stock's support 50.Administration module 15 is by arriving stock's support 50 place during at order retainer 40, these stock's retainers 30 being remained near stock's support 50, such as making it can be placed in localized area 80 and realize each efficiency.Therefore, some embodiments of system 10 can utilize the task and location associated component of drifting about and expecting and will complete to have reduced the time needed for predict task.Drift can reduce due to use more uncomplicated technology and cause congested.Utilize deviation situation 90 tolerable to fulfil the specific indent relating to and completed some tasks by inventory system 10, reduce inventory system 10 simultaneously and complete these tasks and improve the time that throughput of system spends.Drift additionally or alternatively can allow the limited physical area more effectively used in inventory system 10.This document describes the example implementations of the inventory system 10 comprising deviation situation 90.
Administration module 15 can determine to send specific stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to certain drift position 90 in response to the first trigger event (multiple event) being detected.In specific embodiments, related elements can be retained in the deviation situation 90 of certain drift space 90 or particular group, until there is the second trigger event (or multiple event).After the second trigger event occurs, then element can move to finish the work towards related system resource.In specific embodiments, deviation situation 90 statistically can be appointed as in space, and in an alternate embodiment, depend on the resource needed for inventory system 10, the availability in space 74 and/or other with due regard to, space-movable state is appointed as deviation situation 90.As further discussed below, deviation situation 90 can be utilized in every way to improve handling capacity or otherwise to improve the system effectiveness of particular of inventory system 10, include but not limited to the order promoting to fulfil stock's support 50 place.
Administration module 15 can be determined stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to move apart stock's support 50 in response to the first trigger event (such as determining that the tank farm stock in respective retainer is reduced to lower than scheduled volume).In some embodiments, administration module 15 can determine that the stock article 42 of the stock's retainer 30 recently exhausted has been reduced under other stock article 42 on welcome degree.Deviation situation 90 can, therefore for stock's retainer 30 and low stock article 42 being remained near stock's support 50, make it optionally can use to fulfil the order of stock article 42.As another example, specific stock's retainer 30 can be included in stock article 42 that product speed decreases and more welcome article are moved to localized area 80 place of previously having laid stock's retainer 30 at its place.Keep these stock articles 42 to inventory storage 48 with its stock's retainer 30, such as, this stock's retainer 30 is movable to deviation situation 90 and makes it can be used for the neighbouring order for future of stock's support 50.But administration module 15 can determine stock article 42 still than being stored in inventory storage 48 and/or expecting that other article needed for order are in the near future relatively more welcome.If need these stock's retainers 30 in the near future, so larger efficiency can be realized by be stayed by these stock's retainers 30 near stock's support 50 but not stock's retainer 30 is moved to inventory storage 48.
As shown, some deviation situation 90a to 90d are placed near stock's support 50.As shown, specific stock's retainer 30a can detect in above-mentioned trigger event one in response to administration module 15 and move to deviation situation 90a, and this can cause administration module 15 that stock's retainer 30a is sent to drift space 90a from localized area 80a.
Along with other stock's retainer 30 drifts about, stock's retainer 30a can drift about at the one or more places in deviation situation 90a to 90d.In some embodiments, deviation situation 90a to 90d can be used as the random access buffers of stock's retainer 30.Therefore, stock's retainer 30 can be assigned to deviation situation 90a to 90d available at random.Stock's retainer 30 can be stayed in the deviation situation 90a to 90d of appointment, until there is the second trigger event.Additionally or alternatively, deviation situation can be used as continuous queue.Stock's retainer 30 can drift about by position 90a to 90d when continuous position is available.But although it is adjacent to each other to it should be noted that deviation situation 90a to 90d is illustrated as, this is without the need to being not necessarily.In some embodiments, deviation situation 90 can be continuous print and/or be separated from each other.In addition, in some embodiments, deviation situation 90 suitably can be positioned at the group of the deviation situation 90 of dispersion location.In response to the second trigger event being detected, administration module 15 can determine stock's retainer 30a to be moved back into localized area 80 along stock's support 50.Such as, stock's retainer 40 of the stock article 42 needing stock's retainer 30a to store can be transported to stock's support 50 and/or be desirably in and be transported to stock's support 50 in the near future.As shown, this technology can suitably utilize some stock's retainer 30a-30c with each retainer that drifts about near stock's support 50.Therefore, these stock's retainers 30 will can be used for than use in addition complex technology do as be placed in localized area 80 place more quickly.
As another example causing administration module 15 to determine the trigger event of drift stock retainer 30, can determine to expect that stock's retainer 30b at 80b place, localized area has exhausted and/or stock article 42 is about to exhaust, therefore, stock's retainer 30c can be transported to deviation situation 90d at expectation stock retainer 30c by when replacing stock's retainer 30b as early as possible.Stock's retainer 30c such as can store the additional inventory article 42 of the identical SKU of the SKU stored by stock's retainer 30b.As another example, can expect that the stock article 42 of stock 30b lands lower than specific opposing product speed and article 42 in stock's retainer 30c can have relatively higher product speed.Stock article 30c can be ready with these article replaced in due course in stock's retainer 30b in deviation situation 90d.
In some embodiments, administration module 15 can determine one or more order retainer 40 that drifts about.Administration module 15 can in response to detecting that the first trigger event determines one or more order retainer 40 that drifts about.First trigger event such as can determine that the workload of stock's support 50 exceedes predetermined and/or maximum.Such as, all available positions at stock's support 50 place can be taken by other order retainer 40.Administration module 15 can indicate mobile driver element 20 order retainer 40 to be transported to deviation situation 90 close to stock's support 50.In response to the second trigger event, administration module 15 can indicate mobile driver element 20 that order retainer 40 is transported out of stock's support 50 from deviation situation 90.Such as, the second trigger event can determine that the workload of stock's support 50 is lower than predetermined and/or maximum.Other example that can trigger the trigger event of the drift of order retainer 40 comprises to be determined to have by stock's retainer 30 of the stock article 42 of the one or more order request in order retainer 40 and/or goods plate retainer 34 not at stock's support 50, but in the near future will at stock's support 50 place.Such as, stock's retainer 30 itself with the stock article 42 of request can in deviation situation 90.As another example, as hereafter more discussed in detail, goods plate retainer 34 can experience the process of slewing maneuver.Therefore, administration module 15 can determine drift order retainer 40 until required stock's retainer 30 and and/or goods plate retainer 34 be positioned at stock's support 50 place.In addition, if administration module 15 determines that the additional inventory article 42 that order retainer 40 is asked will be transported to stock's support 50 in the near future, so after the stock article 42 receiving stock's support 50 place, order retainer 40 can be sent to deviation situation.First order retainer 40 can receive all available stock article 42 of the order request in these order retainers 40 before moving to deviation situation 90.But in some embodiments, administration module 15 can determine the position be sent to by order retainer 40 in inventory storage 48 in some cases.Such as, but order retainer 40 only can ask that available not being scheduled to is transported to stock's support 50 until the stock article 42 of spending after a certain amount of time being greater than predetermined threshold at stock's support 50 place.Substitute or in addition, administration module 15 can select specific indent retainer 40 to be transported to stock's support 50 based on the time quantum of these order retainers 40 when vectoring station 54 assembles.
Fig. 5 also illustrates the technology rotating the goods plate retainer 34a be placed in the localized area 80 at stock's support 50 place.First, administration module 15 can be determined to rotate goods plate retainer 34a in response to any suitable trigger event.Such as, the manipulater of stock's support 50 can indicate stock article 42 on the side closest to stock's support 50 for low, and other stock article on the opposite side of goods plate retainer 34a still can with (but manipulater is possibly cannot be accessed).Therefore, administration module 15 can indicate mobile driver element 20 move arrival plate retainer 34a and/or perform slewing maneuver.Mobile driver element 20 can move below goods plate retainer 34a.Then mobile driver element 20 can dock, be coupled or otherwise connect arrival plate retainer 34a.Then goods plate retainer 34a can be moved apart stock's support and make goods plate retainer 34a rotatable by mobile driver element 20.Goods plate retainer 34a can move apart appropriate amount and make to only have sufficient space not collide with other stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 of being positioned at stock's support 50 place for selecting goods plate retainer 34a.As shown in step 2, goods plate retainer 34a can select 180 degree.In step 3, goods plate retainer 34a can be retracted stock's support 50 part.Revolve turnback although be illustrated as, the rotatable any appropriate amount of goods plate retainer 34a, comprise 90 degree, 270 degree or other appropriate amount any.
Fig. 5 also illustrates the particular technology for moving stock's retainer 40 along stock's support 50, to promote the efficiency of one or more manipulaters of stock's support 50.As shown, stock's support 50 comprises Liang Ge district 100 and 102, each manipulater one.As shown, district 100 and 102 can change based on the arrival of the operation of stock's support 50 and order retainer 40 and/or overlapping.Manipulater can be indicated mobile to select stock article when order retainer 40 moves along stock's support 50 from stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 on inceptive direction.Inceptive direction can be the direction identical along the direction of stock's support 50 movement with order retainer 40.In the example shown, stock's retainer 40 is from moving left to the right side, and manipulater is mainly from moving left to the right side.To move at inceptive direction once manipulater and arrive the terminal in district 100, manipulater so can be indicated to turn back in district 100 be illustrated as stock's support 50 farthest away from the starting point of left side point.After the starting point turning back to district 100, manipulater can to start on inceptive direction mobile to meet the more requests moved to by stock article 42 in the container 60 of order retainer 40 again.Order retainer 40 is movable to the position relative with the localized area 80 of specific stock's retainer 30 of the stock article 42 of the order request kept in order retainer 40.Once order retainer 40 arrives appropriate location, so order retainer 40 can slow down and/or stop, until manipulater completes stock article 42 to the transmission in the appropriate containers 60 of order retainer 40.Order retainer 40 can receive stock article 42 when manipulater moves on inceptive direction from manipulater.Icotype can be used for the manipulater in other district, comprises district 102.In some embodiments, order retainer 40 can be arrived when manipulater moves on inceptive direction along district 100 to the arrival timing of order retainer 40.Alternatively or in addition, the manipulater of stock's support 50 can be suitably mobile to move to the order retainer 40 preparing to receive stock article 42 in the two directions.
As shown, indicator 64 is disposed in each point relative with the localized area 80 of stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 along stock's support 50.Along with order retainer 40 moves along stock's support 50, indicator can be started and expect to indicate manipulater the place that stock's support order retainer 40 stops along stock's support 50 or slows down.Indicator 64 can be positioned to relative with each localized area 80 usually.Although it should be noted that and be illustrated as dispersion indicator 64, can use wherein by any suitable method for conveying for order retainer 40.Such as, display screen can be placed in each position along stock's support 50, and instruction manipulater 50 expects that order retainer 40 stops wherein and/or slows down and can additionally indicate manipulater to move which article 42 from stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.
In illustrated embodiment, order retainer 40a will stopping close to during indicator 64a.Therefore administration module 15 can start indicator 64a.Manipulater can advance to indicator 64a.At indicator 64a place, suitable stock article 42 can be placed into the appropriate containers 60 of order retainer 40a from stock's retainer 30 relative with indicator 64a by manipulater.In some embodiments, the indicator 64a at stock's support 50 place or the equipment of some other parts can indicate manipulater to select particular item of inventory 42 and/or indicate manipulater particular item of inventory 42 to be placed in the special container 60 of order retainer 40a.Such as, indicator can display lamp or other visual detector, indicates which container 60 will receive stock article 42 from given stock's retainer 50.Similarly, in the second workspace 102, other manipulater can receive instruction order retainer 40b by close to the signal stopped during indicator 64b and/or slow down from indicator 64b.According to these technology, the more effective means more possible than other mode can be sentenced at stock's support 50 and fulfil order.
Mobile driver element 20 can operate to avoid when moving along stock's support 50 and other moves driver element 20 and collides.Such as, along with order retainer 40a moves along stock's support 50, administration module 15 can determine the next position receiving stock article 42.Administration module 15 can determine whether another order retainer 40b stops the path between order retainer 40a and next position.If order retainer 40b does not stop and do not have other stop, so administration module 15 can start the indicator 64a of next position and order retainer 40a can be transported to indicator 64a by mobile driver element 20.If order retainer 40b so carries out, so administration module 15 can determine the destination of order retainer 40b.If the next position of order retainer 40a is crossed in the destination of order retainer 40b, so indicator 64a can be started.Otherwise administration module 15 can postpone the startup of indicator 64a, until order retainer 40b no longer has the path stopping that destination and/or removing order retainer 40a wish along the path of order retainer 40a.The method also avoid manipulater because manipulater will to know that indicator 64 starts corresponding to previous order retainer 40 chaotic.
Fig. 6 is that diagram uses stock's support to fill the process flow diagram of the case method 600 of order.Method 600 starts from step 602, and wherein administration module 15 selects stock's retainer 30 and/or the goods plate retainer 34 that will be placed in stock's support 50 place.Can select according to any appropriate algorithm, logic and/or decision process.Hereinafter with reference Fig. 7 discusses the more details elaboration how step 602 can be implemented in more detail.
604, after the suitable stock's retainer 30 of selection and/or goods plate retainer 34 are placed in stock's support 50 place, administration module 15 indicates mobile driver element 20 that stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are transported to stock's support 50.Mobile driver element 20 can be transported the suitable localized area 80 of stock's support 50 according to the selected stock's retainer 30 of technology discussed above retrieval and/or goods plate retainer 34.
In step 606, administration module 15 can determine whether the localized area 80 at stock's support 50 place still can be used.If additional qualification region 80 is still to be filled, so described method can turn back to step 602, additional inventory retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 24 can be selected wherein to be placed in stock and protect support 50.Although it should be noted that to be illustrated as and sequentially carry out, administration module 15 can substantially simultaneously for institute's retainer be in stock selected in each localized area 80.In addition, step 602 to 606 can change by stock article 42 in inventory system 10 needed at any time and/or recur.In addition, in some embodiments, administration module 15 can be determined some localized areas 80 are not filled.Administration module 15 is without the need to specifying all localized areas 80 for stock's retainer 30 and goods plate retainer 34 at stock's support 50 place.Such as, administration module 15 can retrain due to workload, overall system activity or other various factors and some localized areas are not filled.Alternatively or extraly, the position of rubbish retainer 36 or other waste material container can be appointed as in one or more localized areas 80.In some embodiments, rubbish retainer 36 and/or waste material container are operable as and are transported by mobile driver element 20.Therefore, the wrappage produced by stock's support 50 waste material and/or other reject product can put into the rubbish retainer 36 of localized area 80.In due course and/or when filled, rubbish retainer 36 can be transported out of stock's support 50 by mobile driver element 20.
In step 608, administration module 15 can receive the order of each stock article 42.Such as, inventory system 10 can receive order at any time.It shall yet further be noted that and appointment stock retainer 30 described in step 602 to 606 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can receive order to before and after, during the process of localized area 80.Therefore, step 608 can sequentially and/or with step 602 to 606 be carried out concurrently.In addition, when suitably again assigning new stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can receive order to during localized area 80.
In step 610, administration module 15 can determine whether one or more requests of the stock article 42 met on the order at stock's support 50 place.Such as, based on distribution and/or the amount of work at stock's support 50 place, administration module 15 can determine all and/or part order of filling stock station 56 and noninventory support 50.In some embodiments, administration module 15 can be determined to fill the part order at stock station 56 place and the part order at stock's support 50 place.Administration module 15 can be also the sequence of the described order stock station 56 determining to access and/or stock's support 50 when filling order.Sequence can be any suitable sequence, comprises and first accesses one or more stock station 56 or first access one or more stock's support 50.Alternatively or extraly, administration module 15 can determine the order retainer 40 of the suitable type that will arrange.Such as, order retainer 40 can be arranged as only stock's support order retainer 40, hybrid order retainer 40 and/or only stock station order retainer 40.The decision process of given order how can be processed according to any aforementioned operation balance and/or distribution technique.In some embodiments, administration module 15 can be determined order retainer 40 to be sent to where when order retainer 40 is in the process receiving stock article 42.Such as, administration module 15 can be determined to fill order on retainer 40 and/or part order with the stock article 42 being positioned at stock's support 50 place.On the contrary, administration module 15 can be determined to fill the order on the order retainer 40 at stock station 56 place and/or part order.After these stock articles 42 of reception, administration module 15 can determine whether to fill additional orders on order retainer 40 and/or additional orders line with the stock article 42 at stock's support 50 and/or stock station 56 place.As an example, administration module 15 can ask the line of opening of the order of the stock article 42 be not received to determine order retainer 40 to be delivered to where and/or determines that stock article 42 will be arranged in inventory system 10 where based on inspection order retainer 40.In addition or alternatively, administration module 15 can determine the filling order at one or more stock's support 50 and stock station 56 place, but can determine to wait for the scheduled volume time before order retainer 40 is transported to these positions one or more by the mobile driver element 20 of instruction.Such as, based on one or more trigger event as discussed above, administration module 15 can be determined order retainer 40 to be transported to deviation situation before order retainer 40 is filled in continuation.As another example, administration module 15 can be determined to postpone assembling specific indent based on one or more situations of inventory system 10.Therefore administration module 15 can also consider when determining whether filling order and/or first filling another order that how long existing order co-pending be.
In step 612, administration module 15 can be determined will be transported to stock's support 50 to fill the layout of the order retainer 40 of order.Such as, administration module 15 can be determined two or more order to be grouped in specific indent retainer 40 two orders can be completed by an order retainer 40.Hereinafter with reference Fig. 8 discussion can how according to the more details of the example operation completing steps 612 of inventory system 10.In step 614, after layout order retainer 40, administration module 15 can indicate one or more mobile driver element order retainer 40 to be transported to stock's support 50 article can be received in the container 60 of order retainer 40.It should be noted that and can determine that the type of the order retainer 40 arranged in step 610 place performs step 612 based on administration module.In addition, carry out when administration module 15 determines all and/or part order of filling stock's support 50 place although be illustrated as, step 612 can even be determined to perform when step 624 fills the order at stock station 56 place at administration module 15.Such as, administration module 15 can be determined order to be arranged into only in stock station retainer 40 and/or can be grouped on order retainer 40 by described order together with other order of specifying to fill at stock station 56 place.
In step 616, order retainer 40 is moved to the position along stock's support 50 by mobile driver element 20, make order retainer 40 can according to the order reception stock article 42 that is associated of each container 60 kept.Container 60 can in step 618 according to its order reception stock article 42 that is associated.Such as, the manipulater at stock's support 50 place can to stop and/or suitable stock article 42 is sent in the appropriate containers 60 of order retainer 40 by the position of slowing down at order retainer 40.
In step 620, after stock's support 50 place receives stock article 42, administration module 15 can determine whether the order in order retainer 40.If order completes, so in step 622, mobile driving 20 can be indicated order retainer 40 to be transported to stock station 56 for administration module 15 and/or point of shipment 58 is used for loading and transporting preparation and/or being shipped to final destination.If the one or more orders on order retainer 40 do not complete, so described method can proceed to step 610, and wherein administration module 15 can determine whether that the residue of the order of filling on the order retainer 40 at stock's support 50 and/or stock station 56 place bursts at the seams.Such as, in step 610, administration module 15 can determine that the additional articles of the order request on order retainer 40 will can be used for stock's support 50 in the near future.In the deviation situation 90 that therefore administration module 15 can indicate mobile driver element 20 to be transported to by order retainer 40 near stock's support 50 and/or wait for that this stock becomes available.As another example, the request of bursting at the seams of the order that administration module 15 can be determined on order retainer 40 in step 610 is arranged in the stock article 42 of inventory storage 48.
Administration module 15 can indicate mobile driver element 20 that order retainer 40 is transported to stock station 56 in step 624, makes to receive any article that should be placed in the container 60 of order retainer 40 in step 628.Such as, administration module 15 can determine the only stock station order retainer 40 being filled in stock station 56 place and/or the order line mixed on order retainer 40.Step 624 can before order retainer 40 is transported to stock's support 50 by mobile driver element 20, afterwards and/or hocket.
In step 626, although order retainer 40 is positioned at stock station 56 place, administration module 15 can locate the stock article 42 stored in stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 in inventory storage 48.Based on the position of stored stock article 42, administration module 15 can indicate one or more mobile driver element 20 to move to and store stock's retainer 30 of these stock articles 42 and/or the position of goods plate retainer 34 in inventory storage 48.In step 626, mobile driver element 20 can by storage ask described stock's retainer 30 of stock article 42 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to be transported to stock station 56.
In step 628, stock's retainer 30 can be received by the appropriate containers 60 of order retainer 40 and store and the stock article 42 being transported to stock station 56.Container 60 from stock's retainer 30 receive ask stock article 42 after, administration module 15 determines whether to complete order in step 630.If there is backlog, so described method 600 can turn back to step 610, and administration module 15 determines whether the additional lines of the order of filling in the order retainer 40 at stock's support 50 and/or stock station 56 place.If determine the additional lines of order of filling stock station 56 place, so order retainer 40 can stay stock station 56 place and additional inventory retainer 30 containing additional request stock article 42 can be transported to stock station 56.If determine the additional lines of the order of filling stock's support 50 place, so described method can proceed to step 614, and wherein order retainer 40 can be transported to stock's support 50.Method 600 continues, until complete the order in order retainer 40 in step 620 or 630 places.Once complete, just order retainer 40 is transported to stock station 56 by mobile driver element 20 and/or point of shipment 58 is used for preparing and/or being shipped to terminal user and/or the point of destination.
Fig. 7 is the process flow diagram that diagram promotes to fulfil at stock's support place the case method 700 of order.Method 700 starts from step 702, wherein starts the stock's retainer 30 selecting to be placed in stock's support 50 place.Method 700 is Example embodiments of the step 602 of method 600 in Fig. 6.
The method carrying out selecting stock 30 can be completed based on speed and/or order line.If the speed separately based on step 704 place selects stock's retainer 30, so described method proceeds to step 706, wherein calculates speed and/or the volume of the available stock article 42 in inventory system 10 in step 706 place.History can be comprised and place an order trend and/or current outstanding order and/or prediction by the speed of any suitable metric calculation available stock article 42 of the expectation order of generation in inventory system 10.As discussed above, speed can represent to place an order at it and comprises each stock article and/or the relative speed of the volume of the stock article 42 that places an order under can being included in it.Volume can refer to the amount of the stock article 42 that specific indent places an order, and additionally or alternatively can represent the physical size of the actual size according to stock article 42.Therefore, the real space amount that administration module 15 can take based on these stock articles 42 determines stock article 42 to be positioned at stock's support 50 place.Such as, large-scale and/or block article can be selected to be used for being placed on stock's support 50 place.In some embodiments, administration module 15 can calculate the total system activity generated by specific SKU and/or unique stock article 42 in inventory system 10.Stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be selected based on minimizing total system activity.
In step 708, select to store and there is stock's retainer 30 of the stock article 42 of top speed and/or goods plate retainer 42 is placed in stock's support 50 place.In example implementations, stock's support 50 can have maximum 50 stock articles 42 being arranged in ten stock's retainers 30 (being each positioned at of ten localized areas) along stock's support 50, and wherein each stock's retainer 30 stores five in maximum 50 stock articles 42.If one in localized area 80 becomes available because the stock article 42 of in such as stock's retainer 30 is about to use up and/or in localized area 80 one is not filled yet, so then administration module 15 can select another stock's retainer 30 on average storing five in top speed stock article 42 to be positioned at this localized area 80 place.Should note, although citing provides specified quantitative, but any appropriate amount and/or the combination of stock's retainer 30 and/goods plate retainer 34 can be positioned on stock's support 50 place, and these stock's retainers 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can store any appropriate amount and/or the combination of the stock article 42 of each speed.
If in step 704, stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are not also to complete based on the order line expected based on speed separately, so in step 710, described method proceeds to step 712, wherein calculates the outstanding line order that each stock's retainer 30 meets.Such as, administration module 15 can determine the interior each stock article 42 stored by each stock's retainer 30 of inventory system 10.If described specific stock's retainer is placed in stock's support 50 place, so administration module 15 can determine order line amount that will be satisfied.Based on the total amount of the outstanding line order met, each stock's retainer can assign a score.The blanket order that the selection of stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 is expected based on the outstanding order in inventory system 10 can additionally or alternatively complete by step 710.Such as, can to the given preference weight of stock's retainer 30 of the combination of the one or more stock articles 42 comprised than the more actual order of another stock's retainer 30.
In step 714, administration module 15 can determine the order line of the desired amount that each stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 meet.Such as, if inventory system 10 expects the particular item of inventory 42 receiving a large amount of order, so can be taken into account when scoring each stock's retainer 30.Based on the total amount determined in step 712 and 714, the satisfied order line total amount of each stock's retainer 30 can be calculated in step 716, and/or assemble the score being assigned to each stock's retainer 30.The blanket order that the selection of stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 is expected based on the expectation order in inventory system 10 can additionally or alternatively complete by step 714.Such as, can expect that prediction will complete the given preference weight of stock's retainer 30 of the combination of one or more stock articles 42 of more actual order future than another stock's retainer 30 to comprising.
Based on the total amount of each stock's retainer, the line order can determining to have in step 718 place the highest total amount completes and/or stock's retainer 30 of best score or goods plate retainer 34.If two stock's retainers the highest conform to, so the described method of step 720 can proceed to step 706, wherein calculates the relative velocity of the available stock article 42 in each stock's retainer 30 and can select have stock's retainer 30 or the goods plate retainer 34 of top speed stock article 42 in step 708.If do not conformed to, so described method can proceed to step 722 and can select to have the highest blanket order complete and/or stock's retainer of best score.Step 718 can additionally or alternatively by the selection of stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 based on the outstanding order expected and the total amount of prediction order expected.In addition, should also be noted that, above method 700 is discussed as selecting single stock's retainer 30 to be placed on single stock's support 50 place, but similar approach can be used for selecting multiple stock's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 at all substantially of one or more stock's support 50 place or most of localized area 80 place.Such as, method 700 can be used to maximum 30 the stock's retainers 30 selecting 30 localized areas 80 corresponding to stock's support 50 place.
Fig. 8 is the process flow diagram that diagram promotes to fulfil at stock's support place the case method 800 of order.Method 800 starts from step 802, wherein starts choice arrangement order retainer 40.Method 800 is Example embodiments of the step 612 of method 600.
In step 802, administration module 15 starts to arrange order retainer 40.Such as, administration module 15 can start to arrange only stock's support order retainer 40, hybrid order retainer 40 and/or only stock station order retainer 40.In step 806, first order can be chosen as and be included in order retainer 40 by administration module 15.Such as, the outstanding order of stock article 42 can be checked to determine that each order has how many line requests be arranged in the stock article 42 at stock's support 50 place and/or be positioned at the stock article 42 of inventory storage 48 by how many line requests.Can additionally or alternatively check outstanding order to determine that each order having how many total stock article 42 be arranged on stock's support 50 place and/or each order has how many total stock article 42 to be positioned at inventory storage 48.Be positioned at stock's support 50 place based on the total stock article 42 on each order and/or bus, each order can assign a score.Based on the type of the order retainer 40 that will arrange and the score of each order, administration module 15 can select suitable first order to start to arrange order retainer 40.Such as, for only stock orders retainer 40, administration module 15 can be selected to be positioned at first order with best score at stock's support 50 place, the most multi-thread stock article 42 and/or total at most stock article 42.If arrange only stock station order retainer 40, so administration module 15 can select the suitable order of asking the stock article 42 being positioned at inventory storage 48 place.If start to arrange hybrid order retainer 40, so administration module 15 can select the suitable order of asking the stock article 42 being arranged in stock's support 50 place and/or being positioned at inventory storage 48.It should be noted that order can comprise the multiple stock articles 42 being positioned at stock's support 50, this especially because as above set forth, administration module 15 can come stock's retainer 30 and/or the goods plate retainer 34 of satisfied maximum order by seletion calculation.Therefore, its complete inventory article 42 being positioned at stock's support 50 place may be had by given order.
In step 808, the container 60 be associated with each selected order can be arranged on order retainer 40.Administration module can such as by about which container 60 being increased to order retainer 40 and/or how the instruction that given order is associated with special container 60 being supplied to the manipulater of vectoring station 54.Administration module 15 can additionally or alternatively indicate manipulater that container 60 is placed on the where on order retainer 40.Such as, specific indent retainer 40 can have the space of the container 60 for the specific size on a frame and/or type, and can have the space of the dissimilar containers 60 that can be used for different amount.When arranging the order on order retainer 40, administration module 15 can consider size and/or the type of each container 60.If order retainer 40 has made container 60 wherein be associated with other order, so administration module 15 can determine how to place other container 60 relative to these containers 60.In addition or alternatively, administration module 15 can in the space determining whether to consider when order is arranged on order retainer 40 by step 806 and/or step 812 place to select shared by the container 60 being used for order.
In step 810, administration module 15 can determine whether that exceptional space can be used for the additional orders container 60 in order retainer 40.If there is extra usable space, so in step 812, administration module 812 can determine that other order one or more is included in order retainer 40.Such as, the stock article 42 that the stock article 42 that administration module 15 can be stock's support 50 place increases order and/or can be other position in inventory system 10 increases order.
In step 812, administration module 15 additionally or alternatively can determine other order also comprising stock article at stock's support 50 place.Based on the order comprising the stock article 42 being also positioned at stock's support 50 place, administration module 15 can be selected to be arranged in the order on order retainer 40.Such as, administration module 15 can select two or more order to be grouped in order retainer 40.Two or more order can comprise the first order and other order one or more selected at step 806 place.The order can selecting except the first order based on the stock article 42 of selected first order request.Such as, order can based on have with first selected by the identical and/or similar stock article 42 of order be grouped into order retainer 40.Select such as to calculate the stock's support 50 and/or other position that advance in inventory system 10 and the path increment calculated based on mobile driver element 20 for being arranged in order on order retainer 40.If be not grouped into the path increment produced by selecting two or more order of calculating, so administration module 15 determines the value preserving of calculating by the path increment of more otherwise fulfiling needed for order.Administration module 15 can select the order of the amount reducing and/or minimize total travel to divide into groups.Administration module 15 also can select the order of the amount reducing and/or minimize the overall tasks appointment generated by administration module 15 to divide into groups.Such as, administration module 15 can be determined to reduce and is assigned to the amount that mobile driver element 20 fills the task of order.
As discussed above, administration module 15 can be placed in one or more stock's retainer 30 at stock's support 50 place and/or the stock article of goods plate retainer 34 based on determining that order only includes to be arranged in and select two or more order from available order.Such as, administration module 15 can determine to arrange only stock's support order retainer 40, hybrid order retainer 40 and/or only stock station order retainer 40.For various reasons, administration module 15 can determine the order of the stock article 42 comprising other position (such as inventory storage 48) being positioned at inventory system 10 to be increased to order retainer 40 to set up hybrid order retainer 40.This determines to carry out based on any factor as discussed above.It is described that determine can based on the workload at stock's support 50 place.
As mentioned above, when determining the layout of the order on given order retainer 40, administration module 15 also can consider the position of stock article 42 on stock's support 50.Such as, administration module 15 can be determined to select request to be arranged in the order of the stock article 42 of different stock's retainers 30 at stock's support 50 place.Specifically, administration module 15 based on determining the stock article 42 of the first order for being stored by stock's retainer 30 of the localized area 80 being positioned at stock's support 50, and can determine that the order that divides into groups determined by the second order for another stock article 42 stored by another stock's retainer 30 of another localized area 80 being positioned at stock's support 50.
Once be full of in step 810 place order retainer 40 and/or do not have available exceptional space, so described method terminates.Although it should be noted that method 800 is illustrated as once increase an order to order retainer 40, administration module 15 can pre-determine and will be added to all orders and/or the container 60 of specific indent retainer 40.
Can in the process flow diagram of Fig. 6-8 respectively illustrated method 600,700 and 800 modify, increase or omit.Such as, administration module 15 can assign multiple task once and/or concurrently.Therefore, administration module 15 also can concurrently and/or the many orders of processed in sequence.In addition, administration module 15 can use stock's support 50 to fulfil the order of the inventory facilities of any quantity and type.Administration module 15 can fulfil order with reference to figure 4 according to the multiple stock's support 50 of principle as discussed above.Various stock station 56 and/or stock's support 50 can be used to process the order corresponding with those facilities various sequentially and/or simultaneously by administration module 15.In addition, can walk abreast or with any order suitably to perform the step of Fig. 6-8.In addition, with reference to the disclosure describe embodiment be expected complete combination and be applicable to suitable embodiment described herein.
Fig. 9 diagram can be used for the example computer system 900 of one or more parts of system and method disclosed herein.In specific embodiments, one or more computer system 900 performs one or more steps of description or one or more methods illustrated herein.In specific embodiments, one or more computer system 900 provides and describes herein or illustrated function, such as such as, and any suitable assembly (such as administration module 15, mobile driver element 20 and/or stock's support 50) of system 10.In specific embodiments, the software operated in one or more computer system 900 performs the one or more steps described or in one or more methods illustrated herein, or provides description or illustrated function herein.Particular comprises the one or more parts in one or more computer system 900.
The disclosure expects the computer system 900 of any right quantity.The computer system 900 that disclosure expection exists in any suitable physical form.Unrestricted as an example, computer system 900 can be the two or more combination in embedded computer system, SOC (system on a chip) (SOC), single board computer system (SBC) (such as such as, computer module (COM) or system module (SOM)), desk side computer system, on knee or notebook computer system, interactive information booth, main frame, computer system net, mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), server, tablet computer systems or these equipment.Computer system 900 suitably can comprise one or more computer system 900; Single or distributed; Cross over multiple position; Cross over multiple machine; Cross over multiple data center; Or residing in cloud, it can comprise the one or more cloud assemblies in one or more network.One or more computer system 900 can suitably perform (not having substantial space or time restriction) describes or one or more steps in one or more methods illustrated herein.Unrestricted as an example, one or more computer system 900 in real time or can perform the one or more steps described or in one or more methods illustrated herein with batch processing pattern.One or more computer system 900 suitably can perform the one or more steps in description herein or illustrated one or more method at different time or at diverse location place.
In specific embodiments, computer system 900 comprises processor 902, internal memory 904, storer 906, I/O (I/O) interface 908, communication interface 910 and bus 912.Although the disclosure describes and illustrates the particular computer system of the specific components of the specific quantity had in specific arrangements, but any suitable computer system of disclosure expection, it has any suitable assembly of any right quantity in any suitable layout.
In specific embodiments, processor 902 comprises the hardware for performing instruction (such as forming those instructions of computer program).Instruction that unrestricted as an example, in order to perform instruction, processor 902 can be retrieved from internal register, inner buffer, internal memory 904 or storer 906 (or extraction); And decode and perform described instruction; And then by one or more result write internal register, inner buffer, internal memory 904 or storer 906.In specific embodiments, processor 902 can comprise one or more inner buffer for data, instruction or address.Although the disclosure describes and illustrates specific processor, any suitable processor of disclosure expection.
In specific embodiments, internal memory 904 comprises main memory, the data that its instruction for storage of processor 902 execution or processor 902 operate.In certain embodiments, internal memory 904 can be included in the internal memory in any system 10 assembly discussed above, such as administration module 15, mobile driver element 20 and/or stock's support 50.Internal memory 904 can store any suitable information of the assembly for system 10, multiple order that the multiple orders such as received with administration module 15 are associated and/or information.Unrestricted as an example, computer system 900 can by the instruction load from storer 906 or another source (such as such as, another computer system 900) to internal memory 904.Processor 902 can then by the instruction load from internal memory 904 to internal register or inner buffer.Such as, process 902 and can obtain the information be associated with the multiple orders be stored in internal memory 904.In order to perform described instruction, processor 902 can from internal register or inner buffer search instruction, and described instruction of decoding.Execution order period between or afterwards, one or more result (it can be intermediate result or net result) can be write internal register or inner buffer by processor 902.Processor 902 can then by the one or more write memories 904 in those results.In specific embodiments, the instruction that processor 902 performs in one or more internal register or inner buffer or in internal memory 904 (instead of storer 906 or other local), and the data only operating in one or more internal register or inner buffer or internal memory 904 (instead of storer 906 or other local).Processor 02 can be coupled to internal memory 904 by one or more rambus (it can comprise address bus and data bus separately).Bus 912 can comprise one or more rambus, as mentioned below.In specific embodiments, one or more memory management unit (MMU) resides between processor 902 and internal memory 904, and promotes the access to the internal memory 904 that processor 902 is asked.Although the disclosure describes and illustrates particular memory, any suitable internal memory of disclosure expection.
In specific embodiments, storer 906 comprises the mass storage for data or instruction.In certain embodiments, storer 906 can be comprised at any suitable assembly (comprising administration module 15, mobile driver element 20 and/or stock's support 50) of system 10.Storer 906 can store any suitable information of the assembly for system 10, multiple order that the multiple orders such as received with administration module 15 are associated and/or information.Storer 906 suitably can comprise removable or irremovable (such as, fixing) medium.Storer 906 suitably can in the inside of computer system 900 or outside.In specific embodiments, storer 906 is non-volatile solid-state memories.Storer 906 suitably can comprise one or more storer 706.Although the disclosure describes and illustrates specific memory, any suitable storer of disclosure expection.
In specific embodiments, I/O interface 908 comprise hardware, software or the two, it is provided for one or more interfaces of the communication between computer system 900 and one or more I/O device.It is one or more that computer system 900 can suitably comprise in these I/O devices.One or more communications realized between people and computer system 900 in these I/O devices.Unrestricted as an example, I/O device can comprise keyboard, button, microphone, monitor, mouse, printer, scanner, loudspeaker, frequency still camera, light pen, tablet, touch-screen, tracking ball, video camera, another suitable I/O device, or two or more the combination in these devices.I/O device can comprise one or more sensor.The disclosure any suitable I/O device of expection and any suitable I/O interface 908 for described device.I/O interface 908 can suitably comprise one or more device or software driver, and it is one or more that it makes processor 902 can drive in these I/O devices.I/O interface 908 suitably can comprise one or more I/O interface 908.Although the disclosure describes and illustrates specific I/O interface, any suitable I/O interface of disclosure expection.
In specific embodiments, communication interface 910 comprise hardware, software or the two, it is provided for the communication (such as such as, packet-based communication) between computer system 900 and other computer systems 900 one or more or one or more network.Unrestricted as an example, communication interface 910 can comprise: network interface controller (NIC) or network adapter, and it is for communicating based on wired network with Ethernet or other; Or wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapter, it is for communicating with wireless network (such as Wi-Fi network).The disclosure any suitable network of expection and any suitable communication interface 910 for described network.Although the disclosure describes and illustrates specific communication interface, any suitable communication interface of disclosure expection.
In specific embodiments, bus 912 comprise hardware, software or the two, it is by coupled to each other for the assembly of computer system 900.Although the disclosure describes and illustrates specific bus, the disclosure any suitable bus of expection or cross tie part.
In this article, reference computers readable storage medium storing program for executing contains one or more non-transitory, tangible computer-readable recording medium process structure.Unrestricted as an example, computer-readable recording medium suitably can comprise based semiconductor or other integrated circuit (IC) (such as such as, field programmable gate array (FPGA) or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), hard disk, HDD, mixing hard-drive (HHD), CD, disc drives (ODD), magneto-optic disk, magneto-optical drive, flexible plastic disc, flexible plastic disc drives (FDD), tape, hologram memory medium, solid-state driving (SSD) RAM drives, safe digital card, safe digital drives, or another suitable computer-readable recording medium, or two or more the combination in these devices.Computer-readable non-transitory storage medium can be suitably volatibility, non-volatile, or volatibility and non-volatile combination.
Disclosure expection has the one or more computing machines implementing any suitable memory to meet readable storage medium storing program for executing.In specific embodiments, computer-readable recording medium suitably implements one or more parts of processor 902 (such as, such as, one or more internal register or buffer memory), one or more parts of internal memory 904, one or more part of storer 906 or these combination.In specific embodiments, computer-readable recording medium implements RAM or ROM.In specific embodiments, computer-readable recording medium implements volatibility or permanent internal storage.In specific embodiments, one or more computer-readable recording medium comprises software.In this article, reference software can contain one or more application program, syllabified code, one or more computer program, one or more executable file, one or more instruction, logic, machine code, one or more script or source code, and vice versa in the appropriate case.In specific embodiments, software comprises one or more application programming interface (API).Any suitable software of disclosure expection, it is write with the combination of any suitable programming language or programming language or states in addition.In specific embodiments, software is expressed as source code or object code.
In this article, "or" is inclusive and nonexcludability, indicates in addition unless otherwise expressly indicated or by context.Therefore, in this article, " A or B " means " A, B or the two ", indicates in addition unless otherwise expressly indicated or by context.In addition, " with " be that the two is related and indivedual, indicate in addition unless otherwise expressly indicated or by context.Therefore, in this article, " A and B " means " A and B, jointly or individually ", indicates in addition unless otherwise expressly indicated or by context.
The disclosure contains that the intelligible institute to example implementations herein of those of ordinary skill in the art changes, replaces, variant, replacement and amendment.Similarly, following claims suitably comprises the intelligible all modifications to example implementations herein of those of ordinary skill in the art, replacement, variant, change and amendment.In addition, the assembly coming, can operate or operate the equipment or system or equipment or system that perform specific function in following claims with reference to being adapted to, being arranged, can, be configured to, be activated contains described equipment, system, assembly, no matter whether described equipment, system, assembly or described specific function are activated, open or unlock, as long as described equipment, system or assembly are adaptations like this, are arranged, can, be configured, be activated, can operate or operate.
Can use one or more software or software module separately or combine to perform or implement any step described herein, operation or process with other device.In one embodiment, use the computer program comprising computer-readable medium to implement software module, described computer-readable medium contains and can perform computer program code for any or all step described by performing, operation or process by computer processor.
Embodiment of the present invention also can relate to the equipment for performing operation herein.This equipment can be configured to required object especially, and/or it can comprise general-purpose calculating appts, and described general-purpose calculating appts is optionally started by the computer program stored in a computer or reconfigures.This computer program can be stored in in the tangible computer readable storage medium storing program for executing of store electrons instruction or the medium of any type, and is coupled to computer system bus.In addition, it can be maybe the framework adopting the multiple processors being designed to the computing power increased that any computing system mentioned in the description can comprise single processor.
Although illustrate the particular of inventory system 10, it should be understood that, instruction of the present disclosure can be applicable to the inventory system of any type and quantity.Such as, inventory system 10 can represent merchandise return facility.In such an implementation, stock article can represent the commodity return by client.When receiving from individual clients at facility place, these commodity can be stored in stock's retainer 130.At reasonable time, a large amount of unit can remove from specific stock's retainer 30, and transports stock's retainer 40 at stock's support 50 place.Such as, particular item of inventory can be associated with product recall, causes these stock articles to return with high volume.As another example, system 10 can represent production facility, and stock article can represent the individual elements of production external member.Therefore, the individual articles of production external member can be stored in stock's retainer 30.Order for the production of product can assemble in individual articles from stock's support 50.Final products can use order retainer transported by mobile driver element 20 and can be shipped to suitable destination.Therefore, although describe some example implementations in the disclosure, but inventory system 10 generally can represent any suitable facility or the system that store or process stock article, and stock article can represent the object being suitable for any type storing in particular bin deposit system 10, retrieve and/or process.
In some embodiments, administration module 15 can generate the configuration management of task assignment as inventory system 10 and the part of maintenance independent of these stock request.Such as, administration module 15 can in response to generation particular event (such as, ask the space of stopping in response to mobile driver element 20), generate task assignment according to predetermined scheduling (such as, as the part of such as daily start program) or at any appropriate time based on the structure of inventory system 10 and feature.In addition, although administration module 15 can be configured to the various aspects of the operation of the assembly of managed inventory system 10, in specific embodiments, assembly itself also can be responsible for the decision-making of the particular aspects of its operation, thus reduces the process load on administration module 15.Particularly, individual elements can be configured to allow that these assemblies improve the mode separate responses of its efficiency in particular localization environment, and can not reduce the overall efficiency of inventory system 10.As an example, administration module 15 can be dependent on the independent decision-making of mobile driver element 20 to prevent collision.In addition, although above description is paid close attention to wherein move one or more embodiments that driver element 20 asks the path of Self management module 15, in an alternate embodiment, mobile driver element 20 can generate the path of himself.In addition, discuss to describe move order retainer 40 along the side of stock's support 50 although above, instruction of the present disclosure also can be applicable to wherein along location, the side transportation equipment configuration of stock's support 50.Container 60 can move along transmission equipment and be parked in each position to receive stock article 42 with similar described in contingent order retainer 40 mode above.In addition, in some embodiments, mobile driver element 20 can comprise transmission equipment.
According to following clause, each embodiment of the present disclosure can be described:
1. a method, it comprises: specify the first side along stock's support to be placed in multiple stock's retainers of multiple localized area by administration module; Indicate one or more first to move driver element to transport described multiple stock's retainer to described multiple localized area by described administration module, wherein when fulfiling multiple order, described multiple stock's retainer keeps fixing at described multiple localized area place; Receive the order of multiple stock article; Determined to be stored in stock's retainer of the localized area being placed in described stock's support by the stock article of described order request by described administration module, wherein said stock's retainer is one in described multiple stock's retainer; Move driver element with being indicated second by described administration module and transport second side of order retainer to described stock's support, wherein said second moves driver element moves along described second side and described order retainer can be operated receive described stock article with the position of described second side of described stock's support relative with the localized area of described stock's retainer on edge.
2. the method according to clause 1, it also comprises: determine described order request additional inventory article; Indicate described second to move driver element and transport described order retainer to stock station; With indicating the described first one of moving in driver element, the stock's retainer storing described additional inventory article is transported to described stock station from inventory storage position.
3. the method according to clause 1, wherein said stock's support is first stock's support and described method also comprises: determine described order request additional inventory article; Indicate described second to move driver element and transport described order retainer to second stock's support; Described order is completed with at the described second described additional inventory article in stock's support place.
4. the method according to clause 1, it also comprises: start at described stock's support place and indicate the order retainer along described second side movement to be parked in the signal of the described position relative with described localized area; Described localized area is moved to based on the manipulater of stock's support described in described signal designation with at least part of.
5. the method according to clause 1, wherein said localized area comprises the first localized area, described stock's retainer comprises first stock's retainer, and described method also comprises: at least partly based on the first trigger event, indicate described first to move in driver element one and remove described first stock's retainer from described first localized area and transport described first stock's retainer to the deviation situation be associated with described stock's support; Indicate the 3rd to move driver element and transport second stock's retainer to described first localized area; With at least partly based on the second trigger event, the described first one of moving in driver element is indicated described first stock's retainer to be transported to the second localized area of described stock's support from described deviation situation.
6. the method according to clause 1, it also comprises: speed each in multiple stock article of determining to place an order in inventory system under it; Each speed in more described multiple stock article; At least partly based on described comparison, select the amount of the stock article higher than set rate; And wherein to specify described multiple stock's retainer to be placed in described multiple localized area be at least partly based on determining that described stock article amount is stored in described multiple stock's retainer.
7. a system, it comprises:
Stock's support, it comprises the first side and the second side, described first side comprises multiple localized area, at described region place, multiple stock's retainer is specified for laying, and described stock's support can operate and receive stock article with at least one place in described multiple localized area from least one described stock's retainer; With mobile driver element, it can operate and transport order retainer with described second side along described stock's support, and wherein said order retainer can operate and receive stock article with the position in described second side along described stock's support from described stock's support.
8. the system according to clause 7, the described position wherein along the second side of described stock's support is relative with the localized area on described first side, and described localized area has the stock's retainer storing described stock article.
9. the system according to clause 7, wherein said mobile driver element comprises first and moves driver element and described system also comprises second moves driver element, and it can operate to transport one or more in the localized area at described stock's support place of one or more in described multiple stock's retainer.
10. the system according to clause 7, wherein said multiple stock's retainer at least partly based on the one or more stock articles be stored in described multiple stock's retainer product speed and specify for described localized area.
11. systems according to clause 7, wherein said multiple stock's retainer keeps when filling multiple order being placed in localized area place.
12. systems according to clause 7, wherein said order retainer can operate to keep multiple container, being associated with asking one or more orders of the stock article be stored in in described multiple stock's retainer at least partially in wherein said container.
13. systems according to clause 7, described mobile driver element also can operate with: sentence second stock's retainer for one in described localized area and replace first stock's retainer of described multiple stock's retainer, wherein at least part of tolerance based on being associated with described first stock's retainer replaces described first stock's retainer.
14. systems according to clause 7, the one or more appointments in wherein said localized area are for storing rubbish retainer and described mobile driver element can operate to transport described rubbish retainer.
15. systems according to clause 7, wherein said first moves driver element can operate with in mobile described multiple stock's retainer to the deviation situation be associated with described stock's support.
16. systems according to clause 7, described stock's support also comprises interface, described interface being operable is to indicate the manipulater of described stock's support to remove described stock article from described multiple stock's retainer and to be placed on by described stock article in the container be stored in described order retainer, and described container is associated with described order.
17. systems according to clause 7, described stock's support also comprises the first manipulater district and the second manipulater district, wherein said first manipulater district specifies and is applied to the first manipulater to be placed into by stock article in the described order retainer at the first subgroup place of described localized area, and described second manipulater district specifies for the second manipulater to be placed into by stock article in the described order retainer at the second subgroup place of described localized area.
18. systems according to clause 7, it is one or more that described stock's support also comprises in the virtual region of flat surface, elevated surface and workplace.
19. 1 kinds of systems, it comprises: stock's retainer; Order retainer; With mobile driver element, described mobile driver element can operate with:
Transport the localized area of described stock's retainer to the first side of stock's support; Transport described order retainer to described stock's support; Described order retainer is moved in the second side along described stock's support; With the position be parked in along second side relative with described localized area, wherein said order retainer can operate to receive stock article at described localized area place from described stock's retainer.
20. systems according to clause 19, stock's retainer described in wherein said stock's retainer is first stock's retainer and described mobile driver element also can operate to replace described first stock's retainer with second stock's retainer, and described system also comprises administration module, described administration module be associated with described first stock's retainer based on the comparison at least partly first measure and be associated with described second stock's retainer second measure and indicate the described second stock's retainer of described mobile driver element to replace described first stock's retainer.
21. systems according to clause 20, it is one or more that wherein said first tolerance comprises in following item: the amount being stored in the stock article in described first stock's retainer; With the speed of the stock article be stored in described first stock's retainer.
22. systems according to clause 20, wherein said first tolerance comprises the first expectation demand, described second tolerance comprises the second expectation demand, and administration module also can operate to be based, at least in part, on special time determine the described second expectation demand of prediction exceed described first expectation demand and described in described special time execution cost first stock retainer cause second stock's retainer replace.
23. systems according to clause 20, wherein said mobile driver element can operate to transport described stock's retainer by following item: move below described stock's retainer; Butt junction is raised on surface towards described stock's retainer; Use stock's retainer described in described butt junction lifting; Moving during stock's retainer described in lifting.
24. systems according to clause 19, it also comprises administration module, described administration module can operate with: determine to rotate described stock's retainer; With at least part of based on determining that should rotate the described mobile driver element of described stock's retainer instruction carries out following item: described stock's retainer is moved apart described localized area; Rotate described stock's retainer; Described localized area is retracted with by described stock's retainer.
A1. for fulfiling a method for order at stock's support place, described method comprises: receive multiple order by administration module, and the first order comprises the request of one or more stock article; Check described multiple order to identify stock article by described administration module, described stock article is stored by the stock's retainer being placed in stock's support; By described administration module at least partly based on determining that described first order and described second order comprise the request of described stock article and make described first order of described multiple order and described second order divide into groups; Be in the first container that on order retainer, configuration is associated with described first order and the second container be associated with described second order in vectoring station, wherein said first container and described second container can operate to receive described stock article; With indicated mobile driver element that described order retainer is transported to described stock's support from described vectoring station by described administration module, wherein said order retainer receives described stock article in the position relative with described stock's retainer from described stock's support.
A2. the method according to clause A1, it also comprises: determine whether described first order and described second order complete at described stock's support place; If described first order and described second order complete at described stock's support place, so indicate described mobile driver element that described order retainer is transported to point of shipment; If do not completed at described stock's support place with described first order and described second order, so indicate described mobile driver element that described order retainer is transported to stock station.
A3. the method according to clause A1, it also comprises: after described first container of increase and described second container, determine whether described order retainer has free space for extra vessel; If there is free space with described order retainer, so increase extra vessel to described order retainer.
A4. the method according to clause A1, wherein said stock article comprises the first stock article, described stock's retainer comprises first stock's retainer, and described method also comprises: check in described multiple order the order whether with the second stock article comprised in the described multiple stock article of request, described second stock article is stored by the second stock's retainer being placed in described stock's support; And wherein at least part of described first order of one or more groupings based on comprising in described first order of described first stock article and described second stock article and described second order and described second order.
A5. the method according to clause A1, it also comprises: assign first must give described first order and assign second must give described second order, score is at least partly based on following item: the amount receiving the stroke needed for one or more stock articles of order request; With the amount of the stock article be positioned on the order at described stock's support place; And to determine to divide into groups described first order on described order retainer and described second order based on described first score and described second score at least partly.
A6. an administration module, it comprises: internal memory, and it can operate to store the information be associated with multiple orders of multiple stock article; Processor, its can be communicatively coupled to described internal memory and can operate with: obtain the information that is associated with described multiple order; Two or more unit is selected to transport described order retainer to stock's support; Wherein said two or more order at described order retainer along the stock article receiving described two or more order request during described stock's support-moving.
A7. the administration module according to claim A6, described processor also can operate with: calculate described mobile driver element to described stock's support to fill the amount of the stroke needed for described multiple order; With at least part of based on calculated path increment, determine to select two or more order and by described mobile driver element, described order retainer be transported to described stock's support to reduce path increment.
A8. the administration module according to clause A6, described process also can operate selects described two or more order to be increased to described order retainer based on determining described two or more order only to ask to be arranged in the stock article of the one or more stock's retainers being placed in described stock's support place from described multiple order with at least part of.
A9. the administration module according to clause A6, described processor also can operate with: provide the first instruction to utilize the order Assembly Order retainer comprising the first stock article be stored in the stock's retainer being placed in described stock's support place; There is provided the first instruction to utilize the order Assembly Order retainer of the first stock article comprising and being stored in the stock's retainer being placed in described stock's support place and the second stock article being stored in the position except described stock's support; With the second stock article order Assembly Order retainer providing the 3rd instruction to utilize to comprise the position be stored in except described stock's support.
A10. the administration module according to clause A9, described processor also can operate with: obtain instruction to be increased to the speed of one or more order retainers of the side movement along described stock's support information at its decline stock article; With at least partly based on described speed, determine to provide the selected instruction of described first instruction, described second instruction and described 3rd instruction.
A11. the administration module according to clause A6, described processor also can operate with: determine whether the workload at described stock's support place is greater than maximal workload; And if described workload is greater than maximal value, so determine to fulfil order at the stock station place different from described stock's support.
A12. the administration module according to clause A6, wherein said two or more order comprises the first order and the second order, and described processor also can operate with described first order at least partly utilizing described order retainer to select to fulfil based on following item and described second order: determine that described first order is for by first stock article of first stock's retainer storage at the first localized area place being placed in described stock's support; With determine described second order be for by be placed in described stock's support the second localized area place second stock's retainer store the second stock article.
A13. the administration module according to clause A6, described processor also can operate with: indicate the manipulater of described stock's support to be in described order along expecting during described stock's support-moving that described order retainer receives the ad-hoc location of described stock article at it.
A14. one kind comprises the non-transitory computer-readable medium of logic, described logic can operate when being performed by processor with: instruction first is moved driver element stock's retainer is transported to stock's support, and described instruction is in response to the speed of the one or more stock articles stored by stock's retainer; Move driver element with instruction second and order retainer is transported to described stock's support, described instruction is in response to the order comprising described one or more stock article, and wherein said second to move driver element one or more with what receive in described stock article along order retainer described in described stock's support-moving.
A15. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, described logic also can operate to start the indicator on described stock's support, and described indicator is provided in its lower described order retainer by stopping receiving the manipulater that be indicated to described stock support of stock article to the position in described two or more container.
A16. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, described logic also can operate transports described order retainer to described stock's support with the work allocation of at least part of multiple manipulaters based on described stock's support place.
A17. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, described logic also can operate with: instruction manipulater along described stock's support-moving at its lower described order retainer by reception first stock article to the position in the first container of described two or more container; In described position, described first stock article is moved to described first container from stock's retainer with the described manipulater of instruction, described stock's retainer comprises multiple stock article.
A18. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, described logic also can operate to determine to transport described order retainer to described stock's support, wherein said stock's support comprise multiple workspace and described determine calculate balance the workload of crossing over described multiple workspace.
A19. the computer-readable medium according to clause A18, wherein workspace comprises some localized areas, stock's retainer is placed in localized area place, and described logic is determined to transport described stock's retainer to described localized area based on the speed of the stock article stored by described stock's retainer at least partly.
A20. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, wherein said order retainer comprise the first order retainer and described logic also can operate with:
Described first order along determine during described stock's support-moving the second order retainer of movement in the same direction whether stop described order retainer and its locate described order retainer by receive described stock article the first destination between path; And
If described second order retainer stops described path, so determine the second destination of described second order retainer; And if described second destination is more farther than described first destination along described stock's support, so starts the indicator of described first position and indicate described mobile driver element to advance to described primary importance.
A21. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, described logic also can operate with: in response to the first trigger event, indicate described mobile driver element to transport described order retainer to the deviation situation be associated with described stock's support; And in response to the second trigger event, indicate described mobile driver element that described order retainer is transported to described stock's support from described deviation situation.
A22. the computer-readable medium according to clause A21, wherein said first trigger event comprises determines that the workload at described stock's support place exceedes projected workload and described second trigger event comprises and determines that described workload is lower than described projected workload.
B1. a method, it comprises: calculate multiple product speed by administration module, the product speed be associated with the demand being used in the stock article placed an order in inventory system; The stock's retainer being placed in the fixed amount of described stock's support is selected by described administration module, described fixed amount corresponds to the multiple localized areas along the first side of stock's support, wherein selecting stock's retainer to be placed in localized area is that described stock article is stored by described stock's retainer at least partly based on the described product speed of described stock article; Mobile driver element is indicated to transport described selection stock retainer to described localized area by described administration module; The order of described stock article is received by described administration module; With second side of the order retainer indicating described mobile driver element to transport by described administration module to be associated with described order to described stock's support, wherein said order retainer can operate to receive described stock article at described second side joint of relatively described localized area, edge.
B2. the method according to clause B1, wherein said stock's retainer comprises first stock's retainer and described method also comprises: determine that described first stock's retainer is by the First Line total amount on the order that meets at described stock's support place; And wherein select described first stock's retainer also at least part of described First Line total amount based on determining on order be greater than the second line total amount of the order that second stock's retainer meets at described stock's support place.
B3. the method according to clause B2, wherein select described first stock's retainer also at least part of based on determining the order that described first stock's retainer will complete at described stock's support place than described second stock's retainer more, described method also comprises: if be entirely arranged in the one or more stock's retainers being placed in described stock's support by multiple stock articles of described order request, so determines to complete order by described stock's support place.
B4. the method according to clause B1, it is one or more that wherein said multiple product speed comprises in following item: appear at the first frequency on multiple orders of stock article at its lower first stock article; With the second frequency appeared at its lower expectation second stock article on described multiple order of stock article.
B5. the method according to clause B4, wherein said stock's retainer comprises and stores first stock's retainer of described first stock article and described method also comprises: determine that described first frequency changes; And at least partly based on the change of described first frequency, determine that the described localized area of transport second stock retainer to described first stock's retainer is to replace described first stock's retainer.
B6. a system, it comprises: stock's support, and it comprises the localized area arranged and lay stock's retainer, and described stock's retainer stores stock article; Mobile driver element, it can operate to transport order retainer; And administration module, its can operate with: calculate the tolerance that is associated with the demand of described stock article; At least partly based on described tolerance, select to store the stock's retainer being placed in the described stock article of the described localized area of described stock's support from multiple stock's retainer; Receive the order of described stock article; Indicate described mobile driver element to transport described order retainer to described stock's support, described order retainer can operate to receive described stock article from the described stock's retainer close to described localized area.
B7. the system according to clause B6, the described tolerance be wherein associated with demand comprises the task assignment amount generated by described administration module, and described administration module also can operate with: at least partly calculate based on the order receiving described stock article the task assignment amount generated; Select to store the described stock's retainer being placed in the described stock article at described localized area place based on reducing the task assignment amount generated with at least part of.
B8. the system according to clause B6, described administration module also can operate with: compare each product speed in the multiple stock articles that can be used for placing an order; At least partly based on described comparison, select to store the amount with stock's retainer of the stock article of high product speed; With
One or more mobile driver element is indicated to transport stock's retainer of described amount to described stock's support.
B9. the system according to clause B6, wherein said order retainer receives described stock article in the position relative with the localized area of the described stock's retainer storing described stock article.
B10. the system according to clause B6, wherein: described mobile driver element also can operate to transport described stock's retainer; And described administration module also can operate to indicate described mobile driver element to transport described stock's retainer to described localized area.
B11. the system according to clause B10, wherein said stock's retainer comprises first stock's retainer and described administration module also can operate to indicate described mobile driver element second stock's retainer to replace described first stock's retainer.
B12. the system according to clause B6, wherein said tolerance comprises at least partly based at least one the product speed determined in the following sequence information of past sequence information, known demand and prediction.
B13. the system according to clause B12, wherein said tolerance also comprises small product size, and described small product size comprises the cube volume by the amount of the stock article of multiple order request.
B14. the system according to clause B6, wherein said stock's retainer comprises two or more side, every side can store one or more stock article and described administration module also can operate with: determine that the amount of the stock article be stored on described stock's retainer is lower than scheduled volume, described first side is to described stock's support; And indicate described mobile driver element to rotate described stock's retainer to make the second side of described stock's retainer to described stock's support.
B15. one kind comprises the non-transitory computer-readable medium of logic, described logic can operate when being performed by processor with: instruction first is moved driver element stock's retainer is transported to stock's support, and described instruction is in response to the speed of the one or more stock articles stored by stock's retainer; Move driver element with instruction second and order retainer is transported to described stock's support, described instruction is in response to the order comprising described one or more stock article, and wherein said second to move driver element one or more with what receive in described stock article along order retainer described in described stock's support-moving.
B16. the computer-readable medium according to claim B15, described logic also can operate to be specified by described stock's retainer the place be used for when fulfiling multiple order in multiple localized areas at stock's support place to keep fixing.
B17. the computer-readable medium according to claim B15, wherein: described speed comprises First Speed; Described one or more stock article comprises one or more first stock article; Described stock's retainer comprises first stock's retainer; And described logic also can operate with the described First Speed that calculates described one or more first stock article; Move driver element with instruction described first and based on determining the described First Speed of described one or more first stock article higher than the second speed of one or more second stock articles stored by second stock's retainer, described first stock's retainer is transported to described stock's support at least partly.
B18. the computer-readable medium according to claim B17, described logic also can operate with the described First Speed that moves one or more first stock article described in Time Calculation that driver element transports after described first stock's retainer to described stock's support in instruction described first; With at least part of based on calculating described First Speed lower than third speed, indicating described first to move driver element and transporting the 3rd stock's retainer to described stock's support.
B19. the computer-readable medium according to clause B15, it is one or more that wherein said speed also comprises in historical speed, known demand and expectation demand.
B20. the computer-readable medium according to clause B15, wherein said order retainer comprises the first order retainer and described logic also can operate to indicate the 3rd to move driver element transports the second order retainer along described stock's support, and the wherein said 3rd moves driver element and described second moves driver element and to move in the same direction and at cardinal principle same time along described stock's support-moving.
B21. the computer-readable medium according to clause B15, wherein said stock's retainer comprises first stock's retainer, described order retainer comprises the first order retainer, and described logic also can operate with: indicate described first to move driver element and be transported to described stock's support by storing second stock's retainer of described one or more stock article; Move driver element with instruction the 3rd and second order retainer is transported to described stock's support, wherein when to receive described stock article one or more from described first stock's retainer for described first retainer, it is one or more that described second order retainer receives described stock article from described second stock's retainer, identical with the described stock article in described second stock's retainer in wherein said first stock's retainer.
Although present invention is described to have utilized some embodiments, but a large amount of changes, variant, change, conversion and amendment can be advised to those skilled in the art, and wish that this type of change dropped in appended claims, variant, change, conversion and amendment are contained in the present invention.In addition, although be described the disclosure relative to each embodiment, expect that instruction of the present disclosure can be appropriately combined in single embodiment completely.

Claims (15)

1. a system, it comprises:
Stock's support, it comprises the first side and the second side, described first side comprises multiple localized area, at described region place, multiple stock's retainer is specified for laying, and described stock's support can operate and receive stock article with at least one place in described multiple localized area from least one described stock's retainer; With
Mobile driver element, it can operate and transport order retainer with described second side along described stock's support, and wherein said order retainer can operate and receive stock article with the position in described second side along described stock's support from described stock's support.
2. system according to claim 1, wherein said multiple stock's retainer at least partly based on the one or more stock articles be stored in described multiple stock's retainer product speed and specify for described localized area.
3. system according to claim 1, wherein said order retainer can operate to keep multiple container, being associated with asking one or more orders of the stock article be stored in in described multiple stock's retainer at least partially in wherein said container.
4. system according to claim 1, described mobile driver element also can operate with:
One in the described localized area first stock's retainer sentenced second stock's retainer and replace described multiple stock's retainer, wherein at least part of tolerance based on being associated with described first stock's retainer replaces described first stock's retainer.
5. system according to claim 1, described stock's support also comprises interface, described interface being operable is to indicate the manipulater of described stock's support to remove described stock article from described multiple stock's retainer and to be placed on by described stock article in the container be stored in described order retainer, and described container is associated with described order.
6., for fulfiling a method for order at stock's support place, described method comprises:
Receive multiple order by administration module, the first order comprises the request of one or more stock article;
Check described multiple order to identify stock article by described administration module, described stock article is stored by the stock's retainer being placed in stock's support;
By described administration module at least partly based on determining that described first order and described second order comprise the request of described stock article and make described first order of described multiple order and described second order divide into groups;
Be in the first container that on order retainer, layout is associated with described first order and the second container be associated with described second order in vectoring station, wherein said first container and described second container can operate to receive described stock article; With
Indicate mobile driver element that described order retainer is transported to described stock's support from described vectoring station by described administration module, wherein said order retainer receives described stock article in the position relative with described stock's retainer from described stock's support.
7. method according to claim 6, it also comprises:
Determine whether described first order and described second order complete at described stock's support place;
If described first order and described second order complete at described stock's support place, so indicate described mobile driver element that described order retainer is transported to point of shipment; With
If described first order and described second order do not complete at described stock's support place, so indicate described mobile driver element that described order retainer is transported to stock station.
8. method according to claim 6, wherein said stock article comprises the first stock article, and described stock's retainer comprises first stock's retainer, and described method also comprises:
Check in described multiple order the order whether with the second stock article comprised in the described multiple stock article of request, described second stock article is stored by the second stock's retainer being placed in described stock's support; And
Wherein at least part of described first order of one or more groupings based on comprising in described first order of described first stock article and described second stock article and described second order and described second order.
9. method according to claim 6, it also comprises:
Assign first must give described first order and assign second must give described second order, score is at least partly based on following item:
Receive the amount of the stroke needed for one or more stock articles of order request; With
Be positioned at the amount of the stock article on the order at described stock's support place; And
To determine to divide into groups described first order on described order retainer and described second order based on described first score and described second score at least partly.
10. comprise a non-transitory computer-readable medium for logic, described logic can operate when being performed by processor with:
Instruction first is moved driver element and stock's retainer is transported to stock's support, and described instruction is in response to the speed of the one or more stock articles stored by stock's retainer; With
Instruction second is moved driver element and order retainer is transported to described stock's support, described instruction is in response to the order comprising described one or more stock article, and wherein said second to move driver element one or more with what receive in described stock article along order retainer described in described stock's support-moving.
11. computer-readable mediums according to claim 10, described logic also can operate to be specified by described stock's retainer the place be used for when fulfiling multiple order in multiple localized areas at stock's support place to keep fixing.
12. computer-readable mediums according to claim 10, wherein:
Described speed comprises First Speed;
Described one or more stock article comprises one or more first stock article;
Described stock's retainer comprises first stock's retainer; And
Described logic also can operate with:
Calculate the described First Speed of described one or more first stock article; With
Indicate described first to move driver element and based on determining the described First Speed of described one or more first stock article higher than the second speed of one or more second stock articles stored by second stock's retainer, described first stock's retainer is transported to described stock's support at least partly.
13. computer-readable mediums according to claim 10, it is one or more that wherein said speed also comprises in historical speed, known demand and expectation demand.
14. computer-readable mediums according to claim 10, wherein said order retainer comprises the first order retainer and described logic also can operate to indicate the 3rd to move driver element transports the second order retainer along described stock's support, and the wherein said 3rd moves driver element and described second moves driver element and to move in the same direction and at cardinal principle same time along described stock's support-moving.
15. computer-readable mediums according to claim 10, wherein said stock's retainer comprises first stock's retainer, and described order retainer comprises the first order retainer, and described logic also can operate with:
Indicate described first to move driver element and the second stock's retainer storing described one or more stock article is transported to described stock's support; With
Indicate the 3rd to move driver element and the second order retainer is transported to described stock's support, wherein when to receive described stock article one or more from described first stock's retainer for described first retainer, it is one or more that described second order retainer receives described stock article from described second stock's retainer, identical with the described stock article in described second stock's retainer in wherein said first stock's retainer.
CN201380058814.4A 2012-10-04 2013-10-03 Order is filled at inventory's bracket Active CN104903922B (en)

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US13/644,679 US20140100999A1 (en) 2012-10-04 2012-10-04 Filling an order at an inventory pier
US13/644,646 2012-10-04
US13/644,591 2012-10-04
US13/644,591 US9792577B2 (en) 2012-10-04 2012-10-04 Filling an order at an inventory pier
US13/644,646 US9009072B2 (en) 2012-10-04 2012-10-04 Filling an order at an inventory pier
PCT/US2013/063176 WO2014055716A1 (en) 2012-10-04 2013-10-03 Filling an order at an inventory pier

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