Modular material handling system for order fulfillment

摘要

Methods and apparatus for material handling in an order fulfillment center. An order fulfillment system may include inventory storage, a processing area, and a control system. The inventory storage may in some instances include two storage areas, and in some cases the processing area may be disposed between the two storage areas. The processing area may include a router module that is configured to receive inventory items that have been picked from the inventory storage. Inventory items may be received by the router module via conveyance receptacles (e.g., totes, bins) that are conveyed using a conveyor mechanism. The processing area may also include a plurality of processing modules that may be configured to receive inventory items from the router module. In some instances, the processing modules may receive the inventory items via conveyance receptacles that are conveyed using the conveyor mechanism.

主权项

1. An order fulfillment system, comprising:
inventory storage, comprising two inventory storage areas; a processing area disposed between the two inventory storage areas, wherein a conveyance mechanism conveys conveyance receptacles holding inventory items from the inventory storage to the processing area, and wherein the conveyance receptacles are not fixed to the conveyance mechanism; the processing area configured to receive inventory items from the two inventory storage areas and to process the received inventory items for shipment, wherein the processing area comprises a router module configured to route items received from inventory storage to a plurality of different processing modules; a receiving module corresponding to at least one of the two inventory storage areas and configured to receive replenishment inventory into the order fulfillment system; and a control system implemented by one or more computer processors and configured to direct conveyance of a replenishment supply of an inventory item from the receiving module to one or more inventory storage zones of the corresponding inventory storage area for storing the replenishment supply.