Dynamically-sized containers for inventory system

摘要

Containers for an inventory system can be formed from a set of container segments bounded by container partitions. The container segments can be coupled end to end to one another and include receiving features for receiving partitions therein. A segment can separate from an adjacent segment in response to receiving a partition in a receiving feature at an end of one of the segments, or in response to interaction with decoupler distinct from the partition. Containers of differing lengths can be provided by using partitions to bound different numbers of interconnected segments.

主权项

1. A container system, comprising:
a plurality of container partitions comprising bottom, left, and right outer edges; a plurality of container segments, each comprising: a trough-shaped body having bottom, left, and right sidewalls; a front edge of the bottom, left, and right sidewalls, the front edge comprising a front coupling mechanism; a rear edge of the bottom, left, and right sidewalls, the rear edge comprising a rear coupling mechanism configured to releasably attach the front coupling mechanism of an adjacent container segment; a first receiving feature positioned adjacent to the front edge and configured to receive at least a portion of the bottom, left, or right outer edges of a first container partition of the plurality of container partitions, such that the first container partition when received in the first receiving feature extends along the bottom, left, and right sidewalls adjacent to or at the front edge; and a second receiving feature positioned adjacent to the rear edge and configured to receive at least a portion of the bottom, left or right outer edges of a second container partition such that the second container partition when received in the second receiving feature extends along the bottom, left, and right sidewalls adjacent to or at the rear edge; wherein one or more container segments and two or more container partitions can be assembled to form a plurality of independently movable containers of different sizes, each container comprising (i) one container segment of the plurality of container segments or two or more container segments of the plurality of container segments coupled via respective front and rear coupling mechanisms, (ii) a first container partition of the plurality of container partitions received in a first receiving feature at a first end of the container, and (iii) a second container partition of the plurality of container partitions received in a second receiving feature at a second opposite end of the container.