Order fulfillment technique

摘要

A method and apparatus for fulfilling orders with a system having an automated warehouse that is adapted to store a plurality of inventory receptacles. The automated warehouse includes a plurality of vehicles that are adapted to storing inventory receptacles and retrieving inventory receptacles and an outbound device that is adapted to exchanging inventory receptacles between a pick station and the vehicles. Orders of items are received with an order queue. Orders are disbursed from the order queue to a vehicle queue associated with each vehicle. Inventory receptacles are retrieved with the vehicles having items for at least one of the orders. The inventory receptacles are retrieved according to the vehicle queue for that vehicle. Inventory receptacles are deposited by the vehicles to an outbound queue associated with the outbound device and forwarded from the outbound device to the pick station according to the requirements of the pick station. Items are retrieved from the product receptacles at the pick station and put into transportation receptacles.

主权项

1. A method of fulfilling orders with a system having an automated warehouse that is adapted to store a plurality of inventory receptacles, said automated warehouse including a plurality of vehicles and an outbound device, said vehicles storing inventory receptacles and retrieving inventory receptacles, said outbound device adapted to exchanging inventory receptacles between the vehicles and at least one pick station, said method comprising:
receiving orders of items with an order queue; disbursing orders from said order queue to a plurality of vehicle queues, each associated with one of said vehicles, each said vehicle queue capable of storing the identity of inventory receptacles for certain of the orders; retrieving inventory receptacles with said vehicles having items for at least one of the orders according to the vehicle queue for that vehicle; said vehicles transporting inventory receptacles to an outbound queue associated with said lift; forwarding the inventory receptacles from said outbound queue with said outbound device to the pick station according to the requirements of the pick station; and retrieving items from the inventory receptacles at said pick station and putting the items into transportation receptacles.