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 storage areas; a processing area disposed between the two storage areas, the processing area including:
a router module configured to receive inventory items from the inventory storage via conveyance receptacles, wherein the conveyance receptacles are transported using a conveyor mechanism, and wherein the conveyance receptacles are not fixed to the conveyor mechanism;a plurality of processing modules configured to receive the inventory items from the router module via the conveyor receptacles, and to package the inventory items; anda shipping module configured to receive the packaged inventory items from ones of the plurality of processing modules; and a control system operable to:
in response to a received customer order, cause a particular inventory item to be picked from the inventory storage and to be routed, via the conveyor receptacles, to the router module of the processing area; andcause the router module to route the particular inventory item to a selected particular processing module to be packaged, wherein the particular processing module is selected based at least in part on the received customer order.