Custom containers in a materials handling facility

A system, comprising:

• a custom container forming device within a materials handling facility, the custom container forming device operable to form custom containers based at least in part on received dimension values;
• a computing system, including:
• one or more processors;
• and
• a memory storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least:
• determine that a plurality of like items are present at a receive station of the materials handling facility;
• estimate that a percentage of the plurality of like items will be placed in custom containers formed within the materials handling facility;
• determine, based at least in part on the percentage, at least a portion of the plurality of like items to be allocated to an inventory location of the materials handling facility;
• determine, based at least in part on a first dimension value of an item of the plurality of like items and a second dimension value of the second item, a third dimension value for a custom container such that the item and the second item may be contained in a custom container formed in accordance with at least the third dimension value;
• form, with the custom container forming device, the custom container in accordance with at least the third dimension value;
• cause the item and the second item to be placed into the custom container such that the custom container, the item, and the second item form a single item for inventory handling;
• initiate routing of the single item to the inventory location of the materials handling facility for storage;
• and
• subsequent to the single item being automatically routed to the inventory location and stored:
• receive an order for the item and the second item;
• and
• route the single item to a shipping station of the materials handling facility for shipment of the single item to fulfill the order.

A system, comprising:

• a custom container forming device within a materials handling facility, the custom container forming device operable to form custom containers based at least in part on received dimension values;
• a product dimension estimator configured to scan an item and determine a plurality of dimension values of the item;
• a computing system, including:
• one or more processors;
• and
• a memory storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least:
• determine that a plurality of like items are present at a receive station of the materials handling facility;
• estimate that a percentage of the plurality of like items will be placed in custom containers formed within the materials handling facility;
• estimate a frequency in which an item of the plurality of like items will be shipped with a second item;
• scan, with the product dimension estimator, an instance of the item to obtain a first plurality of dimension values for the item;
• determine a second plurality of dimension values for a custom container such that the item and the second item may be contained therein, wherein the second plurality of dimension values are based at least in part on the first plurality of dimension values;
• form, with the custom container forming device, the custom container in accordance with the second plurality of dimension values;
• cause the item and the second item to be placed into the custom container such that the custom container, the item, and the second item form a single item for inventory handling;
• initiate routing of the single item to an inventory location of the materials handling facility for storage;
• subsequent to the single item being routed to the inventory location and stored at the inventory location;
• receive an order for the item and the second item;
• and
• initiate a pick of the single item from the inventory location and a routing of the single item to a shipping station of the materials handling facility for shipment of the single item to fulfill the order.