Systems and methods for order processing
AssigneeOcado Innovation Limited
InventorsLars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Stuart Richard North, Robert Rolf Stadie
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets are disclosed for fully- and/or partly automated handling of goods. The disclosure provides improvements in the storage and retrieval of storage and delivery containers in order processing systems.
Claims28
A method for managing product order processing within a shipment management system comprising a storage-and-retrieval system, a dispatch system, and a container processing system, the storage-and-retrieval system including a structural framework defining a grid of storage locations configured for receiving a plurality of storage containers, the plurality of storage containers being configured to contain one or more of a plurality of delivery containers, the plurality of storage containers comprising a first storage container and a second storage container, the plurality of delivery containers comprising a first delivery container and a second delivery container, two sets of intersecting rails being arranged on the grid and configured to enable access to each of the storage locations by a robotic load handler, the dispatch system being configured to convey the plurality of storage containers for transport to customers or for return to the storage-and-retrieval system, the dispatch system including at least a lift mechanism and a conveyor, the method comprising:
- nesting the first delivery container within the first storage container when the first storage container is empty;
- delivering the first delivery container that is nested within the first storage container to the storage-and-retrieval system;
- and
- separating the second delivery container that is nested within the second storage container from the second storage container for delivery.
A shipment management system comprising:
- a storage-and-retrieval system comprising:
- a structural framework that defines a grid of storage locations configured to receive a plurality of storage containers, the plurality of storage containers being configured to contain one or more of a plurality of delivery containers, the plurality of storage containers comprising a first storage container and a second storage container, the plurality of delivery containers comprising a first delivery container and a second delivery container, and
- two sets of intersecting rails arranged on the grid and configured to enable access to the storage locations by a robotic load handler;
- a dispatch system configured to convey the plurality of storage containers for transport to customers or for return to the storage-and-retrieval system, the dispatch system comprising a lift mechanism and a conveyor;
- and
- a container processing system configured to:
- nest the first delivery container within the first storage container when the first storage container is empty,
- deliver the first delivery container that is nested within the first storage container to the storage-and-retrieval system, and
- separate the second delivery container that is nested within the second storage container from the second storage container for delivery.
A method of operating an order processing system that comprises a storage-and-retrieval system comprising a grid of storage locations including a plurality of first storage locations and a plurality of second storage locations, the method comprising:
- storing, by at least one of a plurality of robotic load handlers, in the plurality of first storage locations a plurality of first storage containers containing items;
- storing, by at least one of the plurality of robotic load handlers, in the plurality of second storage locations a plurality of second storage containers containing a plurality of delivery containers;
- retrieving, by at least one of the plurality of robotic load handlers, from the plurality of second storage locations the plurality of second storage containers containing the plurality of delivery containers and delivering the plurality of second storage containers containing the plurality of delivery containers to an order picking station;
- transporting, by at least one of the plurality of robotic load handlers, the plurality of first storage containers within the storage-and-retrieval system;
- transporting, by at least one of the plurality of robotic load handlers, the plurality of second storage containers containing the plurality of delivery containers within the storage-and-retrieval system;
- and
- transporting the plurality of delivery containers outside of the storage-and-retrieval system for delivery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.