US 2026/0274573 A1 · RE-ROUTING STORAGE ITEMS IN A WAREHOUSE

Abstract

This specification generally discloses a computer-implemented method for re-routing items in a warehouse, comprising designating a first storage location in the warehouse as a destination storage location for an item; sending first instructions to a mechanical conveying system to automatically move the item from a first current position to the first storage location using the mechanical conveying system; determining, while the item is being moved to the first storage location by the mechanical conveying system, that a state of items being moved by the mechanical conveying system satisfies a criterion to change the destination storage location for the item from the first storage location to a second storage location; and sending second instructions to the mechanical conveying system to automatically move the item from a second current position of the item to the second storage location using the mechanical conveying system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for routing items in a storage facility, the system comprising:

a storage facility comprising:
a storage rack with multiple levels, the multiple levels comprising storage locations or areas to store items;
a lift adapted to move items between a first level of the multiple levels to levels above the first level of the multiple levels;
a dock area configured between dock doors of the storage facility and the storage rack;
and
a mechanical conveying system comprising a plurality of conveyors configured to automatically move an item from a current position in the dock area to the lift to automatically route the item to a storage position in one of the multiple levels,
wherein the plurality of conveyors comprises (i) a first group of conveyors positioned proximate and perpendicular to the lift and (ii) a second group of conveyors arranged parallel to each other and positioned between the dock doors and the lift, wherein the second group of conveyors are configured to automatically route the item from the current position in the dock area to the lift.

4 more elements

A storage facility comprising:

a storage area comprising a storage rack having multiple levels, wherein the multiple levels comprise storage locations to store items that are received at the storage facility;
a dock area configured between dock bays and the storage area;
an automated conveying system configured to automatically move (i) a first item from a first position in the dock area to a second position in the storage area and (ii) a second item from a third position in the storage area to a fourth position in the dock area;
and
a computing system comprising one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
receiving requests to route the first item and the second item to respective destination positions in the storage facility, wherein the respective destination positions comprise the second position for the first item and the fourth position for the second item;
generating, based on receiving the requests, instructions to automatically move the first item and the second item from the first position and the third position, respectively, to the respective destination positions;
and
returning the instructions to the automated conveying system for automatic execution,
wherein the automated conveying system is configured to execute the instructions to automatically move the first item and the second item from the first position and the third position, respectively, to the respective destination positions in the storage facility.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Re-routing storage items in a warehouse

Life of this patent

Re-routing storage items in a warehouse

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20