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US 7,850,413 B2Granted
System and method for transporting inventory items
AssigneeKiva Systems, Inc.
InventorRichard R. Fontana
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for transporting inventory items includes a housing, a drive module, a docking module, an elevating shaft, and a rotation module. The drive module is capable of propelling the apparatus in at least a first direction. The docking head is capable of coupling to or supporting an inventory holder. The rotation module is capable of inducing rotation in the housing relative to the elevating shaft. The elevating shaft connects to the docking head and is capable of raising the docking head when the housing is rotated relative to the elevating shaft.
Claims18
An apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
- a drive module operable to selectively propel the apparatus in at least a first direction;
- a docking head operable to at least one of couple to and support an inventory holder;
- an elevating shaft connected to the docking head and operable to raise the docking head when the housing is rotated relative to the elevating shaft;
- and
- a rotation module operable to induce rotation in the housing relative to the elevating shaft, the rotation module comprising:
- a first actuator operable to rotate the housing;
- and
- a second actuator operable to apply a torque to the elevating shaft so that an orientation of the docking head remains substantially constant while the first actuator rotates the housing.
6 more elements
A method for transporting inventory items, comprising:
- positioning a mobile drive unit beneath an inventory holder at a first location, wherein the mobile drive unit comprises:
- a housing;
- a docking head;
- and
- an elevating shaft, wherein the docking head is connected to the elevating shaft and wherein the elevating shaft is operable to raise the docking head when the housing is rotated relative to the elevating shaft;
- raising the docking head with the elevating shaft by rotating the housing relative to the elevating shaft, wherein rotating the housing relative to the elevating shaft comprises:
- applying a first torque to the housing a first actuator;
- and
- applying a second torque to the shaft using a second actuator so that an orientation of the docking head remains substantially constant while the first actuator applies the first torque to the housing;
- docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder so that the docking head at least one of couples to and supports the inventory holder;
- and
- moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second location.
9 more elements
A system for transporting inventory items, comprising:
- a plurality of inventory holders, each operable to store inventory items;
- and
- a mobile drive unit, comprising:
- a housing;
- a drive module operable to selectively propel the apparatus in a forward direction and a backward direction, wherein the drive module is further operable to position the mobile drive unit under a selected one of the inventory holders;
- a docking head operable to at least one of couple to or support the selected inventory holder when the mobile drive unit is docked with the selected inventory holder;
- an elevating shaft connected to the docking head and operable to raise the docking head when the housing is rotated relative to the elevating shaft;
- and
- a rotation module operable to induce rotation in the housing relative to the elevating shaft, the rotation module comprising:
- a first actuator operable to rotate the housing;
- and
- a second actuator operable to apply a torque to the elevating shaft so that an orientation of the docking head remains substantially constant while the first actuator rotates the housing.
9 more elements
An apparatus for transporting inventory items, comprising:
- means for positioning a mobile drive unit beneath an inventory holder at a first location, wherein the mobile drive unit comprises:
- a housing;
- a docking head;
- and
- an elevating shaft, wherein the docking head is connected to the elevating shaft and wherein the elevating shaft is operable to raise the docking head when the housing is rotated relative to the elevating shaft
- means for raising the docking head with the elevating shaft by rotating the housing relative to the elevating shaft, wherein the means for raising the docking head comprises:
- means for applying a first torque to the housing;
- and
- means for applying a second torque to the shaft so that an orientation of the docking head remains substantially constant while the first torque is applied to the housing;
- means for docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder so that the docking head one of couples to and supports the inventory holder;
- and
- means for moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second location.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.