CN104903922B - Order is filled at inventory's bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

A kind of system comprising inventory's bracket and mobile driving unit.Inventory's bracket includes the first side and second side, and first side includes limited area, and inventory's retainer is specified for placing at the region.Inventory's bracket can be operated to receive stock article from least one of described inventory's retainer at least one of the multiple limited area place.The mobile driving unit can be operated to transport order retainer along described second side of inventory's bracket, wherein the order retainer can be operated to receive stock article from inventory's bracket at the position along described second side of inventory's bracket.

Description

Order is filled at inventory's bracket

Background of invention

Modern inventory system faces the demand for effectively fulfiling the increase of order, the complexity increased but regardless of inventory and order And diversity.Low system throughput, unfinished or delay task and order are faced by the inefficient inventory system using system resource People's unacceptable response time.Therefore, this inventory system faces more efficient use time, space, equipment and manpower to accord with Close the challenge of the demand of its promotion.

Brief description

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its advantage, with reference to description made by with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is the perspective view illustrated include according to the component of the inventory system of inventory's bracket of example implementation；

Fig. 2 diagram is able to use the side view of the various components of the inventory system of inventory's bracket filling order；

Fig. 3 diagram is able to use the top view of another example implementation of the inventory system of multiple inventory's bracket filling orders Figure；

Fig. 4 diagram is able to use the vertical view of another example implementation of the inventory system of multiple inventory's bracket filling orders Figure；

Fig. 5 illustrates the particular technology for fulfiling order using inventory's bracket；

Fig. 6 is the flow chart using the instance method of inventory's bracket filling order；

Fig. 7 is that diagram promotes the flow chart that the instance method of order is fulfiled at inventory's bracket；

Fig. 8 is the flow chart that diagram promotes the example fulfiled at inventory's bracket；And

Fig. 9 illustrates the example calculation system that can be used for one or more parts in system and method disclosed herein System.

Specific embodiment

Many entities are using inventory system come storage and management inventory.For example, some retailers are using in each hopper The warehouse shelf of middle storage stock article.When retailer needs to fill the order of particular item of inventory, staff usually from It stores and retrieves stock article at the hopper of stock article.

The inventory system of the disclosure can store automatically retrieval inventory from warehouse using the mobile driving unit of one or more Retainer.Inventory's retainer can be complete shelf, wherein each frame has the hopper for each stock article.It is mobile to drive Moving cell can be configured to the movable independently robot device around warehouse.Frame can be transported to use by mobile driving unit In the station for executing inventory operations.Station may include operator and/or automation equipment to remove required inventory from inventory's retainer Article and completion order.Mobile driving unit transports stock article and arrives at a station to execute the ability of inventory operations rather than staff From fixed frame MS manual search stock article or in addition to this efficiency and productivity of inventory system can greatly be increased.For example, passing through Using mobile driving unit, inventory system can fulfil per hour more orders than Previous solutions.Mobile unit It can be kept in response to instructing the received order of system and/or instruction to move around warehouse and/or retrieve inventory from automation Device.For example, management module can control the supervision and coordination of particular element and/or task in warehouse.Management module can connect Receive warehouse in stock article order and coordination fulfil the task assignment of order, including provide instructions to mobile driving unit with Frame with requested stock article is transported to inventory station to complete order.Management module can also be provided at inventory station and how be filled Guidance with order.

In order to use simple declaration, in the distribution depot in office supply shop, management module can receive printer, several The order of print cartridge and carton.Management module can determine position of these articles in the storage rack in distribution depot.The object Product can be for example on the frame of three independent shelves.Management module can make three different mobile driving unit retrievals with release tasks Each shelf of printer, print cartridge and paper is kept respectively, and is transported mobile driving unit and kept these articles to wherein three The order of a article can be packaged into the shelf in box for the inventory station of shipment.When so doing, management module can be coordinated respectively A task to fulfil the received all orders of management module in an efficient way.

In many inventory systems, the high speed of small percentage and/or high volume inventory are responsible for the total system of big percentage System activity.High speed inventory can refer to the inventory of welcome big percentage order request, and high volume inventory can refer to order request Large volume inventory.Volume can refer to the physical quantity for the cubic space that particular item of inventory needs in warehouse.High volume oddment Product can refer to the article that large-scale or block article and/or individual orders are made a big purchase in large quantities.In specific inventory system, most 1% library Storage product can account for the activity of the total system more than 20%.Well received article may need the respective heights of mobile driving unit to make Inventory's retainer is transported to inventory station.Similarly, high volume inventory may need relatively more labours to deposit to supplement Store up inventory's retainer of this article so that by this article dismantling into inventory's retainer may than for order only with its from criticize It is more inefficient using inventory to send out the mode that quotient reaches.Inventory's bracket can be used to realize the more effective side for filling the order of this article Method.Inventory's bracket can store the inventory of well received and/or high volume.Can along a side positioning of inventory's bracket store by Inventory's retainer of welcome or high volume inventory.Inventory's bracket can therefore be configured to include configurable number fixation position use In most stock articles.It is few such as 30 unique inventories for storing the example inventory system of 3,000 unique stock article Article can due to this article high speed or high volume and account for the high percentage of system activity.Therefore, in this inventory system In, inventory's bracket may include the limited area of sufficient amount to store 30 most stock articles at inventory's bracket.Order is kept Device can be for example shelf, be configured to keep to be used to fill the box or container of the order of stock article.Each box or Container can be related to specific indent.For example, order retainer can store the shipment for several print cartridges and several orders for enabling paper Cardboard case.Order retainer with the order for needing this article can be accessed along inventory's bracket to be corresponded to needed for storage order Stock article inventory's retainer position.Operator can remove article from inventory's retainer and be placed into order In appropriate box or container in retainer.If desired, then order retainer can be brought to inventory station to protect in order Filling stays in the article on order in the box or container of holder.

In order to illustrate in office discussed above supply example, paper can be high volume stock article and print cartridge can be with It is well received article.Therefore, inventory's retainer of cardboard and the various print cartridges of storage can be placed at inventory's bracket.It can lead to Order can be transmitted to for paper to wherein operator along moving order retainer with the opposite inventory's bracket of the storage goods plate of paper by crossing The position of retainer and the order of several packagings of paper fillers and print cartridge.Order retainer is then subsequently moved to opposite storage print cartridge And wherein print cartridge can be transmitted to the position of inventory's retainer of order retainer by identical or different operator.If requested Printer be not stored at inventory's bracket, then order retainer can be transported at inventory station by moving driving unit, wherein Another mobile driving unit can transport inventory's retainer containing printer, so that fillable order.

The technological merit of certain embodiments of the disclosure includes providing to be for fulfil order using inventory's bracket The ability of system and method.Technological merit may include the ability that high volume and/or high speed object are placed at inventory's bracket.With The demand that stock article changes in inventory system, management module may include replacing the ability of inventory at inventory's bracket, therefore Ensure that maximum speed and/or volume article can be used at any time at inventory's bracket.Another technological merit may include based on position in order Each order is grouped into the ability in order retainer by the article at inventory's bracket.Therefore, can be substantially the same the time by Single order retainer fulfils several orders by individually moving driving unit transport.In addition, multiple order retainers can be same When and/or concurrently moved along inventory's bracket, allow substantially to fill order in multiple order retainers simultaneously.Therefore, library Deposit system can reach the bigger operating efficiency than using traditional technology to realize in other ways.It is carried out using inventory's bracket The inventory system of row order can put into less mobile driving unit than only using inventory station and/or traditional selection method To fulfil order.In addition, being needed in other ways to transport multiple inventory's retainers and fill the shifting of the order of high speed article The driving time of dynamic driving unit can be reduced and/or be put into other tasks in inventory system.Certain implementations of the invention The further technological merit of scheme may include providing flexible and expansible inventory storage solution, and the solution can be with It is easily adapted to adaptation system to increase and modify.The further technological merit of certain embodiments of the present invention may include providing Flexible and expansible inventory storage solution, the solution can be easily adapted to system and increase and change.From The following drawings, description and the appended claims, other technological merits of the invention for those skilled in the art will it is aobvious and It is clear to.

Although being enumerated above has the advantages that specific specific example, each embodiment may include own, one A little cited advantages, or do not include cited advantage.By reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 9, implementation of the invention can be best understood Scheme and its advantage, wherein similar number refers to the phase Sihe corresponding part of each attached drawing.

Fig. 1 is the perspective view illustrated include according to the component of the inventory system 10 of inventory's bracket 50 of example implementation. As indicated, inventory system 10 further includes management module 15, various mobile driving units 20, inventory's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34, rubbish retainer 36 and order retainer 40.As indicated, inventory's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34 and rubbish retainer 36 It is placed at limited area 80 along the side of inventory's bracket 50.Inventory's retainer 30 and goods plate retainer 34 can be usually in inventories One or more operators at bracket 50 keep stock article 42 and are kept fixed at limited area 80 when filling order.So And mobile driving unit 20 can each time by inventory's retainer 30 and goods plate retainer 34 be transported to limited area 80 and from Wherein send out.For example, as indicated, a mobile driving unit 20 can be another from the removal goods plate retainer 34 of inventory's bracket 50 The new goods plate retainer 34 of the mobile driving unit 20 goods plate for keeping additional inventory article 42 replaces goods plate retainer 34.In order to Order is filled, order retainer 40 is moved to the position of the opposite side along inventory's bracket 50 by mobile driving unit 20.Each At position, mobile driving unit 20 can be slowed down and/or stopped so that operator and/or automation equipment at inventory's bracket 50 can Requested stock article 42 is removed from inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 and is placed into order retainer 40 Container 60 in.In some embodiments, the operator of inventory's bracket 50 can be automation equipment and/or staff. As indicated, order retainer 40 can start in one end of inventory's bracket 50 and be moved along side until reaching opposite end.Some In embodiment, order retainer 40 can move directly to the position that can receive stock article 42 at which along inventory's bracket 50. Then order retainer 40 can receive stock article 42 (as example as indicated by the dotted arrow of Fig. 1) later along inventory's bracket 50 side is moved to can receive another stock article 42 and/or can be from wherein removing another inventory from inventory's bracket 50 at which The position of article 42.After accessing inventory's bracket 50, order retainer 40 can be transported to other suitable in inventory system 10 Work as position.For example, order retainer 40 can be transported to point of shipment if the order in order retainer 40 is completed.

Management module 15 receives and/or generates request, and can start to be related to mobile driving unit 20, inventory's retainer 30, Goods plate retainer 34, order retainer 40, stock article 42, inventory's bracket 50 and/or inventory system 10 other elements spy Fixed operation.The component of inventory system 10 may be selected to execute various operations in management module 15, and will order, instruction and/or other Information appropriate is transmitted to selected component, to promote to complete these operations.Management module 15 can receive related various inventories The order of article 42, and tunable fills order with various appropriate tasks are managed.Management module 15 can be from any appropriate system Or component receive order, and it is alternative or extraly generate task and assign task to inventory system 10 various components.In spy Determine in embodiment, management module 15 be based partially on including management module 15 from other components of inventory system 10 receive and/or Task assignment is generated from the order of the request of the received stock article 42 of external module communicated with management module 15.Based on described Order, management module 15 can recognize the stock article for being related to storing or being stored in inventory system 10 to be completed and can indicate The specific operation of the communication of any appropriate form.For example, in specific embodiments, order may specify that client has bought and will be from The particular item of inventory 42 for client's shipment is retrieved in inventory system 10.

After generating one or more task assignments, management module 15 selects appropriate component to complete particular task and incite somebody to action Task assignment is transferred to selected component to trigger the completion of inter-related task.Then associated component executes the task of its appointment.Each Task assignment defines the one or more tasks to be completed of specific components.These tasks can be related to the retrieval of stock article, storage, Supplement and counting and/or mobile driving unit 20, inventory's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34, order retainer 40, inventory's bracket 50 and inventory system 10 other components management.Depending on component and being completed for task, particular task assign can recognize with The associated position of corresponding task, component and/or movement and/or complete the relevant component of appointment task it is to be used it is any its Its adequate information is related.

Although inventory system 10 appropriate component complete appointment task, management module 15 can be interacted with associated component with Ensure effectively to use the available space of inventory system 10, equipment, manpower and other resources.For example, management assembly 15 can be from system 10 various components receive the information about its current location, state and/or other feature.Based on knowing each of inventory system 10 Its position, current state and/or the other feature of a component and know currently completing for task, management module 15, which produces, appoints Business, the distribution of system resource use, and task of in addition guiding individual elements to complete in a manner of the optimization operation of system-level viewpoint. In addition, by dependent on centralization, system-level management and both localization, specific decision component, the specific reality of inventory system 10 The scheme of applying can be supported to perform effectively a large amount of technologies of the various aspects of the operation of inventory system 10.

As a result, some embodiments of management module 15 can by implementing one or more administrative skills described below Enhance the efficiency of inventory system 10 and/or other service advantages are provided.For example, management module 15 can be based on determining when to be placed on Inventory's bracket 50 and determine and be placed in specific inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 at inventory's bracket 50, can be able to Reduce overall system activity.Similarly, management module 15 order can be grouped into order retainer 40 and assign task with Order is fulfiled at inventory's bracket 50 makes optimization order fulfil activity.The example that management module 15 is discussed hereinafter with reference to Fig. 3-8 The more detailed description of operation.

Mobile driving unit 20 transports inventory between the different location in the associated workplace of inventory system 10 and protects Holder 30, goods plate retainer 34 and/or order retainer 40.Based on inventory's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34, order retainer 40 and/or inventory system 10 other elements feature and configuration, mobile driving unit 20 can indicate to be suitable in inventory system 10 Used in any device or component.In the specific embodiment of inventory system 10, mobile driving unit 20 indicates independent Self-powered robot device is configured to move freely near associated workplace.In an alternate embodiment, mobile Driving unit 20 indicates the element of tracked inventory system 10, is configured to: the track of the workplace associated along traversal, Rail, cable or other induction elements move inventory's retainer 30.In such an implementation, mobile driving unit 20 can lead to It crosses with the connection of induction element (such as, electric power rail) and receives electric power.In some embodiments, inventory system 10 may include Two or more Bu Tong all types of mobile driving units 20 with various appropriate abilities and specification.Although in addition, it is shown and Discussion be that mobile driving unit 20 is certain types of mobile driving unit, but move driving unit 20 can suitably refer to it is various types of The mobile driving unit of type.For example, a type of mobile driving unit 20 can be operated to transport goods plate retainer 34 and/or phase To large-scale, heavy or block stock article 42.Another type of mobile driving unit 20 can operate with transport inventory's retainer 30, Order retainer 40 and/or relatively light and/or more compact stock article 42.Therefore mobile driving unit 20 can have various Power train, load capacity and other appropriate specifications in various inventory's retainers in inventory system 10 transport specific oddment Product 42.

Mobile driving unit 20 can be communicated with management module 15, selected to receive identification during operation The information of inventory's retainer 30, the position for transmitting mobile driving unit 20 or switch management module 15 or mobile driving unit 20 Any other information appropriate used.Mobile driving unit 20 can be used between mobile driving unit 20 and management module 15 It wired connection and/or carries out wireless communication in any other suitable manner with management module 15.It is mobile as an example Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), bluetooth (IEEE 802.15), infrared data association can be used in some embodiments of driving unit 20 Standard or any other wireless communication protocol appropriate are understood to be communicated and/or be communicated with each other with management module 15.Make For another example, in tracked inventory system 10, (mobile driving unit 20 is moved above for track or other induction elements It is dynamic) can be it is wired, to promote the communication between mobile driving unit 20 and other components of inventory system 10.

Inventory's retainer 30 stores stock article 42.In some embodiments, inventory's retainer 30 includes multiple storages Hopper, wherein each storage hopper is able to maintain different types of stock article 42.Inventory's retainer 30 can be driven by mobile The carrying of unit 20 is rolled or is moved in other ways.Each inventory's retainer 30 can have multiple surfaces, and each hopper can Faced by the specific surface of related inventory's retainer 30 and is reached.Mobile driving unit 20 rotates inventory between being configured in due course Retainer 30, the specific of inventory's retainer 30 and associated hopper is presented to other components of operator or inventory system 10 Surface.Fig. 2 illustrates the example implementation of inventory's retainer 30 in more detail.

The expression of goods plate retainer 34 can be operated to store a type of inventory's retainer 30 of the goods plate of stock article 42. In some embodiments, goods plate retainer 34 can be carried, roll or be moved in other ways by mobile driving unit 20.Goods Plate retainer 34 can store block container and/or high volume stock article 42.Therefore, in specific embodiments, goods plate is kept Device 34 may include the huge stocks article 42 with single SKU.In some embodiments, goods plate retainer 34 is indicated from specific The whole seller of stock article 42 or dealer keep the container of the stock article 42 when receiving stock article 42.Therefore, one In the operation of a little modes, goods plate retainer 34 may be in response to the stock article 42 on specific goods plate retainer 34 volume and/or Speed is directly moved in inventory system 10 from entrance to inventory's bracket 50.

Rubbish retainer 36 stores rubbish and/or waste material.Rubbish retainer 36 can indicate hopper, bracket, container or be matched It sets to store the other structures of the waste material of the general type generated by inventory's bracket 50, the waste material can be due to inventory's bracket 50 It operates and is generated at inventory's bracket 50.For example, can remove and shrink from the goods plate on goods plate retainer 34 when goods plate is disassembled Package and/or other waste materials.It as another example, can be from encapsulation or other primary in stock article 42 for when filling order Property container remove individual stock articles 42.When encapsulation or other disposable containers are empty, rubbish retainer can be placed to Cancel in 36 and abandons.In some embodiments, rubbish retainer 36 may be configured such that it can be transported by mobile driving unit 20 It send.It is described in more detail below with reference to Fig. 2, the mode that rubbish retainer 36 can be similar with inventory's retainer 30 and mobile driving Unit interfaces with.Sometimes, management module 15 can indicate to move one in driving unit 20 to transport out of and to remove rubbish retainer 36 Empty inventory's bracket 50.

Order retainer 40 is kept for 60 groups of container, stock article 42 can be encapsulated into order wherein.Container 60 can be matched It sets to store the order in relation to various stock articles 42.Order retainer 40 can have any structure appropriate, and be configured to Type or any other factor appropriate based on the container 60 utilized in inventory system 10 and deposit in any suitable manner Storage container 60.In some embodiments, order retainer 40 indicates a type of inventory's retainer 30, is configured to hold Cargo loading plate, and can be mobile by mobile driving unit 20.Order retainer 40 may include one or more for shelving container 60 thereon A platform or shelf.Additionally or alternatively, order retainer 40 may include multiple hoppers, each hopper keep different size or The container 60 of type.Order retainer 40 and/or container 60 can be specified for being shipped to remote location, such as shipment purpose Ground.Container 60 indicates the container of any appropriate form, can place stock article 42 in the above-described container or thereon, for depositing Storage, shipment or other purposes appropriate.The example of container 60 includes but is not limited to case, goods plate, hopper, carton and big envelope.? And therefore in specific embodiment, container 60 is independently of the order retainer 40 of storage container 60, and, container 60 can be kept from order Device 40 removes for processing or is sent to other order retainers 40.As an example, container 60 can indicate case or goods plate, In the case or on the goods plate, stock article 42 associated with specific indent can be stored for delivering, and related Container 60 can then be shipped and give the associated client of the order.As another example, container 60 can indicate hopper or Other containers, wherein stock article 42 can be placed for storing for a long time, and be then moved to shipping position or from inventory system System 10 removes.Fig. 2 illustrates the example implementation of order retainer 40 and container 60 in more detail.It is more detailed below with reference to Fig. 2 The more detailed example of mobile driving unit 20, inventory's retainer 30 and order retainer 40 is discussed.

Stock article 42 indicates any object for being suitable for storage, retrieval and/or processing in automation inventory system 10.For The purpose of the description, " stock article " can indicate any one or more the certain types of objects for being stored in inventory system 10 Body.For example, given stock article 42 can indicate the single stock-keeping unit (SKU) of unique stock article.Therefore, stock article 42 can Refer to special article and/or can refer to the amount of commodity suitably with specific SKU.As an example, inventory system 10 is represented by zero Sell the retail distribution depot of facility storage block stock article 42, such as grocery store and/or merchandise warehouse.As another example, Inventory system 10 can indicate mail-order warehouse facility, and stock article 42 can indicate the commodity being stored in warehouse facility.It is grasping During work, mobile driving unit 20 can retrieve inventory's retainer 30, and it includes in it will be packaged the order to be delivered to client One or more stock articles 42 of request.In addition, in the specific embodiment of inventory system 10, the case comprising completing order Itself can indicate stock article.

Inventory station 50 indicates any component appropriate for handling or manipulating stock article 42, such as monitoring oddment Product 42 the scanner of inventory system 10 flowed in and out, the communication interface for being communicated with management module 15 and/or Any other component appropriate.Inventory's bracket 50 include several limited areas 80, can place at which inventory's retainer 30 and/or Goods plate retainer 34.Arrangement inventory's bracket 50 operate order retainer 40 can to protect from inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate The limited area 80 of holder 34 is moved along opposite side.The order retainer 40 moved along inventory's bracket 50 can from operator and/ Or stock article 42 is received in automation equipment.Operator and/or automation equipment at inventory's bracket 50 can operate with from Inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 remove stock article 42 and are moved into the appropriate appearance in order retainer 40 In device 60.Therefore inventory's bracket 50 can include appropriate display device and/or signaling apparatus so which oddment of operator indicated Product 42 will be placed in which container 60.Additionally or alternatively, inventory's bracket 50 may include one or more indicators, Desired specific indent retainer 40 is provided when starting for operator to be parked in where and/or slow down along inventory's bracket 50 specific to receive The instruction of stock article 42.Indicator can be any appropriate audio and/or video signaling device, such as display interface, lamp, Laser is capable of providing information to other appropriate devices of the operator of inventory's bracket 50.

Inventory's bracket 50 can completely or partially be controlled by operator, or can be full-automatic.In addition, inventory's bracket 50 Operator or automatic operation device can execute certain tasks to stock article 42 and (such as pack to stock article 42 Or count) as inventory system 10 operation part.Inventory's bracket 50 can be divided into the right quantity corresponding to each operator Workspace.Operator can work in each workspace.It workspace can be by management module 15 for balancing and/or coordinating inventory Appointment at bracket 50.For example, inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be based in each area's intermediate equilibria oddments The relative velocity of product 42 and be assigned to workspace.As another example, inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can bases Workspace is assigned in the random velocity in each area's intermediate equilibria stock article 42.Inventory's bracket 50 may include one or It is multiple to raise and/or flat surface, it is configured to facilitate operator and inventory's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34, rubbish Retainer 36 and/or order retainer 40 interact.Furthermore or alternatively, inventory's bracket 50 can indicate to specify for described herein The movable workplaces of one or more region.Therefore, inventory's bracket 50 can indicate to carry out work described in the disclosure at which The virtual region of dynamic inventory system 10.The virtual region for limiting inventory's bracket 50, which can be constrained virtually, is specified for this paper institute Movable two or more sides are stated, including position on side inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 and/or by order Retainer 40 is moved to along the position of opposite side.Management module 15 can limit and/or be programmed to and be appointed as inventory's bracket 50 Workplace virtual region interaction.

Limited area 80 can indicate the space of neighbouring inventory's bracket 50, when can fill order at inventory's bracket 50 at which Position inventory's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34 and/or rubbish retainer 36.Limited area 80 can have to be kept corresponding to inventory The area of the size of device 30, goods plate retainer 34 and/or rubbish retainer 36.Limited area 80 can be indicated along inventory's bracket 50 The fixation position of one side positioning.Limited area 80 can indicate the Virtual Space limited by management module 15.Although should be noted that diagram For continuous space dimensionally substantially mutually similar, but limited area 80 can have different sizes and/or can be relative to library Bracket 50 is deposited to be positioned in any appropriate location.For example, limited area 80 can have depending on inventory's retainer 30, goods plate guarantor Holder 34 and/or the respective size of rubbish retainer 36 and different sizes.Therefore, in some embodiments, limited area 80 can have the different type specified for specific type retainer.In other embodiments, limited area 80 can scale cun So that it can generally be exchanged between the different types of retainer being located at inventory's bracket 50.In some embodiments, Limited area 80 can simply indicate to save along inventory's bracket 50 for placing retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34 and/or rubbish The region of the side of retainer 36.

In general, filling the order of stock article 42 using inventory's bracket 50.Can the demand based on stock article 42 by Stock article 42, inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are assigned to inventory's bracket 50 by management module 15.Can pass through by Order retainer 40 of the carrying for each container 60 of order is transported to inventory's bracket 50 and fills each stock article 42 Order, wherein the stock article 42 of order can be placed in container 60.In some embodiments, order retainer 40 can be Stock article 32 is received from other types of inventory station before or after receiving stock article 32 from inventory's bracket 50.It is as follows Text be described in detail, after accessing inventory's bracket 50, order retainer 40 can be transported to inventory station with receive additional articles and/ Or point of shipment is transported to for being shipped to another facility or terminal user.Inventory system 10 is discussed hereinafter with reference to Fig. 3-8 The detailed example of operation.Particularly, the technology for below with reference to Fig. 5 discussion being used to that the order at inventory's bracket 50 to be promoted to fulfil, And further below with reference to Fig. 6-8 discuss for select at high speed and/or high volume inventory be placed in inventory's bracket 50 and for will Each order is grouped as the added technique of order retainer 40.

Fig. 2 diagram is able to use the side view that inventory's bracket 50 fills the various components of inventory system.Particularly, Fig. 2 Inventory's retainer 30 is transported to the specific mobile driving unit 20 of inventory's bracket 50 from inventory storage 48 by diagram.Another mobile drive The order retainer 40 of each container 60 containing order is transported to inventory's bracket 50 by moving cell 20.As indicated, from can be A kind of transport order retainer 40 of order vectoring station 54 at the station for the type that container 60 is arranged on order retainer 40.In inventory At bracket 50, stock article 42 is removed from inventory's retainer 30 and is placed into the appropriate containers 60 of order retainer 40. Order retainer 40 can be moved to another location along the side of inventory's bracket 50 to receive another stock article 42 or move Another appropriate location into inventory system 10.

Moving driving unit 20 can be transported and docking and/or being coupled to specific retainer and move retainer in docking Send inventory's retainer 30, goods plate retainer 34 and/or order retainer 40.For example, as indicated, mobile driving unit 20 is transported respectively Send inventory's retainer 30 and order retainer 40.For clarity reasons, the transport of inventory's retainer 30 is described in more detail, still Some embodiments that arrival plate retainer 34 and/or order retainer 40 can be applied similarly are described below.Mobile driving is single Member 20 transports inventory and the butt joint for interfacing with the part of inventory's retainer 30 is moved and be lifted below inventory's retainer 30 Retainer 30.Butt joint can be by that can operate with the actuator control of the mobile driving unit 20 of lifting inventory's retainer 30 in docking System.Mobile driving unit 20 can be coupled to inventory's retainer 30 and/or will move drive by the butt joint of mobile driving unit 20 Moving cell 20 supports inventory's retainer 30 when being docked to inventory's retainer 30.Mobile driving unit 20 can such as by with it is any its Its appropriate ways is lifted inventory's retainer 30, inventory's retainer 30, rotation inventory's retainer 30 and/or mobile inventory is pushed to keep Device 30 manipulates inventory's retainer 30 using butt joint.The butt joint of mobile driving unit 20 may also include any appropriate component group Close this manipulation to promote inventory's retainer 30.For example, in some embodiments, height friction part can form butt joint It is all or part of, the portion of the butt joint adjacent inventory's retainer 30 when mobile driving unit 20 is docked to inventory's retainer 30 Point.In these embodiments, it when mobile driving unit 20 activates butt joint, is protected in the high friction part of butt joint with inventory Frictional force between the surface of holder 30 can cause the translation and moving in rotation of inventory's retainer 30.

In some embodiments, when movement and/or when stopping, mobile driving unit 20 can rotate its butt joint To rotate inventory's retainer 30.Additionally or alternatively, mobile driving unit 20 can rotate independently butt joint or on the whole The part of movement as mobile driving unit 20.For example, mobile driving unit 20 can turn as mobile driving unit 20 executes Inventory's retainer 30 is rotated when curved, so that inventory's retainer 30 continues in face of mobile inceptive direction.When raised, mobile driving Unit 20 can control another actuator or driving power to the actuator of its wheel.Using wheel driver, mobile driving unit 20 can it is undocked when butt joint is lifted inventory's retainer 30 or in mobile driving unit and inventory's retainer 30 and/or from Inventory's retainer 30 is transported when it is decoupled.As indicated, other than the driven wheel powered by one or more actuators, it is mobile to drive Moving cell 20 includes a pair of of stabiliser wheel.

Although mobile driving unit 20 can lead to it should be noted that illustrating the specific interconnection method with inventory's retainer 30 Cross be connected in any other way inventory's retainer 30, lifting inventory's retainer 30 and/or in other ways with it mutually It moves and is docked with inventory's retainer 30, so that when docked, mobile driving unit 20 is coupled to inventory's retainer 30 and/or supports Inventory's retainer 30 and removable inventory's retainer 30.Although being described below what concern was configured to dock in a specific way The specific embodiment of mobile driving unit 20 and inventory's retainer 30, but mobile driving unit 20 and inventory's retainer 30 Alternate embodiment can be configured to be suitable for allowing mobile driving unit 20 mobile inventory's retainer 30 in inventory system 10 Any mode dock.In addition, as described below, in specific embodiments, mobile driving unit 20 indicates inventory's retainer 30 it is all or part of.In these embodiments, mobile driving unit 20 can before transporting inventory's retainer 30 not with library It deposits the docking of retainer 30 and mobile driving unit 20 can each maintain to continue to dock with specific inventory's retainer 30.

Fig. 3 diagram is able to use the top view of another example implementation of the inventory system 10 of the filling order of inventory's bracket 50 Figure.Inventory system 10 includes above with reference to each element being disposed in workplace described in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.In addition to above-mentioned library It deposits except bracket 50, inventory system 10 includes that each inventory's retainer 30 being stored in inventory storage 48 and/or goods plate are kept Device 34.Inventory system 10 further includes one or more stations, such as receiving station 52, vectoring station 54, inventory station 56 and/or point of shipment 58.In general, by the way that order retainer 40 is transported in inventory's bracket 50 and each other station filling inventory systems 10 The order of stock article 42.Being placed in the stock article 42 at inventory's bracket 50 can be used for completing and/or facilitating order.Furthermore or It is that alternatively, order retainer 40 can be transported to inventory station 56 to receive the additional inventory article 42 in inventory's retainer 30, Wherein inventory's retainer 30 can be transported to inventory station 56 by mobile driving unit 20 and/or have higher than other stock articles 42 Cube volume.Therefore, although the amount of high volume stock article 42 is smaller than the amount of high relative velocity article 42, high volume The total volume of stock article 42 can be higher than the stock article with fair speed.

Inventory system 10 can indicate that the order of any appropriate type fulfils facility.For example, inventory system 10 can indicate to mailorder Warehouse, the distribution center of retail chain store, manufacturing facility or can be managed inventory using inventory system and/or fulfil order Any other facility.In many embodiments, with stock article 42 single under different order rates.Therefore, than other inventories The much higher frequency of article 42 places an order some stock articles 42.It is also possible to which the amount more much higher than other stock articles 42 places an order Some stock articles 42.

Receiving station 52, vectoring station 54, inventory station 56 and the expression of point of shipment 58 include for handling or disposing stock article 42 Any appropriate component station, such as monitor stock article 42 remote inventory system 10 the scanner flowed in and out, Communication interface and/or any other component appropriate for being communicated with management module 15.Expression of standing is specified for completing It is related to the position of the particular task of stock article.These tasks may include removing stock article from inventory's retainer 30, by inventory Article is directed to inventory's retainer 30, counts the stock article in inventory's retainer 30, disassembles stock article (for example, from goods plate Or the group of case size is to individual stock articles), and/or stock article is handled or disposed in any other suitable way.Some In embodiment, standing can only indicate wherein complete to be related to the physical bit of the particular task of stock article in inventory system 10 It sets.Alternatively or in addition, station can indicate physical location and any appropriate equipment for handling or disposing stock article, Such as monitor stock article in the scanner of inventory system 10 flowed in and out, for being communicated with management module 15 Communication interface and/or any other component appropriate.Standing completely or partially to be controlled by operator, or can be full-automatic Change.In some embodiments, operator can be automation equipment.In addition, operator or the automation of inventory's bracket 50 Operator can execute certain tasks (such as packed or counted to stock article) to stock article and be used as inventory system The part of 10 operation.In addition, the operator of inventory's bracket 50 or automatic operation device can execute stock article 42 The part of operation of certain tasks (such as stock article 42 is packed or counted) as inventory system 10.Receiving station 52, Vectoring station 54, inventory station 56 and point of shipment 58 indicate the special of the certain types of processing task for being adapted for carrying out the support of inventory system 10 Industry station.It is however generally that some embodiment inventory systems 10 may include inventory station, the inventory station can dispose more The task of a type, but at any given time, it is configured to only handle a kind of certain types of task.

Receiving station 52 indicates the station for carrying out task associated with reception supplement and/or substitution stock article 42 at which. For example, receiving station 52 may include loading platform and proper treatment equipment so that new stock article 42 to be included in inventory system 10.It is connecing Receive station 52 at, can receive, disassemble, disposing new inventory, and being sent in inventory system 10, and/or with receive stock article 42 any other appropriate task into inventory system 10.

Vectoring station 54 indicates to carry out at which and order retainer 40 is assembled and/or set up for stock article and/or is assembled The station of the task of container 60.For example, vectoring station 54 may include assembling container 60 and/or container 60 be grouped into order retainer 40 In suitable material and equipment.Interface at vectoring station 54 can provide any appropriate component for assembling container 60, such as pack Inventory, packaging material, Shipping Label and material relevant to other appropriate shipments and packaging task.In some embodiments, How vectoring station 54 assembling container 60 and/or will be held with the operator for indicating vectoring station 54 if may include appropriate device and/or interface Device 60 is grouped into order retainer 40.For example, given order may include several stock articles 42.Use can be provided for operator The container 60 of which model and container 60 is placed into the instruction in which order retainer 40.Special container 60 can be with guidance extremely Specific indent at 54 is associated.Therefore, when container 60 receives stock article 42, " order " can refer to equally or alternatively receive Stock article 42.

Other than inventory's bracket 50 or substitution inventory's bracket 50, inventory station 56 indicate to carry out and fulfil at which order The station of task.At inventory station 56, stock article 42 can be selected and/or be placed into the container 60 of order retainer 40.Library Depositing station 56 may include appropriate equipment to indicate operator from inventory's retainer 30 and remove particular item of inventory 42 and by stock article 42 are placed into the container 60 of order retainer 40.In some embodiments, inventory station 56 can with container 60 can be transported Transporting equipment to point of shipment 58 for shipment interfaces with.Therefore, when completing specific indent, it can be removed from order retainer 40 It associated container 60 and is placed on transporting equipment for delivery to point of shipment 58.Furthermore or alternatively, mobile driving Unit 20 moves 40 principle inventory station 56 of order retainer and order retainer 40 is transported to point of shipment 58.

Point of shipment 58 indicates that order can be shipped to the position of destination at which, the terminal user of such as order and/or The dedicated point of destination.For example, point of shipment 58 may include loading platform and proper treatment equipment with from 10 pig of inventory system 60.In some embodiments, point of shipment 58 and receiving station 52 can be in positions similar or identical.

In operation, the order of the stock article 42 in inventory system 10 is filled using inventory's bracket 50.With receiving It stands and receives inventory in inventory system 10 at 52, the goods plate of the stock article 42 of the system of replenishing the stock 10 can be placed arrival plate On retainer 34 and/or it is placed into inventory's retainer 30.Can by mobile driving unit 20 along inventory's bracket 50 by selected inventory Retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are moved to limited area 80.30 He of inventory's retainer being placed at limited area 80 Goods plate retainer 34 can keep high relative velocity and/or the stock article of high volume 42.

As inventory system 10 receives order, with the 60 Assembly Order retainer 40 of appropriate containers at vectoring station 54.It is mobile Driving unit moves order retainer 40 along inventory's bracket 50 and is protected with receiving along inventory's bracket 50 by the inventory of limited area 80 The stock article 42 that holder 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 store.If completing specific indent after accessing inventory's bracket 50 Order on retainer 40, then point of shipment 58 can be moved to order retainer 40.If order does not complete, can be by moving Order retainer 40 is moved to one or more inventory stations 56 by dynamic driving unit 20.As example, if order includes not depositing One or more relatively unwelcome and/or low volume article of the storage at inventory's bracket 50, then in access inventory's branch Order after frame 50 in possible and backlog retainer 40.At inventory station 56, ordering in order retainer 40 is kept The specific inventory's retainer 30 for the particular item of inventory 42 singly requested can be transported by mobile driving unit 20 from inventory storage 48 To inventory station 56.It is selecting at station 56 after completion order, order retainer 40 can be transported to point of shipment 58.Though should be noted that Example shown in so shows mobile driving unit 20 and order retainer 40 is transported to inventory's bracket 50 from vectoring station 54, but this is simultaneously Non- is necessary information.In some embodiments, order retainer 40 can be transported to inventory's branch by mobile driving unit 20 One or more inventory stations 56 or the other positions being transported to given order retainer 40 before frame 50 in system 10.

Management module 15 can assign the limited area at inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to inventory's bracket 50 80.Management module 15 may specify that specific inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are placed to the restriction area of inventory's bracket 50 At domain 80.It is described it is specified can be based on and/or in response to being stored respectively in library in inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 The product speed and/or volume of storage product 42.In some embodiments, management module 15 can be examined each in inventory system 10 A order is to determine the optimal combination of stock article 42 to be stored at inventory's bracket 50.In some embodiments, best group Conjunction can complete order based on determination at inventory's bracket 50 with specific inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 Highest total amount.For example, if paper and print cartridge are highest volume and maximum speed article 42 respectively and are selected for being placed in At inventory's bracket 50, then the printer of specific high sale may be selected to be placed at inventory's bracket 50 in management module 15, because Many orders can request the combination of paper, print cartridge and printer.In some embodiments, it can will be completed based on printer is determined The preferential another higher welcome degree article of more blanket order at inventory's bracket 50 and select printer.

Management module 15 can assign inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods according to any appropriate algorithm, logic and/or decision process Limited area 80 at plate retainer 34 to inventory's bracket 50.For example, management module 15 can calculate it is each in inventory system 10 The product speed of stock article 42.The product speed statistics that management module 15 may be in response to stock article 42 assigns inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to the limited area 80 at inventory's bracket 50.Some inventory systems face the big wave of product speed It is dynamic.For example, the surge of the order of these articles can be excited by putting out a new product.As another example, it may depend on the time of current year The stock article 42 of holiday and/or this season is sold with different rates.Product speed can refer to need system 10 in period given time The frequency of the order of interior particular item of inventory and/or specific type stock article.In some embodiments, product speed can Order in finger system 10 is needed and/or is predicted the phase of each stock article of needs and/or each type of stock article To amount.For example, if the order 40 in system 10 more frequently needs stock article, inventory compared with other stock articles Article can have relatively high product speed.In some embodiments, product speed can refer to give library in period given time The demand of storage product.Or or in addition, product speed can simply refer to opening and/or received order 40 in inventory system 10 The amount of the stock article 42 of request.In some embodiments, speed can refer to the one of historical speed, known demand and expectation demand It is a little appropriately combined.

Small product size can refer to the relative quantity of the stock article 42 of specific indent request.For example, it is specific to be placed an order with block amount Product, such as by case and/or by goods plate.For these stock articles 42, by case and/or the dismantling of goods plate to be placed into inventory It may be inefficient in storage 48.Small product size can additionally or alternatively refer to the particular item of inventory to place an order in inventory system 10 42 cube volume.The possible fewer size of large-scale and/or block stock article 42 and/or the consumption of block article are relatively more Labour is to be integrated into inventory's retainer 30.Therefore, management module 15 can calculate each inventory's retainer 42 small product size and Determination will keep the goods plate retainer 34 of these articles to be placed at inventory's bracket 50.In some embodiments, management module 15 can determine the product speed of each stock article 42 and small product size and be based on product speed and small product size statistics determination It is no that stock article 42 is placed at inventory's bracket 50.

Therefore management module 15 can calculate the product speed and/or small product size statistics of stock article 42.Product speed can It is determined based on past order information, History Order trend, current order in inventory system 10, order information, known is presented And/or expectation demand, and/or the following order information, the sales information and/or for determining the inventory in inventory system 10 predicted Known or expectation demand any other adequate information of article 42.Based on product speed and/or small product size, management module 15 It can determine the stock article 42 with relatively high welcome degree and/or high volume.Stock article 42 with high welcome degree can refer to more The article that a order is requested with relative high frequency.These stock articles 42 usually can lead to management module 50 and generate corresponding a large amount Task assignment is to fulfil the orders of these stock articles 42.Management module 15 can use inventory's bracket based on determining to assign to reduce 50 fulfil the amount of the order task assignment generated of these articles and assign goods plate retainer 34 and/or inventory's retainer 30.

Management module 15 is contemplated that and stock article 42 when selecting stock article 42 to be placed at inventory's bracket 50 These associated each measurements of demand.For example, management module 15 can determine with highest product speed and/or small product size The amount of stock article 42 is assigned to inventory's bracket 50.As another example, management module 15 can determine with known to highest or It is expected that the amount of the product of demand.The amount of selected inventory's bracket 42 can correspond to for inventory's retainer 30 at inventory's bracket 50 And/or the amount of the limited area 80 of goods plate retainer 34.In some embodiments, management module 15 may compare speed and subscribe Threshold value determines whether to for stock article 42 to be placed at inventory's bracket 50.For example, it may be desirable to which stock article 42 generates At least the system activity of predetermined amount and/or task assignment are placed at inventory's bracket 50 with qualified.Furthermore or alternatively, manage Reason module 15 can determine the stock article with maximum speed based on the speed for comparing, classifying or in addition analyzing each product and Determine the stock article 42 with maximum speed.

In order to provide more specific example, the specific embodiment of inventory's bracket 50 may include 30 limited areas 80. Management module 15 can determine the stock article 42 of appropriate amount to fill the library with inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 Deposit 30 positions at bracket 50.For example, goods plate retainer 34 can keep the block of a specific SKU of particular item of inventory 42 The scale of construction.Meanwhile the specific embodiment of inventory's retainer 30 can carry several SKU of each stock article 42.High speed article 42 can be collectively stored in multiple stock articles 42 is made to be storable in inventory's branch in inventory's retainer 30 in inventory's retainer 30 At a limited area 80 at frame 50.Example is supplied back to previously discussed office, inventory's retainer 30 can be kept by joyous The each SKU for the print cartridge met, while goods plate retainer 34 can keep the high volume carton with single SKU.Although as a result, inventory Such as 30 limited areas 80 may be present at bracket 50, but management module 15 can determine the stock article 42 of higher amount to deposit Storage is at limited area 80.For example, management module 15 may specify the stock article 42 of 50-60 or more SKU to be placed in At inventory's bracket 50.

However, it should be noted that only providing particular number, and the stock article 42 of any appropriate amount for purposes of illustration herein May depend on limited area 80 at inventory's bracket 50, the configuration of inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 and arrangement and It is placed at inventory's bracket 50.For example, management module 15 can determine storage than the less stock article of existing limited area 80 42, and/or can therefore assign the multiple inventory's retainers 30 and/or goods plate for keeping multiple SKU of identical SKU or stock article 42 Retainer 34.As another example, the system that the amount of the limited area 80 at inventory's bracket 50 may depend on inventory system 10 is lived It moves and changes.Therefore, although the example amount of limited area 80 by discussion, the limited area of any appropriate amount can be used 80.Furthermore or alternatively, in some embodiments, inventory's bracket 50, which may depend on, is higher than inventory system 10 at specific time The height of interior minimum threshold is welcome and/or the amount of high volume stock article 42 and has the limited area 80 of configurable amount. It shall yet further be noted that management module 15 can operate the time be received in inventory system 10 in stock article for high speed article point Group is in inventory's retainer 30 at receiving station 52.Management module 15 can provide instruction to receiving station 52 with by particular item of inventory 42 are placed into inventory's retainer 30.Therefore, inventory's retainer 30 can be pre-configured to makes including high speed stock article 42 It can in due course between be placed at inventory's bracket 50.

Based on selected stock article 42, management module 15 may be selected to keep inventory's retainer 30 of selected stock article 42 And/or goods plate retainer 34.Then management module 15 can generate for mobile driving unit 20 and/or release tasks are assigned with should Retainer is transported to the limited area 80 at inventory's bracket 50.Unique inventory of 5,000 SKU is stored in wherein inventory system 10 It article 42 and is arranged with 30 limited areas 80 in the example implementation of inventory's bracket 50, management module 15 may be selected up to The combination of 30 inventory's retainers 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 is placed at inventory's bracket 50.In some embodiments, Inventory's retainer 30 of the optimal combination of storage stock article 42 may be selected to be placed at inventory's bracket 50 in management module 15.This Outside or alternatively, the selection of inventory's retainer 30 can complete high order line amount based on determining at inventory's bracket 50.Order " line " can refer to individual line articles in the order.Line can refer to the specific SKU on order.For example, the order of three difference SKU can have There are three lines.When selecting inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to be assigned to inventory's bracket 50, management module 15 can Determine the line total amount on the order for it is expected to be completed by specific inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.Based on what is completed Line total amount, management module 15 can assign score to specific inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.Management module 15 can be because This assigns to give each inventory's retainer in inventory system 10 and/or can determine that inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate are kept Highest relative score in each of device 34.Based on inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 with best score, pipe Inventory's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34 may be selected in reason module 15.When supplementing inventory's retainer 30 at receiving station 52, Management module 15 can determine how and the stock article 42 of which combination be placed in inventory's retainer 30 and can it is additional or It is alternatively to consider similar factor.Although should be noted that and consider the bus completed by management module 15 in example implementation, Be management module 15 can the total amount based on the order of completion and additionally or alternatively select specific inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods Plate retainer 34.

Therefore management module 15 can be examined when selecting inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 is used for inventory's bracket 50 Consider the product speed and/or blanket order completed.For example, based on trend single under the known demand and history for examining stock article 42, Management module 15 may be selected to calculate to fulfil and/or complete the combination of the stock article 42 of order most at inventory's bracket 50. In instances, five highest items for merchandising in inventory system 10 may respectively be paper, print cartridge, pencil, paper and printer.Base In determine the above product most common order combination be print cartridge, paper and printer, management module 15 can therefore select paper, Print cartridge and printer are stored at inventory's bracket 50.

In some embodiments, the schedulable inventory's retainer 30 of management module 15 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are to place At inventory's bracket 50.Management module 15 can planned dispatching be based on measurement associated with stock article 42 for inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 be transported to inventory's bracket 50.For example, management module 15 can determine the desired need of stock article 42 It asks.Based on desired demand, following when the expectation demand for the stock article 42 for it is expected other inventory's retainers is higher than current inventory Some times when stock article 42 in inventory's retainer 30 at bracket 50, management module 15 can determine that specific inventory keeps Device 30 should replace another inventory's retainer 30 at inventory's bracket 50.Therefore, management module 15 can set up each inventory on it Retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 will be in the available scheduling of inventory's bracket 50.Management module 15 may further determine that will carry out in future Row specific indent and or delay filling order the stock article 42 on each order can be grouped together.Therefore, not The time come will request these a greater amount of articles 42 and keep the inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate of these articles in the time Retainer 34 can be moved to inventory's bracket 50.Management module 15 can also be based on determining when to dispatch each inventory's retainer 30 And/or goods plate retainer 34 is transported to inventory's bracket 50 and determines how and/or when fill order at inventory's bracket 50.

In some embodiments, management module 15 can select specific limited area 80 to place spy at inventory's bracket 50 Determine inventory's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34.For example, management module 15 can be distributed based on the expectation work at inventory's bracket 50 Select specific limited area 80.For example, inventory's bracket 50 may include respectively removing object out of respective workspace in inventory's bracket 50 Each operator of product 42.Expectation or actual workload based on 50 workspace of inventory's bracket, management module 15 can distribution library Retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are deposited to these given zones.Any appropriate measurement of workload can be used, such as per hour The amount of selecting or the per minute amount of selecting can be operated to measure other appropriate measurements of the activity level at inventory's bracket 50.Management module 15 inter-library can deposit each workspace balancing work distribution of bracket 50.In other embodiments, management module 15 can be across work Area is randomly assigned inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 with each high speed article 42.In some embodiments, it manages Reason module 15 can assign goods plate retainer 34 to the limited area 80 of specific subgroup, while assign inventory's retainer 30 to another son The limited area 80 of group.For example, goods plate retainer 34 can be grouped and/or be placed at inventory's bracket 50 together.Goods plate is kept Device 34 can be for example grouped into specific Workplace.As another example, inventory's retainer 30 can be grouped and/or place together To at inventory's bracket 50, can be in the workspace different from goods plate retainer 34.

Management module 15 can be based on the relative velocity of the stock article in respective inventory's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34 And determine each limited area 80 of order retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 by optimal allocation to inventory's bracket 50.Also It should be noted that inventory's bracket 50 may depend on the total working that expectation is completed at inventory's bracket 50 under the specific duration of time It measures and there is configurable workspace amount.For example, especially in the severe work of inventory system 10, place an order and/or system activity grade Period, more operators can be assigned to inventory's bracket 50.Therefore, inventory management module 15 can balancing work distribution and/or set It sets the amount based on the operator at inventory's bracket 50 under it and fills the rate of order at inventory's bracket 50.Management module 15 Therefore the quantity based on operator it can assign more work and/or higher speed article.It is as follows to be discussed more fully, operator Quantity can also influence to be transported to quantity and/or type of the inventory's bracket 50 for the order retainer 40 that order is fulfiled.Consider The activity level of inventory's bracket 50 can ensure that the operator at inventory's bracket 50 will not overwork and/or complete given ratio and actually may be used It can more tasks.Management module 15 can also assign the work of appropriate amount to inventory's bracket 50.In addition, being based on product VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION Inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be when order retainer 40 be moved along inventory's bracket 50 to each restriction area 80 Allow its more orderly and/or balance flowing.

In inventory system 10, the demand of stock article 42 can be changed frequently.For example, with putting out a new product and product version This, stock article can gradually become unwelcome and/or be replaced by other stock articles 42.For example, the New cinema released on DVD It initially may be that height is welcome, but may reduce at any time and/or with new DVD is released.Therefore, management module 15 It being capable of the product of tracing product speed and/or stock article 42 at any time.For example, the traceable stock article 42 of management module 15 Known demand and/or expectation demand.With the variation of the demand of stock article 42, management module 15 can issue appropriate task assignment To replace the stock article 42 being stored at inventory's bracket 50 based on the other stock articles 42 of variation.For example, management mould It is currently stored in inventory storage 48 that block 15 can determine that the stock article 42 being stored at inventory's bracket 50 is reduced on welcome degree Another stock article 42 under.Management module 15 can issue appropriate task with from inventory's bracket 50 remove the stock article 42 and Replace it with the stock article currently in inventory storage 48.In addition, as inventory's bracket 50 is used from each inventory holding The stock article 42 of device 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34, being stored in these stock articles respectively in retainer can reduce.Cause This, management module 15 is detectable, determines and/or receive the oddment in given inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 Some instructions of the amount of product 42.Predetermined amount can for example indicate inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 in stock article 42 Amount on will exhaust and exhausted stock article 42.Therefore management module 15 release tasks can be assigned to transport object of replenishing the stock Product 42 give inventory's bracket 50.Management module 15 can replace the inventory exhausted with the retainer of the stock article 42 of storage same type Retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34, and/or the available different inventories with than exhausting the relatively higher speed of stock article 42 Article 42 replaces the retainer exhausted.

In some embodiments, inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be in the sides for facing inventory's bracket 50 On exhausted with faster rate.For example, goods plate retainer 34 can exhaust the oddment in the operator for reaching inventory's bracket 50 first Product 42.Therefore, the side closest to inventory's bracket 50 of depletable goods plate retainer 34, and can still be wrapped back to the side of inventory's bracket 50 Include the stock article 42 of acceptable amount.Therefore, management module 15 can receive the inventory that should be rotated at inventory's bracket 50 and keep The state instruction of device 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.Therefore, management module 15 can issue appropriate task to mobile driving unit 20 It assigns to rotate appropriate inventory's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34.It is used to complete this specific behaviour hereinafter with reference to Fig. 5 discussion Make the more details with technology.

After the fixed station that selection inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are placed at inventory's bracket 50, In specific embodiment, management module 15 can assign task with by selected inventory's retainer 30 to specific mobile driving unit 20 And/or goods plate retainer 34 is shipped for limited area 80 along inventory's bracket 50.For example, management module 15 can will identify selected inventory The task assignment of the position of retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 is communicated to selected mobile driving unit 20.Management module 15 Can based on selected mobile driving unit 20 relative to specific inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 position or state, Selected mobile driving unit 20 be completed the instruction of the task of prior assignments, predetermined scheduling and/or it is any other with due regard to and Mobile driving unit 20 is selected to assign inter-related task.Management module 15 can plan mobile driving unit 20 from mobile driving unit Current location to selected inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 by the path of use.It is mobile in response to assigning task Driving unit 20 can request the path of the destination of specific inventory's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34.Management module 15 is optional It selects the path between the current location and requested destination of the mobile driving unit 20 of request and will identify the information in the path It is communicated to mobile driving unit 20.Management module 15 can using current congestion, historical traffic trend, task order of priority and/or Other cognitions with due regard to select request the mobile use of driving unit 20 optimal path that arrives at the destination.In addition, At intended path when task (or assign), management module 15 can make elevator in relation to inventory system 10, conveyer, help Ladder, tunnel and/or other transmission devices or the informed decision-making of feature are to promote related mobile driving unit 20 in inventory system 10 Interior movement.

After 15 RX path of management module, requested mobile driving unit 20 then can section district by district mode The destination of selected inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 is moved to across the path.Before starting particular section, The mobile driving unit 20 of correlation can request to permit using the section from management module 15.As a result, management module 15 can be reserved for institute Section is stated for the movement driving unit 20.As a result, management module 15 can be also responsible for solving the specific part to inventory system 10 The contention requests used.After reaching inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34, mobile driving unit 20 can coupling Close, dock or be otherwise connected to retainer.For example, mobile driving unit 20 can move and make below associated holder The retainer is lifted with the butt joint of mobile driving unit.When moving below retainer, mobile driving unit 20 can make Itself a part with retainer be directed at so that butt joint and/or move the central vertical shaft of driving unit generally with holding The central vertical shaft of device is aligned.In coupling, dock and/or be connected to retainer after, mobile driving unit 20 can be by specific guarantor Holder is transported to selected limited area 80.At selected limited area, mobile driving unit 20 can be unlocked, declines, be decoupled, or with Other way is disconnected from inventory's retainer 30.Then mobile driving unit 20 can be moved away from inventory's retainer 30 and/or to management mould Block 15 indicates its availability to receive another task assignment.

According to principles above, each of selected inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 can be single by mobile driving Member 20 is transported to inventory's bracket 50.Although how inventory's retainer 30 and goods plate retainer 34 to be transported however, it should be noted that discussing It is sent to the specific example of inventory's bracket 50, but any proper method can be used.For example, in some embodiments, inventory protects Holder 30 can be transported to inventory's bracket 50 by mobile driving unit 20, and goods plate retainer 34 can be transported by some other transport components It send, such as by crane, fork truck, conveyer, or other industrial mobile devices of the goods plate of stock article 42 can be transported.One In a little embodiments, management module 15 can combine inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 being transported to inventory's branch Frame 50 and utilize one or more deviation situations.Below with reference to Fig. 5 discuss deviation situation be discussed more fully and it how may be used For fulfiling the order at inventory's bracket 50.

During the operation of inventory system 10, management module 15 can receive in each time and request each stock article 42 Order.In order to fulfil by the order of the received stock article 42 of management module 15, management module 15 can be by two or more orders It is arranged on order retainer 40.Order retainer 40 can be for example disposed at vectoring station 54.At vectoring station 54, one or Multiple orders can be grouped into container 60 and be arranged on order retainer 40.Container 60 can based on any several amount and type because Element and be arranged on order retainer 40, the stock article 42 that size including container 60, expectation are received in container 60 Type, from inventory's bracket 50 receive order stock article 42 ability or other each appropriate factors.Furthermore it or substitutes Ground, management module 15 can be completed based on order desired in given inventory's retainer 34 at inventory's bracket 50 and determine grouping Each order.

Management module 15, which can determine, is grouped into order retainer for order associated with container 60 in any appropriate manner In 40.For example, management module 15 can examine the outstanding order in inventory system 10 in response to one or more stock articles Order and identify one or more stock articles 42.Management module 15 can determine which inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate are kept Device 34 stores these stock articles 42.Management module 15 can determine whether the stock article 42 on order is stored in inventory's bracket 50 In place and/or inventory storage 48.Management module 15 can based on the different order requests of determination one or more stock articles 42 it is each Order is grouped at the limited area 80 at inventory's bracket 50.Order can have associated container 60 to receive the library of order Storage product 42.For example, as described above, container 60 can be appropriately sized snap-gauge box or other containers suitable for shipment.Therefore, Order retainer 40 can be arranged such that it keeps and specifies for receiving the stock article at each position along inventory's bracket 50 Associated each group of the container 60 of 42 order.

Management module 15 can depend on the outstanding order of inventory system 10 and/or each activity level arrangement order is kept Each configuration of device 40.For example, management module 15 can arrange that order retainer 40 makes it include being entirely located at inventory's bracket 50 Stock article 42 order, when these order retainers 40 are transported to inventory's bracket 50 with ordering in order retainer 40 When receiving stock article 42 on list, all orders in the order retainer 40 can be completed at inventory's bracket 50.Manage mould Block 15 can also arrange that order retainer 40 makes it include the stock article 42 being located at inventory's bracket 50 and be stored in inventory storage The order of stock article 42 in 48.These order retainers 40 can be completed partially at inventory's bracket 50 and can be transported to each A inventory station 56 makes the stock article 42 in inventory storage 48 that can be transported to those inventory stations 56 by mobile driving unit 20. Management module 15 can also arrange that order retainer 40 makes it include the order of the individually stock article 42 in inventory storage 48. These order retainers can be completed at inventory station 56.These configurations of order retainer 40 can be referred to as only inventory's bracket and order Single retainer 40, hybrid order retainer 40 and/or only inventory station order retainer 40.

Management module 15 can be based on the quantity and/or configuration of any with due regard to determination order retainer 40 to be assembled. For example, therefore management module 15 can consider work distribution and/or the inventory's bracket of the operator of activity level and/or inventory's bracket 50 50 overall work amount.If management module 15 determines that the workload of inventory's bracket 50 is higher than predetermined level, management module 15 It can determine and set up hybrid order retainer 40 and/or only inventory station order retainer 40.What workload can refer to assign per hour Other appropriate measurements of the amount of selecting, the workload of appointment or the activity level for measuring inventory's bracket 50.For example, inventory's bracket 50 Operator can operate inventory's bracket 50 with predetermined and/or maximum power rate.Management module 15 can assign workload to Inventory's bracket 50 is computed so that the operator of inventory's bracket 50 is operated with generally predetermined and/or maximum operating rate. In some embodiments, maximum functional rate can be used for determining the best and/or maximum functional that can be assigned to inventory's bracket 50 Amount.Management module 15 can determine reduction and/or improve the work at inventory's bracket 50 to realize best and/or maximum functional Amount.Based on the determination, the quantity and configuration of order retainer 40 may be selected in management module 15.If (for example) inventory's bracket 50 The workload at place is higher than minimum value and but is below maximum value, then management module 15 can determine that arrangement is hybrid based on predetermined scheduling The mixing of order retainer 40 and/or only inventory's bracket order retainer 40.It can be high based on balancing work, holding workload is attempted In minimum value and the operator lower than maximum value, at inventory's bracket 50 quantity and/or any other appropriate factor and determine pre- Degree of setting the tone.If the workload at inventory's bracket 50 is lower than minimum value, management module 15 can determine assembly individually by only library The order retainer 40 that bracket order retainer 40 forms (if possible) is deposited, while in independent order retainer 40 Stock article 42 in inventory storage 48 arranges order retainer 40.

Management module 15 can be ranked up according to arrangement of the principles above to order and/or order retainer 40.For example, pipe Reason module 15 can allow to the order fulfiled at inventory's bracket 50 prior to by relatively bigger rate or more unwelcome and can The order of the article composition in inventory storage 48 can be located at.Alternatively or in addition, individually vectoring station 54 may specify for disposing The order of less popular stock article 42.The bootable order retainer 40 of management module 15 is to be assemblied in these other articles Other vectoring stations at.In some embodiments, management module 15 can be arranged is based on including being stored by inventory's bracket 50 Various factors (all activity levels as discussed consider) can be determined still from inventory station 56 rather than be fulfiled at inventory's bracket 50 The order retainer 40 of the stock article 42 of these orders.

Management module 15 can additionally or alternatively consider will be by the spy of each order request when arranging order retainer 40 The where that stock article 42 is stored in inventory's bracket 50 determined.For example, management module 15 inter-library can deposit each workspace of bracket 50 The distribution of balancing work amount.It moves each position that management module 15 can attempt in specific indent retainer 40 along inventory's bracket 50 When even distribute the stock article 42 being received by it amount and/or balanced sequence to inventory's bracket 50 order retainer 40 stream It is dynamic.In order to illustrate with its inventory's retainer 30 five stock article 42 of reception from a limited area 80, management mould The order of the different stock articles 42 containing there are five can be arranged at five different limited areas 80 by block 15 along inventory's bracket 50.? In some embodiments, the SKU of particular item of inventory 42 is storable in two different locations.Management module 15 can determine to fulfil and order The order of identical SKU is requested in single retainer 40 using two be stored at inventory's bracket 50 different inventory's retainers 30, with The work of balanced stock bracket 50 is flowed and/or prevents inventory's bracket 50 on the position of specific time and/or inventory's bracket 50 The steep increasing of activity level.However, it should be noted that this example is for illustration purposes only.Management module 15 can divide in any appropriate manner Work at cloth and/or balanced stock bracket 50.

Management module 15 can determine any appropriately combined to be arranged in order retainer 40 to minimize quilt of container 60 It is transported to the amount of the order retainer 40 of inventory's bracket 50.In some embodiments, management module 15 can determine based on reduction Stroke total amount needed for mobile driving unit 20 and be grouped order.As discussed above, mobile drive is assigned to by management module 15 The task assignment of moving cell 20 can be related to across particular path to destination.When order retainer 40 is transported to inventory's bracket 50 When place, mobile driving unit 20 may need order retainer 40 being transported to inventory's bracket 50 from vectoring station 54.Later, mobile Order retainer 40 can be transported to inventory station 56 and/or point of shipment 58 by driving unit 20.Order can be grouped into order holding Device 40 is with path increment needed for the mobile driving unit 20 of minimum and/or reduces and/or minimizes needed for mobile driving unit 20 Stroke total length.Therefore, management module 15 can be attempted to minimize mobile driving unit 20 when arranging order retainer 40 Total travel.

After Assembly Order retainer 40, order retainer 40 can be transported to inventory system 10 by mobile driving unit 20 Interior inventory station bracket 50 and/or other destinations.Mobile driving unit 20 may be in response to appropriate from management module 15 Business, which is assigned, transports order retainer 40.Any in above-mentioned task assignment and/or route planning technology can be used in management module 15 A appointment task gives mobile driving unit 20 order retainer 40 is transported to inventory's bracket 50.Mobile driving unit 20 is along library Deposit the mobile order retainer 40 of bracket 50.As order retainer 40 is moved along inventory's bracket 50, order retainer 40 is along opposite The side of the limited area 80 in inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 is stored in along inventory in wherein stock article 42 The position of bracket 50 receives stock article 42.In some embodiments, the operator at inventory's bracket 50 can be by stock article 42 from the appropriate containers 60 that inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are transmitted to order retainer 40.Management module 15 Indicator can be started at inventory's bracket 50, such as lamp or other visual detectors are to indicate that operator it is expected order retainer 40 Where slow down and/or be parked in each position of stock article 42 to be received.Alternatively or in addition, management module 15 can will fit When information be transmitted to inventory's bracket 50 with indicate operator select which stock article 42 and be put into which container 60 with place The stock article 42 of order retainer 40.

It can be according to promoting the mode that interacts with order retainer 40 of operator along inventory's bracket 50 with respect to limited area 80 Side transport order retainer 40.In some embodiments, order retainer 40 can be transported along the side of inventory's bracket 50 to make Operator and given order retainer 40 are mobile in inceptive direction together, until operator reaches the specific Workplace of operator Terminal.When given order retainer 40 reaches next workspace, the operator of next workspace can start suitably to put article It sets in order retainer 40.The operator in the firstth area can then return to the distal end in the area and then as it along inventory's bracket 50 continue stock article 42 being placed into new order retainer 40 when moving on inceptive direction.Order retainer 40 reaches specific When the starting point of workspace can return to the starting point of the workspace according to operator come timing.Order is discussed hereinafter with reference to Fig. 5 Retainer 40 along inventory's bracket 50 move and inventory's bracket 50 at indicator how can indicate operator transport stock article 42 are discussed in detail.

After in the container 60 that appropriate stock article 42 is received order retainer 40, mobile driving unit 20 can be after Continuous mobile order retainer 40 arrives the appropriate location in inventory system 10.It, can be single by mobile driving if order does not complete Order retainer 40 is moved to appropriate inventory station 56 and to can receive additional articles 42 by member 20.When being located at inventory station 56, volume Outer stock article 42 can be by the order reception in order retainer 40.Additionally or alternatively, inventory station 56 is ready for order guarantor Container 60 in holder 40 is to be shipped to terminal user and/or the point of destination.It completes to appoint for example, order can be performed in operator Business, such as increase protective package material are to container 60 and/or close, beat, seal and/or execute other tasks in case shipment Container 60.Once completing order, order retainer 40 can be transported to point of shipment 58 for shipping, so by mobile driving unit 20 And, it should be noted that in some embodiments, inventory station 56 can be used for completing and shipment order.Furthermore or alternatively, point of shipment 58 executable the above orders complete task.

Although order retainer 40 is placed at inventory station 56, management module 15 can position in inventory storage 48 Additional inventory article 42.The management appointment task of mobile driving unit in inventory system 10 will be needed for the order of storage container 60 Specific inventory's retainer 30 of remaining stock article 42 be transported to inventory station 56.For example, can be used at inventory station 56 any suitable When technology is to promote the container 60 that article is transmitted to order retainer 40 from the inventory's retainer 30 being located in inventory storage 48. After order is completed at one or more inventory stations 56, order retainer 40 and/or container 60 move and/or are transported to dress Fortune station 58 is for being shipped to terminal user and/or the point of destination.Order retainer 40 can be transported to by mobile driving unit 20 Point of shipment 58 is prepared with making last shipment as discussed above.

Fig. 4 diagram is able to use the top view of another example implementation of the inventory system 10 of the filling order of inventory's bracket 50 Figure.In Fig. 4, inventory system 10 is arranged with multiple inventory's bracket 50a, 50b and 50c.When used in combination, inventory's bracket 50a- 50c can complete the generally all orders for the stock article 42 being stored in the inventory storage 48 of inventory system 10.As indicated, Inventory system 10 can make it is any it is suitably modified to support several inventory's bracket 50 in the case where be substantially similar to above Mode described in reference diagram 3 operates.

Inventory storage 48, which may be arranged between inventory's bracket 50, makes mobile driving unit can be according to the above technology base In product speed and/or volume displaced inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate 34 out.In addition, can arrange that receiving station 52 makes inventory The path that order retainer 40 in system 10 is passed through is shortened.Therefore, receiving station 52 can be located at storage by these specific receptions Stand 52 received stock articles 32 inventory storage 48 areas adjacent.As indicated, receiving station 52 is between inventory's bracket 50 So that its can the mobile driving unit 20 near the specific region by operating in inventory storage 48 face and reach.Additionally or alternatively, may be used Arrangement receiving station 52 makes operator that can have the path for travelling to and fro between inventory's bracket 50 without intersecting mobile driving unit 20 Path.Although however, it should be noted that illustrate the arrangement of specific inventory's bracket 50, vectoring station 54, point of shipment 58 and receiving station 52, But any particular geometric form and layout of inventory system 10 can be appropriate and can be used.In addition, can be used any Inventory's bracket 50 of right quantity and/or type.

In operation, after mobile driving unit 20 accesses inventory's bracket 50a, if order retainer 40 has request It is stored in the order of the stock article 42 at inventory's bracket 50b, then order retainer 40 can be transported by moving driving unit 20 To inventory's bracket 50b.From inventory's bracket 50b reception stock article 42 and after accessing inventory 50b, driving unit 20 is moved Order retainer 40 can be transported to inventory's bracket 50c.Alternatively, if order retainer 40 needs the library at inventory's bracket 50b Storage product 42, then moving driving unit 20 can proceed to inventory's bracket 50c without accessing inventory's bracket 50b.In some implementations In scheme, if the article of all requests of order reception in order retainer 40 and/or access these inventory's brackets 50 in It is one or more after be ready to complete for shipping, then move driving unit 20 can in access inventory's bracket 50a and/or Proceed to point of shipment 58 after 50b.Therefore, in some embodiments, order retainer 40 only access can have order to keep Inventory's bracket 50a, 50b, 50c of the stock article 42 of order request in device 40.Furthermore or alternatively, management module 15 can Operation between each inventory's bracket 50a-50c in inventory system 10 balancing work distribute so that avoiding the workload from being more than Maximum and/or be lower than minimum.For example, inventory's bracket 50a and 50b can each storage particular item of inventory 42.Management module 15 can determine that specific indent is kept lower than the workload at inventory's bracket 50a based on the workload determined at inventory's bracket 50b Device 40 should be from inventory's bracket 50b rather than inventory's bracket 50a receives particular item of inventory 42, it should be noted that begs for for purpose of explanation By the specific example of work partition equilibrium, management module 15 be can determine at balanced stock bracket 50a-50c in any appropriate manner Workload.Management module 15 can also distribute inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer according to previously discussed balancing technique 34 arrive each limited area 80 of each inventory's bracket 50.

Fig. 5 illustrates the particular technology for fulfiling order using inventory's bracket 50 in inventory system 10.Inventory system 10 It may include one or more deviation situation 90A to 90D.Management module 15 can be operated to specify the specific region in inventory system 10 As deviation situation 90.Therefore, management module 15 promotes to carry out using one or more drift spaces in combination with inventory's bracket 50 Row order.Fig. 5 also illustrates the technology of inventory's retainer 30 in the limited area 80 that rotation is located at inventory's bracket 50.Finally, Fig. 5 illustrates inventory's bracket 50 and starts ability of the indicator 64 to promote operator to move in its respectively workspace.Indicator 64 It can indicate that given order retainer 40 will stop with respect to the position of inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.It will sequentially Each of these technologies are discussed.

Inventory system 10 promotes according to order packing arrangement in inventory's bracket 50 using the technology herein referred as " drifted about " Fulfil order in place.The component for tolerable inventory system 10 of drifting about is during the particular task for completing to be related to the element towards specific mesh Ground it is mobile or positioned in other ways to be reduced to the traveling time of related destination.Promoting to fulfil at inventory's bracket 50 Order context in, drift can be used for for stock article 42 being collected into inventory's bracket 50 nearby makes it in limited area 80 When being made available by just nearby.Future can it is expected the stock article 42 that one or more volume order retainers 40 need to drift about.Cause This, needed for can reducing displacement according to less complex technology and/or replace the stock article 42 being placed at inventory's bracket 50 Time.

" drift " position 90 indicates that the mobile driving list for carrying inventory's retainer is nearby specified at the inventory station in warehouse First " drift " packs the position of the inventory of order needs up to appropriate time.Deviation situation 90 can be used as wherein can be when specific Between and/or welcome stock article 42 is replaced into limited area 80 and from the position wherein displaced along inventory's bracket 50 as needed It sets.For example, it is low and recently by the another of storage higher speed stock article 42 that deviation situation 90, which can be used for stock article 42, Inventory's retainer 30 replaced one inventory's retainer 30 is maintained near inventory's bracket 50.Management module 15 can be by order These inventory's retainers 30 are maintained near inventory's bracket 50 by retainer 40 when reaching at inventory's bracket 50, put it can It sets one in limited area 80 and realizes each efficiency.Therefore, some embodiments of system 10 can be using drift come pre- Being completed for task of phase and associated component is positioned to reduce the time for completing expected required by task.Drift can reduce due to use compared with Uncomplicated technology and caused by congestion.It is related to completing several tasks by inventory system 10 using tolerable fulfil of deviation situation 90 Specific indent, while reducing inventory system 10 and completing these tasks and improve throughput of system the time it takes.Drift can volume The limited physical area in more efficient use inventory system 10 is allowed outside or alternatively.This document describes include deviation situation 90 Inventory system 10 example implementation.

Management module 15 may be in response to detect the first trigger event (multiple events) and determine that sending specific inventory keeps Device 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 arrive certain drift position 90.In specific embodiments, related elements can be retained in specific drift It moves in the deviation situation 90 of space 90 or specific group, until the second trigger event (or multiple events) occurs.Thing is triggered second After part occurs, element then can be mobile to complete task towards related system resource.In specific embodiments, space is being united It can be designed to deviation situation 90 on meter, and in an alternate embodiment, depending on resource needed for inventory system 10, space 74 Availability and/or it is other with due regard to, space-movable state is appointed as deviation situation 90.It as further discussed below, can be various Mode improves handling capacity using deviation situation 90 or improve the specific embodiment of inventory system 10 in other ways is System efficiency including but not limited to promotes to fulfil the order at inventory's bracket 50.

Management module 15 may be in response to the first trigger event (such as to determine that respectively the quantity in stock in retainer is fallen below Predetermined amount) it determines inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 is moved away from inventory's bracket 50.In some embodiments, it manages Reason module 15 can determine that the stock article 42 of the inventory's retainer 30 exhausted recently has been lowered to other oddments on welcome degree Under product 42.Deviation situation 90 can be accordingly used in inventory's retainer 30 and low stock article 42 being maintained at inventory's bracket 50 attached Closely, so that it can optionally be used to fulfil the order of stock article 42.As another example, specific inventory's retainer 30 can wrap It includes the stock article 42 to decrease in product speed and more popular article is moved to and previously places inventory at which At the limited area 80 of retainer 30.These stock articles 42 are kept to arrive inventory storage 48 with its inventory's retainer 30, for example, should Inventory's retainer 30 can be moved into deviation situation 90 and it made to can be used for inventory's bracket 50 nearby for following order.However, Management module 15 can determine stock article 42 still than being stored in inventory storage 48 and/or needed for the order of expectation in the near future Other articles it is relatively more favourable.If needing these inventory's retainers 30 in the near future, can by by this A little inventory's retainers 30 stay in inventory's bracket 50 nearby rather than inventory's retainer 30 are moved to inventory storage 48 bigger to realize Efficiency.

As indicated, several deviation situation 90a to 90d are placed near inventory's bracket 50.As indicated, specific inventory's retainer 30a may be in response to that management module 15 detects one in above-mentioned trigger event and is moved to deviation situation 90a, this can cause pipe It manages module 15 and inventory's retainer 30a is transmitted to drift space 90a from limited area 80a.

As other inventory's retainers 30 drift about, inventory's retainer 30a can in deviation situation 90a one into 90d or Multiple place's drifts.In some embodiments, deviation situation 90a to 90d can be used as the random access buffering of inventory's retainer 30 Device.Therefore, inventory's retainer 30 can be assigned to random available deviation situation 90a to 90d.Inventory's retainer 30 can stay in finger The deviation situation 90a of group is into 90d, until the second trigger event occurs.Additionally or alternatively, deviation situation can be used as continuously Queue.Inventory's retainer 30 can drift about when continuous position can be used passes through position 90a to 90d.Although however, it should be noted that drift Position 90a to 90d is illustrated as adjacent to each other, but this is not needed not to be necessarily.In some embodiments, deviation situation 90 can To be continuous and/or be separated from each other.In addition, in some embodiments, deviation situation 90 can be suitably located at dispersion positioning The group of deviation situation 90.In response to detecting that the second trigger event, management module 15 can determine inventory's retainer 30a along inventory Bracket 50 is moved back into limited area 80.For example, it is desired to which inventory's retainer 40 of the stock article 42 of inventory's retainer 30a storage can It is transported to inventory's bracket 50 and/or it is to be expected that is transported to inventory's bracket 50.As indicated, this technology can be appropriate Using several inventory's retainer 30a-30c to drift around each retainer in inventory's bracket 50.Therefore, these inventory's retainers 30 will can be used for than in addition using complex technology do as be placed at limited area 80 more quickly.

Another example as the trigger event for causing the determining drift inventory's retainer 30 of management module 15, it may be determined that expectation Inventory's retainer 30b at limited area 80b has exhausted and/or stock article 42 will exhaust, therefore, inventory's retainer 30c Deviation situation 90d can be transported in the case where desired inventory's retainer 30c will replace inventory retainer 30b as early as possible.Inventory Retainer 30c can for example store the additional inventory article 42 of the identical SKU of the SKU by inventory's retainer 30b storage.As another Example, it may be desirable to it is expected that the stock article 42 of inventory 30b drops below in specific opposing product speed and inventory's retainer 30c Article 42 can have relatively higher product speed.Stock article 30c can be ready to replace in due course in deviation situation 90d These articles in inventory's retainer 30b.

In some embodiments, management module 15 can determine the one or more order retainers 40 of drift.Management module 15 may be in response to detect that the first trigger event determines one or more order retainers 40 that drift about.First trigger event can be such as The workload for determining inventory's bracket 50 is more than predetermined and/or maximum.For example, all available positions at inventory's bracket 50 can be by Other order retainers 40 occupy.Management module 15 can indicate that order retainer 40 is transported to close to library by mobile driving unit 20 Deposit the deviation situation 90 of bracket 50.In response to the second trigger event, management module 15 can indicate mobile driving unit 20 by order Retainer 40 transports out of inventory's bracket 50 from deviation situation 90.For example, the second trigger event can determine the workload of inventory's bracket 50 Lower than predetermined and/or maximum.The other examples that can trigger the trigger event of the drift of order retainer 40 include that determination has By the inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer of the stock article 42 of one or more order requests in order retainer 40 34 at inventory's bracket 50, but in the near future will be at inventory's bracket 50.For example, having the stock article 42 of request Inventory's retainer 30 itself can be in deviation situation 90.As another example, as follows to be discussed more fully, goods plate retainer 34 can undergo the process of slewing maneuver.Therefore, management module 15 can determine drift order retainer 40 until required inventory protects Holder 30 and and/or goods plate retainer 34 be located at inventory's bracket 50.In addition, if management module 15 determines order retainer 40 Requested additional inventory article 42 will be transported to inventory's bracket 50 in the near future, then receiving at inventory's bracket 50 Stock article 42 after, order retainer 40 may be sent to that deviation situation.Order retainer 40 can be moved to drift position All available stock articles 42 of the order request in these order retainers 40 are received before setting 90 first.However, some In embodiment, management module 15 can determine the position sent order retainer 40 in inventory storage 48 in some cases It sets.It still is not scheduled to be transported to inventory's bracket 50 for example, order retainer 40 can request only to can be used at inventory's bracket 50 Until the stock article 42 after spending a certain amount of time greater than predetermined threshold.It substitutes or in addition to this, manages mould Block 15 can select specific indent retainer 40 based on time quantum of these order retainers 40 when vectoring station 54 assembles It is transported to inventory's bracket 50.

Fig. 5 also illustrates the technology of the goods plate retainer 34a in the limited area 80 that rotation is placed at inventory's bracket 50.It is first First, management module 15 can determine in response to any appropriate trigger event rotation goods plate retainer 34a.For example, inventory's bracket 50 Operator can indicate that the stock article 42 on the side closest to inventory's bracket 50 is low, and the other side of goods plate retainer 34a On other stock articles it is still available (but operator possibly can not access).Therefore, management module 15 can indicate mobile driving The mobile arrival plate retainer 34a of unit 20 and/or execution slewing maneuver.Mobile driving unit 20 can be at goods plate retainer 34a Fang Yidong.Then mobile driving unit 20 can dock, couple or be otherwise connected to goods plate retainer 34a.Mobile driving Then goods plate retainer 34a can be moved away from inventory's bracket and make goods plate retainer 34a rotatable by unit 20.Goods plate retainer 34a Can be moved away from appropriate amount make only sufficient space be used to selecting goods plate retainer 34a without be located at it is other at inventory's bracket 50 Inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 collide.As shown in step 2,180 degree is may be selected in goods plate retainer 34a.In step Rapid three, goods plate retainer 34a can be moved back into 50 place of inventory's bracket.Although being illustrated as rotation 180 degree, goods plate retainer The rotatable any appropriate amount of 34a, including 90 degree, 270 degree or any other appropriate amount.

Fig. 5 also illustrates the particular technology for moving inventory's retainer 40 along inventory's bracket 50, to promote inventory's bracket 50 One or more operators efficiency.As indicated, inventory's bracket 50 includes the area Liang Ge 100 and 102, each operator one. As indicated, area 100 and 102 can operation and order retainer 40 based on inventory's bracket 50 arrival and change and/or be overlapped.It can Indicate operator on inceptive direction move with when order retainer 40 is moved along inventory's bracket 50 from inventory's retainer 30 and/ Or goods plate retainer 34 selects stock article.Inceptive direction can be with order retainer 40 along the direction that inventory's bracket 50 moves Identical direction.In the example shown, inventory's retainer 40 is from moving left to the right side, and operator is mainly from moving left to the right side.Once operator The terminal in area 100 is reached when inceptive direction is mobile, then can indicate that operator returns in area 100 is illustrated as inventory's bracket 50 Farthest away from left side point starting point.After the starting point back to area 100, operator can be started again in inceptive direction Upper movement is to meet the more multi-request being moved to stock article 42 in the container 60 of order retainer 40.Order retainer 40 can It is moved to the limited area with the specific inventory's retainer 30 for the stock article 42 for keeping the order request in order retainer 40 80 opposite positions.Once order retainer 40 reaches appropriate location, order retainer 40 can slow down and/or stop, directly Stock article 42 is completed to the transmission in the appropriate containers 60 of order retainer 40 to operator.Order retainer 40 can operate Device receives stock article 42 from operator when moving on inceptive direction.Icotype can be used for the operator in other areas, including Area 102.In some embodiments, can to order retainer 40 arrival timing make order retainer 40 in operator along area 100 arrival when being moved on inceptive direction.Alternatively or in addition to this, the operator of inventory's bracket 50 can be in two directions It is appropriate mobile to be moved to the order retainer 40 for preparing to receive stock article 42.

As indicated, indicator 64 is disposed in and inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 along inventory's bracket 50 The opposite each point of limited area 80.As order retainer 40 is moved along inventory's bracket 50, indicator can be started to indicate to grasp Make the place that device expectation inventory's bracket order retainer 40 stops or slows down along inventory's bracket 50.Indicator 64 can be usually positioned to It is opposite with each limited area 80.Although will can be used will wherein protect it should be noted that being illustrated as dispersion indicator 64 for order Any appropriate method for conveying of holder 40.For example, display screen can dispose at various locations along inventory's bracket 50, operator is indicated 50 expectation order retainers 40 wherein stop and/or slow down and can additionally indicate operator from inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods Plate retainer 34 moves which article 42.

In the illustrated embodiment, order retainer 40a will stop when close to indicator 64a.Management module 15 Indicator 64a can therefore be started.Operator can advance to indicator 64a.At indicator 64a, operator can be by appropriate inventory Article 42 is from the appropriate containers 60 that the inventory retainer 30 opposite with indicator 64a is placed into order retainer 40a.Some In embodiment, indicator 64a or some other equipment at inventory's bracket 50 can indicate that operator selects specific inventory Article 42 and/or instruction operator particular item of inventory 42 is placed into the special container 60 of order retainer 40a.For example, Indicator can display lamp or other visual detectors, indicate which container 60 will from given inventory's retainer 50 receive stock article 42.Similarly, in the second workspace 102, other operators can receive instruction order retainer 40b from indicator 64b will be The signal for stopping when close to indicator 64b and/or slowing down.It, can be at inventory's bracket 50 than in a manner of other according to these technologies Possible more effective mode fulfils order.

Mobile driving unit 20, which can operate, to be touched to avoid when moving along inventory's bracket 50 with other driving units 20 that move It hits.For example, management module 15, which can determine, to be received under stock article 42 as order retainer 40a is moved along inventory's bracket 50 A position.Management module 15 can determine whether another order retainer 40b stops between order retainer 40a and next position Path.If order retainer 40b does not stop and stops without other, management module 15 can start at next position Indicator 64a and order retainer 40a can be transported to indicator 64a by mobile driving unit 20.If order retainer 40b is such as This is carried out, then management module 15 can determine the destination of order retainer 40b.If the destination of order retainer 40b is got over The next position of order retainer 40a is crossed, then indicator 64a can be started.Otherwise, management module 15 can postpone indicator 64a Starting, until order retainer 40b no longer along the path of order retainer 40a have stop destination and/or remove order Path desired by retainer 40a.The method also avoids operator, and because operator will be appreciated by indicator 64, starting corresponds to first Preceding order retainer 40 and it is chaotic.

Fig. 6 is flow chart of the diagram using the instance method 600 of inventory's bracket filling order.Method 600 starts from step 602, wherein management module 15 selects to be placed in the inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 at inventory's bracket 50.It can It is selected according to any appropriate algorithm, logic and/or decision process.Discussing step 602 in more detail below with reference to Fig. 7 can be such as The more details what is implemented illustrate.

604, after selecting appropriate inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to be placed at inventory's bracket 50, Management module 15 indicates that inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are transported to inventory's bracket 50 by mobile driving unit 20. Mobile driving unit 20 can be retrieved according to techniques discussed above selected inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 and by its Transport the appropriate limited area 80 of inventory's bracket 50.

In step 606, management module 15 can determine whether the limited area 80 at inventory's bracket 50 is still available.If additional Limited area 80 is still to be filled, then the method can return to step 602, additional inventory retainer 30 may be selected wherein And/or goods plate retainer 24 is placed in inventory and protects bracket 50.Although it should be noted that being illustrated as sequentially carrying out, management module 15 Can institute's retainer in stock substantially be selected for each limited area 80 simultaneously.In addition, step 602 to 606 can be in inventory system 10 It is interior change by stock article 42 needed at any time and/or recur.In addition, in some embodiments, management module 15 can be true It is not filled by some limited areas 80 surely.Management module 15 at inventory's bracket 50 without specifying all limited areas 80 for library Deposit retainer 30 and goods plate retainer 34.For example, management module 15 can be constrained due to workload, overall system activity or other each Kind of factor and be not filled by some limited areas.Alternatively or extraly, one or more limited areas 80 can be designed to rubbish The position of rubbish retainer 36 or other waste material containers.In some embodiments, rubbish retainer 36 and/or waste material container can be grasped It is transported as by mobile driving unit 20.Therefore, the packaging material and/or other reject products generated by 50 waste material of inventory's bracket It can be put into the rubbish retainer 36 at limited area 80.Between in due course and/or when filled, rubbish retainer 36 can be by moving Dynamic driving unit 20 is transported out of inventory's bracket 50.

In step 608, management module 15 can receive the order of each stock article 42.For example, inventory system 10 can be at any time Receive order.It shall yet further be noted that can described in step 602 to 606 appointment inventory retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 to limit Determine to receive order before and after, during the process in region 80.Therefore, step 608 can sequentially and/or with step 602 to 606 simultaneously It carries out capablely.In addition, can be connect when new inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 is suitably reassigned to limited area 80 Receive and process subscriptions list.

In step 610, management module 15 can be determined whether to meet the stock article 42 on the order at inventory's bracket 50 One or more request.For example, based on distribution and/or amount of work at inventory's bracket 50, management module 15 can determine filling Inventory station 56 and all and/or part order of noninventory bracket 50.In some embodiments, management module 15, which can determine, fills out Fill the part order at inventory station 56 and the part order at inventory's bracket 50.Management module 15 can be also institute when filling order State the sequence at inventory station 56 and/or inventory's bracket 50 that order determination to be accessed.Sequence can be any appropriate sequence, including head It first accesses one or more inventories station 56 or accesses one or more inventory's brackets 50 first.Alternatively or extraly, it manages Module 15 can determine the order retainer 40 of the appropriate type to be arranged.For example, order retainer 40 may be disposed so that only inventory's branch Frame order retainer 40, hybrid order retainer 40 and/or only inventory station order retainer 40.It can be according to any foregoing work How balance and/or distribution technique are handled the decision process of given order.In some embodiments, management module 15 can Determine where sent by order retainer 40 when order retainer 40 is in the process for receiving stock article 42.For example, pipe Reason module 15, which can determine, uses the stock article 42 being located at inventory's bracket 50 to fill the order on retainer 40 and/or partially order It is single.On the contrary, management module 15 can determine the order and/or part order on the order retainer 40 at filling inventory station 56.? After receiving these stock articles 42, management module 15 be can be determined whether with the inventory at inventory's bracket 50 and/or inventory station 56 Article 42 fills the additional orders and/or additional orders line on order retainer 40.As example, management module 15 can be based on inspection It tests and the opening line determination of the order of the stock article not being received 42 is requested to be sent to order retainer 40 on order retainer 40 Where and/or determine stock article 42 will be located at inventory system 10 in where.Furthermore or alternatively, management module 15 can determine Filling order at one or more inventory's brackets 50 and inventory station 56, but keep order in the mobile driving unit 20 of instruction Device 40 can decide to wait for the predetermined amount time before being transported to one or more of these positions.For example, based on as discussed above one A or multiple trigger events, management module 15 can determine before continuing to fill up order retainer 40 and transport order retainer 40 To deviation situation.As another example, management module 15 can determine delay dress based on one or more situations of inventory system 10 With specific indent.Management module 15 can therefore determine whether to fill order and/or while being first filled with another order also consider to Order certainly it is existing how long.

In step 612, management module 15 can determine inventory's bracket 50 to be transported to fill the order retainer 40 of order Arrangement.For example, management module 15, which can determine for two or more orders to be grouped into specific indent retainer 40, makes two Order can be completed by an order retainer 40.Can how complete according to the example operation of inventory system 10 below with reference to Fig. 8 discussion At the more details of step 612.In step 614, after arranging order retainer 40, management module 15 can indicate one or more Order retainer 40 is transported to inventory's bracket 50 and makes article that can be received order retainer 40 by a mobile driving unit In container 60.It should be noted that can determine that the type for the order retainer 40 arranged at step 610 executes step based on management module 612.Although in addition, be illustrated as management module 15 determine filling inventory's bracket 50 at all and/or part order when progress, But step 612 can be executed even when management module 15 determines the order at step 624 filling inventory station 56.For example, pipe Reason module 15, which can determine, to be arranged into order in only inventory station retainer 40 and/or can fill with specifying at inventory station 56 The order is grouped on order retainer 40 by other orders together.

In step 616, order retainer 40 is moved to the position along inventory's bracket 50 by mobile driving unit 20, so that ordering Single retainer 40 can be according to order reception stock article 42 associated with each container 60 of holding.Container 60 can be in step 618 are associated order reception stock article 42 according to it.For example, the operator at inventory's bracket 50 can stop in order retainer 40 Only and/or at the position that slows down appropriate stock article 42 is transmitted in the appropriate containers 60 of order retainer 40.

In step 620, after receiving stock article 42 at inventory's bracket 50, management module 15 can be determined whether to complete to order Order in single retainer 40.If order is completed, in step 622, management module 15 can indicate that mobile driving 20 will be ordered Single retainer 40 is transported to inventory station 56 and/or point of shipment 58 and prepares and/or be shipped to final destination for shipping.If ordered One or more orders on single retainer 40 do not complete, then the method can proceed to step 610, wherein management module 15 It can be determined whether that the residue of the order on the order retainer 40 at filling inventory's bracket 50 and/or inventory station 56 bursts at the seams.For example, Management module 15 can determine that the additional articles of the order request on order retainer 40 will can be used in the near future in step 610 In inventory's bracket 50.Management module 15 can be thereby indicate that order retainer 40 be transported to inventory's bracket 50 by mobile driving unit 20 In neighbouring deviation situation 90 and/or the inventory is waited to be made available by.As another example, management module 15 can be in step 610 Determine the stock article 42 that the request of bursting at the seams of the order on order retainer 40 is located in inventory storage 48.

Management module 15 can indicate that order retainer 40 is transported to inventory station 56 by mobile driving unit 20 in step 624, So that any article in the container 60 that should be placed on order retainer 40 can be received in step 628.For example, management module 15 It can determine the only inventory station order retainer 40 being filled at inventory station 56 and/or mix the order line on order retainer 40. Step 624 can before order retainer 40 is transported to inventory's bracket 50 by mobile driving unit 20, later and/or alternately into Row.

In step 626, although order retainer 40 is located at inventory station 56, management module 15 can be in inventory storage 48 The stock article 42 stored in middle positioning inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34.Based on the stock article 42 stored Position, management module 15 can indicate that one or more mobile driving units 20 are moved in inventory storage 48 and store these libraries Inventory's retainer 30 of storage product 42 and/or the position of goods plate retainer 34.In step 626, mobile driving unit 20 can will be deposited The inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 for storing up requested stock article 42 are transported to inventory station 56.

In step 628, the storage of inventory's retainer 30 can be received by the appropriate containers 60 of order retainer 40 and is transported to The stock article 42 at inventory station 56.After container 60 receives requested stock article 42 from inventory's retainer 30, management module 15 determine whether to complete order in step 630.If there is backlog, then the method 600 can return to step 610, management module 15 determines whether to fill the volume of the order in the order retainer 40 at inventory's bracket 50 and/or inventory station 56 Outside line.If it is determined that the additional lines of the order at filling inventory station 56, then order retainer 40 can stay at inventory station 56 and Additional inventory retainer 30 containing additional request stock article 42 can be transported to inventory station 56.If it is determined that filling inventory's branch The additional lines of order at frame 50, then the method can continue to step 614, wherein order retainer 40 can be transported to library Deposit bracket 50.Method 600 continues, until completing the order in order retainer 40 at step 620 or 630.Once completing, just Order retainer 40 is transported to inventory station 56 by mobile driving unit 20 and/or point of shipment 58 is used to prepare and/or be shipped to Terminal user and/or the point of destination.

Fig. 7 is that diagram promotes the flow chart that the instance method 700 of order is fulfiled at inventory's bracket.Method 700 starts from Step 702, wherein starting inventory's retainer 30 that selection will be placed at inventory's bracket 50.Method 700 is the method in Fig. 6 The Example embodiments of 600 step 602.

The method for carrying out selection inventory 30 can be completed based on speed and/or order line.If being based solely on step 704 place Speed selects inventory's retainer 30, then the method proceeds to step 706, wherein calculating inventory system 10 at step 706 In available stock article 42 speed and/or volume.May include under history single trend and/or current outstanding order and/or Predict the speed of any appropriate metric calculation available stock article 42 for the expectation order that will occur in inventory system 10.As above Text discussed, speed can indicate its place an order including each stock article and/or may include its it is lower list stock article 42 Volume relative speed.Volume can refer to the amount for the stock article 42 that specific indent places an order, and can additionally or alternatively indicate According to the physical size of the actual size of stock article 42.Therefore, management module 15 can be occupied based on these stock articles 42 Stock article 42 is located at inventory's bracket 50 by the determination of real space amount.It is used for for example, large-scale and/or block article may be selected It is placed at inventory's bracket 50.In some embodiments, management module 15 can calculate in inventory system 10 by specific SKU and/ Or the total system activity that unique stock article 42 generates.Can based on minimize total system activity and select inventory's retainer 30 and/ Or goods plate retainer 34.

In step 708, there is inventory's retainer 30 of the stock article 42 of maximum speed and/or goods plate to keep for selection storage Device 42 is placed at inventory's bracket 50.In example implementation, inventory's bracket 50, which can have, is located at ten along inventory's bracket 50 Most 50 stock articles 42 in inventory's retainer 30 (being each positioned at one in ten limited areas), wherein each inventory Retainer 30 stores five in most 50 stock articles 42.If one in limited area 80 is protected because of such as inventory One stock article 42 in holder 30 will be used up and is made available by and/or one in limited area 80 is not filled out yet It fills, then then management module 15 may be selected averagely to store five another inventory's retainers in maximum speed stock article 42 30 are located at the limited area 80.Although should be noted that citing provides specific quantity, inventory's retainer 30 and/goods plate are protected Any appropriate amount of holder 34 and/or combination can be positioned at inventory's bracket 50, and these inventory's retainers 30 and/or goods plate are protected Holder 34 can store any appropriate amount and/or the combination of the stock article 42 of each speed.

If inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 are not to be based solely on speed but go back base in step 704 It is completed in desired order line, then in step 710, the method proceeds to step 712, wherein calculating each inventory's retainer The 30 outstanding line orders met.For example, management module 15 can determine and be stored in inventory system 10 by each inventory's retainer 30 Each stock article 42.If specific inventory's retainer is placed at inventory's bracket 50, management module 15 be can determine By the order line amount of satisfaction.The total amount of outstanding line order based on satisfaction, each inventory's retainer can assign a score.Step 710 can be additional or alternatively by the selection of inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 based on excellent in inventory system 10 The elegant desired blanket order of order is completed.For example, can be to one including completing practical orders more more than another inventory's retainer 30 Combined inventory's retainer 30 of a or multiple stock articles 42 gives preference weight.

In step 714, management module 15 can determine the expectation that each inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 meet The order line of amount.For example, if the expectation of inventory system 10 receives the particular item of inventory 42 of a large amount of orders, it can be every in score It is taken into account when a inventory's retainer 30.Based on the total amount determined in step 712 and 714, can be calculated in step 716 each The order line total amount that inventory's retainer 30 meets, and/or aggregation is assigned to the score of each inventory's retainer 30.Step 714 can Additionally or alternatively by the selection of inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 based on the expectation order in inventory system 10 Desired blanket order is completed.For example, can predict that future will complete more reality than another inventory's retainer 30 to including expectation Combined inventory's retainer 30 of one or more stock articles 42 of order gives preference weight.

Based on the total amount of each inventory's retainer, can be determined at step 718 with highest total amount line order complete and/ Or the inventory's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34 of best score.If two highest inventory's retainers are consistent, step 720 The method can proceed to step 706, wherein calculating the relatively fast of the available stock article 42 in each inventory's retainer 30 It spends and inventory's retainer 30 or goods plate retainer 34 with maximum speed stock article 42 can be selected in step 708.Such as Fruit is not consistent, then the method can proceed to step 722 and may be selected to complete with highest blanket order and/or best score Inventory's retainer.Step 718 can be additional or the selection of inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 is alternatively based on the phase The total amount for the prediction order for hoping the outstanding order completed and expectation complete.Further, it should also be noted that being by the discussion of method 700 above Single inventory's retainer 30 is selected to be placed at single inventory's bracket 50, but similar approach can be used for that multiple inventories is selected to keep The generally all or most of limited area 80 of device 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 at one or more inventory's brackets 50 Place.For example, method 700 can be used to most 30 inventories for selecting to correspond to 30 limited areas 80 at inventory's bracket 50 Retainer 30.

Fig. 8 is that diagram promotes the flow chart that the instance method 800 of order is fulfiled at inventory's bracket.Method 800 starts from Step 802, wherein starting choice arrangement order retainer 40.Method 800 is the Example embodiments of the step 612 of method 600.

In step 802, management module 15 starts to arrange order retainer 40.For example, management module 15 can start arrangement only Inventory's bracket order retainer 40, hybrid order retainer 40 and/or only inventory station order retainer 40.In step 806, pipe First order can be selected as including in order retainer 40 by reason module 15.For example, the outstanding of stock article 42 can be examined Order is located at the stock article 42 at inventory's bracket 50 with the request of how many line of each order of determination and/or is asked by how many a lines Seek the stock article 42 being located in inventory storage 48.Outstanding order can be examined additionally or alternatively to have on each order of determination How many total stock articles 42 are located at inventory's bracket 50 and/or how many total stock article 42 is located at inventory storage on each order In 48.Based on each order total stock article 42 and/or bus be located at inventory's bracket 50, each order can assign one Score.The score of type and each order based on the order retainer 40 to be arranged, management module 15 may be selected appropriate first Order come start arrange order retainer 40.For example, for only stock orders retainer 40, management module 15 may be alternatively located at library Deposit the first order with best score at bracket 50, most multi-thread stock article 42 and/or at most total stock article 42.Such as Fruit arrangement only inventory station order retainer 40, then the stock article that request is located at inventory storage 48 may be selected in management module 15 42 appropriate order.If starting to arrange hybrid order retainer 40, management module 15 may be selected request and be located at inventory The appropriate order of stock article 42 at bracket 50 and/or in inventory storage 48.It should be noted that order may include being located at inventory Multiple stock articles 42 of bracket 50, especially because as explained above, management module 15 may be selected to calculate to meet most for this The inventory's retainer 30 and/or goods plate retainer 34 of more orders.It is had been located at inventory's bracket 50 accordingly, it is possible to which given order has Its complete inventory article 42.

In step 808, container 60 associated with each selected order be may be arranged on order retainer 40.Manage mould Block can for example will be about increasing to order retainer 40 for which container 60 and/or how by given order and 60 phase of special container It is associated to instruct the operator for being supplied to vectoring station 54.Management module 15 can additionally or alternatively indicate operator by container 60 The where on order retainer 40 be placed on.For example, specific indent retainer 40 can have for the particular size on a frame And/or the space of the container 60 of type, and can have the space that can be used for different amounts of different containers types 60.When arrangement order When order on retainer 40, management module 15 it is contemplated that each container 60 size and/or type.If order retainer 40 Keep container 60 therein associated with other orders, then management module 15 can determine how to place relative to these containers 60 Other containers 60.Furthermore or alternatively, management module 15 can determine whether order at step 806 and/or step 812 Consider to select the occupied space of container 60 for order when being arranged on order retainer 40.

In step 810, management module 15 can be determined whether that exceptional space can be used for additionally ordering in order retainer 40 Single container 60.If there is extra usable space, then management module 812 can determine one or more of the other order in step 812 Singly it is included in order retainer 40.For example, management module 15 can increase for the stock article 42 at inventory's bracket 50 order and/ Or order can be increased for the stock article 42 at the other positions in inventory system 10.

In step 812, management module 15 can additionally or alternatively determination includes stock article also at inventory's bracket 50 Other orders.Based on including the order for also being located at the stock article 42 at inventory's bracket 50, management module 15 is optional to be arranged Order on order retainer 40.For example, two or more orders may be selected to be grouped into order retainer in management module 15 In 40.Two or more orders may include the first order and one or more of the other order of step 806 place selection.It can be based on institute The stock article 42 of the first order request is selected to select the order other than the first order.For example, order can be based on having and the The identical and/or similar stock article 42 of order selected by one is grouped into order retainer 40.Selection is protected for being arranged in order Inventory's bracket 50 that order in holder 40 for example can calculate advance in inventory system 10 based on mobile driving unit 20 and/ Or other positions and the path increment that calculates.If not being grouped as the stroke of calculating generated by the two or more orders of selection Amount, then management module 15 can determine the value preserving of calculating by comparing path increment needed for fulfiling order in other ways.Pipe The order for the amount for reducing and/or minimizing total travel may be selected to be grouped in reason module 15.Management module 15 also may be selected to reduce And/or the order for the amount that the overall tasks generated by management module 15 are assigned is minimized to be grouped.For example, management module 15 can be true It is fixed to reduce the amount for being assigned to the task that mobile driving unit 20 fills order.

As discussed above, management module 15 can only include one for being located at and being placed at inventory's bracket 50 based on order is determined A or multiple inventory's retainers 30 and/or stock article in goods plate retainer 34 and ordered from the selection of available order is two or more It is single.For example, management module 15 can determine arrangement only inventory's bracket order retainer 40, hybrid order retainer 40 and/or only Inventory station order retainer 40.For various reasons, it will include other in inventory system 10 that management module 15, which can determine, The order of the stock article 42 of position (such as inventory storage 48) increases to order retainer 40 to set up hybrid order and keep Device 40.This determination can be carried out based on any factor as discussed above.The determination can be based on the work at inventory's bracket 50 Amount.

As described above, it is also possible to consider libraries for management module 15 when determining the arrangement of the order on given order retainer 40 Position of the storage product 42 on inventory's bracket 50.For example, management module 15 can determine that selection request is located at inventory's bracket 50 The order of stock article 42 in different inventory's retainers 30.Specifically, management module 15 can be used based on the first order is determined In the stock article 42 that inventory's retainer 30 by a limited area 80 for being located at inventory's bracket 50 stores, and determine Second order is used for another library stored by another inventory's retainer 30 for another limited area 80 for being located at inventory's bracket 50 Storage product 42 and determine grouping order.

Once order retainer 40 is full of and/or does not have available exceptional space, the method at step 810 Terminate.Although management module 15 can it should be noted that method 800 is illustrated as once increasing an order to order retainer 40 All orders and/or container 60 of specific indent retainer 40 will be added to by predefining.

The method 600,700 and 800 illustrated respectively in the flow chart of Fig. 6-8 can be modified, be added or omitted.Example Such as, management module 15 can once and/or concurrently assign multiple tasks.Therefore, management module 15 can also concurrently and/or press The many orders of sequential processes.In addition, management module 15 can be able to use inventory's bracket 50 to fulfil the library of any several amount and type Deposit the order of facility.Management module 15 can be fulfiled with reference to Fig. 4 according to the multiple inventory's brackets 50 of principle as discussed above Order.Can by management module 15 using various inventory stations 56 and/or inventory's bracket 50 sequentially and/or processing simultaneously with it is various that The corresponding order of a little facilities.In addition, can be parallel or in any suitable order come the step of executing Fig. 6-8.In addition, with reference to this public affairs The embodiment for opening description be expected to complete combination and be suitable for embodiment appropriate described herein.

Fig. 9 diagram can be used for the example computer system of one or more parts of system and methods described herein 900.In specific embodiments, one or more computer systems 900 execute the one or more sides for being described herein or illustrating The one or more steps of method.In specific embodiments, one or more computer systems 900 provide described herein or figure The function of showing, such as, any component (such as management module 15, mobile driving unit 20 and/or the library appropriate of system 10 Deposit bracket 50).In specific embodiments, the software execution operated in one or more computer systems 900 is described herein Or one or more steps in one or more methods of diagram, or the function of being described herein or illustrate is provided.Particular implementation Scheme includes one or more parts in one or more computer systems 900.

The expected any an appropriate number of computer system 900 of the disclosure.The expected disclosure is in any physical form appropriate Existing computer system 900.It as example rather than limits, computer system 900 can be embedded computer system, on piece System (SOC), single board computer system (SBC) (such as, computer module (COM) or system module (SOM)), desk-top meter It is calculation machine system, on knee or notebook computer system, interactive information pavilion, host, computer system net, mobile phone, a Two or more combinations in personal digital assistant (PDA), server, tablet computer systems or these equipment.Department of computer science System 900 can suitably include one or more computer systems 900；It is single or distributed；Across multiple positions；Across more A machine；Across multiple data centers；Or reside in cloud, it may include one or more cloud groups in one or more networks Part.One or more computer systems 900 can suitably execute (not substantial space or time restriction) it is described herein or One or more steps in one or more methods of diagram.It as example rather than limits, one or more computer systems 900 in real time or can be processed in batches mode to execute described herein or diagram one or more of one or more methods Step.One or more computer systems 900 can be executed suitably in different time or at different locations and be described herein or illustrate One or more methods in one or more steps.

In specific embodiments, computer system 900 includes processor 902, memory 904, memory 906, input/defeated (I/O) interface 908, communication interface 910 and bus 912 out.Although the disclosure is described and is illustrated with the spy in specific arrangements The particular computer system of the specific components of fixed number amount, but the expected any computer system appropriate of the disclosure, have Any an appropriate number of any appropriate component in any appropriate arrangement.

In specific embodiments, processor 902 includes that (such as those of composition computer program refers to for executing instruction Enable) hardware.It as example rather than limits, in order to execute instruction, processor 902 can be from internal register, inner buffer, memory 904 or the retrieval of memory 906 (or extract) instruction；And it decodes and executes described instruction；And then one or more results are write Enter in internal register, inner buffer, memory 904 or memory 906.In specific embodiments, processor 902 may include one It is a or multiple for data, instruction or the inner buffer of address.Although the disclosure describes and illustrates specific processor, The expected any processor appropriate of the disclosure.

In specific embodiments, memory 904 includes main memory, is used for instruction or the place of the execution of storage processor 902 Manage the data that device 902 operates.In certain embodiments, memory 904 can be included in 10 groups of any system discussed above Memory in part, such as management module 15, mobile driving unit 20 and/or inventory's bracket 50.Memory 904 can be stored for system Any information appropriate of 10 component, multiple orders such as associated with the received multiple orders of management module 15 and/or Information.It as example rather than limits, computer system 900 can will come from memory 906 or another source will be (such as, another Computer system 900) instruction be loaded into memory 904.Then instruction from memory 904 can be loaded into interior by processor 902 Portion's register or inner buffer.For example, processing 902 can get information associated with the multiple orders being stored in memory 904. In order to execute described instruction, processor 902 can be from internal register or inner buffer search instruction, and decodes described instruction.? During or after executing instruction, processor 902 can write one or more results (it can be intermediate result or final result) Enter internal register or inner buffer.Processor 902 can be then by one or more write-in memories 904 in those results.? In specific embodiment, processor 902 only carry out in one or more internal registers or inner buffer or in memory 904 (and Memory 906 or other places) instruction, and only operate one or more internal registers or inner buffer or memory The data in (rather than memory 906 or other places) in 904.(it can respectively include that address is total to one or more rambus Line and data/address bus) processor 02 can be coupled to memory 904.Bus 912 may include one or more rambus, as follows It is described.In specific embodiments, one or more memory management units (MMU) reside in processor 902 and memory 904 it Between, and promote the access to the requested memory 904 of processor 902.Although the disclosure describes and illustrates particular memory, this Open expected any memory appropriate.

In specific embodiments, memory 906 includes the mass storage for data or instruction.In certain implementations It, can be in any component appropriate (including management module 15, mobile driving unit 20 and/or the inventory's bracket of system 10 in scheme It 50) include memory 906 in.Memory 906 can store any information appropriate of the component for system 10, such as with management The associated multiple orders of the received multiple orders of module 15 and/or information.Memory 906 can suitably include removable or can not Mobile (for example, fixed) medium.Memory 906 suitably can be inside or outside computer system 900.In particular implementation In scheme, memory 906 is non-volatile solid-state memory.Memory 906 can suitably include one or more memories 706. Although the disclosure describes and illustrates specific memory, the expected any memory appropriate of the disclosure.

In specific embodiments, I/O interface 908 includes hardware, software or both, is provided in computer system One or more interfaces of communication between 900 and one or more I/O device.Computer system 900 can suitably include these One or more of I/O device.One or more of these I/O devices can be achieved between people and computer system 900 Communication.It as example rather than limits, I/O device may include keyboard, key, microphone, monitor, mouse, printer, scanning Instrument, loudspeaker, frequency still camera, light pen, input board, touch screen, tracking ball, video camera, another I/O device appropriate, Or two or more combinations in these devices.I/O device may include one or more sensors.Disclosure expection is any I/O device appropriate and any I/O interface 908 appropriate for described device.I/O interface 908 can suitably include one or Multiple devices or software driver enable processor 902 to drive one or more of these I/O devices.I/O interface 908 can suitably include one or more I/O interface 908.Although the disclosure describes and illustrates specific I/O interface, this Open expected any I/O interface appropriate.

In specific embodiments, communication interface 910 includes hardware, software or both, provides and is used for computer system Communication between 900 and one or more of the other computer system 900 or one or more networks is (such as, based on grouping Communication).It as example rather than limits, communication interface 910 can include: network interface controller (NIC) or network adapter, For with Ethernet or other communicated based on wired network；Or wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapter, be used for Wireless network (such as Wi-Fi network) is communicated.The disclosure is expected any network appropriate and for any of the network Communication interface 910 appropriate.Although the disclosure describes and illustrate specific communication interface, disclosure expection is any appropriate Communication interface.

In specific embodiments, bus 912 include hardware, software or both, by the component of computer system 900 that This coupling.Although the disclosure describes and illustrates specific bus, the expected any bus appropriate of the disclosure or interconnection piece.

Herein, cover one or more non-transitories with reference to computer readable storage medium, tangible computer can Read storage medium processing structure.As example rather than limit, computer readable storage medium can suitably include based on semiconductor or Other integrated circuit (IC) (such as, field programmable gate array (FPGA) or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), hard disk, HDD, mixing It is hard-drive (HHD), CD, disc drives (ODD), magneto-optic disk, magneto-optical drive, floppy disc, soft magnetism dish driving (FDD), tape, complete Ceasing storage medium, solid-state driving (SSD) RAM driving, safe digital card, safe digital driving or another computer appropriate can Read two or more combinations in storage medium or these devices.Computer-readable non-transitory storage medium suitably may be used Be volatibility, non-volatile or volatile and non-volatile combination.

The disclosure contemplates that the one or more computers for implementing any appropriate memory device meet readable storage medium storing program for executing.In spy Determine in embodiment, computer readable storage medium is appropriately carried out one or more parts of processor 902 (such as, for example, one A or multiple internal registers or caching), one or more parts of memory 904, memory 906 one or more parts, Or these combination.In specific embodiments, computer readable storage medium implements RAM or ROM.In specific embodiment In, computer readable storage medium implements volatibility or permanent internal storage.In specific embodiments, one or more computers can Reading storage medium includes software.Herein, reference software can cover one or more application program, syllabified code, one or Multiple computer programs, one or more executable files, one or more instructions, logic, machine code, one or more feet Sheet or source code, and vice versa in the appropriate case.In specific embodiments, software includes one or more application program Programming interface (API).The expected any software appropriate of the disclosure, with the combination of any programming language appropriate or programming language To write or in addition state.In specific embodiments, software is expressed as source code or object code.

Herein, "or" is inclusive rather than exclusive, is in addition referred to unless otherwise expressly indicated or by context Show.Therefore, herein, " A or B " means " A, B or both ", in addition indicates unless otherwise expressly indicated or by context.This Outside, "and" is that the two is related and individual, is in addition indicated unless otherwise expressly indicated or by context.Therefore, herein, " A and B " means " A and B, jointly or individually ", in addition indicates unless otherwise expressly indicated or by context.

The disclosure covers that those skilled in the art are intelligible to change all of example implementation herein Change, substitution, variant, substitution and modification.Similarly, appended claim suitably includes that those skilled in the art can manage Solution to all modifications of example implementation herein, substitution, variant, change and modification.In addition, in appended claims With reference to being adapted to, be disposed to, can, be configured to, be initiated to, be operable to or operate and execute specific function in book Equipment or system or equipment or the component of system cover the equipment, system, component, no matter the equipment, system, component or Whether the specific function is activated, opens or unlocks, if the equipment, system or component be so be adapted to, be arranged, energy It reaches, be configured, being activated, can operate or operate.

It can be used one or more softwares or software module individually or combined with other devices to execute or implement herein Any step, operation or the process of description.In one embodiment, using the computer program including computer-readable medium Product implements software module, and the computer-readable medium contains can be executed by computer processor with described for executing Any or all step, operation or process computer program code.

Embodiment of the present invention may also refer to apparatus for performing the operations herein.The equipment can be special construction For the desired purposes, and/or it may include general-purpose calculating appts, and the general-purpose calculating appts are by storing calculating in a computer Starts or reconfigure to machine procedure selection.This computer program is storable in the tangible calculating for storing e-command In machine readable storage medium storing program for executing or any kind of medium, and it is coupled to computer system bus.In addition, refer in the description Any computing system may include single processor or can be using the multiple processors for being designed to increased computing capability Framework.

Although illustrating the specific embodiment of inventory system 10, however, it is understood that the introduction of the disclosure can be applied to appoint The inventory system of what type and quantity.For example, inventory system 10 can indicate merchandise return facility.In such an implementation, library Storage product can indicate the commodity retracted by client.When receiving at facility from individual clients, these commodity are storable in inventory In retainer 130.In reasonable time, a large amount of unit can be removed from specific inventory's retainer 30, and in inventory's bracket 50 Transport inventory's retainer 40 in place.For example, particular item of inventory can be associated with product recall, cause these stock articles with high body Product returns.As another example, system 10 can indicate production facility, and stock article can indicate individual groups of production external member Part.Therefore, the individual articles for producing external member are storable in inventory's retainer 30.Order for producing product can be from inventory's branch It is assembled at frame 50 from individual articles.Final products can be used order retainer by moving the transport of driving unit 20 and can be shipped to Appropriate destination.Therefore, although describing several example implementations in the disclosure, inventory system 10 can generally indicate to deposit Any appropriate facility or system of storage or processing stock article, and stock article can indicate to be suitable for depositing in specific inventory system 10 Any kind of object of storage, retrieval and/or processing.

In some embodiments, management module 15 can generate task assignment as inventory independently of these stock requests The part of configuration management and the maintenance of system 10.For example, management module 15 may be in response to occur particular event (for example, in response to Mobile driving unit 20 request the space stopped), according to it is predetermined dispatch (for example, part as example daily start program) or In construction and feature generation task assignment of any appropriate time based on inventory system 10.In addition, although management module 15 can quilt It configures to manage the various aspects of the operation of the component of inventory system 10, but in specific embodiments, component itself can also It is responsible for the decision of the particular aspects of its operation, to reduce the processing load in management module 15.Particularly, individual elements can It is configured in a manner of allowing these components to improve its efficiency that separate responses are in particular localization environment, without reducing inventory The overall efficiency of system 10.As example, management module 15 can be dependent on the independent decision-making of mobile driving unit 20 to prevent from touching It hits.In addition, although the one or more that driving unit 20 requests the path of Self management module 15 is wherein moved in above description concern Embodiment, but in an alternate embodiment, mobile driving unit 20 produces the path of its own.Although more than in addition, Discuss that description moves order retainer 40 along the side of inventory's bracket 50, but the introduction of the disclosure applies also for wherein along library Deposit the side positioning transporting equipment configuration of bracket 50.Container 60 can be moved along transmission device and stop sentencing at various locations with above Similar mode described in contingent order retainer 40 receives stock article 42.In addition, in some embodiments, mobile driving is single Member 20 may include transmission device.

Each embodiment of the disclosure can be described according to following clause:

1. a kind of method comprising: multiple limited areas are placed in along the first side of inventory's bracket by management module is specified Multiple inventory's retainers；One or more first movement driving units are indicated by the management module to transport the multiple library Retainer is deposited to the multiple limited area, wherein the multiple inventory's retainer is in the multiple limit when fulfiling multiple orders Determine to be kept fixed at region；Receive the order of multiple stock articles；It is determined by the management module by the library of the order request Storage product are stored in inventory's retainer at the limited area being placed at inventory's bracket, wherein inventory's retainer It is one in the multiple inventory's retainer；It is kept with order is transported by the mobile driving unit of management module instruction second Device to inventory's bracket second side, wherein the second mobile driving unit is moved along described second side so that the order Retainer can be operated in described second side along the inventory bracket opposite with the limited area of inventory's retainer The stock article is received at position.

2. according to method described in clause 1, further include: determine the order request additional inventory article；Described in instruction Second mobile driving unit transports the order retainer to inventory station；With one in the instruction first movement driving unit The inventory's retainer for storing the additional inventory article is transported to the inventory station from inventory storage position.

3. according to method described in clause 1, wherein inventory's bracket be first inventory's bracket and the method also includes: Determine the order request additional inventory article；Indicate that the described second mobile driving unit transports the order retainer to second Inventory's bracket；The order is completed with the additional inventory article at the second inventory bracket.

4. according to method described in clause 1, further include: starting instruction is along second sidesway at inventory's bracket Dynamic order retainer will be parked in the signal at the position opposite with the limited area；Be at least partially based on the letter The operator of number instruction inventory's bracket is moved to the limited area.

5. according to method described in clause 1, wherein the limited area includes the first limited area, inventory's retainer Including first inventory's retainer, and the method also includes: it is at least partially based on the first trigger event, indicates the first movement One in driving unit removes the first inventory retainer from first limited area and transports the first inventory guarantor Holder is to deviation situation associated with inventory's bracket；The mobile driving unit of instruction third transports second inventory's retainer and arrives First limited area；Be at least partially based on the second trigger event, indicate one in the first movement driving unit The the second limited area first inventory retainer being transported to from the deviation situation from inventory's bracket.

6. according to method described in clause 1, further include: determine multiple stock articles that place an order in inventory system under it In each rate；Rate in each of more the multiple stock article；It is at least partially based on the comparison, is selected above The amount of the stock article of set rate；And wherein specify the multiple inventory's retainer be placed in the multiple limited area be to It is at least partly based on and determines that the stock article amount is stored in the multiple inventory's retainer.

7. a kind of system comprising:

Inventory's bracket comprising the first side and second side, first side includes multiple limited areas, at the region Multiple inventory's retainers are specified for placing, and inventory's bracket can be operated at least one in the multiple limited area A place receives stock article from least one of described inventory's retainer；With mobile driving unit, can operate along described Described second side of inventory's bracket transports order retainer, wherein the order retainer can be operated along inventory's bracket Described second side position at from inventory's bracket receive stock article.

8. according to system described in clause 7, wherein the position and described first of second side along inventory's bracket Limited area on side is opposite, and the limited area has the inventory's retainer for storing the stock article.

9. according to system described in clause 7, wherein the mobile driving unit includes first movement driving unit and described System further includes the second mobile driving unit, can be operated to transport one or more of the multiple inventory's retainer to institute State one or more of the limited area at inventory's bracket.

10. according to system described in clause 7, wherein the multiple inventory's retainer be at least partially based on be stored in it is described more The product speed of one or more stock articles in a inventory's retainer and specify for the limited area.

11. according to system described in clause 7, wherein the multiple inventory's retainer keeps placing when filling multiple orders At limited area.

12. according to system described in clause 7, wherein the order retainer can be operated to keep multiple containers, wherein institute One for stating the stock article in one that at least part in container is stored in the multiple inventory's retainer with request Or multiple orders are associated.

13. according to system described in clause 7, the mobile driving unit can also operate with: in the limited area The first inventory's retainer for replacing the multiple inventory's retainer at one with second inventory's retainer, is wherein at least based partially on Measurement associated with the first inventory retainer replaces the first inventory retainer.

14. according to system described in clause 7, wherein one or more of described limited area is specified for storing rubbish Retainer and the mobile driving unit can be operated to transport the rubbish retainer.

15. according to system described in clause 7, wherein the first movement driving unit can be operated with the multiple library of movement One deposited in retainer arrives deviation situation associated with inventory's bracket.

16. inventory's bracket further includes interface, and the interface can be operated to indicate according to system described in clause 7 It states the operator of inventory's bracket and from one in the multiple inventory's retainer removes the stock article and by the oddment Product are placed in the container being stored in the order retainer, and the container is associated with the order.

17. according to system described in clause 7, inventory's bracket further includes the first operator area and the second operator area, Wherein specified first operator that is applied in first operator area is to be placed into the first of the limited area for stock article In the order retainer at subgroup, and second operator area is specified for the second operator to place stock article In the order retainer at the second subgroup of the limited area.

18. inventory's bracket further includes flat surface, elevated surface and workplace according to system described in clause 7 One or more of virtual region.

19. a kind of system comprising: inventory's retainer；Order retainer；With mobile driving unit, the mobile driving Unit can operate with:

Transport inventory's retainer to the first side of inventory's bracket limited area；The order retainer is transported to institute State inventory's bracket；The order retainer is moved along second side of inventory's bracket；Be parked in along and the limited area phase Pair second side position at, wherein the order retainer can operate at the limited area from inventory's retainer Receive stock article.

20. according to system described in clause 19, wherein inventory's retainer described in inventory's retainer is that the first inventory protects Holder and the mobile driving unit can also be operated to replace the first inventory retainer with second inventory's retainer, and described System further includes management module, and the management module, which is at least partially based on, compares associated with the first inventory retainer One measurement and the second measurement instruction mobile driving unit second library associated with the second inventory retainer It deposits retainer and replaces the first inventory retainer.

21. according to system described in clause 20, wherein first measurement includes one or more of following item: storage The amount of stock article in the first inventory retainer；With the stock article that is stored in the first inventory retainer Speed.

22. according to system described in clause 20, wherein first measurement includes the first expectation demand, second measurement Including the second expectation demand, and management module can also be operated to be based at least partially on specific time and determine the prediction second phase Prestige demand is more than the first expectation demand and dispatches the first inventory retainer in the specific time and come by described second Inventory's retainer replaces.

23. according to system described in clause 20, wherein the mobile driving unit can be operated to transport institute by following item It states inventory's retainer: being moved below inventory's retainer；Butt joint is raised towards the surface of inventory's retainer；Using institute It states butt joint and is lifted inventory's retainer；It is mobile when being lifted inventory's retainer.

24. further include management module according to system described in clause 19, the management module can operate with: determination is answered Rotate inventory's retainer；Inventory's retainer instruction mobile driving unit should be rotated with determination is at least partially based on It carries out following item: inventory's retainer is moved away from the limited area；Rotate inventory's retainer；It is protected with by the inventory Holder is moved back to the limited area.

A1. a kind of method for fulfiling order at inventory's bracket, which comprises received by management module multiple Order, the first order include the request of one or more stock articles；Examine the multiple order to know by the management module Other stock article, the stock article are stored by the inventory's retainer for being placed in inventory's bracket；At least by the management module It is based partially on and determines that first order and second order include the request of the stock article and make the multiple order First order and second order be grouped；At vectoring station on order retainer configuration and the first order phase Associated the first container and second container associated with second order, wherein the first container and the second container It can operate to receive the stock article；Indicate mobile driving unit by the order retainer from institute with by the management module State vectoring station and be transported to inventory's bracket, wherein the order retainer at the position opposite with inventory's retainer from Inventory's bracket receives the stock article.

A2. the method according to clause A1, further include: determine first order and second order whether It is completed at inventory's bracket；If first order and second order are completed at inventory's bracket, refer to Show that the order retainer is transported to point of shipment by the mobile driving unit；If ordered with first order and described second Dan Wei is completed at inventory's bracket, then indicating that the order retainer is transported to inventory by the mobile driving unit It stands.

A3. the method according to clause A1, further include: after increasing the first container and the second container Determine whether the order retainer has available space for extra vessel；If there is available sky with the order retainer Between, then increasing extra vessel to the order retainer.

A4. the method according to clause A1, wherein the stock article includes the first stock article, the inventory is kept Device includes first inventory's retainer, and the method also includes: whether examine in the multiple order has including described in request The order of the second stock article in multiple stock articles, second stock article is by being placed in the of inventory's bracket The storage of two inventory's retainers；And wherein at least it is based partially on the institute including first stock article and second stock article The one or more stated in the first order and second order is grouped first order and second order.

A5. the method according to clause A1, further include: appointment first must give first order and assign second Second order must be given, score is at least partially based on following item: receive one or more stock article institutes of order request The amount of the stroke needed；With the amount of the stock article on the order at inventory's bracket；And it is at least partially based on described One score and second score determine first order and second order being grouped on the order retainer.

A6. a kind of management module comprising: memory can be operated to store multiple order phases with multiple stock articles Associated information；Processor, may be communicatively coupled to the memory and can operate with: obtain it is associated with the multiple order Information；Two or more units are selected to transport the order retainer to inventory's bracket；Wherein described two or multiple orders exist The order retainer receives the stock article of described two or multiple order requests when moving along inventory's bracket.

A7. the management module according to claim A6, the processor can also operate with: calculate the mobile driving The amount of stroke needed for unit fills the multiple order to inventory's bracket；Be at least partially based on stroke calculated Amount determines and selects two or more orders and the order retainer is transported to inventory's branch by the mobile driving unit Frame will reduce path increment.

A8. the management module according to clause A6, the processing can also be operated to be at least partially based on and determine described two A or multiple orders simply request the stock article in the one or more inventory's retainers for being located at and being placed at inventory's bracket And described two or multiple orders are selected to increase to the order retainer from the multiple order.

A9. the management module according to clause A6, the processor can also operate with: provide first instruction come utilize packet Include the order Assembly Order retainer of the first stock article in the inventory's retainer for being stored in and being placed at inventory's bracket； The first instruction is provided to utilize the first stock article including being stored in the inventory's retainer being placed at inventory's bracket With the order Assembly Order retainer of the second stock article at the position that is stored in addition to inventory's bracket；With offer third It instructs to utilize including the second stock article order Assembly Order retainer at the position that is stored in addition to inventory's bracket.

A10. the management module according to clause A9, the processor can also operate with: obtain instruction in its lower lower-depot The information of the rate for one or more order retainers that the side that storage product increase to along inventory's bracket is moved；At least It is based partially on the rate, determines and the selected instruction of first instruction, second instruction and third instruction is provided.

A11. the management module according to clause A6, the processor can also operate with: determine at inventory's bracket Workload whether be greater than maximal workload；And if the heavy workload in maximum value, then it is determined that with inventory's branch Frame fulfils order at different inventory stations.

A12. the management module according to clause A6, wherein described two or multiple orders include the first order and second Order, and the processor can also operate with: be at least partially based on following item and select using the order retainer to fulfil First order and second order: determine that first order is for first by being placed in inventory's bracket First stock article of first inventory's retainer storage at limited area；It is for by being placed in determination second order Second stock article of second inventory's retainer storage at the second limited area at inventory's bracket.

A13. the management module according to clause A6, the processor can also operate with: indicate inventory's bracket Operator it is expected that the order retainer receives the stock article when the order is moved along inventory's bracket at which Specific position.

A14. a kind of non-transitory computer-readable medium including logic, the logic can be grasped when executed by the processor Make with: instruction first movement driving unit inventory's retainer is transported to inventory's bracket, described instruction by inventory in response to being kept The speed of one or more stock articles of device storage；Order retainer is transported to the mobile driving unit of instruction second described Inventory's bracket, described instruction is in response to the order including one or more of stock articles, wherein the described second mobile driving Unit moves the order retainer along inventory's bracket to receive one or more of described stock article.

A15. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, the logic can also be operated to start inventory's branch Indicator on frame, the indicator provide under it order retainer for stopping receiving stock article to described two Or the operator for being indicated to inventory's bracket of the position in multiple containers.

A16. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, the logic can also be operated to be at least partially based on The work distribution for stating multiple operators at inventory's bracket transports the order retainer to inventory's bracket.

A17. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, the logic can also operate with: instruction operator along institute The first stock article will be received to described two or multiple containers by stating inventory's bracket and being moved under it order retainer Position in the first container；First stock article is moved from inventory's retainer at the position with the instruction operator The first container is moved, inventory's retainer includes multiple stock articles.

A18. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, the logic can also be operated to be ordered described in transport with determining Single retainer to inventory's bracket, wherein inventory's bracket include multiple workspaces and the determination be calculate balance across The workload of more the multiple workspace.

A19. the computer-readable medium according to clause A18, wherein workspace includes several limited areas, and inventory protects Holder is placed at limited area, and the logic is at least partially based on the speed of the stock article by inventory's retainer storage Degree, which determines, transports inventory's retainer to the limited area.

A20. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, wherein the order retainer is protected including the first order Holder and the logic can also operate with:

Determine that the second order moved in the same direction is kept when first order is moved along inventory's bracket Whether device stops the order retainer and the order retainer will receive the first destination of the stock article at which Between path；And

If the second order retainer stops the path, then it is determined that the second mesh of the second order retainer Ground；And if second destination is more farther than first destination along inventory's bracket, start described first Indicator and the instruction mobile driving unit at position advance to the first position.

A21. the computer-readable medium according to clause A14, the logic can also operate with: in response to first triggering Event indicates that the mobile driving unit transports the order retainer to deviation situation associated with inventory's bracket； And in response to the second trigger event, indicate that the order retainer is transported to by the mobile driving unit from the deviation situation Inventory's bracket.

A22. the computer-readable medium according to clause A21, wherein first trigger event includes described in determination Workload at inventory's bracket is more than projected workload and second trigger event includes determining the workload lower than described Projected workload.

B1. a kind of method comprising: multiple product speed are calculated by management module, with it can be used in inventory system under The associated product speed of demand of single stock article；Consolidating for inventory's bracket is placed in by management module selection Quantitative inventory's retainer, the fixed amount corresponds to multiple limited areas along the first side of inventory's bracket, wherein selecting library Depositing retainer and being placed in limited area is to be at least partially based on the product speed of the stock article, the stock article by Inventory's retainer storage；Indicate that mobile driving unit transports the selection inventory retainer described in by the management module Limited area；The order of the stock article is received by the management module；It is driven with by the management module instruction movement Moving cell transports order retainer associated with the order to second side of inventory's bracket, wherein the order is kept Device can be operated to receive the stock article in described second side along the relatively described limited area.

B2. the method according to clause B1, wherein inventory's retainer includes first inventory's retainer and the side Method further include: determine the first inventory retainer by the First Line total amount on the order met at inventory's bracket；And The first inventory retainer is wherein selected also to be at least partially based on the First Line total amount on determining order greater than the second library Deposit the second line total amount of the order that retainer meets at inventory's bracket.

B3. the method according to clause B2, wherein the first inventory retainer is selected also to be at least partially based on determination The first inventory retainer will complete order more further amounts of than the second inventory retainer at inventory's bracket, described Method further include: if be located at entirely by multiple stock articles of the order request one for being placed in inventory's bracket or In multiple inventory's retainers, then it is determined that order will be completed at inventory's bracket.

B4. the method according to clause B1, wherein the multiple product speed includes one or more of following item: First frequency on multiple orders that its lower first stock article appears in stock article；With the second oddment of expectation under it Product appear in the second frequency on the multiple order of stock article.

B5. the method according to clause B4, wherein inventory's retainer includes storage first stock article First inventory's retainer and the method also includes: determine that the first frequency is varied；And it is at least partially based on described The variation of one frequency, the limited area of second inventory's retainer of determining transport to the first inventory retainer is to replace State first inventory's retainer.

B6. a kind of system comprising: inventory's bracket comprising it arranges to place the limited area of inventory's retainer, it is described Inventory's retainer stores stock article；Mobile driving unit, can operate to transport order retainer；And management module, it can Operation with: calculate associated with the demand of stock article measurement；It is at least partially based on the measurement, is protected from multiple inventories Selection storage is placed in inventory's retainer of the stock article at the limited area of inventory's bracket in holder；It connects Receive the order of the stock article；Indicate that the mobile driving unit transports the order retainer to inventory's bracket, institute Stating order retainer can operate to receive the stock article from inventory's retainer close to the limited area.

B7. the system according to clause B6, wherein the measurement associated with demand includes by the management module The task assignment amount of generation, and the management module can also operate with: be at least partially based on the order for receiving the stock article Calculate task assignment amount generated；The limit is placed in the task assignment amount selection storage for reducing and generating is at least partially based on Determine inventory's retainer of the stock article at region.

B8. the system according to clause B6, the management module can also operate with: compare the multiple libraries that can be used for placing an order Product speed in each of storage product；It is at least partially based on the comparison, selection storage has the oddment of high product speed The amount of inventory's retainer of product；With

Indicate that one or more mobile driving units transport inventory's retainer of the amount to inventory's bracket.

B9. the system according to clause B6, wherein the order retainer with store described in the stock article The stock article is received at the opposite position of the limited area of inventory's retainer.

B10. the system according to clause B6, in which: the mobile driving unit can also be operated to transport the inventory Retainer；And the management module can also be operated to indicate that the mobile driving unit transports inventory's retainer to the limit Determine region.

B11. the system according to clause B10, wherein inventory's retainer includes first inventory's retainer and described Management module can also be operated to indicate that second inventory's retainer of the mobile driving unit replaces the first inventory retainer.

B12. the system according to clause B6, wherein described measure including the order information of being at least partially based on over, Know demand and predicts the determining product speed of at least one of the following order information.

B13. the system according to clause B12, wherein the measurement further includes small product size, the small product size includes By the cube volume of the amount of the stock article of multiple order requests.

B14. the system according to clause B6, wherein inventory's retainer includes two or more sides, every side can Store one or more stock articles and the management module can also operate with: determine the library being stored on inventory's retainer The amount of storage product is lower than predetermined amount, and the first side is to inventory's bracket；And the instruction mobile driving unit rotates institute Stating inventory's retainer makes the second side of inventory's retainer to inventory's bracket.

B15. a kind of non-transitory computer-readable medium including logic, the logic can be grasped when executed by the processor Make with: instruction first movement driving unit inventory's retainer is transported to inventory's bracket, described instruction by inventory in response to being kept The speed of one or more stock articles of device storage；Order retainer is transported to the mobile driving unit of instruction second described Inventory's bracket, described instruction is in response to the order including one or more of stock articles, wherein the described second mobile driving Unit moves the order retainer along inventory's bracket to receive one or more of described stock article.

B16. the computer-readable medium according to claim B15, the logic can also be operated with by the inventory Retainer is specified for being kept fixed at one when fulfiling multiple orders in multiple limited areas at inventory's bracket.

B17. the computer-readable medium according to claim B15, in which: the speed includes First Speed；Institute Stating one or more stock articles includes one or more first stock articles；Inventory's retainer is kept including the first inventory Device；And the logic can also operate with: calculate the First Speed of one or more of first stock articles；With instruction institute It states first movement driving unit and is at least partially based on the First Speed ratio for determining one or more of first stock articles The second speed of the second stock article of one or more stored by second inventory's retainer is higher and protects first inventory Holder is transported to inventory's bracket.

B18. the computer-readable medium according to claim B17, the logic can also operate with: described in instruction First movement driving unit transport the time after the first inventory retainer to inventory's bracket calculate it is one or The First Speed of multiple first stock articles；The First Speed is calculated lower than third speed with being at least partially based on, and is referred to Show that the first movement driving unit transports third inventory retainer to inventory's bracket.

B19. the computer-readable medium according to clause B15, wherein the speed further includes historical speed, known needs One or more of expectation demand of summing.

B20. the computer-readable medium according to clause B15, wherein the order retainer is protected including the first order Holder and the logic can also be operated to indicate that the mobile driving unit of third transports the second order retainer along inventory's bracket, Wherein the mobile driving unit of the third and the second mobile driving unit move in the same direction and when being substantially the same Between moved along inventory's bracket.

B21. the computer-readable medium according to clause B15, wherein inventory's retainer is protected including the first inventory Holder, the order retainer include the first order retainer, and the logic can also operate with: indicate that the first movement is driven The second inventory's retainer for storing one or more of stock articles is transported to inventory's bracket by moving cell；With instruction the Second order retainer is transported to inventory's bracket by three mobile driving units, wherein in first retainer from described the When one inventory's retainer receives the one or more in the stock article, the second order retainer is from second inventory Retainer receives one or more of described stock article, protects wherein the first inventory retainer neutralizes second inventory The stock article in holder is identical.

Although having utilized several embodiments, present invention is described, those skilled in the art can be suggested big Change, variant, change, transformation and the modification of amount, and it is desirable that the present invention cover fall within the scope of the appended claims it is such Variation, variant, change, transformation and modification.In addition, although the disclosure is described relative to each embodiment, It is fully expected that the introduction of the disclosure can it is appropriately combined in a single embodiment.

Claims (13)

1. a kind of system for fulfiling order at inventory's bracket comprising:

Inventory's bracket comprising be specified for the position according to multiple order processing stock articles, inventory's bracket is at least With the first side and the second side for being parallel to first side, first side includes multiple limited areas, at the region A inventory's retainer is specified for placing more than first, inventory's bracket can operate in the multiple limited area extremely Stock article is received from least one of more than described first a inventory's retainers at one few, wherein a library more than described first It deposits retainer to be kept fixed at the multiple limited area on the first side of inventory's bracket, while by along described Second side of inventory's bracket is parallel to the mobile order retainer in the first side of inventory's bracket to fulfil multiple orders；With

First movement driving unit comprising self-powered robot device；

Management module, can operate with:

Receive the order for being directed to multiple stock articles；

Determine that the stock article of the order request is stored in the inventory being fixed at the limited area of inventory's bracket and protects In holder, wherein inventory's retainer is one in a inventory's retainer more than described first；

It is based at least partially on to receive the order and determine that the stock article of the order request is stored in and is fixed on institute It states in inventory's retainer in limited area, sends wireless instructions to the first movement driving unit；

The first movement driving unit can operate with: in response to receiving the wireless instructions from the management module, along institute At least part for stating the path in second side of inventory's bracket transports order retainer, wherein the order retainer can operate To receive the stock article from inventory's bracket at the first position of second side along inventory's bracket, described the One mobile driving unit can also operate with along the path from the first position towards second side of inventory's bracket on The second position is mobile, and inventory's bracket is configured as stock article processing to there is the order retainer storage Pig in one in；And

The management module can also operate with:

Detect the variation of product speed associated with inventory's retainer at the limited area；

It is based at least partially on the detection variation, the mobile driving unit of instruction second transports the library far from the limited area Deposit retainer, wherein the second mobile driving unit can operate in the first movement driving unit along inventory's branch Inventory's retainer is transported far from the limited area when path in second side of frame is mobile towards the second position.

2. system according to claim 1, wherein a inventory's retainer more than described first is at least partially based on and is stored in institute It states the product speed of one or more stock articles more than first in a inventory's retainer and specifies for the limited area.

3. system according to claim 1, wherein by the pig of order retainer storage at least The one or more orders for the stock article that a part is stored in one more than described first in a inventory's retainer with request It is associated.

4. system according to claim 1, the described second mobile driving unit can also operate with:

To replace from second inventory's retainer of more than described first a inventory's retainers at one in the limited area Inventory's retainer of a inventory's retainer more than described first is wherein at least based partially on associated with inventory's retainer Measurement replace inventory's retainer.

5. system according to claim 1, inventory's bracket further includes interface, the interface can be operated described in instruction The operator of inventory's bracket removes the stock article from inventory's retainer and the stock article is placed on storage In the pig in the order retainer, the pig is associated with the order.

6. a kind of method for fulfiling order at inventory's bracket, which comprises

The multiple orders of management module reception by the logic executed including coding in non-state medium and by processor, first Order includes the request of one or more stock articles；

Examine the multiple order associated with specific products volume or specific products speed to identify by the management module Stock article, the stock article is by the library that is placed in multiple inventory's retainers at multiple limited areas of inventory's bracket Retainer storage is deposited, wherein inventory's bracket includes the position being specified for according to the multiple order processing inventory It sets, inventory's bracket at least has the first side and is parallel to second side of first side, and the multiple limited area Positioned at first side and it is specified for associated with one or more small product sizes or one or more product speed Inventory's retainer；

It assigns first must give first order and appointment second must give the second order, score is at least partially based on following : (1) amount of stroke needed for receiving one or more stock articles of order request；(2) and it is located at inventory's bracket Order on stock article amount；

It is based at least partially on first score and second score and first order and the second order packet The request to the stock article is included, determines first order and second order being grouped on the order retainer, And first order of the multiple order and second order are grouped by the management module；

Be based at least partially on the grouping of first order and second order, at vectoring station on order retainer cloth The first container associated with first order and second container associated with second order are set, wherein described first Container and the second container can be operated to receive the stock article；With

It is disposed on the order retainer in response to the determination the first container and the second container, by the management mould Block instruction includes the mobile driving unit of self-powered robot device, wherein the instruction is configured such that the mobile driving The order retainer is transported to second side of inventory's bracket by unit from the vectoring station, wherein the order retainer Along second side of inventory's bracket from described in inventory's bracket reception at the position opposite with inventory's retainer Stock article.

7. according to the method described in claim 6, its further include:

Determine whether first order and second order are completed at inventory's bracket；

If first order and second order are completed at inventory's bracket, indicate that the mobile driving is single The order retainer is transported to point of shipment by member；With

If first order and second order are completed not at inventory's bracket, the mobile driving is indicated The order retainer is transported to inventory station by unit.

8. according to the method described in claim 6, wherein the stock article includes the first stock article, inventory's retainer Including first inventory's retainer, and the method also includes:

Whether examine has the order including requesting the second stock article in the multiple stock article in the multiple order, Second stock article is stored by the second inventory's retainer for being placed in inventory's bracket；And

Wherein at least it is based partially on first order and institute including first stock article and second stock article The one or more stated in the second order is grouped first order and second order.

9. a kind of non-transitory computer-readable medium including logic, the logic can operate when executed by the processor with:

Indicate that inventory's retainer is transported to inventory's bracket by first movement driving unit, the logical response is in by inventory's retainer The speed of one or more stock articles of storage；With

Order retainer is transported to inventory's bracket by the mobile driving unit of instruction second, and the logical response is in including described The order of one or more stock articles, wherein the described second mobile driving unit moves the order along inventory's bracket and protects Holder is to receive one or more of described stock article；And

Wherein the order retainer includes the first order retainer and the logic can also be operated to indicate the mobile driving of third Unit transports the second order retainer along inventory's bracket, wherein the mobile driving unit of the third and the second mobile drive Moving cell is moved in the same direction and is moved in same time along inventory's bracket；And

Wherein, the speed further includes expectation demand.

10. computer-readable medium according to claim 9, the logic can also be operated to refer to inventory's retainer Determine for being kept fixed at one when fulfiling multiple orders in multiple limited areas at inventory's bracket.

11. computer-readable medium according to claim 9, in which:

The speed includes First Speed；

One or more of stock articles include one or more first stock articles；

Inventory's retainer includes first inventory's retainer；And

The logic can also operate with:

Calculate the First Speed of one or more of first stock articles；With

It indicates that the first movement driving unit is at least partially based on and determines the described of one or more of first stock articles The second speed of one or more second stock article of the First Speed than being stored by second inventory's retainer it is higher and will be described First inventory's retainer is transported to inventory's bracket.

12. computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the speed further includes historical speed, known demand One or more of with desired demand.

13. computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein inventory's retainer is kept including the first inventory Device, the order retainer include the first order retainer, and the logic can also operate with:

Indicate that the first movement driving unit transports the second inventory's retainer for storing one or more of stock articles To inventory's bracket；With

Second order retainer is transported to inventory's bracket by the mobile driving unit of instruction third, wherein in first order When retainer receives the one or more in the stock article from the first inventory retainer, the second order retainer One or more of described stock article is received from the second inventory retainer, wherein the first inventory retainer neutralizes The stock article in the second inventory retainer is identical.