Amazon Technologies, Inc.

William James Watt

Timothy Aaron Bragg

Rob Stevens

Nicholas Cravalho

Peter R Wurman

Michael Cordell Mountz

Andrew Stubbs

Michael T Barbehenn

Matthew David Verminski

Eryk Brian Nice

Daniel T Brunner

John P Dugan

A method for managing an inventory system includes receiving an operation request that identifies an inventory item and selecting, from a plurality of workstations, a workstation at which to fulfill the operation request. The method also includes moving an inventory holder storing the identified inventory item to the selected workstation and moving a supply holder storing a supply item associated with the received operation request to the selected workstation. The method additionally includes fulfilling the operation request, at least in part, at the workstation.

System and method for configuring workstations

A system for unloading inventory items includes an inventory holder, an unloading station, and a mobile drive unit. The inventory holder stores inventory items. The unloading station includes a barrier that is operable to prevent inventory items from moving past the barrier as the inventory holder moves past the barrier. The mobile drive unit is operable to move the inventory holder toward the unloading station and to move the inventory holder past the barrier.

System for unloading items

A system includes a first mobile drive unit and a second mobile drive unit. The system also includes a first inventory holder, a second inventory holder, and a third inventory holder. An inventory station includes a first location and a second location and the inventory station operable to receive a first inventory item from the first inventory holder at the first location. The first inventory holder is transported by the first mobile drive unit. The inventory station is also operable to receive a second inventory item from the second inventory holder at the first location. The second inventory holder is transported by the second mobile drive unit. The inventory station is also operable to receive a third inventory item from the third inventory holder at the second location. The third inventory holder is fixed at the second location while the inventory station receives the first inventory item and the second inventory item.

System and method for order fulfillment

A system includes a first mobile drive unit and a second mobile drive unit. The system also includes a first inventory holder, a second inventory holder, and a third inventory holder. An inventory station includes a first location and a second location and the inventory station operable to receive a first inventory item from the first inventory holder at the first location. The first inventory holder transported by the first mobile drive unit. The inventory station also operable to receive a second inventory item from the second inventory holder at the first location. The second inventory holder transported by the second mobile drive unit. The inventory station also operable to receive a third inventory item from the third inventory holder at the second location. The third inventory holder is fixed at the second location while the inventory station receives the first and second inventory item.

A method for unloading inventory items includes storing an inventory item on an inventory holder and moving the inventory holder toward an unloading station with a mobile drive unit. Additionally, the method includes moving the inventory holder past a barrier of the unloading station. The method further includes preventing the inventory item from moving past the barrier as the mobile drive unit moves the inventory holder past the barrier.

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Wakefield, MA, United States of America

William James Watt