The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 26, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 29, 2010
David H. Clark, Seattle, WA (US);
Eric Young, Mercer Island, WA (US);
David H. Clark, Seattle, WA (US);
Eric Young, Mercer Island, WA (US);
Amazon Technologies, Inc., Reno, NV (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for robotic induction in materials handling facilities with multiple inventory areas are disclosed. Each inventory area includes multiple portable storage units with one or more locations for stowing one or more types of items. Mobile robotic devices transport the portable storage units within a respective inventory area to one or more induction stations located within the respective inventory area. A control system directs the one or more robotic devices to transport the one or more portable storage units to and from the one or more induction stations of the respective inventory area. The induction stations are located near a conveyance mechanism. The control system also directs induction of one or more single units of items from one or more locations of a storage unit currently at an induction station of the respective inventory area into the conveyance mechanism at the respective induction station.