Patent ID: 9694977
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: B25J,B65G,G05D,G06Q,Y10S

Claim:
1. A storage fill and retrieval system for a storage space, the system comprising: a multiplicity of fixed storage locations distributed in the storage space in a predetermined ordered configuration and defining at least one human pick zone arranged for human picker access to the fixed storage locations arrayed in the at least one human pick zone so as to pick, or place, items from the fixed storage locations arrayed in the at least one human pick zone, each of the at least one human pick zones having at least one collection tote location; at least one robot picker configured for holding and transporting a tote within the storage space and having an end effector arranged for autonomous transfer of the tote between the at least one robot picker and a tote holding station and between the at least one robot picker and the at least one collection tote location; and a storage management system communicably connected to the at least one robot picker and configured to associate each robot picker of the at least one robot pickers with a human pick zone from the at least one human pick zones, each of the related human pick zones having at least one stored item in the fixed storage locations, of the related human pick zone, corresponding to a store or customer pick order of the storage management system; wherein the at least one robot picker is configured to transport the tote to the collection tote location of each associated human pick zone, and wherein each collection tote location is arranged for human picker access and defines an interface between a human picker in the human pick zone and the at least one robot picker.