A system for use in consolidating items into orders and delivering items to a workstation is described herein. The system includes a plurality of workstations, each workstation including an assembling area for assembling orders, an assembly line system configured to deliver items to the plurality of workstations, and a computing system to execute the steps of: receiving an order notification indicating an order, identifying items included in the order, assigning a corresponding workstation to the order, and operating the assembly line system to deliver the identified items included in the order to the corresponding workstation.

A vehicle for use in an inventory management system having a plurality of destination areas and a guide system includes a platform for receiving and transporting items to and from the destination areas, a plurality of motors, a first drive system, a second drive system, a transfer mechanism, and a clutch mechanism. The transfer system is configured to transfer and retrieve items to and from the destination areas, and the clutch mechanism is configured to engage and disengage the transfer mechanism from at least one of the motors, whereby the second drive system drives movement of the vehicle independently of the transfer mechanism.

A picking system, a manual picking method, as well as a window-conveyor system for a manually picking goods through a picker in accordance with a picking order, wherein the window-conveyor system comprises: a conveying device for transporting the goods along a conveying path, wherein the conveying device is movable, preferably continuously and discontinuously, and wherein the conveying device includes a conveying area, on which the goods can be deposited; a lighting device configured to indicate in an order-specific manner a portion of the conveying area in terms of an order-specific window by means of light visually distinguishable from a rest of the conveying area configured to divide the conveying area into the order-specific window and the rest, and further configured to generate controlling signals for the lighting device and output the same, which cause the lighting device to indicate the order-specific window visually distinguishable on the conveying device.

Methods, apparatuses, devices, and computer program products are disclosed for container transportation. An example system includes a conveyor network that includes a plurality of conveyors and each conveyor supports one or more containers thereon. Each conveyor defines a conveyor length and a conveyor operating speed. The system further includes a computing device operably coupled to the conveyor network. The computing device receives a starting location and a destination location of a first container within the conveyor network and receives an operating density for each conveyor in the conveyor network. The computing device determines a first travel path for the first container between the starting location and the destination location based upon the conveyor length, the conveyor operating speed, and the operating density for each conveyor in the conveyor network. The first travel path minimizes a total travel time for the first container between the starting location and the destination location.

A processing system for processing objects using a programmable motion device is disclosed. The processing system includes a plurality of supply bins providing supply of a plurality of objects, with the plurality of supply bins being provided with a bin conveyance system, a programmable motion device in communication with the bin conveyance system, where the programmable motion device includes an end effector for grasping and moving a selected object out of a selected supply bin, and a movable carriage for receiving the selected object from the end effector of the programmable motion device, and for carrying the selected object to one of a plurality of destination containers.

In some embodiments, methods and systems for fulfilling consumer orders are provided. A stocking station includes at least one robotic stocking arm configured to unload a product from a first receptacle and to place the unloaded product onto a storage shelf, and a first picking station includes a first robotic picking arm configured to pick a first product from the storage shelf and to load the first product picked from the storage shelf into a second receptacle for delivery to a consumer. An empty receptacle placement station includes at least one robotic placing arm configured to place an empty second receptacle onto a packing conveyor configured to transport the empty second receptacle toward the first picking station for loading of the first product into the empty second receptacle. An electronic inventory management device transmits a signal the empty receptacle placement station and the first robotic picking arm.

A product flow regulator for temporary storage of products includes a frame, a conveying mechanism, and product carrier gondolas, which are conveyed with products from a product inlet area to a product outlet area and back empty. The frame includes a stationary guide track, along which the product carrier gondolas circulate self-controlled. The gondolas includes a drive mechanism and electrical control devices, which enable individual independent circulation.

Provided are an insulated pick line assembly system for refrigerated goods and corresponding method of manufacturing the same. The pick line assembly system may include a refrigerated area having a plurality of bins. Each bin may be configured to receive at least one product for picking. The pick line assembly system may include an insulated assembly area separated from the refrigerated area by a barrier. The insulated assembly area may be configured to be warmer than the refrigerated area. The barrier of the pick line assembly system may define at least one opening, such that the refrigerated area may be connected to the insulated assembly area via the at least one opening. A plurality of bins may be disposed adjacent the barrier, such that each bin may be accessible from the insulated assembly area via the at least one opening.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to delivering merchandise items using a conveyor apparatus. Some of these embodiments include systems for delivering merchandise items comprising: a conveyor apparatus having unique conveyor locations for deposit of a merchandise item, the conveyor apparatus extending between a first controlled access point and a second, different controlled access point; a first input interface configured to enter identifying information regarding the merchandise item and to associate it with a corresponding unique conveyor location in the conveyor apparatus where the merchandise item is deposited; a second input interface configured to enter customer identification information; and a controller configured to receive information from the first input interface and the second input interface and to activate the conveyor apparatus to move the corresponding unique location of the merchandise item to the second controlled access point.

A system may include a vehicle for delivering items and a moveable track that cooperates with the vehicle. The moveable track may cooperate with a storage system having storage locations for storing items. The vehicle may drive into the moveable track and lift the track using a vertical drive mechanism. The vehicle may include a horizontal drive system operable to drive the vehicle horizontally along the ground to carry the moveable track to a position adjacent the storage location. The vehicle may operate the vertical drive system to drop the moveable track adjacent the storage system. Additionally, the vehicle may operate the vertical drive to drive up the moveable track to an elevated position adjacent one of the storage locations in the storage system. The vehicle may include a transfer mechanism for transferring items between the vehicle and the storage location while the vehicle is in the elevated position.