Abstract: Method and apparatus for multi-destination pick using motes. In embodiments, each receptacle may be assigned to a destination and may have a sensor that detects when an item is placed in the receptacle to deactivate the indicator and/or to verify that the item was placed in the correct receptacle. The sensor may be coupled via a wired or wireless connection to a mote that may include a communication interface for communicating with a control system and with other motes in an ad-hoc network. In some embodiments, each mote may also include an indicator that may be activated by a control system to indicate to the agent that the receptacle is the destination receptacle for a picked item. The agent may then place the item in the indicated destination receptacle. In one embodiment, the mote on the destination receptacle may be activated when the picked item is scanned by the agent.

Abstract: A system for easily locating goods stored in a storage area including a computer coupled with a radio frequency transmitter or transceivers and goods placed in containers that are coupled to hangers that each has distinct electronic addresses. The hangers each have a hook that allows the hangers to be stored on rails coupled to racks in a storage area. The identifications of the goods and the electronic addresses for the corresponding hangers are associated with each other and stored on a computer database. When a user wants to pick up goods stored in the containers, the user inputs the identification for the goods and the computer will cause the radio frequency transmitter to emit a data packet that includes a search address and illumination data. The hangers each compare the search address to the electronic address and if there is a match, the hanger illuminates the light according to the illumination data.

Abstract: A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system includes receiving a request indicating an activity to be completed. The method also includes selecting a holder to fulfill the request and an inventory station at which to fulfill the request. The inventory station is associated with a queue that includes a plurality of queue spaces. The method further includes moving the selected holder from a first location to a second location remote from the selected inventory station. Additionally, the method also includes determining that a trigger event has occurred and, in response to determining that the trigger event has occurred, moving the selected holder from the second location to a queue space of a queue associated with the selected inventory station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a commissioning area comprising a buffers for order containers in which items can be commissioned, the buffer comprising a plurality of adjacent buffer regions for receiving order containers. A beam field is provided above the buffer in order to monitor the commissioning of items.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to staging manufactured items and provide a method, system and computer program product for staging items in a manufacturing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for staging items in a manufacturing environment can be provided. The method can include defining attributes of staging locations in a distribution area of the manufacturing environment, defining a set of staging strategies for use in the distribution area of the manufacturing environment, receiving a manufactured item in the distribution area and obtaining characteristics of the manufactured item, and comparing the obtained characteristics of the manufactured item to the set of staging strategies to select the staging strategy to apply to the manufactured item.

Abstract: An automatic warehouse comprises: a support structure (2) for supporting trays (50) each provided with at least a container cell (51) exhibiting an opening (52); an operating station (3), which is provided with an access opening (4) and is predisposed for receiving at least a tray (50) such that an opening of the container cell (51) faces the access opening (4); the operating station (3) being provided with a cover (5, 6), which cover (5, 6) is mobile on command between an open position, which enables access to the container cell (51) of the tray (50) and a closed position, which prevents access to the container cell (51); a manipulator device (7) to remove and transfer at least a tray (50) from the support structure (2) to the operating station (3), and vice versa.

Abstract: Blister packs each having a plurality of pockets with individualized assortments of small objects are filled by fitting to each of a plurality of shuttles a respective such blister pack and circulating the shuttles around an annular track through a plurality of filling machines. Each machine has a plurality of supplies each holding a bulk quantity of small objects of a respective type, respective feeders each receiving the objects of a respective supply and advancing same one at a time to a respective picking location, and respective pickers. A memory of each shuttle is programmed with data regarding the intended contents of the pockets of the respective blister pack, and in each of the machines, the memories of the shuttles are read as they pass through the respective filling machine. The respective pickers are operated to move small objects from the feeders to the pockets in accordance with the data for the respective blister pack.

Abstract: In a method for order picking products (P) in an order picking facility (1; 2) having at least one rack (R1 to R4; K1 to K4) for storing products (P) and an assigned warehouse transport system for collecting and storing the products (P) and for transferring the collected products (P) to a transport system (FO), by means of which the collected products (P) are transported to a good to picker order picking station (WZM1), at which the quantity of the collected products (O) that is determined in a picking order is order-picked manually or automatically by a robot, respectively, into one order transport unit (A) for each picking order, wherein product types corresponding to the picking order are collected, order-picked at the good to picker order picking station (WZM1) one after the other and wherein the remaining products (P) of the product type are stored via the transport system (FO) again in the rack (R1 to R4; K1 to K4), wherein the warehouse transport system further transfers collected products (P) via at l

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for automatically supplying packages, that have been sorted by type, to a column stacker, preferably in a sorting system. The device has at least one supply path (2) on which the packages, which have been sorted by type, are automatically supplied to the column stacker (3) individually and chaotically distributed in partial stacks. The invention proposes that at least two packages (T1, T1) or partial stacks of packages (T2, T2 or T3, T3 or T4, T4 or T5, T5)—as long as said partial stacks are not already randomly present on the supply path (2)—of the same height disposed one directly behind the other be combined with the aid of a package register 1 before being supplied to the column stacker (3) simultaneously.

Abstract: A maintenance information management method comprising steps of: by a terminal processing apparatus, transmitting, to a management apparatus via a network, maintenance work information about an analyzer on which maintenance work has been performed; storing, in a maintenance work information storage section of the management apparatus, the maintenance work information transmitted via the network; and transmitting, to the terminal processing apparatus via the network, the maintenance work information of the analyzer, which is stored in the maintenance work information storage section.

Abstract: A method and system for inventory placement according to expected item picking rates. In one embodiment, a method may include determining a respective expected picking rate for each of a number of inventory items, and dependent upon the expected picking rate, selecting a corresponding one of a number of zones of an inventory storage area for each of the items. The zones may be physically arranged within the inventory storage area such that a first, innermost zone is successively and at least partially surrounded by one or more other zones. The method may further include storing each of the items within the corresponding zones, such that the expected picking rates of members of a given group of items stored in a given zone are less than the expected picking rates of members of another group of items stored in a successive zone that at least partially surrounds the given zone.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely supervising and verifying pharmacy functions performed by a non-pharmacist at an institutional pharmacy. The institutional pharmacy and a remotely located pharmacist are linked via wired and/or wireless telecommunication systems in a manner that enables the pharmacist to remotely supervise and verify the correct performance of pharmacy functions by non-pharmacist personnel. Images of the pharmacy work performed may be captured using any of a number of types image capture devices. Captured images and corresponding documentation may be transmitted from institutional pharmacy to the remotely located pharmacist, either directly or via a web site accessible to both. After verifying that the pharmacy work was correctly performed, the remote pharmacist may provide the institutional pharmacy with an initialed copy the captured image(s), or other documentation, indicating such verification.

Abstract: Methods for filling packagings with at least one medication include producing filling instructions, operating a packaging station to fill packagings, and verifying that each of the packagings is filled correctly. The production of filling instructions includes an allocation of medications to separated compartments in the packagings. Each packaging receives a single medication pass for a specified time on a specified day, or a medicine pass for administration on an as needed basis. The packaging station may include a manual packaging station at which an operator follows prompts to move canisters of medications, pills from the canisters, and trays of packagings to fill the packagings. The manual packaging station includes a shutter assembly with shutters configured to selectively provide access to only one compartment in each packaging at a time, thereby reducing the likelihood of filling errors. Apparatus for filling packagings may include the same manual packaging station.

Abstract: A robot-enabled method of picking cases in a warehouse is provided. A robotic vehicle includes a processor configured to access a memory, a user input device, an output device, and a load platform, and has access to an electronically stored representation of a warehouse. The representation includes a map that defines aisles for storing items arranged as pick faces within the warehouse. A pick list is generated from an order; the pick list provides identifications of items to be picked to fulfill the order. Determined from the pick list is a plurality of stops at pick faces associated with the items. A route within the map is generated that includes the plurality of stops. The robotic vehicle iteratively guides itself along the route and automatically stops at each of the plurality of stops to enable loading of the items from the pick list onto the load platform.

Abstract: Various systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer-readable mediums are provided for determining optimum sizes of packaging in a packaging suite employed in a materials handling facility. The packaging may be used, for example, in the shipping of items from the materials handling facility to various destinations. The sizes of the packaging in the packaging suite are determined based upon the shipping volumes associated with packages or shipments shipped from the materials handling facility.

Abstract: A system for automatically packaging prescription orders composed of one or more prescription containers. The system includes a printer for generating literature associated with each order and a packer for packing the prescription containers and the associated literature into a package. The packer has a scale or other means for determining the weight of the prescription containers. A packer controller calculates package weight information based on the container weight information. The package weight information is transmitted to a mail manifest system, which generates shipping information comprising postage. A labeler applies the shipping information to the package. The packer also includes a loading mechanism for inserting the prescription containers and the literature into the package.

Abstract: System and method for sortation of picked inventory into individual orders in an order fulfillment process, for example order fulfillment processes in materials handling facilities. Collections of items picked from inventory for multiple orders are stowed to locations at a stow and sortation station. The items for a particular order may be stowed to two or more different locations, and items for two or more orders may be stowed to one location; no particular location is assigned to or reserved for each order. Thus, no space is allocated or reserved for incomplete orders at the station. When all items for a particular order are stowed to locations at the station, the order may be picked from the various locations at the station and placed into order receptacles. The order receptacles may be shipping containers.

Abstract: The cartonization process in a distribution center can be modified to account for factors which influence the efficiency with which the products distributed from the distribution center can be stocked onto store shelves, such as layout (i.e., planogram) information indicating where the various products will actually be located in a store.

Abstract: A system and method for processing mailpieces within a mail transportation and distribution system includes first and second distribution centers, and an electronic parcel compartment facility located near the second center. Data, about the mailpiece and recipient, is acquired from the mailpiece. Destination information for a compartment facility is associated with the mailpiece. The information is compared with a registered customer database. A re-routing instruction is ascertained from the customer data. The second center is ascertained. The mailpiece is sorted in the first center based on the destination. Data about the mailpiece and destination is transmitted to a second data processor of the second center. The mailpiece is transported to the second center. Information identifying the mailpiece is acquired with a reading device. The destination is determined based on information identifying the mailpiece, which is sorted based on the destination. The information is transmitted to a mobile device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for multi-destination pick using motes. In embodiments, each receptacle may be assigned to a destination and may have a sensor that detects when an item is placed in the receptacle to deactivate the indicator and/or to verify that the item was placed in the correct receptacle. The sensor may be coupled via a wired or wireless connection to a mote that may include a communication interface for communicating with a control system and with other motes in an ad-hoc network. In some embodiments, each mote may also include an indicator that may be activated by a control system to indicate to the agent that the receptacle is the destination receptacle for a picked item. The agent may then place the item in the indicated destination receptacle. In one embodiment, the mote on the destination receptacle may be activated when the picked item is scanned by the agent.

Abstract: An object picking device, which is inexpensive and capable of speedily and accurately picking one object at a time from a random pile state. A target detecting part of an image processing part processes an image captured by a camera and detects objects. A target selecting part selects an object among the detected objects based on a certain rule. A view line direction calculating part calculates the direction of a view line extending to the selected object. A target position estimating part estimates the position including the height of the selected object based on size information of the object in the image. Then, a grip correction calculating part calculates an amount of correction of the movement of a robot so as to grip the object by using the robot.

Abstract: A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automated medicine storage and medicine introduction/discharge management system, which includes a main body in which a plurality of receiving shelves is arranged, the main body having a door to enable user access, a medicine introduction/discharge unit installed in one side region of the main body to introduce or discharge a medicine product into or out of the main body, a robot transfer unit installed in the main body to transfer the medicine product, introduced via the medicine introduction/discharge unit, to each receiving space of the main body, or to discharge the medicine product received in the receiving space, and a control unit to control operations of the main body, the medicine introduction/discharge unit, and the robot transfer unit. The system is able to store a variety of medicine in a single main body and to achieve enhanced security for special medicine and efficient management of stock.

Abstract: A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process.

Abstract: A system (1) for storing and commissioning articles (2) comprises a processing station (10) for articles, at least one commissioning station (30, 30?) for the commissioning of articles, and an intermediate storage (40). Transport containers (20, 20?) having compartments (21), which are each provided for the accommodation of one article (2), are transported between the intermediate storage (40) and the commissioning station (30, 30?). A computer device (100) associates each article (2), when it is introduced into a compartment (21), with the respective transport container and optionally with the position of the compartment of the transport container.

Abstract: A method for management of first in, first out stores is provided. The method includes producing parts at a primary process. The parts are processed at a secondary process. A storage region is provided that includes at least one store lane pair including a first store lane and a second store lane. The first store lane includes a pick side, a drop side and a plurality of receiving volumes extending from the pick side to the drop side. The second store lane includes a pick side, a drop side and a plurality of receiving volumes extending from the pick side to the drop side. The receiving volumes of the first store lane are filled with the parts in the order they are produced at the primary process in a first in, first out fashion from the pick side of the first store lane to the drop side of the first store lane using an automated guided vehicle sized and configured to pass through each of the plurality of receiving volumes.

Abstract: A method for verifying a multiple prescription order having a plurality of different medications is described. The method comprises receiving a prescription order that includes a first medication that is different from a second medication. Additionally, the prescription order indicates that the first medication and second medication are to be taken at regular intervals. After entering the prescription order into a graphical user interface, the method verifies the entered prescription order by comparing the entered prescription order to the multiple prescription order. Multiple prescription packages are generated that combines the first medication and second medication in the same package that are intended to be taken at the prescribed interval. Each multiple prescription package is then inspected, and a verification process is initiated that confirms that the first medication and second medication are within each multiple prescription package.

Abstract: A method for manually configuring an order-picking warehouse by using a guidance system comprises equipping at least some of the storage locations with respective storage-location displays; connecting the associated storage-location displays to a master computer via a controller, and allocating to each controller a dedicated controller address; and configuring the order-picking warehouse by assigning respectively dedicated storage-location addresses to the equipped storage locations. All of the displays, which have not yet been assigned a dedicated storage-location address, are visually activated. At least one visually activated display is selected, thereby selecting the associated storage location and causing visual deactivation of the selected storage-location display. Each of the selected storage locations is assigned one dedicated storage-location address.

Abstract: A flexible, non-linear, unit-level sortation system for sorting mixed collections of items into orders. Collections of unsorted items for fulfilling requests are delivered to one or more singulation stations. At a singulation station, individual units of items are selected from a collection, associated with particular conveyance receptacles, and placed into the receptacles, with one and only one unit per receptacle. The receptacles may be inducted into a conveyance mechanism under the direction of a control system. The receptacles are not fixed to the conveyance mechanism. The control system may direct the conveyance mechanism to route the receptacles to a particular one of one or more sorting stations. At a sorting station, the units may retrieved from receptacles and placed into locations corresponding to particular orders under control or direction of the control system. The conveyance mechanism may, but does not necessarily, return empty conveyance receptacle to a singulation station.

Abstract: A method for communicating information pertaining to a task includes receiving wirelessly first status information. The first status information specifies a first status associated with a task. The method also includes indicating the first status to a user and receiving input from the user indicating a second status associated with the task. Additionally, the method includes transmitting wirelessly second status information to a remote device in response to receiving the input from the user. The second status information specifies the second status.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments involving assignment and use of sort bins in a materials handling facility. A manifest is generated in at least one computer system that directs a picking of items from inventory locations in a materials handling facility. Each of the items is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of groups of items. Sort bin assignments are generated for each of the items. Each sort bin assignment specifies a corresponding one of a selected subset of a plurality of sort bins located in a sorting station of the materials handling facility. The selected subset of the sort bins is designated to coalesce together the group of items that includes the respective item for further processing. Each sort bin assignment is based at least in part on a dimension associated with the respective sort bin and at least one attribute associated with the respective item.

Abstract: A prescription fill validation system including a pharmacy with an electronic scale and a display unit; a pharmacy server having a database to store information related to a plurality of drugs and programmed to: receive data corresponding to a stock container selected by a user; determine if the stock container selected by the user is the correct stock container to fill the unfilled prescription; compare a weight of a plurality of pills measured at the electronic scale to a standard weight, the standard weight equaling a predicted total weight of the plurality of pills to ensure that a correct number of pills is dispensed; determine if the comparison is within an acceptable range; and generate an automated authorization for the prescription if the stock container selected by the user is the correct stock container to fill the prescription and if the comparison is within the acceptable range.

Abstract: An automated store arrangement for storing and dispensing medicaments with at least one operating device for storing and retrieving medicament containers, a dispensing device, and a control device. The containers may respectively accommodate a multiplicity of medicament portions and have an integrated discharge device. The dispensing device has at least one container receptacle, to which the operating device can respectively feed a container and from which the operating device can pick up the container, a release device, which can activate the discharge device of the container, and a packing device, which can accommodate a number of emerging medicament portions and pack them into the medicament. The control device is coupled to the operating device and to the release device and the packaging device and controls them in such a way that medicament portions of at least one predetermined kind are packed in a respectively predetermined number and sequence.

Abstract: A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process.

Abstract: A storage and order-picking system and method for processing in parallel a group of picking orders in batch mode, including an order-container conveyor for automatically transporting order containers to specific destinations; an order-picking station; at least one warehouse area which is assigned to the order-picking station and stores articles for processing the group of picking orders in provision locations; a collecting device moveable by an order-picking person through the warehouse area during a collecting process for retrieving in a first processing stage; a reading and displaying device assigned to the order-picking person; an article-reading device for scanning and identifying retrieved articles with a respect to a type of article; a plurality of display devices; and a controlling device which is adapted to: assemble the group of order containers which is to be transported to the order-picking station dependent on the articles stored in the warehouse area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a commissioning area (10) comprising a buffer (12) for order containers (14) in which items can be commissioned, said buffer (12) comprising a plurality of adjacent buffer regions for respectively receiving an order container (14). According to the invention, a beam field (16) is provided above the buffer (12) in order to monitor the commissioning of items (28).

Abstract: A technology is provided that easily acquires the location where an article is placed and then moves to that location, even in cases where the article was originally placed in a location shielded from GPS radio wave, and subsequently moved to another location. Marks and RFID tags are affixed to a movable tray. A transfer robot includes a camera, a reader, and a sensor. The transfer robot detects the tray location from the location of a region in an image photographed by the camera that matches mark information. Furthermore, the reader in the transfer robot detects the tray location from the intensity of a radio wave whose information, when read, matches an ID retained in the RFID tag. The transfer robot moves with the camera and the reader, detecting the tray that is the target destination.

Abstract: An adaptive critical low level management system is described. In some embodiments, the system includes a configuration module configured to receive a service level setting and a storage module configured to receive usage information for at least one inventory of at least one type of medical item. The system also includes a processor configured to adaptively determine a critical low level based on the usage information and the service level setting, and an analysis module configured to determine when the critical low level has been reached by the at least one inventory of the at least one type of medical item, and to produce an output indication that the critical low level has been reached.

Abstract: A flexible, non-linear, unit-level sortation system for sorting mixed collections of items into orders. Collections of unsorted items for fulfilling requests are delivered to one or more singulation stations. At a singulation station, individual units of items are selected from a collection, associated with particular conveyance receptacles, and placed into the receptacles, with one and only one unit per receptacle. The receptacles may be inducted into a conveyance mechanism under the direction of a control system. The receptacles are not fixed to the conveyance mechanism. The control system may direct the conveyance mechanism to route the receptacles to a particular one of one or more sorting stations. At a sorting station, the units may retrieved from receptacles and placed into locations corresponding to particular orders under control or direction of the control system. The conveyance mechanism may, but does not necessarily, return empty conveyance receptacle to a singulation station.

Abstract: A warehousing system for storing and retrieving goods disposed in containers is provided. The system includes a multilevel storage array including an array of storage shelves for holding containers thereon, at least one substantially continuous lift for transporting containers to and from at least one level of the storage array, at least one transport vehicle located on the at least one level and configured to traverse a transport area transporting containers between the at least one continuous lift and container storage locations so that the at least one continuous lift communicates non-deterministically, via the transport vehicle, with storage locations of each of the storage shelves on the at least one level, an infeed transport system linked to the at least one continuous lift, and an order fulfillment station for generating order containers corresponding to customer orders where the order containers are entered onto the storage shelves of the storage array.

Abstract: Methods and systems for adaptive storage and management of pharmaceutical product containers at a pharmacy are described. Pharmaceutical product containers are managed so that the containers for more-frequently-used pharmaceutical products are stored among plural storage locations more-efficiently accessible to a pharmacy workstation. Containers for less-frequently- used pharmaceutical products are managed so that the containers for such products are stored among the storage locations which are less-accessible to the pharmacy workstation. As the frequency of pharmaceutical product usage changes, the inventory of pharmaceutical product containers is managed adaptively so that the containers used most frequently are stored at locations more-easily accessible to the pharmacy workstation, thereby facilitating fulfillment of prescriptions by pharmacy personnel.

Abstract: A method and an automatic picking machine is provided for filling an order container by means of an ejector and conveyor belt. An ejector is provided configured as a revolving belt directly as a substantially horizontal product storage element. The stored products (3) to be picked are placed onto the conveyor belt (2) or directly into the order container (10) upon actuation of the revolving belt. The preferably bulky non-stackable products (3) are located preferably individually in product compartments (5) of the ejector and are ejected individually.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for fulfilling tote delivery orders. A tote delivery service directs delivery of items ordered by customers via a network site to delivery addresses corresponding to the customers in reusable totes on assigned tote delivery days. Tote delivery data may be processed to generate bulk transfer data for fulfillment centers and zone delivery data for sortation nodes. Each fulfillment center may pick items indicated by the bulk transfer data and bulk transfer the items to particular sortation nodes. At a sortation node, the items in the received bulk transfers, and possibly items received from other sources such as direct transfers from vendors, are rebinned into totes corresponding to delivery addresses in zones. The totes are loaded onto delivery vehicles, which deliver the totes to the delivery addresses in particular zones served by the sortation node. The zones and tote delivery days may be determined by zip code.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of generating customized packaging for an item associated with an order. A request to generate customized packaging for an item associated with an order is received. A user interface allowing a user to participate in design of the customized packaging is generated. Customized packaging is then generated based upon the customized packaging selected and/or designed by the user.

Abstract: Order allocation techniques that reduce the number of stops that a container makes in the process of fulfilling a customer order is disclosed. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by first identifying a pod that stocks the largest number of different items in a customer order. Then, a second pod is identified that stocks the largest number of remaining items in the customer order. Ultimately, all items in the customer order are assigned a pod. The collection of pods defines a container path through the distribution center.

Abstract: A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method for fulfilling orders from an inventory comprising serialized products. For example, a computer system may receive an order and derive from the order a plurality of products, a unit quantity for each of the plurality of products, and a serial identifier referencing a first product unit of at least one of the plurality of products. At least one of the plurality of products may be a non-reserved product. Also, the computer system may determine a first bin selected from a plurality of non-reserved product bins that is associated with product units of the non-reserved product and generate a pick instruction specifying the first bin and the unit quantity of the non-reserved product specified by the order. The computer system may also instruct a robot to retrieve the first product unit from one of the plurality of robot accessible bins.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method and apparatus for determining the usability of overage units in a sortation process are described. The embodiments described herein may include a control system of an order fulfillment center. For each unit of multiple units picked from inventory in an order fulfillment center, the control system may be configured to determine whether the given unit is designated to be inducted into a sortation system for sorting units of items into shipments. The control system may be configured to determine an overage unit of a particular item. The control system may also be configured to dynamically determine one or more incomplete shipments that each requires at least one unit of the particular item in order to become a completed shipment. Once such incomplete shipments are determined, the control system may generate an instruction to induct the unit into the sortation system.

Abstract: A mobile fulfillment device, system, and method for retrieving at least one article stored in one of a plurality of predetermined storage locations are disclosed. The device, system and method includes a wireless transceiver for communicating with a remote system controller, including transmission of at least one instruction from the remote system controller to provide instruction to the control system, a retriever for retrieving the at least one article in response to instruction received from the control system, a sensor for detecting inventory levels of articles in at least one predetermined storage location, a mobile frame supporting the fulfillment device and at least three wheels coupled to the mobile frame and providing mobility to the fulfillment device based on at least one of the at least three wheels being a lockable wheel.