Fabric Totes for Inventory Storage Space Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern inventory systems face inefficiencies in using storage space with hard plastic storage containers, leading to lower throughput and increased capital expenses due to the need for larger facilities to store equivalent amounts of inventory.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of fabric containers, or 'fabric totes,' which include a fabric base and side walls with internal or external support structures and handles that can slide on rails for storage and transportation, integrated with robotic arms and mobile drive units for automated handling and transportation within inventory pods and conveyor systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hard plastic storage containers are used, then storage capacity is maintained, but storage space utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is segmented into modular fabric totes that can be independently handled, stacked, and configured. Each tote acts as a discrete storage unit that can be efficiently arranged in storage structures, improving space utilization while maintaining individual container functionality and capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces rigid hard plastic containers with flexible fabric totes that have collapsible walls. This flexibility allows the totes to be compressed when empty and expanded when in use, significantly improving storage space utilization efficiency while maintaining adequate storage capacity for inventory items.
2Productivity
If hard plastic storage containers are used, then structural strength is maintained, but system throughput deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric totes are constructed using composite materials that combine the tensile strength of woven fabric with internal support structures. This composite construction provides sufficient structural strength to protect inventory items while enabling the flexible, lightweight characteristics needed for high-speed automated handling and improved system throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system transitions from static hard plastic containers to dynamic fabric totes that can be rapidly deployed, collapsed, and reconfigured. The internal support structures provide strength when needed during handling, while the flexible fabric allows rapid movement and adaptation, improving overall system throughput.
3Reliability
If hard plastic storage containers are used, then durability is maintained, but capital expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible fabric totes replace expensive hard plastic containers while maintaining adequate durability through the use of robust woven fabric and internal support structures. The ability to collapse and compress these totes when empty reduces the building size required for storage, directly reducing capital expenses for facility construction while maintaining durability during active use.
Data Source
AI summary
This application describes an infrastructure for storing fabric totes, as well as techniques for use of fabric totes in the infrastructure that use mechanical systems to transport the fabric totes and/or access inventory items in the fabric totes. The infrastructure may include a conveyor system configured to transport the fabric totes, drive units configured to transport the fabric totes, inventory pods configured to house the fabric totes, and/or various other mechanical systems for accessing contents and/or transportation of the fabric totes. Additionally, the fabric totes may be accessed and transported manually within the infrastructure.