Patents by Inventor Juergen D. Conrad
Juergen D. Conrad has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10521767Abstract: A product order fulfillment system includes multiple decks arrayed at different levels and defining multilevel decks, at least one autonomous transport vehicle on each of the decks, and configured for holding and transporting a pickface on each deck, at least one lift, traversing and connecting more than one level of the decks, and arranged for lifting and lowering the pickface from the decks, and at least one pickface transfer station on each deck interfacing between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift to effect transfer of the pickface between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift, the at least one lift defines a fulfillment stream of mixed case pickfaces outbound from the multilevel decks to a load fill, at least one stream of the fulfillment stream has an ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces wherein the ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces is based on another fulfillment stream.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Kirill K. Pankratov, Juergen D. Conrad, Robert Hsiung, Larry M. Sweet
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Publication number: 20190256289Abstract: In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment, a lift includes at least one load handling device configured so as to reciprocate along a lift axis, the load handling device including a frame forming a payload section with a payload support surface having a common elevation configured to hold one or more pickfaces at the common elevation of the payload support surface, at least one transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, and a drive section connected to the load handling device and being configured to move the load handling device along the lift axis, wherein the one or more pickfaces carried in unison by the payload support surface of the at least one load handling device, define an order sequence of pickfaces on the at least one load handling device according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed cases.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Kirill K. PANKRATOV, Juergen D. CONRAD, Robert HSIUNG, William JOHNSON, Jr., Edward A. MACDONALD, Larry M. SWEET
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Publication number: 20190202635Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous transport vehicle, a transfer deck that defines a transport surface for the vehicle, at least one reciprocating lift, a first and second pickface interface station connected to the deck and spaced apart from each other, each station forming a pickface transfer interfacing between the vehicle on the deck and the lift at each station so that a pickface is transferred between the lift and the vehicle at each station, wherein the vehicle is configured to pick a first pickface at the first station, traverse the deck and buffer the first pickface, or at least a portion thereof, at the second station so that the second station has multiple pickfaces buffered on a common support in an order sequence of pickfaces according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed case pickfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2018Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: Juergen D. CONRAD, Robert HSIUNG, Kirill K. PANKRATOV, Robert SULLIVAN, Larry M. SWEET
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Publication number: 20190092570Abstract: A storage array system including an open undeterministic transport surface, a navigation array disposed in connection with the transport surface, the navigation array includes a distributed feature, a first waypoint at a first position of the distributed feature, a second waypoint displaced from the first waypoint along the distributed feature and offset with respect to the first waypoint in a direction angled to the distributed feature, and a guided bot, arranged to traverse the transport surface, with a non-holonomic steering system, the guided bot having a bot pose determination system employing sensor data detecting the distributed feature, wherein the guided bot includes a controller configured to generate a substantially smooth curved bot traverse path on the transport surface connecting the first and second waypoints with a predetermined optimal trajectory of the guided bot along the traverse path determined based on a bot dynamic model.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Ted A. MACDONALD, Forrest BUZAN, John F. KEATING, Juergen D. CONRAD, Armin ATAEI-ESFAHANI
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Patent number: 10214355Abstract: In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment, a lift includes at least one load handling device configured so as to reciprocate along a lift axis, the load handling device including a frame forming a payload section with a payload support surface having a common elevation configured to hold one or more pickfaces at the common elevation of the payload support surface, at least one transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, and a drive section connected to the load handling device and being configured to move the load handling device along the lift axis, wherein the one or more pickfaces carried in unison by the payload support surface of the at least one load handling device, define an order sequence of pickfaces on the at least one load handling device according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed cases.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Kirill K. Pankratov, Juergen D. Conrad, Robert Hsiung, William Johnson, Jr., Edward A. MacDonald, Larry M. Sweet
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Publication number: 20190050795Abstract: A product order fulfillment system includes multiple decks arrayed at different levels and defining multilevel decks, at least one autonomous transport vehicle on each of the decks, and configured for holding and transporting a pickface on each deck, at least one lift, traversing and connecting more than one level of the decks, and arranged for lifting and lowering the pickface from the decks, and at least one pickface transfer station on each deck interfacing between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift to effect transfer of the pickface between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift, the at least one lift defines a fulfillment stream of mixed case pickfaces outbound from the multilevel decks to a load fill, at least one stream of the fulfillment stream has an ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces wherein the ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces is based on another fulfillment stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Kirill K. PANKRATOV, Juergen D. CONRAD, Robert HSIUNG, Larry M. SWEET
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Patent number: 10155623Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous transport vehicle, a transfer deck that defines a transport surface for the vehicle, at least one reciprocating lift, a first and second pickface interface station connected to the deck and spaced apart from each other, each station forming a pickface transfer interfacing between the vehicle on the deck and the lift at each station so that a pickface is transferred between the lift and the vehicle at each station, wherein the vehicle is configured to pick a first pickface at the first station, traverse the deck and buffer the first pickface, or at least a portion thereof, at the second station so that the second station has multiple pickfaces buffered on a common support in an order sequence of pickfaces according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed case pickfaces.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Juergen D. Conrad, Robert Hsiung, Kirill K. Pankratov, Robert Sullivan, Larry M. Sweet
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Publication number: 20180334326Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a first independently operable section having a first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions, and a second independently operable section in communication with the first independently operable section and having a second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions. The first and second independently operable sections are configured to provide a respective number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions so that the first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions substantially matches the second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: Larry Sweet, Kil Kwak, Kirill Pankratov, Russell G. Barbour, William Johnson, Juergen D. Conrad, Juergen Baumbach, Ronald Kyslinger
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Patent number: 10102496Abstract: A product order fulfillment system includes multiple decks arrayed at different levels and defining multilevel decks, at least one autonomous transport vehicle on each of the decks, and configured for holding and transporting a pickface on each deck, at least one lift, traversing and connecting more than one level of the decks, and arranged for lifting and lowering the pickface from the decks, and at least one pickface transfer station on each deck interfacing between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift to effect transfer of the pickface between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift, the at least one lift defines a fulfillment stream of mixed case pickfaces outbound from the multilevel decks to a load fill, at least one stream of the fulfillment stream has an ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces wherein the ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces is based on another fulfillment stream.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Kirill K. Pankratov, Juergen D. Conrad, Robert Hsiung, Larry M. Sweet
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Patent number: 10035650Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a first independently operable section having a first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions, and a second independently operable section in communication with the first independently operable section and having a second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions. The first and second independently operable sections are configured to provide a respective number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions so that the first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions substantially matches the second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Symbotic LLCInventors: Larry Sweet, Kil D. Kwak, Kirill Pankratov, Russell G. Barbour, William Johnson, Juergen D. Conrad, Juergen Baumbach, Ronald Kyslinger
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Publication number: 20180155128Abstract: A storage array in an automated storage and retrieval system includes storage spaces arrayed on racks along picking aisles, multiple level decks, where at least one deck communicates with each aisle, where the decks and aisles are configured to define a rolling surface for an autonomous transport vehicle at each level of the decks, racks along at least one aisle at each level are at multiple rack levels that are accessed from a respective rolling surface that is common to the multiple rack levels, and a vertical pitch between rack levels varies for a portion of a respective aisle, the vertical pitch between at least two rack levels of the portion of the respective aisle is related to another vertical pitch between at least two other rack levels of another aisle portion of the respective aisle so the vehicle effects multiple picks in ordered sequence in a common aisle pass.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2018Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Kirill K. PANKRATOV, Larry M. SWEET, Juergen D. CONRAD, John F. KEATING, Matt GATES
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Publication number: 20180111756Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous transport vehicle, a transfer deck that defines a transport surface for the vehicle, at least one reciprocating lift, a first and second pickface interface station connected to the deck and spaced apart from each other, each station forming a pickface transfer interfacing between the vehicle on the deck and the lift at each station so that a pickface is transferred between the lift and the vehicle at each station, wherein the vehicle is configured to pick a first pickface at the first station, traverse the deck and buffer the first pickface, or at least a portion thereof, at the second station so that the second station has multiple pickfaces buffered on a common support in an order sequence of pickfaces according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed case pickfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Juergen D. CONRAD, Robert HSIUNG, Kirill K. PANKRATOV, Robert SULLIVAN, Larry M. SWEET
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Patent number: 9884719Abstract: A storage array in an automated storage and retrieval system includes storage spaces arrayed on racks along picking aisles, multiple level decks, where at least one deck communicates with each aisle, where the decks and aisles are configured to define a rolling surface for an autonomous transport vehicle at each level of the decks, racks along at least one aisle at each level are at multiple rack levels that are accessed from a respective rolling surface that is common to the multiple rack levels, and a vertical pitch between rack levels varies for a portion of a respective aisle, the vertical pitch between at least two rack levels of the portion of the respective aisle is related to another vertical pitch between at least two other rack levels of another aisle portion of the respective aisle so the vehicle effects multiple picks in ordered sequence in a common aisle pass.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Kirill K. Pankratov, Larry M. Sweet, Juergen D. Conrad, John F. Keating, Matt Gates
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Patent number: 9856083Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous transport vehicle, a transfer deck that defines a transport surface for the vehicle, at least one reciprocating lift, a first and second pickface interface station connected to the deck and spaced apart from each other, each station forming a pickface transfer interfacing between the vehicle on the deck and the lift at each station so that a pickface is transferred between the lift and the vehicle at each station, wherein the vehicle is configured to pick a first pickface at the first station, traverse the deck and buffer the first pickface, or at least a portion thereof, at the second station so that the second station has multiple pickfaces buffered on a common support in an order sequence of pickfaces according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed case pickfaces.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Juergen D. Conrad, Robert Hsiung, Kirill K. Pankratov, Robert Sullivan, Larry M. Sweet
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Publication number: 20170043952Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a first independently operable section having a first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions, and a second independently operable section in communication with the first independently operable section and having a second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions. The first and second independently operable sections are configured to provide a respective number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions so that the first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions substantially matches the second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2016Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Larry Sweet, Kil D. Kwak, Kirill Pankratov, Russell G. Barbour, William Johnson, Juergen D. Conrad, Juergen Baumbach, Ronald Kyslinger
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Patent number: 9481517Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a first independently operable section having a first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions, and a second independently operable section in communication with the first independently operable section and having a second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions. The first and second independently operable sections are configured to provide a respective number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions so that the first number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions substantially matches the second number of predetermined storage and retrieval transactions.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Larry Sweet, Kil D. Kwak, Kirill Pankratov, Russell G. Barbour, William Johnson, Juergen D. Conrad, Juergen Baumbach, Ronald Kyslinger
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Publication number: 20160214797Abstract: A product order fulfillment system includes multiple decks arrayed at different levels and defining multilevel decks, at least one autonomous transport vehicle on each of the decks, and configured for holding and transporting a pickface on each deck, at least one lift, traversing and connecting more than one level of the decks, and arranged for lifting and lowering the pickface from the decks, and at least one pickface transfer station on each deck interfacing between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift to effect transfer of the pickface between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift, the at least one lift defines a fulfillment stream of mixed case pickfaces outbound from the multilevel decks to a load fill, at least one stream of the fulfillment stream has an ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces wherein the ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces is based on another fulfillment stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Kirill K. PANKRATOV, Juergen D. CONRAD, Robert HSIUNG, Larry M. SWEET
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Publication number: 20160207709Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous transport vehicle, a transfer deck that defines an undeterministic transport surface for the at least one autonomous transport vehicle, the transfer deck having multiple travel lanes, at least one reciprocating lift, and at least one pickface handoff station connected to the transfer deck and interfacing between the at least one autonomous transport vehicle on the transfer deck and the at least one reciprocating lift so that a pickface is transferred between the at least one reciprocating and the at least one autonomous transport vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Kirill K. Pankratov, Juergen D. Conrad, Robert Hsiung, Edward A. MacDonald, Larry M. Sweet
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Publication number: 20160207711Abstract: In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment, a lift includes at least one load handling device configured so as to reciprocate along a lift axis, the load handling device including a frame forming a payload section with a payload support surface having a common elevation configured to hold one or more pickfaces at the common elevation of the payload support surface, at least one transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, and a drive section connected to the load handling device and being configured to move the load handling device along the lift axis, wherein the one or more pickfaces carried in unison by the payload support surface of the at least one load handling device, define an order sequence of pickfaces on the at least one load handling device according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed cases.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Kirill K. PANKRATOV, Juergen D. CONRAD, Robert HSIUNG, William JOHNSON, JR., Edward A. MACDONALD, Larry M. SWEET
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Publication number: 20160207710Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous transport vehicle, a transfer deck that defines a transport surface for the vehicle, at least one reciprocating lift, a first and second pickface interface station connected to the deck and spaced apart from each other, each station forming a pickface transfer interfacing between the vehicle on the deck and the lift at each station so that a pickface is transferred between the lift and the vehicle at each station, wherein the vehicle is configured to pick a first pickface at the first station, traverse the deck and buffer the first pickface, or at least a portion thereof, at the second station so that the second station has multiple pickfaces buffered on a common support in an order sequence of pickfaces according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed case pickfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Juergen D. CONRAD, Robert HSIUNG, Kirill K. PANKRATOV, Robert SULLIVAN, Larry M. SWEET