Patents Assigned to Staples, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12547982
    Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, the system may include a warehouse execution system adapted to generate a picking schedule for picking pick-to-cart and high-density storage items, and an AGV dispatching system adapted to dispatch a cart automated guided vehicle and a modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle based on the picking schedule. The cart automated guided vehicle may be adapted autonomously transport a carton through a pick-to-cart area and to a pick-cell station. The modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle may be adapted to synchronously autonomously transport a modular storage unit containing items to be placed in the cartons from a high-density storage area to the pick-cell station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan, Rodney Gallaway
  • Patent number: 12509299
    Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2025
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 12503308
    Abstract: An automated robotic replenishment system is described. In an example implementation, the system may include containers adapted to hold items; container transportation devices adapted to transport the containers to a replenishment station; and the replenishment station. The replenishment station may include a container receiving area, a mobile storage unit receiving space, and a robotic arm, which may pick up items from the container in the container receiving area and place the item into a mobile storage unit in the mobile storage unit receiving space. The system may also include an automated guided vehicle that transports the mobile storage unit between the replenishment station and a storage area of a fulfillment center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Paolo Gerli, Gregory Patrick Cox, Amit Kalra, Brandon Lam, Ruchi Tewari, Daniel Jarvis, Nikhil Variar, Naveen Challapalli
  • Patent number: 12492074
    Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system with a robot execution system (REX) is described. In an example implementation, a REX may induct, into the hybrid modular storage fetching system, an order identifying items to be fulfilled by automated guided vehicles (AGVs) at an order fulfillment facility. The REX may generate at task list including tasks for a first and second AGV, instruct the first AGV to retrieve a first item in the order from a first storage area based on the task list and deliver the first item to a pick-cell station. The REX may also instruct the second AGV to retrieve a second item of the order from a second storage area and deliver the second item to the pick-cell station. The REX may communicate with other components of the hybrid modular storage fetching system to coordinate the paths of the AGVs to fulfill the order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2025
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 12413846
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a mobile interface for marking and organizing images is described herein. In some instances, the system may present, on a display device, an image region that displays a capturable image that is capturable by an image sensor of the wireless mobile electronic device and a preview region including a series of one or more annotatable image previews. The system may receive an input instructing the wireless mobile electronic device to capture a second image using the image sensor of the wireless mobile electronic device, generate a second image preview representing the second image, and update the graphical user interface to include the second image preview at the preview region. The system may receive an input including an annotation using an input device of the wireless mobile electronic device and update the graphical user interface to represent the annotation at the preview region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Steven Walker, Nathan Petersen
  • Patent number: 12340413
    Abstract: A restocking hub with interchangeable buttons mapped to item identifiers is described herein. In some instances, a local hub may receive an actuation signal from a particular interchangeable button communicatively coupled with the local hub. The actuation signal may include a button ID that identifies the particular interchangeable button and may indicating an actuation of the particular interchangeable button. The local hub may generate an order signal identifying the button ID based on the actuation signal, and may transmit the order signal instructing a remote server to perform a defined operation using the button ID. In some instances, the local hub may output a confirmation notification based on data received from the remote server based on the defined operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Steven Walker, Ranjeet Sonone, Faisal Masud
  • Patent number: 12315003
    Abstract: A system and method for intelligent item reordering using an adaptable mobile graphical user interface is described herein. In some instances, the system may generate a graphical user interface including a first set of graphical elements representing a first set of items, and receive a first input selecting a particular item of the first set of items, the first set of graphical elements including a graphical element representing the particular item. The system may generate a graphical list of quantities and render the graphical list of quantities at a first position in the graphical user interface based on the graphical element representing the particular item in the graphical user interface. In some instances, the system may receive a second input identifying a selected quantity from the graphical list of quantities and modify the graphical element representing the particular item to indicate the selected quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Steven Walker, Ranjeet Sonone, Faisal Masud
  • Patent number: 12234092
    Abstract: A system-directed single line pick batching is described. In an example implementation, the system may receive data describing a set of orders including SKU identifiers associated with items in the orders, identify an eligible cart, and assign a location to a task queue of the cart based on the location being associated with a particular SKU identifier. In some instances, the location or SKU identifier may be determined based on an order with a certain quantity of different SKU identifiers. In some instances, the system may navigate the cart to the location and instruct the item to be picked from the location. In response to completion of the pick of the item, the system may navigate the cart to an end point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Nilsen, Matthew Robert Douglas, Gregory Patrick Cox, Paolo Gerli Amador, Daniel Jarvis, Amit Kalra
  • Patent number: 12106351
    Abstract: The technology includes an example method for determining matching items. In some implementations, the method may determine a first set and second set of attributes and attribute types associated with a first and second item, respectively, based on description data associated with the items. The method may determine an attribute-type indicator for a pairing of a first attribute of the first set with a second attribute of the second set based on attribute types of the attributes, compute an attribute value for the pairing based on a similarity between the first and second attribute, and compute a match score for a combination of the first and second items based on the attribute value and attribute-type indicator. The method may also, in response to receiving a data query identifying the first item, provide a graphical user interface including a graphical element representing the second item based on the match score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Verma, Randall L. Cogill, Michael Bhaskaran
  • Patent number: 12051039
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method may generate an item layout map for a shelving unit, where the shelving unit stores item types associated with a product category. The method may determine product attributes associated with the product category and divider configurations of the shelving unit, where a divider configuration divides the shelving unit into one or more candidate regions. The method may generate an ontology entry associated with a product attribute and the divider configuration based on the item layout map and the divider configuration of the shelving unit, the ontology entry indicating a regional entropy values of a product attribute for the candidate regions generated by the divider configuration. In some instances, the method may generate a guidance instruction related to the product attribute of the product category based on the ontology entry and provide the guidance instruction to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandeep Sikka, Nitin Verma, Michael Bhaskaran, Xiaowei Lu, Christopher Yong
  • Patent number: 12037195
    Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 12012283
    Abstract: A release logic system for releasing cartons into a fulfillment system is described. In an example implementation, a release logic engine may receive carton data representing a set of cartons and indicating picks for each the set of cartons. The release logic engine may determine a score for a carton of the set of cartons based on a location of a first pick of the carton in a pick-to-cart area of a fulfillment center. In some implementations, the release logic engine may assign the carton to a cart adapted to transport cartons based on the score determined for the carton, and may induct the carton into the fulfillment center for the first pick using the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Yizhi Wang, Stephen Nilsen, Paolo Gerli Amador, Gregory Patrick Cox, Deepak Sharma, Daniel Jarvis, Amit Kalra, Kehang Han
  • Patent number: 11989688
    Abstract: Technology for optimizing automated inventory management is described. In an example implementation, a method, implemented using one or more computing devices, may generate unit identifier sets based on affinities between items uniquely identified by the unit identifiers, determine first and second contribution values for each of the unit identifier sets, and calculate a difference between the first and the second contribution values for each of the unit identifier sets. The method may further calculate an incremental carton and expense prevention opportunity (ICEPO) value for the unit identifier sets, calculate an adjusted fulfillment center stocking score using the ICEPO value and the difference between the first and the second contribution values for each of the unit identifier sets, select a subset of the unit identifier sets based on the adjusted fulfillment center stocking score, and output the subset to an inventory replenishment system that manages stocking of items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Kalra, Maimuna Rangwala, Ehsan Ardjmand, Christine DeJesse
  • Patent number: 11975926
    Abstract: An automated belt-based diverter system is described in some implementations. In an example implementation, the system may include a belt, which includes a closed loop of material, coupled with a pulley and a motor that provides motive force to the belt, for example, using the pulley. In some implementations, one or more diverter arms may be coupled with the belt. A diverter arm may include a body with a first arm end, a second arm end, and a pushing surface. A diverter arm may be coupled at the first end with the belt so that the second end extends away from the belt and the pushing surface may contact an object to push the item. The system may also include a controller coupled with the motor to rotate the belt in defined directions or distances based on instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Calem Harris, Sebastian Mora, Grant Tucker, Arun Kumar Ranganathan Jagannathan, Carl Skantze, Arnold Tsoka, Mario Faulkner
  • Patent number: 11939162
    Abstract: A system-directed robotic cart picking system is described. In an example implementation, the system may generate a picking itinerary including pick-to-cart routing based on locations of items in an order fulfillment center and received order data identifying the items, and may transport the carts in the order fulfillment center according to the pick-to-cart routing. The system may determine a zone of the order fulfillment center to which to assign a picker based on the picking itinerary and may determine tasks, such as picking at least one item from the locations to the carts, for the picker located in the zone. In some instances, the system may output pick instructions to a picker client device directing the picker to perform the tasks and may transport the carts to a defined point in the order fulfillment center in response to completion of the tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Stephen Nilsen, Paolo Gerli Amador, Gregory Patrick Cox
  • Patent number: 11911803
    Abstract: An automated sorting and packing system is described. In an example implementation, the system may include a transfer station that transfers an item into a shipping carton, one or more conveyors that convey the item and/or carton to a transfer station, a scanner that scans the item, and a processor communicatively coupled with the scanner and the one or more conveyors. According to some implementations, the system may perform operations including determining a carton identifier associated with a carton based on an order, assigning a transfer station to the order and the carton identifier based on scan data identifying an item, transporting the item to the transfer station using a conveyor, and transferring the item from the conveyor to a carton associated with the carton identifier using the transfer station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Calem Harris, Sebastian Mora, Grant Tucker, Arun Kumar Ranganathan Jagannathan, Carl Skantze, Arnold Tsoka, Mario Faulkner
  • Patent number: 11910082
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a mobile interface for marking and organizing images is described herein. In some instances, the system may present, on a display device, an image region that displays a capturable image that is capturable by an image sensor of the wireless mobile electronic device and a preview region including a series of one or more annotatable image previews. The system may receive an input instructing the wireless mobile electronic device to capture a second image using the image sensor of the wireless mobile electronic device, generate a second image preview representing the second image, and update the graphical user interface to include the second image preview at the preview region. The system may receive an input including an annotation using an input device of the wireless mobile electronic device and update the graphical user interface to represent the annotation at the preview region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Steven Walker, Nathan Petersen
  • Patent number: 11897701
    Abstract: An automated packing system, which may include a transfer station is described. In an example implementation, system may include an item-consolidation area that receives items, a carton receiving area that receives a carton, and a structure that holds the item-consolidation area vertically higher than the carton-receiving area. The system may also include a passage between the item-consolidation area and the carton-receiving area. The passage that may allow the items to pass from the item-consolidation area and the carton in the carton-receiving area. The system may include an actuation mechanism that controls movement of the items between the item-consolidation area and the carton-receiving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Calem Harris, Sebastian Mora, Grant Tucker, Arun Kumar Ranganathan Jagannathan, Carl Skantze, Arnold Tsoka, Mario Faulkner
  • Patent number: 11893535
    Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, the system may include a warehouse execution system adapted to generate a picking schedule for picking pick-to-cart and high-density storage items, and an AGV dispatching system adapted to dispatch a cart automated guided vehicle and a modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle based on the picking schedule. The cart automated guided vehicle may be adapted autonomously transport a carton through a pick-to-cart area and to a pick-cell station. The modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle may be adapted to synchronously autonomously transport a modular storage unit containing items to be placed in the cartons from a high-density storage area to the pick-cell station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan, Rodney Gallaway
  • Patent number: D1117223
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventor: M. Steven Walker