Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system for fully autonomous order fulfillment and inventory management within a distribution site or warehouse. The system operates by autonomous robots directly pulling customer order items from distribution site shelves or pulling individual bins from distribution site shelves and dispensing appropriate quantities of items from the bins until all items of a customer order are retrieved without human involvement. The system further involves the robots autonomously monitoring item quantities within the distribution site, identifying and autonomously responding to shortages, and organizing the items within the distribution site for most efficient order fulfillment.

Abstract: An improved pharmaceutical vial processing system and method groups vials on an automated dispensing line according to diverting needs. The improved pharmaceutical vial processing system and method allows vials to travel in close groups. A diversion algorithm determines when gaps between vials are needed to reduce the likelihood that a mechanical diverting device engages the wrong vial to a new location on the dispensing line. The diversion algorithm identifies each vial that needs to be diverted to a target location and employs a “neighbor analysis” to determine whether a gap between neighboring vials is needed before a vial destined for the target station encounters a diverter. Vials that are destined for locations beyond the target station remain grouped. Vials that are behind a vial destined for the target station are held to introduce a gap between the vial destined for the target station and the remaining vials.

Abstract: An inventory system includes a first inventory holder positioned in a first climate-controlled zone of a workspace that is at a below-freezing temperature. The system also includes a second inventory holder positioned in a second climate-controlled zone that is at an above-freezing refrigerated temperature. The system also includes a third inventory holder positioned in a third climate-controlled zone that is at ambient conditions. The system also includes a management module operable to receive an order for the first inventory item, an order for the second inventory item, and an order for the third inventory item. The management module instructs a first mobile drive unit to transport the first inventory holder to an inventory station, instructs a second mobile drive unit to transport the second inventory holder to the inventory station, and instructs a third mobile drive unit to transport the third inventory holder to the inventory station.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention, the central controller may comprise a processor and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor. The computer readable medium comprises code, executable by the processor to implement a method. The method comprises identifying, by the processor, a sample container or a sample container holder associated with the sample container, and then accessing, by the processor, a location database storing mapping data correlating sample containers or sample container holders with sample containers to test regions in the storage unit. The test regions store sample containers with samples that have been or are to be tested according to different tests. After accessing the database, the method continues by providing, by the processor, a proposal for storage of the sample container or the sample container holder associated with the sample container in the storage unit.

Abstract: Provided is a self-closing and automatically fitting device for packaging (e.g. shrink wrapping, fasteners, enclosures of objects). The device includes a wrapping material and/or closure bands/straps which are made of a shape memory material and a non-shape memory material. The device also includes at least one pair of clasp members attached to the wrapping material and/or closure bands/straps. Upon stimulation by a trigger source, the shape memory material deforms and brings the wrapping material to self-assemble about an object to be packed. The self-assembly of the wrapping material and/or closure bands/straps further brings the two clasp members close to each other and facilitate the clasp thereof to form a self-assembled and closed package. The device may also include a motor, a control unit, and sensors which enable a motor actuated fine tensioning of the self-assembled and closed package.

Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to an inventory system having multiple inventory holders and drive units for moving the inventory holders. Features herein are directed to moving inventory items relative to a bin of an inventory holder or between inventory holders in the inventory system. The inventory system may include actuation units or some other mechanism on the drive units for assisting in moving inventory items relative to a bin of an inventory holder or between inventory holders. The inventory holders each include one or more inventory bins. A mobile drive unit is included, which includes an actuator configured for selectively actuating at least one of the inventory bins for moving at least one inventory item relative to the bin.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for using location awareness, bin capacity, and environmental cues to provide in context guidance to the associate when stowing items such as at a fulfillment center. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the associate may scan an item he or she may want to stow. In response, lights on the bins in the associate's vicinity are illuminated to indicate bins in which the item can be stowed (e.g., because the item fits in the bin) without breaking stow etiquette. For example, in order to prevent mix up, stow etiquette may indicate that two types of erasers should not be stored in the same bin. As yet another example, stow etiquette may indicate that an item should not be stowed in a bin, even if it fits and there is room, so that a total weight for the bin is not exceeded.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling an apparatus for furnishing articles is disclosed. A conveyor unit is used to convey the articles. At least one exchangeable furnishing unit is designed to exchange identification data and/or control information during connection to the apparatus with the apparatus and/or with the conveyor unit. At least one storage area is provided, wherein the storage area stores at least two furnishing units. An automatically controlled feeding and withdrawing unit is used to operatively connect the storage area with the apparatus.

Abstract: An arrangement of coils of varying widths and diameters in a warehouse having an automated crane wherein: the coil axes are parallel; the coils are arranged in lines, the coil widths in each line falling within a first predetermined range associated with the line, the coil diameters in each line falling within a second predetermined range associated with the line and the coil axes in each line being orientated perpendicularly to said each line; the lines define (i) rows of coils; (ii) a bottom layer of coils; and (iii) one or more upper layers of coils; each upper layer coil is supported by a pair of lower layer coils in a line; the first and second predetermined ranges associated with the line in which said each coil is arranged are the same as those associated with the line in which the supporting coils are arranged.

Abstract: A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.

Abstract: Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. Methods may include receiving an indication of one or more unit dose medications anticipated to be needed by a patient; retrieving the one or more unit dose medications from a unit storage device; loading the one or more unit dose medications onto a transport device; transporting the one or more unit dose medications from the unit storage device to a location proximate the patient; and transferring the one or more unit dose medications from the transport device to a staging area at the location proximate the patient.

Abstract: A method for operating a feeding device, the feeding device including a feed arm operative to transfer food from a food compartment to a feed position, typically adjacent an individual. The method includes operating the feeding device in a predetermined pattern or sequence to retrieve food from the food compartment. The method uses multiple utensil pathways whereby the feeding device includes an initial utensil pattern or sequence and a subsequent pattern or sequence.

Abstract: Methods of and devices and systems for obtaining and using images of items as the items appear in an inventory area (e.g., storage bin) are disclosed. Images of inventory areas are captured before and after stow or pick operations. A difference between the before and after images is determined and extracted as an image of the item that was stowed or picked. The process may be repeated for numerous units of the item and one or more definitive item images are selected. The definitive item image may be displayed to pickers directly to facilitate picking, or may be used to determine the position of a unit of the item in a particular inventory area such that the position of the item to be picked may be indicated to the picker. Definitive item images may also be used for inventory validation, enforcement of pick and stow etiquette.

Abstract: A dedicated network delivery system may avoid congestion experienced by traditional transportation networks and enable the delivery of objects from an origin to a destination using one or subterranean or aboveground elements. The network delivery system may be specifically configured to transport a particular type of object, such as an item, or a parcel or container having one or more items therein, in both vertical and horizontal directions along one or more of such elements, and in one or more item carriers such as carts, bags or boxes. The elements may be driven by or along one or more conveyors or rails, and may comprise one or more pressure-controlled carriers within a vacuum environment or among any type of fluid, including liquids or gases. A path between the origin and destination may be defined based on any factor, including travel time or cost, and any actual or predicted congestion.

Abstract: A detecting system for checking shapes, sizes, and/or positions of products, includes a feeding module configured to transfer the products into the detecting system, a detecting module configured to detect the products, a discharging module configured to remove the products out of the detection system, a conveying module configured to transport the products, a data processing module configured to deal with the data information measured by the detecting module, and an electronic control module configured to control the feeding module, the detecting module, the discharging module, the conveying module, and the data processing module. The detecting module includes a first detection module configured to get size and position images of the products, and a second detecting unit configured to detect a gap between two planes of the products. The present disclosure also discloses a detecting method for products.

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: Example embodiments provide for robotic apparatuses that facilitate moving objects within an environment, such as to load or unload boxes or to construct or deconstruct pallets (e.g., from a container or truck bed). One example apparatus includes a horizontal conveyor and a robotic manipulator that are both provided on a moveable cart. A first end of the robotic manipulator is mounted to the moveable cart and a second end of the robotic manipulator has an end effector, such as a grasper. The apparatus also includes a control system configured to receive sensor data indicative of an environment containing a plurality of objects, and then cause the robotic manipulator to place an object from the plurality of objects on the horizontal conveyor.

Abstract: A method for producing and/or packaging cigarettes, in a system in which at least one production unit is fed packaging units from a lower packaging level, and the production unit packages the packaging units in associated packaging units from a higher level, and the packaging units from the higher packaging level each comprise one or more packaging units from the lower packaging level. A camera records images of the packs of the packaging units from the lower level which are to be fed, or have been fed, to the production unit, and a camera records images of the packs of the packaging units from the higher level which are respectively assigned to the packaging units from the lower level, and the recorded images of the packs of the respectively associated packaging units are each assigned to a common identifier, preferably to a machine-internal counting number of the production unit.

Abstract: A method for processing waste in a material handling system includes detecting an occurrence of a trigger event associated with a waste holder located at a first location and, in response to detecting the trigger event, moving a mobile drive unit to the first location. The method also includes loading waste material onto the mobile drive unit at the first location and transporting the waste material to a waste station using the mobile drive unit.

Abstract: System and methods of treating or handling cardboard sheets.