Patents by Inventor Ben Edwards
Ben Edwards 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: 12134521Abstract: An automated in-rack picking solution enables improved efficiency by permitting automatic reconfiguration of automated picking system (APS) deployments within an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). The storage volume of an ASRS can be more thoroughly utilized, even with a smaller number of APSs, when at least one APS is operable to autonomously relocate within the ASRS based at least on a stored item's location and/or property (e.g., suitability for handling by a particular end effector). An exemplary solution includes an APS positioned to reach stored items within a first subset of storage locations when affixed to a first attachment point; a transport component operable to relocate the APS to a second attachment point, wherein the APS is positioned to reach stored items within a second subset of the storage locations when affixed to the second attachment point; and a controller operable to instruct relocation of the APS.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2022Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee, Ben Edwards
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Patent number: 12134198Abstract: Examples provide a method and system for customized item decanting. A decant manager, implemented on a processor, identifies a destination tote in a set of totes for placement of a selected item. The decant manager controls a robotic decanting device to remove the selected item from a selected case and places the selected item into the destination tote. The decant manager analyzes sensor data and item data associated with the selected item to confirm an identification of the selected item placed into the destination tote for inventory update.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2023Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C Roth, Paul Durkee
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Publication number: 20240033927Abstract: Examples provide a method and system for customized item decanting. A decant manager, implemented on a processor, identifies a destination tote in a set of totes for placement of a selected item. The decant manager controls a robotic decanting device to remove the selected item from a selected case and places the selected item into the destination tote. The decant manager analyzes sensor data and item data associated with the selected item to confirm an identification of the selected item placed into the destination tote for inventory update.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee
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Patent number: 11820022Abstract: Examples provide a system for system for customized item decanting. A robotic picker device is configured to remove a selected item from a selected case in an open configuration on a conveyor device. A decan manager, implemented on a processor, is configured to identify a destination tote in a set of totes for placement of the selected item, The robotic picker device places the selected item into the destination tote and the decant manager analyzes sensor data and item data associated with the selected item to confirm an identification of the selected item placed into the destination tote for inventory update.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee
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Publication number: 20230092053Abstract: An automated in-rack picking solution enables improved efficiency by permitting automatic reconfiguration of automated picking system (APS) deployments within an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). The storage volume of an ASRS can be more thoroughly utilized, even with a smaller number of APSs, when at least one APS is operable to autonomously relocate within the ASRS based at least on a stored item's location and/or property (e.g., suitability for handling by a particular end effector). An exemplary solution includes an APS positioned to reach stored items within a first subset of storage locations when affixed to a first attachment point; a transport component operable to relocate the APS to a second attachment point, wherein the APS is positioned to reach stored items within a second subset of the storage locations when affixed to the second attachment point; and a controller operable to instruct relocation of the APS.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee, Ben Edwards
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Publication number: 20230034586Abstract: Examples provide a system for system for customized item decanting. A robotic picker device is configured to remove a selected item from a selected case in an open configuration on a conveyor device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee
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Patent number: 11491656Abstract: Examples provide a system for decanting items from a set of cases into a set of storage totes in preparation for induction into an automated tote storage device. A set of robotic decanting devices includes at least one robotic de-palletizing device configured to remove a selected case comprising a set of items from a pallet at a de-palletizing station. A stationary robotic case opener device opens each case as it moves along a conveyor device. A set of sensor devices scans cases and/or contents of cases to identify each item removed from each case. A stationary robotic picker device removes each item from each case and places each item into an appropriate destination tote. A robotic tote transfer device moves the destination tote to an induction point of the storage device. A decant manager component updates inventory to include items placed into each tote inducted into the storage device.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee
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Publication number: 20200407165Abstract: An automated in-rack picking solution enables improved efficiency by permitting automatic reconfiguration of automated picking system (APS) deployments within an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). The storage volume of an ASRS can be more thoroughly utilized, even with a smaller number of APSs, when at least one APS is operable to autonomously relocate within the ASRS based at least on a stored item's location and/or property (e.g., suitability for handling by a particular end effector). An exemplary solution includes an APS positioned to reach stored items within a first subset of storage locations when affixed to a first attachment point; a transport component operable to relocate the APS to a second attachment point, wherein the APS is positioned to reach stored items within a second subset of the storage locations when affixed to the second attachment point; and a controller operable to instruct relocation of the APS.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee, Ben Edwards
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Publication number: 20200306973Abstract: Examples provide a system for decanting items from a set of cases into a set of storage totes in preparation for induction into an automated tote storage device. A set of robotic decanting devices includes at least one robotic de-palletizing device configured to remove a selected case comprising a set of items from a pallet at a de-palletizing station. A stationary robotic case opener device opens each case as it moves along a conveyor device. A set of sensor devices scans cases and/or contents of cases to identify each item removed from each case. A stationary robotic picker device removes each item from each case and places each item into an appropriate destination tote. A robotic tote transfer device moves the destination tote to an induction point of the storage device. A decant manager component updates inventory to include items placed into each tote inducted into the storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee
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Publication number: 20060244586Abstract: A warning system for displaying a warning that a device unit is in use includes a sign unit configured to display warning information. A device unit includes a communication module configured to provide a wireless communication between the device unit and the sign unit such that when the device unit is activated, the communication module automatically transmits a wireless warning signal to the sign unit instructing the sign unit to display the warning information.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2006Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: David Jones, Russell Swagart, Amanda Peters, Robert Guenther, Ben Edwards