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).

  • Patent number: 12134521
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee, Ben Edwards
  • Patent number: 12134198
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C Roth, Paul Durkee
  • Publication number: 20240033927
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee
  • Patent number: 11820022
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee
  • Publication number: 20230092053
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee, Ben Edwards
  • Publication number: 20230034586
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee
  • Patent number: 11491656
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee
  • Publication number: 20200407165
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee, Ben Edwards
  • Publication number: 20200306973
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Ben Edwards, Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee
  • Publication number: 20060244586
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: David Jones, Russell Swagart, Amanda Peters, Robert Guenther, Ben Edwards