Patents by Inventor Guy Blotnik
Guy Blotnik 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: 11945648Abstract: A method for turning a pinion-driven lift-robot in an intersection of rails. Moving the pinion-driven lift-robot in a first motion mode to position the pinion-driven lift-robot in a first position at the intersection. The pinion-driven lift-robot is turned over a corner of the intersection that is accessible from the first position and that includes continuous rails connecting a vertical track and a horizontal track, whereby positioning the pinion-driven lift-robot in a second position at the intersection. The pinion-driven lift-robot is moved in a second motion mode towards a designated direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: COMMONSENSE ROBOTICS, LTD.Inventors: Shay Cohen, Guy Blotnik, Nadav Laor, Asaf Kaufman, Bar Cohen
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Publication number: 20230415987Abstract: A shelving block comprises a first and second shelving units facing from opposite sides of an aisle. The first shelving unit defines a first crate storage location and a second crate storage location that different in height. The first crate storage location is accessible to a robot between a pair of neighboring horizontal rails having a first vertical spacing between them defining a height of the first crate storage location. The second crate storage location is accessible to the robot between another pair of neighboring horizontal rails having a second vertical spacing between them defining a height of the second crate storage location. The first vertical spacing is larger than the second vertical spacing. The robot carries crates according to instructions from a computerized control.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Shay Cohen, Guy Blotnik
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Patent number: 11787635Abstract: An inventory handling system and a method for managing thereof, comprising multiple shelving units with shelves on which containers are placed. The system comprises a movable picking station configured to travel among the shelving units, and transfer items between containers. The movable picking station is configured to collect from the multiple shelving units into an order container at least a portion of a plurality of items listed in an order to be fulfilled. The movable picking station is configured to place the pickable items in the order container in an optimal arrangement while minimizing the distance the containers are moved and potential damage to the items.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: GET FABRIC LTDInventors: Guy Blotnik, Shmuel Ur
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Patent number: 11787633Abstract: A vending-tote adapted to be moved by a lift-robot across a shelving-unit to rendezvous with a second tote carried by a second robot, the vending-tote comprising: a container designed to contain a plurality of items; and a dispensing mechanism integrated within the container, wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to be activated by the lift-robot, the second robot, or both for dispensing at least one item of the plurality of items into the second tote.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: GET FABRIC LTDInventors: Guy Blotnik, Shmuel Ur
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Patent number: 11780672Abstract: A storage setup and method for robotic delivery and retrieval of crates from shelving blocks are disclosed. At least one shelving block in the setup comprises non-uniformly spaced apart storage surfaces. The storage surfaces are accessible to lift-robots. A computerized control system is configured to differentiate between storage locations based on which crate sizes from at least two different ranges of crate sizes a storage location can store. The storage may be automatically optimized by routing robots to store crates in storage locations sized in correlation with the size of the crate to be stored.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: GET FABRIC LTDInventors: Shay Cohen, Guy Blotnik
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Patent number: 11608227Abstract: A direction switching module for lift robots using a pair of pinions coupled to a rack for propelling vertically and horizontally according to the track's orientation, is disclosed. In a linear motion mode both pinions rotate in the same velocity. In a direction switching mode, when changing from vertical to horizontal motion mode and vise versa, the module is capable of propelling one pinion on a vertical track and its counterpart on a horizontal track, simultaneously, each pinion in a different velocity. A bogie propelled by two pairs of said module is also disclosed, and a controller configured to drive both pinions in same velocity during linear motion and each pinion in a separate appropriate velocity during the direction switching mode. A method for turning a pinion-driven lift-robot in an intersection of rails and a controller for controlling the linear motion modes and the direction switching modes of the lift robot are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: GET FABRIC LTD.Inventors: Shay Cohen, Guy Blotnik, Nadav Laor, Asaf Kaufman, Bar Cohen
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Publication number: 20220356013Abstract: A method for turning a pinion-driven lift-robot in an intersection of rails. Moving the pinion-driven lift-robot in a first motion mode to position the pinion-driven lift-robot in a first position at the intersection. The pinion-driven lift-robot is turned over a corner of the intersection that is accessible from the first position and that includes continuous rails connecting a vertical track and a horizontal track, whereby positioning the pinion-driven lift-robot in a second position at the intersection. The pinion-driven lift-robot is moved in a second motion mode towards a designated direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Shay Cohen, Guy Blotnik, Nadav Laor, Asaf Kaufman, Bar Cohen
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Patent number: 11305935Abstract: A storage facility having lift robots and ground robots cooperating in transferring of totes within the facility, is disclosed. The transferring of totes between ground robots and lift robots in the facility through buffer locations, allows the totes to be carried on top of the lift robots, which are thereby secured against unintentional dropping of the tote. The efficiency of the storage facility may be further improved in that the buffer locations, and in various embodiments also short height storage locations, which are accessible directly to ground robots, are utilized for storing totes that are ranked as associated with high prevalence to be transferred by ground robots, without the involvement of lift robots.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: GET FABRIC LTD.Inventors: Guy Blotnik, Ori Avraham, Leav Oz Ari, Yuval Regev, Shmuel Ur
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Publication number: 20210387803Abstract: A storage setup and method for robotic delivery and retrieval of crates from shelving blocks are disclosed. At least one shelving block in the setup comprises non-uniformly spaced apart storage surfaces. The storage surfaces are accessible to lift-robots. A computerized control system is configured to differentiate between storage locations based on which crate sizes from at least two different ranges of crate sizes a storage location can store. The storage may be automatically optimized by routing robots to store crates in storage locations sized in correlation with the size of the crate to be stored.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2021Publication date: December 16, 2021Inventors: Shay Cohen, Guy Blotnik
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Patent number: 11136189Abstract: A storage setup and method for robotic delivery and retrieval of crates from shelving blocks are disclosed. At least one shelving block in the setup comprises non-uniformly spaced apart storage surfaces. The storage surfaces are accessible to lift-robots through a network of tracks comprising intersecting vertically and horizontally oriented tracks. A computerized control system is configured to differentiate between storage locations based on which crate sizes from at least two different ranges of crate sizes a storage location can store. The storage may be automatically optimized by routing robots to store crates in storage locations sized in correlation with the size of the crate to be stored.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: GET FABRIC LTDInventors: Shay Cohen, Guy Blotnik
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Publication number: 20210188553Abstract: An inventory handling system and a method for managing thereof, comprising multiple shelving units with shelves on which containers are placed. The system comprises a movable picking station configured to travel among the shelving units, and transfer items between containers. The movable picking station is configured to collect from the multiple shelving units into an order container at least a portion of a plurality of items listed in an order to be fulfilled. The movable picking station is configured to place the pickable items in the order container in an optimal arrangement while minimizing the distance the containers are moved and potential damage to the items.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Guy Blotnik, Shmuel Ur
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Publication number: 20210188551Abstract: A vending-tote adapted to be moved by a lift-robot across a shelving-unit to rendezvous with a second tote carried by a second robot, the vending-tote comprising: a container designed to contain a plurality of items; and a dispensing mechanism integrated within the container, wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to be activated by the lift-robot, the second robot, or both for dispensing at least one item of the plurality of items into the second tote.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Guy Blotnik, Shmuel Ur
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Publication number: 20210188547Abstract: A storage facility having lift robots and ground robots cooperating in transferring of totes within the facility, is disclosed. The transferring of totes between ground robots and lift robots in the facility through buffer locations, allows the totes to be carried on top of the lift robots, which are thereby secured against unintentional dropping of the tote. The efficiency of the storage facility may be further improved in that the buffer locations, and in various embodiments also short height storage locations, which are accessible directly to ground robots, are utilized for storing totes that are ranked as associated with high prevalence to be transferred by ground robots, without the involvement of lift robots.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Guy Blotnik, Ori Avraham, Leav Oz Ari, Yuval Regev, Shmuel Ur
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Publication number: 20210009350Abstract: A direction switching module for lift robots using a pair of pinions coupled to a rack for propelling vertically and horizontally according to the track's orientation, is disclosed. In a linear motion mode both pinions rotate in the same velocity. In a direction switching mode, when changing from vertical to horizontal motion mode and vise versa, the module is capable of propelling one pinion on a vertical track and its counterpart on a horizontal track, simultaneously, each pinion in a different velocity. A bogie propelled by two pairs of said module is also disclosed, and a controller configured to drive both pinions in same velocity during linear motion and each pinion in a separate appropriate velocity during the direction switching mode. A method for turning a pinion-driven lift-robot in an intersection of rails and a controller for controlling the linear motion modes and the direction switching modes of the lift robot are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2018Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Shay Cohen, Guy Blotnik, Nadav Laor, Asaf Kaufman, Bar Cohen
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Publication number: 20210009349Abstract: A storage setup and method for robotic delivery and retrieval of crates from shelving blocks are disclosed. At least one shelving block in the setup comprises non-uniformly spaced apart storage surfaces. The storage surfaces are accessible to lift-robots through a network of tracks comprising intersecting vertically and horizontally oriented tracks. A computerized control system is configured to differentiate between storage locations based on which crate sizes from at least two different ranges of crate sizes a storage location can store. The storage may be automatically optimized by routing robots to store crates in storage locations sized in correlation with the size of the crate to be stored.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2018Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Shay Cohen, Guy Blotnik