Patents by Inventor John G. Lert, Jr.

John G. Lert, Jr. 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: 11623826
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including a robotic system having a robotic picking workstation, tote storage and retrieval and transit decks. The system has bots that autonomously transport totes from the storage and retrieval system to the robotic picking workstation via the transit decks. The robotic picking workstation may have a picking lane where a robotic handler transports eaches from totes on the bots to order totes in the workstation. The robotic picking workstation further has a queuing buffer where bots are cued for the picking lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: William J. Fosnight, John G. Lert, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230095494
    Abstract: An order fulfillment system includes a storage structure for storing totes, workstations for processing customer orders and a staging and sequencing buffer having staging locations for storing the totes. The staging and sequencing buffer provides a buffer for totes as mobile robots transfer totes from the storage structure and to the one or more workstations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: ALERT INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: David B. Simpson, William J. Fosnight, John G. Lert, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230087079
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting and combining items in an outbound container through the use of autonomous vehicles, each of which includes means for automatically loading and unloading a payload, to perform both transfer and transport functions in moving containers of items within a workspace via a network of roadways. Under computer control, said autonomous vehicles transfer and transport case containers of item units between incoming receiving stations, intermediate storage locations, and outgoing order-assembly stations where entire containers or individual item units are combined in the outbound container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventor: John G. LERT, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230053089
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval facility includes a container dispenser which transfers one or more containers into a tote. Once loaded into a tote, the one or more containers may receive goods to fulfill an order. Once filled with goods, the containers may be accessed by customers for transport away from the facility. The container dispenser may include a table configured to move over an opening of a tote to dispense more than one container at different positions within the tote. The container dispenser may be integrated within a storage area of the automated storage and retrieval facility. Alternatively, the container dispenser may be part of workstation positioned away from the storage area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: ALERT INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: William J. Fosnight, Devin Lert, John G. Lert, Jr., Stephanie Waite
  • Publication number: 20230042788
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed relating to an automated store or system including an automated fulfillment section having a storage structure for storing fungible and/or non-fungible goods. The fungible and/or non-fungible goods may be retrieved from storage in response to a customer order. The system and method of the present technology allows retrieved fungible and/or non-fungible goods to be sorted and packed in accordance with stored customer preferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: ALERT INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: John G. Lert, JR., William J. Fosnight
  • Patent number: 11485576
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting and combining items in an outbound container through the use of autonomous vehicles, each of which includes means for automatically loading and unloading a payload, to perform both transfer and transport functions in moving containers of items within a workspace via a network of roadways. Under computer control, said autonomous vehicles transfer and transport case containers of item units between incoming receiving stations, intermediate storage locations, and outgoing order-assembly stations where entire containers or individual item units are combined in the outbound container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventor: John G. Lert, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220343269
    Abstract: A system comprising a fully automated supply chain, in combination with tracking technology and the unified commerce engine (UCE). Such a system enables the exact location of every item (or each) to be tracked from the manufacturer's facility to a customer's bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: ALERT INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: John G. Lert, JR., William J. Fosnight
  • Patent number: 11479410
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed relating to an automated store or system including an automated fulfillment section having a storage structure for storing fungible and/or non-fungible goods. The fungible and/or non-fungible goods may be retrieved from storage in response to a customer order. The system and method of the present technology allows retrieved fungible and/or non-fungible goods to be sorted and packed in accordance with stored customer preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Alert Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Lert, Jr., William J. Fosnight
  • Publication number: 20220315333
    Abstract: A system and method for storage and retrieval are provided. The system includes a multi-level storage structure, and mobile robots configured to pick, transport and place one or more tote, container, or object. This system and method can be used in order-fulfillment applications in which one or more workstations accommodate a picker that transports one or more eaches from a tote on one of the autonomous mobile robots to a put location, and an input/output interface induct material into the system and discharge fulfilled orders from the system. The mobile robots are further configured to move from level to level in the multi-level storage structure via inclined or vertical tracks without requiring a vertical lift or vertical conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: ALERT INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: John G. Lert, JR., William J. Fosnight
  • Publication number: 20220281685
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval facility includes an automated decant system for decanting cases of eaches received from manufacturers or others. The automated decant system includes a decant workstation which receives the cases of eaches, cuts and removes the packaging of the cases. Once case packaging has been removed, the decant workstation separates and organizes the eaches, and drops them into totes waiting beneath the workstation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: ALERT INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: John G. Lert, JR., William J. Fosnight, Mark Solomon, Julian Warhurst, Mark Supernor, Nathan Stallings
  • Publication number: 20220281686
    Abstract: An automated order fulfillment system is disclosed having different temperature zones and robots and containers capable of and/or configured to work in these different temperature zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: ALERT INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: William J. Fosnight, Christopher Hofmeister, John G. Lert, JR., Stephanie Waite, Julian Warhurst
  • Publication number: 20220219904
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval facility is disclosed including a storage structure, mobile robots and mobile racks for use in inventory management, order fulfillment and automation-based capacity planning. In examples, a rack or racking system may be used to transport containers, for example, totes. The rack is configured to attach to a load/unload docking station at the storage structure that enables the mobile robots to load totes onto the rack and/or unload totes from the rack. The racks can further be loaded onto a truck that transports the totes between facilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: ALERT INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: John G. Lert, JR., William J. Fosnight, Ben Ngo, Mark Solomon, Samuel White, Julian Warhurst
  • Publication number: 20220194704
    Abstract: An automatic storage and retrieval system is disclosed including storage positions for storing containers, a portal and mobile robots for transferring the containers between the storage positions and portal. The portal may include a bot-access side where the mobile robots transfer containers to and from the portal, and a user-access side where users remove items from the containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: ALERT INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: William J. Fosnight, Devin Lert, John G. Lert, JR., Stephanie Waite, Julian Warhurst, David Hartnett
  • Patent number: 11365049
    Abstract: A system and method for storage and retrieval are provided. The system includes a multi-level storage structure, and mobile robots configured to pick, transport and place one or more tote, container, or object. This system and method can be used in order-fulfillment applications in which one or more workstations accommodate a picker that transports one or more eaches from a tote on one of the autonomous mobile robots to a put location, and an input/output interface induct material into the system and discharge fulfilled orders from the system. The mobile robots are further configured to move from level to level in the multi-level storage structure via inclined or vertical tracks without requiring a vertical lift or vertical conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Alert Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Lert, Jr., William J. Fosnight
  • Patent number: 11363883
    Abstract: An automated system structure may be quickly and efficiently assembled using a number of storage modules. Storage modules may be comprised of a pair of shelf modules, each comprising a number of defined storage locations for storing totes, cartons, trays or other containers. The shelf modules may themselves be modular units comprising a number of horizontal storage levels affixed to a pair of vertical support assemblies at each end of the shelf modules. The pair of shelf modules may be accurately spaced from each other by mounting the shelf modules to tie beams at the bottom and tie plates at the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Alert Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Lert, Jr., Martin R. Elliott, William J. Fosnight, Christopher J. Dancewicz, Michael Chesna, Tsepa Bayul
  • Patent number: 11332311
    Abstract: An automated order fulfillment system is disclosed having different temperature zones and robots and containers capable of and/or configured to work in these different temperature zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Alert Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Fosnight, Christopher Hofmeister, John G. Lert, Jr., Stephanie Waite, Julian Warhurst
  • Patent number: 11315072
    Abstract: A system comprising a fully automated supply chain, in combination with tracking technology and the unified commerce engine (UCE). Such a system enables the exact location of every item (or each) to be tracked from the manufacturer's facility to a customer's bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Alert Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Lert, Jr., William J. Fosnight
  • Publication number: 20220081213
    Abstract: An automated decant system is disclosed for processing pallets of cased goods received at a facility, extracting packaging for the cases and transferring eaches within the cases to totes, possibly organized by SKU in sub-totes within the tote.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: ALERT INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: John G. Lert, JR., William J. Fosnight, Charles W. Su, Christopher Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 11267651
    Abstract: An automatic storage and retrieval system is disclosed including storage positions for storing containers, a portal and mobile robots for transferring the containers between the storage positions and portal. The portal may include a bot-access side where the mobile robots transfer containers to and from the portal, and a user-access side where users remove items from the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Alert Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Fosnight, Devin Lert, John G. Lert, Jr., Stephanie Waite, Julian Warhurst, David Hartnett
  • Publication number: 20220063910
    Abstract: An order fulfillment system is disclosed including a multi-level tote storage structure, one or more autonomous mobile robots configured to pick, transport and place one or more tote; one or more workstations configured to accommodate a picker that transports one or more eaches from a tote on one of the autonomous mobile robots to a “put” location, wherein the autonomous mobile robots are configured to move from level to level in the order fulfillment apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: ALERT INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: John G. Lert, JR., William J. Fosnight, Julian Warhurst, Mark Solomon