Patents by Inventor Matthew Robert Douglas

Matthew Robert Douglas 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).

  • Publication number: 20240383139
    Abstract: A system may transport a first set of mobile storage units from a storage area to an active picking bay of a robotic picking station, the robotic picking station including a robotic arm, the active picking bay being within a range of motion of the robotic arm. A system may transport a carton to the robotic picking station, for example, using one or more conveyors. A system may instruct the robotic arm to move a first item from the first set of mobile storage units into the carton. A system may transport the carton out of the robotic picking station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Paolo Gerli, Gregory Patrick Cox, Amit Kalra, Brandon Lam, Ruchi Tewari, Daniel Jarvis, Nikhil Variar, Naveen Challapalli
  • Publication number: 20240336434
    Abstract: A release logic system for releasing cartons into a fulfillment system is described. In an example implementation, a release logic engine may receive carton data representing a set of cartons and indicating picks for each the set of cartons. The release logic engine may determine a score for a carton of the set of cartons based on a location of a first pick of the carton in a pick-to-cart area of a fulfillment center. In some implementations, the release logic engine may assign the carton to a cart adapted to transport cartons based on the score determined for the carton, and may induct the carton into the fulfillment center for the first pick using the cart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Yizhi Wang, Stephen Nilsen, Paolo Gerli Amador, Gregory Patrick Cox, Deepak Sharma, Daniel Jarvis, Amit Kalra, Kehang Han
  • Patent number: 12012283
    Abstract: A release logic system for releasing cartons into a fulfillment system is described. In an example implementation, a release logic engine may receive carton data representing a set of cartons and indicating picks for each the set of cartons. The release logic engine may determine a score for a carton of the set of cartons based on a location of a first pick of the carton in a pick-to-cart area of a fulfillment center. In some implementations, the release logic engine may assign the carton to a cart adapted to transport cartons based on the score determined for the carton, and may induct the carton into the fulfillment center for the first pick using the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Yizhi Wang, Stephen Nilsen, Paolo Gerli Amador, Gregory Patrick Cox, Deepak Sharma, Daniel Jarvis, Amit Kalra, Kehang Han
  • Patent number: 11939162
    Abstract: A system-directed robotic cart picking system is described. In an example implementation, the system may generate a picking itinerary including pick-to-cart routing based on locations of items in an order fulfillment center and received order data identifying the items, and may transport the carts in the order fulfillment center according to the pick-to-cart routing. The system may determine a zone of the order fulfillment center to which to assign a picker based on the picking itinerary and may determine tasks, such as picking at least one item from the locations to the carts, for the picker located in the zone. In some instances, the system may output pick instructions to a picker client device directing the picker to perform the tasks and may transport the carts to a defined point in the order fulfillment center in response to completion of the tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Stephen Nilsen, Paolo Gerli Amador, Gregory Patrick Cox
  • Publication number: 20240043212
    Abstract: An automated robotic replenishment system is described. In an example implementation, the system may include containers adapted to hold items; container transportation devices adapted to transport the containers to a replenishment station; and the replenishment station. The replenishment station may include a container receiving area, a mobile storage unit receiving space, and a robotic arm, which may pick up items from the container in the container receiving area and place the item into a mobile storage unit in the mobile storage unit receiving space. The system may also include an automated guided vehicle that transports the mobile storage unit between the replenishment station and a storage area of a fulfillment center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Paolo Gerli, Gregory Patrick Cox, Amit Kalra, Brandon Lam, Ruchi Tewari, Daniel Jarvis, Nikhil Variar, Naveen Challapalli
  • Publication number: 20220033186
    Abstract: A system-directed single line pick batching is described. In an example implementation, the system may receive data describing a set of orders including SKU identifiers associated with items in the orders, identify an eligible cart, and assign a location to a task queue of the cart based on the location being associated with a particular SKU identifier. In some instances, the location or SKU identifier may be determined based on an order with a certain quantity of different SKU identifiers. In some instances, the system may navigate the cart to the location and instruct the item to be picked from the location. In response to completion of the pick of the item, the system may navigate the cart to an end point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen Nilsen, Matthew Robert Douglas, Gregory Patrick Cox, Paolo Gerli Amador, Daniel Jarvis, Amit Kalra
  • Publication number: 20210245956
    Abstract: A system-directed robotic cart picking system is described. In an example implementation, the system may generate a picking itinerary including pick-to-cart routing based on locations of items in an order fulfillment center and received order data identifying the items, and may transport the carts in the order fulfillment center according to the pick-to-cart routing. The system may determine a zone of the order fulfillment center to which to assign a picker based on the picking itinerary and may determine tasks, such as picking at least one item from the locations to the carts, for the picker located in the zone. In some instances, the system may output pick instructions to a picker client device directing the picker to perform the tasks and may transport the carts to a defined point in the order fulfillment center in response to completion of the tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Stephen Nilsen, Paolo Gerli Amador, Gregory Patrick Cox