Patents by Inventor Paolo Gerli
Paolo Gerli 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: 12234092Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 30, 2021Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: Staples, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Nilsen, Matthew Robert Douglas, Gregory Patrick Cox, Paolo Gerli Amador, Daniel Jarvis, Amit Kalra
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Publication number: 20240383139Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2024Publication date: November 21, 2024Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Paolo Gerli, Gregory Patrick Cox, Amit Kalra, Brandon Lam, Ruchi Tewari, Daniel Jarvis, Nikhil Variar, Naveen Challapalli
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Publication number: 20240367907Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2024Publication date: November 7, 2024Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
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Publication number: 20240336434Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2024Publication date: October 10, 2024Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Yizhi Wang, Stephen Nilsen, Paolo Gerli Amador, Gregory Patrick Cox, Deepak Sharma, Daniel Jarvis, Amit Kalra, Kehang Han
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Patent number: 12037195Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2023Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: Staples, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
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Patent number: 12012283Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: Staples, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Yizhi Wang, Stephen Nilsen, Paolo Gerli Amador, Gregory Patrick Cox, Deepak Sharma, Daniel Jarvis, Amit Kalra, Kehang Han
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Publication number: 20240104500Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, the system may include a warehouse execution system adapted to generate a picking schedule for picking pick-to-cart and high-density storage items, and an AGV dispatching system adapted to dispatch a cart automated guided vehicle and a modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle based on the picking schedule. The cart automated guided vehicle may be adapted autonomously transport a carton through a pick-to-cart area and to a pick-cell station. The modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle may be adapted to synchronously autonomously transport a modular storage unit containing items to be placed in the cartons from a high-density storage area to the pick-cell station.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan, Rodney Gallaway
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Patent number: 11939162Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 10, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Staples, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Stephen Nilsen, Paolo Gerli Amador, Gregory Patrick Cox
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Publication number: 20240043212Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2022Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Paolo Gerli, Gregory Patrick Cox, Amit Kalra, Brandon Lam, Ruchi Tewari, Daniel Jarvis, Nikhil Variar, Naveen Challapalli
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Publication number: 20240043213Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system with a robot execution system (REX) is described. In an example implementation, a REX may induct, into the hybrid modular storage fetching system, an order identifying items to be fulfilled by automated guided vehicles (AGVs) at an order fulfillment facility. The REX may generate at task list including tasks for a first and second AGV, instruct the first AGV to retrieve a first item in the order from a first storage area based on the task list and deliver the first item to a pick-cell station. The REX may also instruct the second AGV to retrieve a second item of the order from a second storage area and deliver the second item to the pick-cell station. The REX may communicate with other components of the hybrid modular storage fetching system to coordinate the paths of the AGVs to fulfill the order.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
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Patent number: 11893535Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, the system may include a warehouse execution system adapted to generate a picking schedule for picking pick-to-cart and high-density storage items, and an AGV dispatching system adapted to dispatch a cart automated guided vehicle and a modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle based on the picking schedule. The cart automated guided vehicle may be adapted autonomously transport a carton through a pick-to-cart area and to a pick-cell station. The modular storage fetching automated guided vehicle may be adapted to synchronously autonomously transport a modular storage unit containing items to be placed in the cartons from a high-density storage area to the pick-cell station.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2020Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Staples, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan, Rodney Gallaway
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Publication number: 20230356948Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
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Patent number: 11702287Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Staples, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
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Patent number: 11697554Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system with a robot execution system (REX) is described. In an example implementation, a REX may induct, into the hybrid modular storage fetching system, an order identifying items to be fulfilled by automated guided vehicles (AGVs) at an order fulfillment facility. The REX may generate at task list including tasks for a first and second AGV, instruct the first AGV to retrieve a first item in the order from a first storage area based on the task list and deliver the first item to a pick-cell station. The REX may also instruct the second AGV to retrieve a second item of the order from a second storage area and deliver the second item to the pick-cell station. The REX may communicate with other components of the hybrid modular storage fetching system to coordinate the paths of the AGVs to fulfill the order.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2020Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Staples, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan
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Publication number: 20220033186Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Stephen Nilsen, Matthew Robert Douglas, Gregory Patrick Cox, Paolo Gerli Amador, Daniel Jarvis, Amit Kalra
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Patent number: 11180069Abstract: A system and method for automated loading of delivery vehicles using automated guided vehicles is described. In an example implementation, a loading coordination engine may determine a delivery destination of a first item based on item data associated with the first item, assign the first item to a location in a delivery vehicle, and generate a task list including an instruction to an automated guided vehicle to position the first item in the delivery vehicle based on the assigned location in the delivery vehicle. In some instances, the automated guided vehicle may navigate to a loading area to retrieve the first item from the loading area, navigate to a point proximate to the assigned location in the delivery vehicle, and place the first item at the assigned location based on the task list.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2018Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Staples, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra
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Patent number: 11124401Abstract: A system and method for automated loading of delivery vehicles using automated guided vehicles (“AGV”s) is described. In an example implementation, a loading coordination engine may assign a location on a mobile cart to an item and generate a task list including instructions to a first and a second AGV to position the item on the mobile cart based on the assigned location and to transport the mobile cart into a delivery vehicle. The first AGV may transport the item from an item loading area to a point proximate to the assigned location on the mobile cart and place the item at the assigned location based on the task list. The second AGV may transport the mobile cart from a cart loading zone into the delivery vehicle based on the task list and, in some instances, secure the mobile cart to the delivery vehicle based on the task list.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Staples, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra
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Patent number: 11119487Abstract: A system and method for automated preparation of deliveries in delivery vehicles using automated guided vehicles is described. In an example implementation, the method may determine a future delivery in a set of deliveries assigned to a delivery vehicle, the future delivery including a first item and determine a storage location in the delivery vehicle of the first item. In some implementations, an AGV may, during transit of the delivery vehicle along a route for delivering the set of deliveries, navigate to a point proximate to the storage location of the first item in the delivery vehicle, and retrieve the first item from the storage location in the delivery vehicle. The AGV may then deliver the first item to a delivery point.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Staples, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra
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Publication number: 20210245956Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Stephen Nilsen, Paolo Gerli Amador, Gregory Patrick Cox
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Publication number: 20210009352Abstract: A hybrid modular storage fetching system is described. In an example implementation, an automated guided vehicle of the hybrid modular storage fetching system includes a drive unit that provides motive force to propel the automated guided vehicle within an operating environment. The automated guided vehicle may also include a container handling mechanism including an extender and a carrying surface, the container handling mechanism having three or more degrees of freedom to move the carrying surface along three or more axes. The container handling mechanism may retrieve an item from a first target shelving unit using the carrying surface and the three or more degrees of freedom and place the item on a second target shelving unit. The automated guided vehicle may also include a power source coupled to provide power to the drive unit and the container handling mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra, Rodney Gallaway, Vikranth Gopalakrishnan