Patents by Inventor Paul Durkee

Paul Durkee 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
  • Publication number: 20240025000
    Abstract: An automated container cutting system includes a cutting tool configured to cut a container and a force feedback sensor operatively connected to the cutting tool. The force feedback sensor is configured to measure resistive force exerted on the cutting tool. The automated container cutting system includes a processor communicatively coupled to the force feedback sensor. The processor is configured to receive resistive force data from the force feedback sensor and determine whether the cutting tool has penetrated through the wall of the container using the received resistive force data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: James Benjamin Edwards, Paul Durkee
  • Patent number: 11868959
    Abstract: Examples provide an item storage cart for verifying correct item placement into containers on the item storage cart. A cart manager component outputs planogram data identifying a location of a selected item. Weight data generated by one or more weight sensors associated with the set of item storage containers is analyzed to verify whether a correct item is placed in a given storage container on the cart and/or verify a selected item is placed into a correct storage container. The cart manager component determines if an unselected item is removed from a storage container and/or if an unselected item is added to a storage container. A notification is output if an incorrect item is added to a cart, an incorrect item is removed from the cart, an item is added to the wrong container or removed from the wrong container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Durkee, Ragen Turner, James Benjamin Edwards, Nicole Morales, Stuart Clark
  • Patent number: 11855480
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a rechargeable battery for a light electric vehicle. More specifically, this disclosure describes a rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery holster that may be used to removably couple the rechargeable battery to a light electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Neutron Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Durkee, Andrew Titus
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11806825
    Abstract: An automated container cutting system for cutting a container includes a cutting platform and a cutting tool held by the cutting platform. The cutting tool is configured to cut the container. The automated container cutting system includes a force feedback sensor operatively connected to the cutting tool such that the force feedback sensor is configured to measure resistive force exerted on the cutting tool. The automated container cutting system includes at least one processor communicatively coupled to the force feedback sensor. The processor is configured to receive resistive force data from the force feedback sensor. The resistive force data represents resistive force exerted on the cutting tool as the cutting tool pierces a wall of the container. The at least one processor is configured to determine whether the cutting tool has penetrated through the wall of the container using the received resistive force data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: James Benjamin Edwards, Paul Durkee
  • Patent number: 11735939
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery kiosk can dynamically alter a charging rate of one or more rechargeable batteries housed within the rechargeable battery kiosk to increase a probability that the rechargeable battery kiosk has an ample supply of fully charged, or mostly fully charged, rechargeable batteries based on an anticipated usage data for the rechargeable battery kiosk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Neutron Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashley Cooper, Paul Durkee, Celina Mikolajczak
  • Patent number: 11699114
    Abstract: Examples provide a system and method for managing non-notifying customer orders for pickup. An order manager component identifies orders received from customers that typically do not provide advance notification prior to arrival at an order pickup location. A prioritization component assigns a priority to each order based on a per-customer confidence level. Customers providing notification and new customers receive the highest priority. Non-notifying customers having consistent pickup times associated with a threshold minimum number of previous orders receive a second highest priority. Non-notifying customers having inconsistent pickup arrival times and/or fewer than the threshold number of previous orders receive lower priority. A routing schedule is generated for pre-staging the orders based on the assigned priorities, pre-staging area capacity, and/or bot capacity. Totes are moved to the prestaging area based on instructions provided in the routing schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Roth, Paul Durkee, Jason D. Shaffer
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220360092
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery kiosk can dynamically alter a charging rate of one or more rechargeable batteries housed within the rechargeable battery kiosk to increase a probability that the rechargeable battery kiosk has an ample supply of fully charged, or mostly fully charged, rechargeable batteries based on an anticipated usage data for the rechargeable battery kiosk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Ashley COOPER, Paul DURKEE, Celina MIKOLAJCZAK
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11374421
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery kiosk can dynamically alter a charging rate of one or more rechargeable batteries housed within the rechargeable battery kiosk to increase a probability that the rechargeable battery kiosk has an ample supply of fully charged, or mostly fully charged, rechargeable batteries based on an anticipated usage data for the rechargeable battery kiosk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Neutron Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashley Cooper, Paul Durkee, Celina Mikolajczak
  • Patent number: 11361277
    Abstract: Examples provide a tote conveyance system for autonomously conveying totes from a storage system to a pickup/receiving area via smart container transport carts. The smart container conveyance cart aligns with the induction station on the storage system. The system utilizes actuators to move totes onto the cart from an induction station on the storage system or move totes off the cart into the induction station. Loading or unloading of totes are performed in accordance with priorities assigned based on cold-chain compliance temperature thresholds associated with the contents of the totes, weights of the totes, and destination of totes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: James Benjamin Edwards, Brian C. Roth, Paul Durkee, Ragen Turner
  • Publication number: 20220092497
    Abstract: Examples provide a system and method for managing non-notifying customer orders for pickup. An order manager component identifies orders received from customers that typically do not provide advance notification prior to arrival at an order pickup location. A prioritization component assigns a priority to each order based on a per-customer confidence level. Customers providing notification and new customers receive the highest priority. Non-notifying customers having consistent pickup times associated with a threshold minimum number of previous orders receive a second highest priority. Non-notifying customers having inconsistent pickup arrival times and/or fewer than the threshold number of previous orders receive lower priority. A routing schedule is generated for pre-staging the orders based on the assigned priorities, pre-staging area capacity, and/or bot capacity. Totes are moved to the prestaging area based on instructions provided in the routing schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Brian Roth, Paul Durkee, Jason D. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20220077531
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a rechargeable battery for a light electric vehicle. More specifically, this disclosure describes a rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery holster that may be used to removably couple the rechargeable battery to a light electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Durkee, Andrew Titus
  • Publication number: 20220063042
    Abstract: An automated container cutting system for cutting a container includes a cutting platform and a cutting tool held by the cutting platform. The cutting tool is configured to cut the container. The automated container cutting system includes a force feedback sensor operatively connected to the cutting tool such that the force feedback sensor is configured to measure resistive force exerted on the cutting tool. The automated container cutting system includes at least one processor communicatively coupled to the force feedback sensor. The processor is configured to receive resistive force data from the force feedback sensor. The resistive force data represents resistive force exerted on the cutting tool as the cutting tool pierces a wall of the container. The at least one processor is configured to determine whether the cutting tool has penetrated through the wall of the container using the received resistive force data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: James Benjamin Edwards, Paul Durkee
  • Patent number: 11211661
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a rechargeable battery for a light electric vehicle. More specifically, this disclosure describes a rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery holster that may be used to removably couple the rechargeable battery to a light electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Neutron Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Durkee, Andrew Titus