Patents by Inventor Scott Swindells

Scott Swindells 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: 20260035123
    Abstract: A container processing system for processing a container. The container processing system includes a conveyor that transports the container toward a set location. A container positioner positions the container in the set location. A first container sensor detects a height of the container when the container is in the set location. A second container sensor detects a length of the container when the container is in the set location. A third container sensor detects a width of the container when the container is in the set location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2024
    Publication date: February 5, 2026
    Inventors: Scott Swindells, Kenneth Perano
  • Publication number: 20250263252
    Abstract: A container repository for containers includes a cabinet having an interior. A container holder is disposed in the interior of the cabinet. The container holder includes a container receiver and a container dispenser. The container receiver has a container interior sized and shaped to receive and hold the containers as a stack of containers. The container dispenser is arranged to remove a bottom-most container of the stack of containers from the stack of containers. A container transporter is at least partially disposed in the interior of the cabinet. The container transporter transports the containers after the containers are removed from the stack of containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2025
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Inventors: Kenneth Perano, Scott Swindells
  • Publication number: 20250263251
    Abstract: A container repository for containers includes a cabinet having an interior. A container holder is disposed in the interior of the cabinet. The container holder includes a container receiver and a container dispenser. The container receiver has a container interior sized and shaped to receive and hold the containers as a stack of containers. The container dispenser is arranged to remove a bottom-most container of the stack of containers from the stack of containers. A container transporter is at least partially disposed in the interior of the cabinet. The container transporter transports the containers after the containers are removed from the stack of containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2025
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Inventors: Kenneth Perano, Scott Swindells
  • Patent number: 12338084
    Abstract: A container repository for containers includes a cabinet having an interior. A container holder is disposed in the interior of the cabinet. The container holder includes a container receiver and a container dispenser. The container receiver has a container interior sized and shaped to receive and hold the containers as a stack of containers. The container dispenser is arranged to remove a bottom-most container of the stack of containers from the stack of containers. A container transporter is at least partially disposed in the interior of the cabinet. The container transporter transports the containers after the containers are removed from the stack of containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Perano, Scott Swindells
  • Publication number: 20250200510
    Abstract: A packing system for packing products (e.g., medications) and other components into a container for shipping to customers is provided. The packing system includes a system controller that directs carrier devices along routes between task stations. The system controller can monitor the tasks performed by the task stations, the locations of the carrier devices, the tasks yet to be performed to complete packing of the containers at the task stations, and queues of other carrier devices at the stations. Based on this information, the system controller may direct the carrier devices to different stations and may change the task performed by or assigned to one or more of the stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2025
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Scott Swindells, Gabriel Di Genova
  • Publication number: 20250165886
    Abstract: A system and method for load balancing within a packing system may identify locations of carrier devices in the packing system based on optical communications between the carrier devices and route communication devices disposed at different locations along the routes of the packing system. The system and method can identify zones associated with different segments of the routes, determine whether a number and/or density of the carrier devices in a zone exceeds a threshold, and, responsive to the number and/or the density exceeding the threshold, (a) the carrier devices are directed to move to reduce the number and/or the density of the carrier devices and/or (b) the task performed by one or more of the task stations of the packing system is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventor: Scott Swindells
  • Patent number: 12293315
    Abstract: A system and method for load balancing within a packing system may identify locations of carrier devices in the packing system based on optical communications between the carrier devices and route communication devices disposed at different locations along the routes of the packing system. The system and method can identify zones associated with different segments of the routes, determine whether a number and/or density of the carrier devices in a zone exceeds a threshold, and, responsive to the number and/or the density exceeding the threshold, (a) the carrier devices are directed to move to reduce the number and/or the density of the carrier devices and/or (b) the task performed by one or more of the task stations of the packing system is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Swindells
  • Patent number: 12293330
    Abstract: A packing system for packing products (e.g., medications) and other components into a container for shipping to customers is provided. The packing system includes a system controller that directs carrier devices along routes between task stations. The system controller can monitor the tasks performed by the task stations, the locations of the carrier devices, the tasks yet to be performed to complete packing of the containers at the task stations, and queues of other carrier devices at the stations. Based on this information, the system controller may direct the carrier devices to different stations and may change the task performed by or assigned to one or more of the stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Swindells, Gabriel Di Genova
  • Publication number: 20230130332
    Abstract: A packing system for packing products (e.g., medications) and other components into a container for shipping to customers is provided. The packing system includes a system controller that directs carrier devices along routes between task stations. The system controller can monitor the tasks performed by the task stations, the locations of the carrier devices, the tasks yet to be performed to complete packing of the containers at the task stations, and queues of other carrier devices at the stations. Based on this information, the system controller may direct the carrier devices to different stations and may change the task performed by or assigned to one or more of the stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Scott Swindells, Gabriel Di Genova
  • Publication number: 20230126344
    Abstract: A system and method for load balancing within a packing system may identify locations of carrier devices in the packing system based on optical communications between the carrier devices and route communication devices disposed at different locations along the routes of the packing system. The system and method can identify zones associated with different segments of the routes, determine whether a number and/or density of the carrier devices in a zone exceeds a threshold, and, responsive to the number and/or the density exceeding the threshold, (a) the carrier devices are directed to move to reduce the number and/or the density of the carrier devices and/or (b) the task performed by one or more of the task stations of the packing system is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventor: Scott Swindells