Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Toebes
Stephen C. Toebes 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: 9371183Abstract: A multilevel vertical conveyor system for transporting uncontained case units to and from a multilevel storage structure having an array of vertically stacked storage levels is provided and includes a frame having platform guide members, a drive member connected to the frame, and support platforms coupled to the drive member. The drive member is configured to move the support platforms relative to the frame in a substantially continuous vertical loop, each of the support platforms being configured to support multiple uncontained case units where each of the multiple uncontained case units is disposed at a respective predetermined area of a respective support platform, the support platforms have support members that are guided by guide members substantially throughout a path of the substantially continuous vertical loop, where the support members are guided in three point contact by the guide members substantially throughout the path.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan
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Publication number: 20160137419Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including a storage structure with storage racks having a seating surface configured to support case units where a position of each case unit is non-deterministic for each storage location on the storage racks, each case unit has a predetermined storage position and a controller is configured to determine the predetermined storage position, a picking aisle configured to provide access to the case units within the storage structure, and a seismic disturbance restorative system including seismic disturbance motions sensors disposed on the storage racks, a seismic disturbance control module in communication with the seismic disturbance sensors and configured to identify a seismic disturbance, and an automated case mapper configured to traverse the picking aisle, the automated case mapper being in communication with and initialized by the seismic disturbance control module to identify a seated position of at least one case unit within the storage structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2016Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Robert Sullivan, Stephen C. Toebes
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Publication number: 20160137416Abstract: An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, the autonomous transport robot includes a payload bed having at least one reference datum surface and at least one payload justification device, the at least one payload justification device being configured to position a payload on the payload bed in substantial contact with the at least one reference datum surface to place the payload in a predetermined position on the payload bed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan, Forrest Buzan
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Patent number: 9327903Abstract: An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, the autonomous transport robot including a drive section assembly having at least one motor and a pair of drive wheels coupled to the motor, a frame configured to support a payload, a transfer arm connected to the frame and configured for the autonomous transfer of payload to and from the frame, and a suspension system movably connecting the drive section assembly and the frame allowing relative movement between the frame and the drive section assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2015Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: SYMBOTIC, LLCInventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan
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Patent number: 9309050Abstract: A storage and retrieval system including a storage structure having storage shelves, each storage shelf having slats for supporting stored items where the slats are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, an autonomous transport vehicle including at least one sensor configured to sense each of the slats and output a signal indicating when a slat is sensed, and a controller for verifying a location of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage structure based on at least the output signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2015Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan, Michael Cyrulik
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Publication number: 20160031642Abstract: An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, the autonomous transport robot including a drive section assembly having at least one motor and a pair of drive wheels coupled to the motor, a frame configured to support a payload, a transfer arm connected to the frame and configured for the autonomous transfer of payload to and from the frame, and a suspension system movably connecting the drive section assembly and the frame allowing relative movement between the frame and the drive section assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2015Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan
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Patent number: 9242800Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including a storage structure with storage racks having a seating surface configured to support case units where a position of each case unit is non-deterministic for each storage location on the storage racks, each case unit has a predetermined storage position and a controller is configured to determine the predetermined storage position, a picking aisle configured to provide access to the case units within the storage structure, and a seismic disturbance restorative system including seismic disturbance motions sensors disposed on the storage racks, a seismic disturbance control module in communication with the seismic disturbance sensors and configured to identify a seismic disturbance, and an automated case mapper configured to traverse the picking aisle, the automated case mapper being in communication with and initialized by the seismic disturbance control module to identify a seated position of at least one case unit within the storage structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Robert Sullivan, Stephen C. Toebes
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Patent number: 9187244Abstract: An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, the autonomous transport robot includes a payload bed having at least one reference datum surface and at least one payload justification device, the at least one payload justification device being configured to position a payload on the payload bed in substantial contact with the at least one reference datum surface to place the payload in a predetermined position on the payload bed.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan, Forrest Buzan
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Publication number: 20150309511Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle for transporting items in a storage and retrieval system is provided. The autonomous transport vehicle includes at least two drive wheels and a controller, where each drive wheel is independently driven and a drive wheel encoder is disposed adjacent each drive wheel. The controller, in communication with the drive wheel encoders, is configured to determine a kinematic state of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage and retrieval system based on incremental data from the drive wheel encoders only and independent of drive wheel slippage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Inventors: Robert Sullivan, Stephen C. Toebes, Forrest Buzan, Andrew Eccles
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Patent number: 9156394Abstract: An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, the autonomous transport robot including a drive section assembly having at least one motor and a pair of drive wheels coupled to the motor, a frame configured to support a payload, a transfer arm connected to the frame and configured for the autonomous transfer of payload to and from the frame, and a suspension system movably connecting the drive section assembly and the frame allowing relative movement between the frame and the drive section assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan
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Publication number: 20150239665Abstract: A multilevel vertical conveyor system for transporting uncontained case units to and from a multilevel storage structure having an array of vertically stacked storage levels is provided and includes a frame having platform guide members, a drive member connected to the frame, and support platforms coupled to the drive member. The drive member is configured to move the support platforms relative to the frame in a substantially continuous vertical loop, each of the support platforms being configured to support multiple uncontained case units where each of the multiple uncontained case units is disposed at a respective predetermined area of a respective support platform, the support platforms have support members that are guided by guide members substantially throughout a path of the substantially continuous vertical loop, where the support members are guided in three point contact by the guide members substantially throughout the path.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan
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Publication number: 20150239666Abstract: A storage and retrieval system including a storage structure having storage shelves, each storage shelf having slats for supporting stored items where the slats are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, an autonomous transport vehicle including at least one sensor configured to sense each of the slats and output a signal indicating when a slat is sensed, and a controller for verifying a location of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage structure based on at least the output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan, Michael Cyrulik
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Publication number: 20150239668Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including a storage structure with storage racks having a seating surface configured to support case units where a position of each case unit is non-deterministic for each storage location on the storage racks, each case unit has a predetermined storage position and a controller is configured to determine the predetermined storage position, a picking aisle configured to provide access to the case units within the storage structure, and a seismic disturbance restorative system including seismic disturbance motions sensors disposed on the storage racks, a seismic disturbance control module in communication with the seismic disturbance sensors and configured to identify a seismic disturbance, and an automated case mapper configured to traverse the picking aisle, the automated case mapper being in communication with and initialized by the seismic disturbance control module to identify a seated position of at least one case unit within the storage structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: Robert Sullivan, Stephen C. Toebes
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Publication number: 20150104282Abstract: An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, the autonomous transport robot including a drive section assembly having at least one motor and a pair of drive wheels coupled to the motor, a frame configured to support a payload, a transfer arm connected to the frame and configured for the autonomous transfer of payload to and from the frame, and a suspension system movably connecting the drive section assembly and the frame allowing relative movement between the frame and the drive section assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan
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Patent number: 9008884Abstract: A storage and retrieval system including a storage structure having storage shelves, each storage shelf having slats for supporting stored items where the slats are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, an autonomous transport vehicle including at least one sensor configured to sense each of the slats and output a signal indicating when a slat is sensed, and a controller for verifying a location of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage structure based on at least the output signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Symbotic LLCInventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan, Michael Cyrulik
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Patent number: 8998554Abstract: A multilevel vertical conveyor system for transporting uncontained case units to and from a multilevel storage structure having an array of vertically stacked storage levels is provided and includes a frame having platform guide members, a drive member connected to the frame, and support platforms coupled to the drive member. The drive member is configured to move the support platforms relative to the frame in a substantially continuous vertical loop, each of the support platforms being configured to support multiple uncontained case units where each of the multiple uncontained case units is disposed at a respective predetermined area of a respective support platform, the support platforms have support members that are guided by guide members substantially throughout a path of the substantially continuous vertical loop, where the support members are guided in three point contact by the guide members substantially throughout the path.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Symbotic LLCInventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan
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Patent number: 8965619Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle for transporting items in a storage and retrieval system is provided. The autonomous transport vehicle includes at least two drive wheels and a controller, where each drive wheel is independently driven and a drive wheel encoder is disposed adjacent each drive wheel. The controller, in communication with the drive wheel encoders, is configured to determine a kinematic state of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage and retrieval system based on incremental data from the drive wheel encoders only and independent of drive wheel slippage.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Robert Sullivan, Stephen C. Toebes, Forrest Buzan, Andrew Eccles
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Patent number: 8954188Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including a storage structure with storage racks having a seating surface configured to support case units where a position of each case unit is non-deterministic for each storage location on the storage racks, each case unit has a predetermined storage position and a controller is configured to determine the predetermined storage position, a picking aisle configured to provide access to the case units within the storage structure, and a seismic disturbance restorative system including seismic disturbance motions sensors disposed on the storage racks, a seismic disturbance control module in communication with the seismic disturbance sensors and configured to identify a seismic disturbance, and an automated case mapper configured to traverse the picking aisle, the automated case mapper being in communication with and initialized by the seismic disturbance control module to identify a seated position of at least one case unit within the storage structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Robert Sullivan, Stephen C. Toebes
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Patent number: 8919801Abstract: An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, the autonomous transport robot including a drive section assembly having at least one motor and a pair of drive wheels coupled to the motor, a frame configured to support a payload, a transfer arm connected to the frame and configured for the autonomous transfer of payload to and from the frame, and a suspension system movably connecting the drive section assembly and the frame allowing relative movement between the frame and the drive section assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2014Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Symbotic, LLCInventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan
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Publication number: 20140339788Abstract: An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, the autonomous transport robot including a drive section assembly having at least one motor and a pair of drive wheels coupled to the motor, a frame configured to support a payload, a transfer arm connected to the frame and configured for the autonomous transfer of payload to and from the frame, and a suspension system movably connecting the drive section assembly and the frame allowing relative movement between the frame and the drive section assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: SYMBOTIC, LLC.Inventors: Stephen C. Toebes, Robert Sullivan