Patents by Inventor Todd E. Kepple

Todd E. Kepple 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: 20230416024
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Cyrulik, Todd E. Kepple, Scott Collins, Jason S. Sirois
  • Patent number: 11745964
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Michael Cyrulik, Todd E. Kepple, Scott Collins, Jason S. Sirois
  • Publication number: 20230073500
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Robert SULLIVAN, Gregory THRONSON, Christopher KILEY, Todd E. KEPPLE, Jared PLOSS
  • Patent number: 11498784
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Robert Sullivan, Gregory Thronson, Christopher Kiley, Todd E. Kepple, Jared Ploss
  • Publication number: 20220144549
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Cyrulik, Todd E. Kepple, Scott Collins, Jason S. Sirois
  • Patent number: 11230447
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Symbolic LLC
    Inventors: Michael Cyrulik, Todd E. Kepple, Scott Collins, Jason S. Sirois
  • Publication number: 20210261360
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Robert SULLIVAN, Gregory THRONSON, Christopher KILEY, Todd E. KEPPLE, Jared PLOSS
  • Patent number: 11008184
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Robert Sullivan, Gregory Thronson, Christopher Kiley, Todd E. Kepple, Jared Ploss
  • Publication number: 20210039897
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Cyrulik, Todd E. Kepple, Scott Collins, Jason S. Sirois Sirois
  • Patent number: 10781060
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Michael Cyrulik, Todd E. Kepple, Scott Collins, Jason S. Sirois
  • Publication number: 20200231391
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Robert SULLIVAN, Gregory THRONSON, Christopher KILEY, Todd E. KEPPLE, Jared PLOSS
  • Patent number: 10625956
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SYMBOTIC, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Sullivan, Gregory Thronson, Christopher Kiley, Todd E. Kepple, Jared Ploss
  • Publication number: 20190359436
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Michael CYRULIK, Todd E. KEPPLE, Scott COLLINS, Jason S. SIROIS
  • Patent number: 10377585
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Symbotic, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Cyrulik, Todd E. Kepple, Scott Collins, Jason S. Sirois
  • Patent number: 10196207
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes an autonomous rover and a multilevel rack structure. The multilevel rack structure includes columns connected by rail beams transversely spanning between the columns. The rail beams define storage and transport levels and provide riding surfaces for the autonomous rover. The rail beams include integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Symbotic, LLC
    Inventors: John F. Keating, Thomas G. Perry, William Johnson, Jr., Todd E. Kepple, Lawrence A. Margagliano
  • Publication number: 20180327196
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Robert SULLIVAN, Gregory THRONSON, Christopher KILEY, Todd E. KEPPLE, Jarad PLOSS
  • Publication number: 20180111770
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Michael CYRULIK, Todd E. KEPPLE, Scott COLLINS, Jason S. SIROIS
  • Patent number: 9850079
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Symbotic, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Cyrulik, Todd E. Kepple, Scott Collins, Jason S. Sirois
  • Publication number: 20160347541
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes an autonomous rover and a multilevel rack structure. The multilevel rack structure includes columns connected by rail beams transversely spanning between the columns. The rail beams define storage and transport levels and provide riding surfaces for the autonomous rover. The rail beams include integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: John F. KEATING, Thomas G. PERRY, William JOHNSON, JR., Todd E. KEPPLE, Lawrence A. MARGAGLIANO
  • Patent number: D857072
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Symbotic, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Cyrulik, Michael Kapust, Todd E. Kepple