Article Storing, Retrieval, Or Arrangement (e.g., Warehousing, Automated Library) Patents (Class 700/214)
  • Patent number: 12213609
    Abstract: A delivery system and a method of delivering articles are provided. The system has a secure box having a planar top wall and a cylindrical sidewall, and a reclosable opening in the top wall, at least one reclosable opening in the sidewall. The system is configured to open the top wall opening for receiving an article into the secure box and for closing and locking the top wall opening, upon the article being received in the secure box. A round conveyor having at least two partitions and is configured and disposed to hold the article and to rotate and dispose the article proximate the sidewall opening for a recipient of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Inventor: Brian Carr
  • Patent number: 12215534
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for safety deposit box access using a smart table and a locker are described herein. A safety deposit box access system includes a smart table and a locker. The smart table includes a processing circuit configured to receive a request from a customer user device associated with a customer to access a safety deposit box that is stored in the locker. The processing circuit is further configured to verify that the customer is authorized to access the safety deposit box stored in the locker. The processing circuit is further configured to actuate a lock of the locker to an unlocked position based on the customer being authorized to access the safety deposit box via the locker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Kourtney Eidam, Darren M. Goetz, Dennis E. Montenegro
  • Patent number: 12208528
    Abstract: Lifting robot systems and methods for operating the same are disclosed. A lifting robot system includes a sensor device and a robot device. The robot device includes a body, a lifting component movably coupled to the body, and a collection tray coupled to the lifting component. Upon receiving a command to lift an object, the sensor device automatically detects the object, the robot device places the object on the collection tray, and the robot device causes the lifting component to lift the collection tray from a first height to a second height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Amacker, Jonathan Yao, Manuel Ahumada, Andrew Custer
  • Patent number: 12205426
    Abstract: A system for controlling access to a secure room containing a plurality of safety deposit boxes, comprises a motion detector, a biometric sensor, and a plurality of contact sensors, wherein each of the safety deposit boxes is associated with at least two contact sensors. The system includes a processor that is configured to unlock the gate when a plurality of access conditions are satisfied, which may include: collecting via the biometric sensor a biometric sensor a biometric credential that matches a reference biometric credential in a user database; and determining the secure room is unoccupied based on at least a predetermined period of no motion detected by the at least one motion sensor. The processor may also be configured to generate a box-accessed event identifying one of the safety deposit boxes when all of the contact sensors associated with that safety deposit box are simultaneously opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Paznic LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Curelar
  • Patent number: 12207187
    Abstract: A method and a system for electronic shelf label network access and roaming communication are disclosed in the present disclosure. The present disclosure greatly improves the success rate of a background server in selecting an optimal base station to timely communicate with an electronic shelf label that has newly entered a coverage area of an electronic shelf label system or moved, and ensures the reliability and stability of the communication between the background server and the electronic shelf label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Hanshow Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Liang, Shiguo Hou, Yaping Ji, Yujing Wang, Ju Zhang, Guofeng Zhang, Qi Jiang
  • Patent number: 12202029
    Abstract: An automatic tool changer includes first and second tool change units that is driven respectively by a pair of servo motors and move along an arrangement direction of a plurality of tools installed on a tool installation unit, a torque detection unit that detects a torque of each of the pair of servo motors, and a control device that controls operations of the first and second tool change units. The control device fixes the first tool change unit at a reference position, and moves the second tool change unit toward the first tool change unit. The control device determines, based on a torque change of each servo motor, that a plurality of upper tools are brought together at the first tool change unit as a result of a movement of the second tool change unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: AMADA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 12186917
    Abstract: A method for calibrating lens grippers prior to use of the grippers in a lens manufacturing line includes providing a remote gripper calibration tool having an assembly plate and a Z-directional position sensor; providing a master gripper having a length dimension terminating in a tip, the length dimension being predetermined to match a desired final extension length of a lens gripper; mounting the master gripper to the assembly plate; measuring the Z-directional position of the tip of the master gripper with the Z-directional position sensor; unmounting the master gripper from the assembly plate; mounting a lens gripper to be calibrated to the assembly plate, the lens gripper having a tip, and calibrating the lens gripper by adjusting the final extension length of the tip of the lens gripper to a predetermined position relative to the measured Z-directional position of the tip of the master gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Brinckmann, Nils Schweizer, Jens Wolfstaedter
  • Patent number: 12186780
    Abstract: Multi-function sorting system for use in a sorting operation includes a server, a sortation engine, and first and second function sorting systems. First function sorting system for sorting articles includes first function vehicles traversing a first function platform for transporting and depositing first function articles into first sort receptacles. Second function sorting system for sorting articles includes second function vehicles traversing a second function platform spaced apart from the first function platform for transporting and depositing second function articles into second sort receptacles. The second function platform is arranged above the first function platform in a vertical stacked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Tompkins Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Serstad, Michael C. Futch
  • Patent number: 12183031
    Abstract: System and methods for determining positions of server computers within a rack are disclosed. Unit Identification (UID) lights of the server computers are turned ON to determine positions of server computers relative to other server computers or relative to other server computers and non-server levels. The non-server levels include empty levels and levels with equipment that are not server computers. The positions of server computers are identified based on images of the servers captured by a camera or by polling the states of the UID lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Super Micro Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsang Ming Jiang, Shu-Chun Yeh
  • Patent number: 12183140
    Abstract: A lockbox and parcel management system is implemented in which a lockbox having multiple compartments is controllable via an access device that locks and unlocks respective compartments upon receiving a proper access code input. A user may place an order with an e-commerce service using an e-commerce application or website. The e-commerce service, upon receiving the order, may transmit order information to a lockbox remote service which can communicate with a user device associated with the user who placed the order, the access device for the lockbox, and a deliverer's device from the delivery company. The lockbox remote service or authorized user/owner may set access codes for the deliverer to open and place a parcel in a lockbox's compartment for safe and secure storage until the user arrives home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Milotte
    Inventor: James Stevenot
  • Patent number: 12174643
    Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering packages using mobile robots. In some examples, a system includes a central controller configured for fulfilling package delivery orders. The system includes package delivery robots. Each package delivery robot is configured for navigating to a location of a package in the warehouse and loading the package onto the package delivery robot. Each package delivery robot is configured for navigating to a package destination by travelling on a path through one or more enclosed passageways and unloading the package at the package destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Inventor: Nishant Jacob George
  • Patent number: 12172790
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for visual indicators for optimized packing of multi-item packages. In one embodiment, an example system may include an optionally bottomless container, a projector, and a controller configured to determine a first size of a first item to be placed in the bottomless container, determine a second size of a second item to be placed in the bottomless container, determine an item arrangement for the first item and the second item, and determine a first position for a first visual indicator. The controller may be configured to determine a second position for a second visual indicator, determine a size for a square to be projected by the projector, and cause the projector to project the first visual indicator at the first position, the second visual indicator at the second position, and the square onto the bottomless container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Russell Obrien, Joshua Arleigh Burright
  • Patent number: 12168572
    Abstract: A warehousing system includes a multilevel container storage array each level of which has a transport area and a storage area, a container transport vehicle located on each level to transport containers to and from container storage locations on each storage shelf on each level of the multilevel storage array to a breakpack operation station, a putwall of more than one levels of breakpack goods container stations distributed along each level with a corresponding breakpack goods transfer deck at each level of the putwall, a breakpack goods transport vehicle that transports breakpack goods along the corresponding breakpack goods transfer deck, and between corresponding breakpack goods transfer decks at different levels of the putwall, to each breakpack goods container station, and a controller effecting operation of the container transport vehicle between the container storage locations, the breakpack operation station, and a breakpack goods container located at a breakpack goods container station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Adam Traina, Edward Macdonald
  • Patent number: 12162736
    Abstract: A shelf management method includes predicting whether there is space in the station queue area of a station; if yes, selecting a shelf from among the shelves allocated to the station and have not yet been transported, and controlling a moving robot to transport the selected shelf; after the moving robot is engaged with the selected shelf, re-predicting whether there is space in the station queue areas of all the stations that need the selected shelf; if yes, controlling the moving robot to transport the selected shelf to the station queue area that has been predicted to have space, and when the moving robot has transported the selected shelf to the pre-set area around the station queue area that has been predicted to have space, determining whether there is newly available space in the station queue area; if yes, controlling the moving robot to enter the station queue area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING GEEKPLUS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kai Liu, Mengdi Wang
  • Patent number: 12162680
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes: a track system having a first set of parallel tracks and a second set of parallel tracks, which form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each having a grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring tracks of the first set of tracks and a pair of neighboring tracks of the second set of tracks; a plurality of storage containers arranged in storage columns located beneath the track system, wherein each storage column is located vertically below a grid opening; and a vehicle configured to move on top of the track system above the storage columns, including a storage container lifting device for lifting storage containers and a drive system including a wheel arrangement, configured to drive the vehicle along the track system in at least one of the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventors: Ivar Fjeldheim, Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 12162134
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of semiconductor processing tools; a carrier purge station; a carrier repair station; and an overhead transport (OHT) loop for transporting one or more substrate carriers among the plurality of semiconductor processing tools, the carrier purge station, and the carrier repair station. The carrier purge station is configured to receive a substrate carrier from one of the plurality of semiconductor processing tools, purge the substrate carrier with an inert gas, and determine if the substrate carrier needs repair. The carrier repair station is configured to receive a substrate carrier to be repaired and replace one or more parts in the substrate carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jen-Ti Wang, Chih-Wei Lin, Fu-Hsien Li, Yi-Ming Chen, Cheng-Ho Hung
  • Patent number: 12154073
    Abstract: A control system performs a shipping process, a replenishing process, a moving process, and a returning process. The replenishing process is for, in a case in which the number of first-type articles located in a first warehouse has become less than or equal to a quantitative threshold, transporting the first-type articles located in a second warehouse to the first warehouse, thereby stocking the articles into the first warehouse while the articles are in containers. The moving process is for transporting second-type articles that have become the picking target articles and are located in the second warehouse to the first warehouse, thereby stocking the articles into the first warehouse while the articles are in the containers. The returning process is for transporting the containers accommodating the second-type articles that have been returned to the first warehouse upon completion of the shipping process, from the first warehouse to the second warehouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Miyamoto, Hiromi Onda, Takashi Ukon
  • Patent number: 12154064
    Abstract: A processing system for processing objects is disclosed that includes a plurality of receiving stations for receiving a plurality of objects, each object being associated with prerecorded data, and a plurality of processing stations, each of which is in communication with at least one processing station. Each processing station includes perception means for perceiving data regarding an identity of any of an object or a bin of objects, and capture means for capturing characteristic data regarding an object to provide captured data. Each processing station further includes comparison means for comparing the captured data with the prerecorded data to provide comparison data, and a plurality of distribution stations, each of which is in communication with at least one processing station for receiving objects from the at least one processing station responsive to the comparison data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lakshman Kumar, Abraham Schneider, Thomas Koletschka, Christopher Geyer, Joseph Romano, John Richard Amend, Jr., Benjamin Cohen, William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Kyle Maroney, Thomas Wagner
  • Patent number: 12145800
    Abstract: Aspects described herein include a computer-implemented method of generating a floor plan for use by a plurality of mobile drive units within an inventory system. The method comprises defining a grid according to predefined grid rules, placing inventory station blocks, placing predefined travel blocks, and placing predefined storage blocks. Predefined connection rules specify which faces of the different predefined blocks are permitted to connect. The method further comprises outputting a map representing the floor plan. The map comprises location information for fiducial markers corresponding to the predefined blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Aayush Aggarwal, Vishnu R. Ayyagari
  • Patent number: 12145802
    Abstract: The present application describes an automated inventory control system that comprises a storage device, a sensing system, a data storage, and one or more processors. The storage device includes a plurality of storage locations for storing objects. The sensing system is configured to associate the storage device with a first location and with a second location. The data storage is configured to store configurable data of the storage device. The one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the first location to the storage device in response to receiving information associating the storage device with the first location from the sensing system. In response to receiving information associating the storage device with the second location from the sensing system, the one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the second location to the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: David C. Fly, Matthew J. Lipsey, Preston C. Phillips, Jason Newport, Andrew R. Lobo, Joseph Chwan, Frederick J. Rogers, Sean W. Ryan
  • Patent number: 12139339
    Abstract: Disclosed are an unmanned distribution system and method. By means of the system, a temporary storage facility can be arranged at a preset location of a closed distribution area, for example, a corresponding temporary storage facility is arranged near a closed housing estate, community or unit; an external item to be distributed that needs to be distributed is received and temporarily stored by the arranged temporary storage facility; and a robot arranged inside the closed distribution area can obtain the item to be distributed from the temporary storage facility and distribute the item to be distributed within the closed distribution area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING GEEKPLUS TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD
    Inventor: Yong Zheng
  • Patent number: 12139349
    Abstract: A product order fulfillment system including a multi-level transport system and a lifting transport system. Each level of the multi-level transport system having a corresponding independent asynchronous level transport system separate and distinct from the asynchronous level transport system corresponding to each other level of the multi-level transport system. Each independent lift axis of the lifting transport system being configured to independently hold at least one case and being communicably coupled to each asynchronous level transport system so as to provide for exchange of the at least one case between each asynchronous level transport system and each independent lift axis. Each independent lift axis is communicably coupled to each other independent lift axis of the more than one lift axis and forms a common output of mixed cases so as to create an ordered sequence of mixed cases in accordance to a predetermined case out ordered sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Richard B. Cohen, Brian Svoboda, Kirill K. Pankratov, Jason Chrisos, Rick Youping-Huang, Juergen D. Conrad, Elizabeth Clark-Polner
  • Patent number: 12122604
    Abstract: Systems and methods for order fulfilment and product handling are described. The system includes an application configured to identify products included in an order from a pharmacy to a wholesaler that can be bundled based on one or more criteria. Those products are retrieved from stock by the wholesaler and packaged together for shipment to the pharmacy. Operators at the pharmacy directly induct the bundled products into a product-handling system which accumulates and collates the products and other non-bundled products with respect to a patient order. The product-handling system may apply labels to the products and places the products associated with the patient order into a single package for shipment to the patient. The bundled products are directly inducted into the product-handling system without being placed in stock at the pharmacy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Inventor: Robert Terzini
  • Patent number: 12116205
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous rover for transferring payload within the system and including a communicator, a multilevel storage structure, each level allowing traversal of the at least one autonomous rover, at least one registration station disposed at predetermined locations on each level and being configured to communicate with the communicator to at least receive rover identification information, and a controller in communication with the at least one registration station and configured to receive the at least rover identification information and at least one of register the at least one autonomous rover as being on a level corresponding to a respective one of the at least one registration station or deregister the at least one autonomous rover from the system, where the controller effects induction of the at least one autonomous rover into a predetermined rover space on the level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Forrest Buzan, Edward A. MacDonald, Taylor A. Apgar, Thomas A. Schaefer, Melanie Ziegler, Russell G. Barbour
  • Patent number: 12115682
    Abstract: A fully autonomous delivery station, including a management unit for receiving orders for goods, and a housing including one or more storage devices containing goods to be delivered, a moving collector moving between the one or more storage devices for collecting the goods, and kiosk used by a user of the delivery station for receiving the goods outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: 1MROBOTICS LTD.
    Inventors: Roee Tuval, Igor Levinsky, David Prive, Itai Price, Yadin Aharoni, Eyal Yair
  • Patent number: 12110187
    Abstract: A conveyance device includes a slider, a conveyor including a plurality of conveyance modules to convey the slider, and a connecting member provided separately from the conveyance modules and configured to connect the conveyance modules adjacent to each other such that a signal is transmittable. The conveyance device further includes a first indicator provided so as to correspond to each of the plurality of conveyance modules and configured to indicate states of the conveyance modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Mukai
  • Patent number: 12091247
    Abstract: A product order fulfillment system of mixed product units, the system includes a storage array, an automated transport system, with at least one asynchronous transport system, for level transport, and a lift for between level transport, communicably connected to the storage array so as to automatically retrieve and output, from an output of the storage array, product units distributed in cases in a common part of the storage array. The at least one asynchronous transport system, and the lift are configured so as to form more than one transport echelon, each echelon being communicably connected with the common part and the output, and each effecting orthogonal sortation, corresponding to the transport echelon, of the product units distributed in the common part, so that sorted mixed output product units of the corresponding transport echelon are in predetermined sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Medford, Elizabeth Clark-Polner, Jeffrey Adam Traina, Edward Macdonald, Colton Ebersold
  • Patent number: 12094744
    Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide a method that includes loading, from a load port and into a first buffer of a multiple-buffer overhead hoist transport (OHT) vehicle, a first transport carrier storing one or more processed wafers. The method includes unloading to the load port, while the first buffer retains the first transport carrier, and from a second buffer of the multiple-buffer OHT vehicle, a second transport carrier storing one or more wafers for processing. In other implementations, the method includes loading, into a first buffer of the multiple-buffer OHT vehicle, a first transport carrier storing one or more wafers for processing, while a semiconductor processing tool, associated with a load port, is processing one or more wafers associated with a second transport carrier. The method includes positioning the multiple-buffer OHT vehicle above the load port while the multiple-buffer OHT vehicle retains the first transport carrier in the first buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chuan Wei Lin, Fu-Hsien Li, Chi-Feng Tung, Hsiang Yin Shen
  • Patent number: 12090522
    Abstract: A multi-level induction station is disclosed. The multi-level induction station includes multiple sorting levels arranged in a vertical stacked configuration; a vertically traveling automated lift that carries articles vertically between the sorting levels along a frame positioned proximate to the multiple sorting levels; an information acquisition device positioned to read information from an article on the lift; multiple transport devices positioned on the sorting levels to receive the articles; and a control system that directs the multi-level induction station to determine a destination for an article and direct the lift to a platform where a transport device is at an article-receiving position at the sorting level to receive the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: TOMPKINS ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Baring, Michael C. Futch, James M. Serstad
  • Patent number: 12085923
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to apparatuses and methods for managing and producing equipment within an operational environment. In one scenario, a method is performed that includes generating an organizational database structure that maintains information associated with equipment that is part of an operational environment. The organizational database structure includes information indicating which packable items are associated with the piece of equipment. The method further includes accessing the generated organizational database structure to identify physical operational environment factors that affect which pieces of equipment are to be currently produced within the operational environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: PACKSIZE LLC
    Inventor: Andreas Harnesk
  • Patent number: 12086742
    Abstract: A grounded operations facilities management system is disclosed that can facilitate communications in grounded operations facilities. Specifically, a method is provided for managing and supervising trucks as they park in truck spots to await freight deposits. Check-in instances reflecting, among other things, the actual truck spot a fleet vehicle is parked in can be retrieved by a client from a server or database in operable communication with the client, and upon instantiation and execution of several processes, the check-in instance can be updated and retrieved/served as needed throughout the system. The system can be managed and controlled via a geofence, such that fleet vehicle operators can only check-in to particular truck spots when located within the geofence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: BNSF Railway Company
    Inventors: Jimmy H Pang, Douglas Harvey Gage, Angela Roush
  • Patent number: 12085938
    Abstract: A transport system transports a transport object in a state sandwiching the transport object between a plurality of transport robots, wherein the transport robot comprises: a main body; wheels; a rotation mechanism that makes a contact part rotatable relative to the main body; a drive part(s) mounted on the main body and driving the wheels; a load sensor detecting a load when the contact part contacts the transport object; and an angle sensor that detects a rotation angle of the contact part relative to the main body, wherein using hardware resources, processings are executed to control the drive part so that load and rotation angle approach a first target value and a second target value based on information of a load and a rotation angle detected by the load sensor and the angle sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taichi Kumagai, Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 12056662
    Abstract: An inventory, disposition, and order management system and method utilizes multiple data sources to obtain complementary and augmented product data to determine an enhanced set of product data that reflects product inventory and disposition history information in a supply chain. The system and method can utilize the complementary and augmented product data to formulate recommended orders to achieve product dealer sales goals. The system and method compare the product data obtained from the data sources and reconcile any discrepancies. In at least one embodiment, the product data includes product identification data, product inventory data, product configuration data, and product disposition history data. Obtaining data from multiple sources allows the system and method to develop more accurate and complete data through an audit and reconciliation process as opposed to data obtained from a single source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Versata Development Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Loyens, David R. Middleton, Rahul Subramaniam, Aditya P. Kulkarni, Asif Ahmed Sheikh
  • Patent number: 12051038
    Abstract: Disclosed are an order processing method, apparatus and device, and a storage medium. The method comprises: determining a logical partition to which a target order belongs from a plurality of logical partitions as a target logical partition, wherein one logical partition is associated with at least one station and a plurality of inventory containers, and at least one inventory container of a plurality of inventory containers associated with the target logical partition accommodates inventory items required by the target order; allocating the target order to a station associated with the target logical partition, and taking the station as a target station; and controlling a robot to carry a target inventory container, accommodating the inventory items required by the target order, of the plurality of inventory containers associated with the target logical partition to the target station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING GEEKPLUS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hao Han, Wei Chen, Kai Sun, Yu Wang, Mo Shen
  • Patent number: 12050469
    Abstract: A system for delivering an article from a first location to a second location with a robot having a closeable transport container for housing the article during transport. A closeable recipient container is provided at the second location for receiving the article. At least one computer configured to navigate the robot over an outdoor transportation network between locations is provided. The robot has a robot article transport mechanism controlled by the at least one computer for removing the article from the transport container and the recipient container has a recipient article transport mechanism for moving the article inside the recipient container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Autonomy Squared LLC
    Inventor: Gabriel T Sibley
  • Patent number: 12042823
    Abstract: An article sorting facility includes: a first floor including a plurality of first travel paths; a second floor installed at a different height from the first floor in a vertical direction, and including a plurality of second travel paths; a plurality of first elevation mechanisms connecting terminating ends of the first travel paths to starting ends of the second travel paths; a plurality of second elevation mechanisms connecting terminating ends of the second travel paths to starting ends of the first travel paths; a plurality of receiving sections configured to receive articles from the transport vehicles; and at least one supply section configured to supply the articles to the transport vehicles. The plurality of second travel paths overlap corresponding first travel paths or corresponding receiving sections as viewed in the vertical direction, at least in a partial segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Mishina, Tadasuke Ogawa, Kouji Fujita, Kenichi Ukisu, Nobuhiko Sato, Masaya Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 12045760
    Abstract: A franchise food truck integrated management system and method thereof are disclosed. When food trucks are distributed in each region across a country, orders for food menu items are received in real time and the orders are assigned to suitable food trucks for delivery. The food truck integrated management method includes: receiving, by a server, a food ingredient order request from a first food truck; determining, by the server, a food ingredient supply route to the first food truck; and supplying order-requested food ingredients to the first food truck according to the determined supply route. There is provided an effect that a number of food trucks that are distributed and operated in each region may receive food ingredients before the food ingredients run out, whereby ordered food menu items may be cooked in a timely manner and the food menu items may be provided at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHINSTARR PRESENTS CORP.
    Inventors: Sangrok Lee, Koangkyun La
  • Patent number: 12038750
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a control device, a control method, and a program that enable the action of a movable body to be planned in accordance with the value of a peripheral object. The control device according to an embodiment of the present technology estimates a value of an object at the periphery of a movable body on the basis of sensor data detected by the movable body, and plans an action of the movable body on the basis of the value of the object estimated. The present technology is applicable to robots capable of acting autonomously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Mihara, Andrew Shin, Tetsuya Narita, Kazuo Hongo, Masanobu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 12033172
    Abstract: An online concierge system allows users to order items from a warehouse, which may have multiple warehouse locations. The online concierge system provides a user interface to users for ordering the items, with the user interface providing an indication of whether an item is predicted to be available at the warehouse at different times. To predict availability of an item model at different times, the online concierge system selects data from historical information about availability of items at one or more warehouses based on temporal, geospatial, and socioeconomic information about observations of historical availability of items at warehouses. The online concierge system accounts for distances between observations and a time and geographic location in a feature space to select observations for predicting item availability at the time and the geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
    Inventors: Ze He, Asif Haque, Allan Stewart, Haixun Wang, Xinyu Li
  • Patent number: 12030720
    Abstract: A warehouse facility for transporting and storing transporting tools for placing articles thereon or putting articles therein when the articles are transported is disclosed in which the transporting tools handled by a plurality of users can be appropriately managed. If an unloading request is made from a target block management unit Mb, a comprehensive management unit Mt gives a storage area management unit Ms an unloading transport instruction to perform unloading transport for a transporting tool P for which the unloading request has been made, under an unloading permission condition that the relationship between a tool code Cp designated in the unloading request and a user code Ch of a target user H1, H2 is stored in usage-related information Ih.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Yoshida, Tooru Arii, Tooru Siraisi, Noritaka Arai
  • Patent number: 12030683
    Abstract: A filling station includes a transport tray having a plurality of transfer receptacles, an optical detection device configured to generate one or more images of transfer receptacles having drug portions arranged therein and a control device coupled to the optical detection device. The control device causes display of a filling template of which transfer receptacles are to be filled with one or more drug portions and compares an actual filling of the transfer receptacles based on the one or more images of the transfer receptacles generated by the optical detection device to ta target filling. The control device also determines if no deviation exists between the actual filling and the target filling and releases the transport tray for transferring the drug portions to a secondary tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 12032392
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer storage media for providing a blending flow configuration for a material processing system that blends a material from multiple sources. A blending flow configuration identifies an arrangement of components and settings of the components in the material processing system to support blending a material. The blending flow configuration can support optimizing outcomes of different types of downstream processes. The material properties data are identified based on different types of measurements. For example, block models, lab assays, and on-stream analyzers can be used to determine a composition of the material. Grinding line performance data (or grinding line operation data) that estimates the grinding line performance or capacity can also be accessed. A description of a conveyance network design of the material processing system is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Joakim Kalvenes, Jason Thomas Stewart, John Thomas Clark, Jr., Rohin Wood
  • Patent number: 12026659
    Abstract: A management system for managing the utilization of item receptacles in a distribution network. Items can be transferred to recipients at a limited number of item receptacles in unit delivery facilities of the distribution network. Item retrieval behavior is tracked to determine a recipient score for known recipients. Based on the recipient scores, subsequent items to be transferred can be placed in a receptacle or a storage area based on the associated recipient score. Placement in receptacles can be prioritized to recipients with low scores indicating that the item will likely be retrieved quickly, while items addressed to recipients with high scores may not be placed into a receptacle if receptacles are scarce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Marc D. McCrery, Donald Eugene Irwin
  • Patent number: 12026668
    Abstract: An inventory management loadout system is a system that expedites the delivery of products in a warehouse or distribution center by simplifying the loading process. The system may include a support platform, a support wheel, a wheel frame, a plurality of tubular shelves, an inbound conveyor system, and an outbound conveyor system. The support platform supports the operation of the system. The support wheel enables the temporary storing of the products so that the products are ready to be loaded onto the corresponding truck. The wheel frame supports the load from the support wheel and enables the rotation of the support wheel. The plurality of tubular shelves facilitates the vertical storage of the products to prevent bottlenecking. The inbound conveyor system enables the loading of the products to the plurality of tubular shelves. The outbound conveyor system facilitates the unloading of the products from the plurality of tubular shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Inventor: Eric Thane Todd
  • Patent number: 12014622
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring operations of autonomous vehicles within a warehouse. The autonomous vehicle's processing unit may detect when the autonomous vehicle is delayed based on one or more timers or time thresholds, such as an amount of time that the autonomous vehicle has been located at a particular location or the amount of time between when the autonomous vehicle received product picking instructions and a shipping deadline. The autonomous vehicle may also use various types of data to detect potential problems, such as determining an amount remaining battery life. Once the autonomous vehicle identified a particular triggering condition, then the autonomous vehicle may trigger an annunciator (e.g., flashing lights, sounding horn) or transmit a notification to other devices, such as client devices. The annunciators or notifications attempt to capture personnel attention to resolve the identifier problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Ocado Innovation Limited
    Inventors: Spencer Goossens, Michael Crouch, Timothy Deignan
  • Patent number: 11999563
    Abstract: An automated warehouse includes a stacker crane, a switch, and a transfer controller. The stacker crane includes a traveling vehicle that travels in a first direction, a hoist carriage provided to the traveling vehicle, first and second transfer devices provided to the hoist carriage, and a lateral conveyor to move the first transfer device laterally on the hoist carriage. The switch switches between a first state that enables the lateral movement of the first transfer device and a second state that disables the same. When the switch selects the second state, the transfer controller moves the first and second transfer devices to positions corresponding to first and second shelves without moving the first transfer device laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11981509
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a warehousing control system and a computer device. The warehousing control system includes: a communication module configured to transmit and receive information; and a warehousing server configured to: plan, upon receiving a container warehousing task via the communication module, a target warehousing area and a target warehousing space corresponding to each container in the container warehousing task, and assign a warehouse hoisting apparatus to hoist a target container carried by a transportation vehicle to a corresponding target warehousing space; and/or assign, upon receiving a container distribution task via the communication module, a warehouse hoisting apparatus to load a target container in the container distribution task onto an assigned transportation vehicle. In this way, intelligent unmanned warehousing can be achieved, such that the operation efficiency of warehousing can be improved and the cost of warehousing management can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING TUSEN ZHITU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chao Yan
  • Patent number: 11979386
    Abstract: An automated system comprising a processor and a database are described. The processor executes communication software reading: at least one image corresponding to an identifier of a blood product from a donor; and at least one database storing at least one communication from a receiver of the blood product. The communication software executed by the processor determines an intermediary from the identifier and contacts the intermediary to obtain contact information of the donor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Oklahoma Blood Institute
    Inventors: John Brooks Armitage, Justin Ryan Redwine
  • Patent number: 11965898
    Abstract: An automatic nucleic acid detection system and a method thereof are disclosed. The automatic nucleic acid detection method includes: performing, by an automatic control subsystem, on a nucleic acid extraction machine platform, a nucleic acid extraction on one or more specimens in a sample tray to generate one or more corresponding nucleic acids in the sample tray; distributing, by the automatic control subsystem, on a nucleic acid distribution machine platform, the nucleic acid in each hole of the sample tray and a first reagent into a plurality of holes of a detection tray, wherein the number of holes of the detection tray is greater than that of the sample tray; and performing, by the automatic control subsystem, on a nucleic acid detection machine platform, a nucleic acid detection on the detection tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: TCI GENE INC, TCI CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yung-Hsiang Lin, Cheng-Hong Hsieh, Ciao-Ting Chen, Tsung-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11952214
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle including a transfer arm including at least one finger and a movable finger support member, at least one sensor configured to detect movement of the at least one finger, the at least one sensor having a registration member and a detection member where one of the registration member and detection member is mounted to each of the at least one finger so as to be movable with a respective one of the at least one finger and the other one of the registration member and detection member is stationary relative to the at least one finger, and a controller in communication with the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to determine a position of the at least one finger along the second direction based on a proximity of the registration member relative to the detection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Robert Sullivan, Stephen C. Toebes