Order Filling Patents (Class 700/216)
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Patent number: 11954644Abstract: Provided is an electronic apparatus and a method thereof. The method includes identifying pickup item information, identifying at least one storage place corresponding to the pickup item information among a plurality of storage places in the item storage center based on information on or regarding an item group located at each of the plurality of storage places, and providing information on the identified storage place and the pickup item information to a manager terminal, wherein the item group comprises at least one same item corresponding to an item group, and at least a portion of a plurality of item groups comprising a same item are stored in different storage places in the item storage center.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Coupang Corp.Inventors: Hyeon Chang Baek, Chang Hyun Kim, Sang Ho Yim, Sung Jin Park, Chang Geun Jin, Lianxi Bai
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Patent number: 11898849Abstract: Systems and methods for updating an electronic map of a facility are disclosed. The electronic map includes a set of map nodes. Each map node has a stored image data associated with a position within the facility. The method includes collecting image data at a current position of a self-driving material-transport vehicle; searching the electronic map for at least one of a map node associated with the current position and one or more neighboring map nodes within a neighbor threshold to the current position; comparing the collected image data with the stored image data of the at least one of the map node and the one or more neighboring map nodes to determine a dissimilarity level. The electronic map may be updated based at least on the collected image data and the dissimilarity level. The image data represents one or more features observable from the current position.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: CLEARPATH ROBOTICS INC.Inventors: James Dustin Servos, Ryan Christopher Gariepy
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Patent number: 11878864Abstract: A system is for automatic storage, picking, and packing of items. The system has: an arrangement of shelves for supporting storage boxes; a movable robotic arm, the robotic arm being configured for reaching into and picking an item from a storage box, and for grabbing and moving a storage box; and a camera and control unit, the arrangement of shelves comprises a first sub arrangement of shelves with a first vertical distance between the shelves, and a second sub arrangement of shelves with a second vertical distance between the shelves. The first vertical distance is chosen to allow the robotic arm to reach into and pick an item from said storage boxes. The second vertical distance is chosen so that each storage box must be moved out before the robotic arm can pick an item from the storage box.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Pickr ASInventors: Torfi Thorhallsson, Hafrun Hauksdottir, Kjetil Gjerde, Simon Marnburg Eriksen, Mikal Jansen Berge
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Patent number: 11851276Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets are disclosed for fully- and/or partly automated handling of goods. The disclosure provides improvements in the storage and retrieval of storage and delivery containers in order processing systems.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2023Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Stuart Richard North, Robert Rolf Stadie
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Patent number: 11806311Abstract: Systems and methods for making and delivering personalized, medically prescribed pharmaceuticals to an individual patient are described. Individual unit doses (IUDs) of medicine may be prepared specific to the individual in need of same, by using a system, which includes a networked control system in combination with manufacturing assemblies specific to the IUDs and delivering the medicine to the patient directly from the manufacturer.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2019Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.Inventors: Alexander Mark Schobel, Keith Kendall, Dan Barber, Theresa Wood, Peter Boyd, John Maxwell
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Patent number: 11783400Abstract: A wayfinding application executing on a client device receives a current location of the device within a warehouse and accesses a layout of the warehouse describing locations of items included among an inventory of the warehouse. The application identifies a route from the current location to one or more locations within the warehouse associated with one or more target items, generates augmented reality elements including instructions for navigating the route, and sends the elements to a display area of the device. The application detects a location within the warehouse associated with a target item and determines whether the item is at the location based on an image captured by the device. Upon determining it is not at the location, the application alerts a user of the device to a replacement item by generating an augmented reality element that calls attention to it and sending the element to the display area.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Maplebear Inc.Inventors: Spencer Schack, Andrew Peters, Aditya Godbole, Dominic Cocchiarella, Brandon Leonardo
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Patent number: 11741564Abstract: A method for executing orders assigned to a plurality of robots operating in a warehouse, including receiving an order with a plurality of items, each item associated with an item location. The method includes defining a plurality of regions and identifying the regions which include at least one item location associated with the order received by the robot. The method also includes determining, from the regions identified, which regions which include at least one operator and assessing criteria relating to a current location of the robot and to the item locations associated with the regions having at least one operator. The method further includes selecting an item location to which the robot is to navigate from a current location based on an assessment of criteria relating to the current location of the robot and to the item locations associated with the regions in which are located at least one operator.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Locus Robotics Corp.Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Sean Johnson, Rick Faulk
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Patent number: 11724395Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for robot congestion management including a robot monitoring server configured to track a location of a plurality of robots within a navigational space and a plurality of robots in communication with the robot monitoring server, each robot including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the autonomous robot to determine, from a task list assigned to the robot, a first pose location corresponding to a first task, receive, from the robot monitoring server, congestion information associated with the first pose location, identify a congested state of the first pose location indicated by the congestion information, select, responsive to the identification of the congested state, a second task from the task list, and navigate to a second pose location corresponding to the second task.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2019Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Locus Robotics Corp.Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Luis Jaquez, Sean Johnson, Andrew Alcutt
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Patent number: 11715552Abstract: A medicine dispenser, including a medicine prescription reader, for reading a medicine prescription including two due times, trays, each for containing medicine doses of one type only, and a robot, for dispensing medicine doses from at the trays to two cells of box according to the reading of the medicine prescription reader, thereby dedicating each of the cells to one of the due times.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Inventor: Zion Cohen-Daniel
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Patent number: 11713191Abstract: Provided are a robot-based random warehousing method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium. In the method, randomly allocated goods position information is acquired, and a shelving robot is controlled according to the goods position information to carry goods to goods position corresponding to the randomly allocated goods position information; a prompt is given to a picker to prompt the picker to take the goods from the shelving robot and place the goods at the goods position, and goods information and goods position information of the goods are synchronized to an unshelving order; and order information of the unshelving order is acquired and a picking robot in the vicinity of the goods position is controlled to move to the goods position to instruct a picker to pick the goods at the goods position and pass the goods to the picking robot.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2018Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: SYRIUS ROBOTICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Qi Wan
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Patent number: 11639266Abstract: In various embodiments, a goods to operator workstation is provided. The goods to operator workstation include an upper level. The upper level includes an upper level conveyor and one or more upper level container bays configured to receive and present one of the one or more upper level containers. The goods to operator workstation also includes at least one connector panel extending from the upper level. The goods to operator workstation further includes a lower level coupled to the at least one connector panel. The lower level is configured to receive one or more lower level containers. A gap is defined between the upper level and lower level that is sized to allow the one or more lower containers to be placed on the lower level. A method of operating the goods to operator workstation is also included.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2021Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLCInventors: Mark Lee Oberpriller, Anthony James Turco, Jari Nicholas Sebastian, Michael James Wells, Richard Graff
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Patent number: 11593753Abstract: Rule data sets are received. These rule sets are associated with constraints controlling how records that are associated with the goods are consolidated. These goods are to be received for importing. An estimate score indicative of the risk for inspection for a first set of goods that are to be imported is generated. Based at least in part on the rule data sets and the generated estimate, a plurality of records are consolidated to a single instance for the first set of goods. Based on the consolidating, a user interface is caused to be generated that renders information associated with the consolidating.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Benjamin Grisz, Casey McCord, Emily Richards, Carol Crawford, Jose Landeros, Ayan Das, Christopher Martin Rubio
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Patent number: 11574276Abstract: A method for retrieving content stored in a warehouse, the method may include: maintaining first content in boxes of a lowest shelf of a storage unit of the warehouse, while maintaining in boxes of higher shelves of the storage unit second content that is of less interest than the first content; accessing the boxes of the lowest shelf and providing the boxes to interfacing units, by a first robot; accessing the boxes of the higher shelves and providing the boxes to the interfacing units, by a second robot; wherein the first robot, when positioned at a lower position, is lower than a height of the lowest shelf; and wherein the second robot is higher than the height of the lowest shelf.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: CAJA ELASTIC DYNAMIC SOLUTIONS LTD.Inventors: Guy Glass, Reuven Della Torre, Avi Lifshitz
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Patent number: 11565882Abstract: An intelligent warehousing system, a material fetching and placing method and a processing terminal thereof, where the intelligent warehousing system includes a first warehousing robot and a second warehousing robot, the first warehousing robot is configured to receive a first scheduling instruction, move to a fixed shelf to fetch and place a material box according to the first scheduling instruction, and handle the material box to a first target position; and the second warehousing robot is configured to receive a second scheduling instruction, move to a portable shelf according to the second scheduling instruction, and handle the portable shelf to a second target position. Through the technical solution of the present application, compatibility of the intelligent warehousing system is improved, which may be applied to a warehouse with different shelves, thus improving the utilization rate of the warehouse.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: HAI ROBOTICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuqi Chen, Jui-Chun Cheng, Hongxia Zhou, Xin Ai
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Patent number: 11543818Abstract: There is provided a cargo transport system including: a management device; and a plurality of automated guided vehicles. Each of the automated guided vehicles includes: a movement instruction receiving unit that receives, from the management device, a movement instruction for moving to at least one loading operation place where a loading operation of loading a cargo to be transported into the automated guided vehicle is performed or a specified position near the loading operation place; an information transmitting unit that transmits, to the management device, load information concerning a load state of the cargo loaded into the automated guided vehicle; and a traveling unit that performs automated traveling in accordance with the received movement instruction. The management device includes: a movement instruction management unit that transmits the movement instruction to each of the automated guided vehicles; a load information receiving unit; and a load amount management unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2017Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Osawa, Masahiro Sakakibara, Takahiro Ueno
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Patent number: 11542104Abstract: The present invention relates to a picking system for a job-related picking of goods in output bins, said picking system comprising a plurality of automated picking cells; comprising a first conveying system for the supply and/or discharge of the supply bins to and/or from the picking cells; and a second conveying system for the supply and/or discharge of the output bins to and/or from the picking cells, and a job management control for working through a plurality of picking jobs by controlling the first and second conveying systems and the plurality of picking cells, wherein at least one first picking cell has different goods handling properties than a second picking cell; and/or in that the job management control uses at least one first picking cell for working through different jobs and/or partial jobs than a second picking cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2016Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbHInventors: Thomas Mattern, David Hänschke, Michael Kluge, Regina Krause
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Patent number: 11501333Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and/or methods for distributing advertisements from a central advertisement network to one or more peripheral devices at a location via a local advertisement server. In certain exemplary embodiments, the local advertisement server within a location receives advertisements from the central advertisement network and rebroadcasts them to peripheral devices within that location. Advertising information may be tracked and reported, e.g., for accounting, revenue-sharing, and/or other purposes in certain exemplary embodiments. Thus, in certain exemplary embodiments, the distribution of advertisements is provided to peripherals via a non-web- and non-PC-dependent network. Moreover, in certain exemplary embodiments, reporting and advertising related communications are substantially bi-directional regardless of device type.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: TOUCHTUNES MUSIC CORPORATIONInventors: Dominique Dion, Michael Tooker, Francois Guy, Mounir Khenfir
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Patent number: 11485575Abstract: A robotic item retrieval and transport apparatus includes at least one item retrieval mechanism that is minimally exposed while stored and/or engaged in loading or unloading of objects relative to a deck (e.g., upper surface) thereof. Actuators and at least major portions of one or more movable implements are arranged below the deck. Loading and/or unloading of objects may include lateral sliding, such as by pulling the object while it is supported by an extrinsic support surface. At least substantial portions of an item retrieval mechanism may remain outside a central target area of a deck, to provide a unobstructed or minimally obstructed deck surface for holding objects. The apparatus may be used with at least one movable pallet element. A pallet element and/or a retrievable item may include one or more features detectable by a sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2018Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: LABRADOR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Michael Dooley, Nikolai Romanov
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Patent number: 11485030Abstract: A containment system and assembly for the automated production of pharmaceutical or biotechnical articles is provided. The containment system has a housing within which there is an inner chamber having at least one through opening. One or more robots are installed in the chamber, which have a manipulating element on the pivotable arms, which can move within a pivot range. One or more process units are installed in the chamber for the production of the articles. The chamber includes a process space for the production of the articles and a tub-shaped base space for anchoring the feet of the robots to the side surfaces inside the base space. The manipulating element functions as a gripping and transportation device for inspecting the articles or article parts and/or for the production of the articles.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2017Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Pharma Integration S.R.L.Inventors: Claudio Bechini, Volker Sigwarth
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Patent number: 11472022Abstract: A processing system for processing objects using a programmable motion device is disclosed. The processing system includes a plurality of supply bins providing supply of a plurality of objects, with the plurality of supply bins being provided with a bin conveyance system, a programmable motion device in communication with the bin conveyance system, where the programmable motion device includes an end effector for grasping and moving a selected object out of a selected supply bin, and a movable carriage for receiving the selected object from the end effector of the programmable motion device, and for carrying the selected object to one of a plurality of destination containers.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, John Richard Amend, Jr., Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, William Hartman Fort, Christopher Geyer, Victoria Hinchey, Jennifer Eileen King, Thomas Koletschka, Michael Cap Koval, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
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Patent number: 11468770Abstract: According to one embodiment, a travel control apparatus includes an area setter configured to set a second area on at least one of a plurality of travel paths provided among a plurality of first areas; and a travel controller configured to control timing of a first mobile body to pass through the second area on a travel route of the first mobile body based on passing sequence information on one of the first areas that is located behind the second area, wherein the passing sequence information defines a sequence in which a plurality of mobile bodies including the first mobile body passes through the first area.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Michio Yamashita, Noriyuki Hirayama, Hideyuki Aisu, Shizu Sakakibara
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Patent number: 11461729Abstract: Dock management systems including a dock management server communicatively coupled to a mobile computing device are disclosed. The dock management server generates a work assignment based on a first location for an item and a final location for the item, transmits the first work assignment to the mobile computing device, receives a location of the mobile computing device, and associates the location of the mobile computing device with a current location of the item. The work assignment includes instructions to move the item from the first location to a second location. The second location may be a temporary holding area between the first location and the final location. Methods for assigning dock doors to arriving transportation vehicles are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: R & L Carriers, Inc.Inventors: Rafael Aleman, Chris Deck, Ronald F. Galason
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Patent number: 11453552Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets are disclosed for fully- and/or partly automated handling of goods. The disclosure provides improvements in the storage and retrieval of storage and delivery containers in order processing systems.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Stuart Richard North, Robert Rolf Stadie
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Patent number: 11446821Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for determining a driving route of a sorting robot. The method discloses: weighing and scanning on an import platform in response to a sorting robot, and determining a destination of the sorting robot on a sorting map; determining, according to the destination, a target package drop on the sorting map; identifying two dumping points on a route which is perpendicular to an import direction of the import platform among dumping points of the target package drop; respectively calculating the costs of routes from the import platform to the two dumping points; determining the dumping point corresponding to the smaller cost of route to be the target dumping point on the sorting map; determining a preferred package drop route from predetermined package drop routes to be selected from the import platform to the target dumping point; and sending a package drop task including the preferred package drop route to the sorting robot.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Beijing Jingdong Qianshi Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jie Lu
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Patent number: 11427405Abstract: A method includes arranging, on a robot, a set of suctions cups on an actuator of the robot to allow for removable engagement of the set of suction cups to a container surface. The method further includes initiating movement of the actuator to cause the robot to (1) engage the set of suction cups to the container surface, generating a pressure within at least a subset of the set of suction cups; (2) detect the pressure within the subset of the set of suction cups; (3) connect the subset of the set of suction cups to a set of vacuum pumps to generate a vacuum, resulting in a grip on the container; and (4) move the container on to a platform of the robot to prepare the container for delivery.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Vecna Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Theobald, Siddharth Ram Chhatpar
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Patent number: 11397979Abstract: Disclosed in the present application is an order processing method and device, a server, and a storage medium. The method comprises: acquiring order information of a to-be-processed order, the order information including storage-bin region information and volume information of at least one item indicated by the order; base on the storage-bin region information and the volume information, determining whether the order satisfies following conditions: the at least one item indicated by the order being located within one storage-bin region and the a sum of the volumes of the at least one item being smaller than a volume threshold; and in response to the order satisfying the conditions, determining the order as a to-be-processed order, to generate a to-be-processed order set.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2018Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignees: Beijing Jingdong Shangke Information Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Jingdong Century Trading Co., Ltd.Inventor: Guanyu Shi
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Patent number: 11392893Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for providing stowing location recommendation, comprising a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to receive, from a user device associated with a user, a request for a location recommendation for stowing an inbound product, determine a plurality of locations to recommend within a zone, sample, based on a predetermined rule, a number of locations for stowing the inbound product, and display, via the user device, the sampled number of locations to the user for stowing the inbound product. The processor is also configured to receive, from the user device, a selection of a stowing location among the sampled number of locations and modify a database to assign a location identifier associated with the selected stowing location to the inbound product.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Coupang Corp.Inventors: Ji Eun Kim, Da Young Kim, Hyun Yop Jung, SungWoo Kang, Sun Young Hong
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Patent number: 11390459Abstract: A storage, retrieval and processing system for processing objects is disclosed. The storage, retrieval and processing system includes a plurality of storage bins providing storage of a plurality of objects, where the plurality of storage bins is in communication with a bin conveyance system for moving selected storage bins to a storage bin processing location, a programmable motion device in communication with the bin processing location for receiving a selected storage bin from the plurality of bins, where the programmable motion device includes an end effector for grasping and moving a selected object out of a selected storage bin, and a plurality of destination bins in communication with the bin conveyance system for moving a selected destination bin from a destination bin processing location that is proximate the programmable motion device to the plurality of destination bins.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, John Richard Amend, Jr., Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, William Hartman Fort, Christopher Geyer, Jennifer Eileen King, Thomas Koletschka, Michael Cap Koval, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
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Patent number: 11353883Abstract: A carrier includes a body, a sensor, and an output unit. The body has the ability to travel autonomously and includes a holding mechanism for holding a burden. The sensor is provided for the body and detects a situation surrounding the body. The output unit outputs detected information, collected by the sensor, about the situation to a management device that manages operation of another carrier.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshihiro Ikawa, Hiroshi Shirouzu, Osamu Mizuno
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Patent number: 11345546Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently fulfilling product orders corresponding are described. Order items are divided into those which are to be automatically picked using an automated pick cell including a loader, such as a robotic arm, storage buffers and an apparatus for transferring the automatically picked items onto a robotic cart. The manually picked items are picked by a human picker guided by the robotic cart. The manual pick can occur before or after the automatic pick of items. In some embodiments whether items are to be automatically picked before or after the manual pick portion of an order depends on which ordering will allow for packing of the items corresponding to an order into the least number of receptacles, e.g., totes which are transported by the robotic pick carts.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: 6 RIVER SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Christopher Cacioppo, Tim Higgins, Tucker Kelman Moffat, Joshua Chaitin-Pollak, Charles Christopher Lingamfelter
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Patent number: 11338444Abstract: A device having a platform configured to support the food products, a driving system configured to move the device, and a location detector configured to identify the location of the device within the area. A control system is configured to control the driving system based on the location of the device identified by the location detector, where the control system is configured to move the device along a primary path defined between a starting point and an ending point and to one or more fulfilment positions therebetween. The food products are received on the platform when the device moves to the one or more fulfilment positions.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Ostrow, Vincenzo DiFatta, Arsalan Aslam, Michal Augustyniak
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Patent number: 11305650Abstract: Systems and methods for a materials handling vehicle configured to navigate along a warehouse environment inventory transit surface, the vehicle including control architecture in communication with a drive mechanism, a materials handling mechanism, a speed zone sensing subsystem configured to provide an indication of whether the vehicle is in a speed zone, and a speed control processor configured to prompt the operator to reduce a vehicle speed of the vehicle to under a speed zone limit when the vehicle speed is approaching or in the speed zone, determine whether the vehicle speed is under the speed zone limit in the speed zone, and apply a speed cap to limit a maximum vehicle speed of the vehicle to a magnitude that is at or below the speed zone limit when the speed control processor has determined that the vehicle speed is under the speed zone limit in the speed zone.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Crown Equipment CorporationInventor: Kashyap Chandrasekar
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Patent number: 11292678Abstract: In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method for transporting cargo using smart palettes includes determining receipt of a first cargo onto a platform of a first smart palette at a first distribution hub. The method includes generating one or more signals that control a loading of the first smart palette and the first cargo onto a trailer located at the first distribution hub. The method includes determining a coordination with one or more second smart palettes associated with the trailer to determine a first position inside the trailer for the first smart palette and the first cargo. The method includes generating one or more signals that position the first smart palette and the first cargo at the first position inside the trailer.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2018Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: UATC, LLCInventors: Philipp Haban, Daniel Adam Kanitz
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Patent number: 11289181Abstract: A system comprising a staging area and a packing area. The staging area may include a plurality of staging bins and a shuttle moveable along the plurality of staging bins. A staging bin of the plurality of staging bins may be configured to selectively retain a component of an order therein. Such staging bin may be configured to selectively release the component to the shuttle. The packing area may include a slide, a scanner, and a wrap seal conveyor. The shuttle may be configured to release the component onto the slide, and the scanner may be operable to scan and verify the component during placement of the component onto the wrap seal conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Robert E. Hoffman
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Patent number: 11273985Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling material flow can be used to streamline order fulfillment. For example, according to some embodiments described herein, takt times of goods-to-person order picking work cell processes are enhanced to expedite order processing. A goods-to-person order picking process involves moving items for an order directly to a work cell of an operator or an automated system. At order processing work cells, one or more items are transferred from origin containers and placed in shipping containers in accordance with customer orders. Work cell redundancy can be utilized to enhance efficiencies of goods-to-person order picking processes in some cases.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.Inventor: Gregory Lisso
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Patent number: 11269338Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and a corresponding method for performing warehouse zoning and further monitoring the zoned warehouse. The apparatus includes circuitry that partitions a workspace into a plurality of zones based on an area of the workspace, and a number of transportation vehicles and a number of item racks that are to be deployed in the workspace. A location of each zone within the workspace is determined based on a location of a first type of station that is disposed outside the workspace. The apparatus determines for each zone, an area of the zone and receives a signal indicating occurrence of an event in one of the zones. Further, the apparatus determines a degree of criticality of the occurred event which indicates whether workspace operation in the zone can be continued, and initiates an operation at a timing that is based on the determined degree of criticality.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: GREY ORANGE PTE. LTD.Inventors: Sagar Bose, Naveen Boppana, Gaurav Kejriwal, Rupesh Agarwal, Akash Gupta, Samay Kohli, Wolfgang Kurt Hoeltgen
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Patent number: 11267653Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for transporting workcells. In one aspect, a system includes a first fleet of AGVs that each include electro-mechanical interface that is adapted to (i) connect to or lift multiple different types of workcells and (ii) provide charging power to or receive charging power from multiple different types of workcells. A second fleet of multiple different types of workcells are each adapted to perform one or more particular tasks. A control system is configured to identify a set of tasks to be performed by the second fleet of workcells and, for each task, select a workcell to perform the task, select an AGV to transport the selected workcell to a location at which the task is to be performed, and provide, to the selected AGV, instructions that cause the selected AGV to transport the selected workcell to the location at which the task is to be performed.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Michael Helsel, Ned Lecky, Avinash Panga, Adam Morton
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Patent number: 11256259Abstract: Systems and methods for contextually mapping zones within a space for regulating robotic navigation within the space include defining, by at least one fiducial marker positioned within the space, a zone within the space, associating a rule with the zone, the rule at least partially dictating operation of one or more robots within the zone, and operating the one or more robots within the zone consistent with the rule.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Locus Robotics Corp.Inventors: Matthew Whitaker, Bradley Powers, Michael Charles Johnson, Sean Johnson, Thomas Moore
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Patent number: 11257036Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for providing stowing location recommendation, comprising a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to receive, from a user device associated with a user, a request for a location recommendation for stowing an inbound product, determine a plurality of locations to recommend within a zone, sample, based on a predetermined rule, a number of locations for stowing the inbound product, and display, via the user device, the sampled number of locations to the user for stowing the inbound product. The processor is also configured to receive, from the user device, a selection of a stowing location among the sampled number of locations and modify a database to assign a location identifier associated with the selected stowing location to the inbound product.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Coupang Corp.Inventors: Ji Eun Kim, Da Young Kim, Hyun Yop Jung, SungWoo Kang, Sun Young Hong
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Patent number: 11179845Abstract: Described in detail herein is an automated fulfilment system including a computing system programmed to receive requests from disparate sources for physical objects disposed at one or more locations in a facility. The computing system can combine the requests, and group the physical objects in the requests based on object types or expected object locations. Autonomous robot devices can receive instructions from the computing system to retrieve a group of the physical objects and deposit the physical objects in storage containers.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2018Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Donald High, David Winkle, Brian Gerard McHale, Todd Davenport Mattingly
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Patent number: 11137765Abstract: Examples provide a stackable smart item storage cart. The cart includes a top member with a lip along its outer edge. A set of wheels, a directional wheel locking mechanism, and a set of four side members is connected to a base member. A vertical cavity passes through a center of the main body enclosing a memory, a processor, and a data storage. The cart smart item storage carts are stackable two-carts high with the wheels locked. A set of sensor devices monitor contents of a plurality of item storage bins on the cart. A bin indicator associated with an item storage bin activates to identify a bin and/or indicate a quantity of items to be removed from the bin. A timer device monitors a cart dwell-time. A self-navigation system may return the cart to a temperature-controlled area if the dwell-time exceeds a threshold time.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Ryan DeJarnette, Matthew Kelly, Jeffrey Green
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Patent number: 11117743Abstract: A storage array system including an open undeterministic transport surface, a navigation array disposed in connection with the transport surface, the navigation array includes a distributed feature, a first waypoint at a first position of the distributed feature, a second waypoint displaced from the first waypoint along the distributed feature and offset with respect to the first waypoint in a direction angled to the distributed feature, and a guided bot, arranged to traverse the transport surface, with a non-holonomic steering system, the guided bot having a bot pose determination system employing sensor data detecting the distributed feature, wherein the guided bot includes a controller configured to generate a substantially smooth curved bot traverse path on the transport surface connecting the first and second waypoints with a predetermined optimal trajectory of the guided bot along the traverse path determined based on a bot dynamic model.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Symbotic LLCInventors: Edward A MacDonald, Forrest Buzan, John F. Keating, Juergen D. Conrad, Armin Ataei-Esfahani
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Patent number: 11104517Abstract: Robotic automation and methods described herein can be used to enhance the efficiencies of order fulfillment and inventory stowage processes. For example, this document describes the integration of elevated pathways that are dedicated for mobile robots to use in conjunction with a human-operated order picker lift to transport items for order fulfillment processes in an efficient manner. In some embodiments, the elevated pathways for the mobile robots can be at least partially integrated into storage systems such as pallet racking. The described systems and methods allow the elimination of human labor particularly related to transporting saleable goods and similar items. Mobile robots take over many of the tasks related to transporting the picked items. Accordingly, the efficiency of the human order picker, as measured by the number of line items picked per hour for example, is greatly enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Lisso, Gervasio Mutarelli, Thomas Gardner, Poojesh Wagle
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Patent number: 11078019Abstract: A method for assigning orders to a plurality of robots fulfilling orders in a warehouse with the assistance of a plurality of operators. The method includes providing a first robot of the plurality of robots to a be assigned an order set, including one or more orders to be fulfilled and assessing the locations of at least one of the plurality of robots or at least one of the plurality of operators in the warehouse. The method also includes selecting an anchor location in the warehouse and generating an order set for the first robot correlated to the anchor location in the warehouse. The method also includes assigning the order set to the first robot for fulfillment.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Locus Robotics Corp.Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Bruce Welty, Sean Johnson, Luis Jaquez
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Patent number: 11065180Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system for identifying medicines, comprising a first measurement device for identifying, from the top, at least one first medicine deposited in a compartment of a pill box and analysing at least one identifying characteristic of the first medicine; and a second measurement device for identifying, from the bottom, at least one second medicine deposited in the compartment of said pill box and analysing at least one identifying characteristic of the second medicine. The system comprises a device for comparing the characteristic of the first medicine and the characteristic of the second medicine, for determining at least one validated medicine and comparing the characteristic of the validated medicine with medicine signature characteristics. The system also comprises a validation device for obtaining an identified content for the compartment and comparing the identified content with a prescription. Methods for identifying and validating medicines are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2017Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Inventor: Matthieu Grosfils
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Patent number: 11059674Abstract: A method for sequencing loads in an automated load-distribution system having k sources with k?2; at least one destination; k FIFO-type source buffer devices, each receiving loads from one of the k sources; a collector collecting the loads coming from the k source buffer devices and transporting them to the at least one destination. The collector has k successive nodes each collecting the loads coming from one of the source buffer devices. The control system processes customer orders listing loads for a given destination and being associated with a sequential order number of destination. The control system: builds a collection list containing n loads to be collected and reducing a disorder of the n loads relative to a rising order of the sequential order numbers of destination; and controlling the collector and the source buffer devices to collect loads on the collector in compliance with the collection list.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignees: SAVOYE, UNIVERSITE DE TECHNOLOGIE DE COMPIEGNEInventors: Jean-Michel Collin, Blandine Vacher, Antoine Jouglet, Dritan Nace
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Patent number: 11053075Abstract: An inventory system can include a workspace in which is defined different areas and different stations at which tasks can be performed. A receipt receptacle received from a shipping vehicle can be moved to a rack without separating items from the receipt vehicle. A mobile drive unit can move the rack to an area on the workspace depending on information known about the items. Items from the receipt receptacle can be removed from the receipt receptacle and placed in inventory holders for movement or storage or in other receptacles for performance of other tasks such as order processing.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, John Joseph Enright, Joseph W. Durham, Michael Harrison Decker, Jonathan Harris Schechter, Peter R. Wurman, Eryk Brian Nice
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Patent number: 11042833Abstract: An electronic parcel locker system for shipments delivery and pick-up, comprising at least one electronic parcel locker having compartments for storing shipments, the electronic parcel locker system further comprising a RFID area system comprising a RFID reader and at least one antenna for reading tags affixed onto shipments to be deposited in the compartments of the at least one electronic parcel locker and at least one RFID compartment system integrated in each of the compartments for reading tags affixed onto shipments deposited in the compartments.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2018Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: QUADIENT TECHNOLOGIES FRANCEInventors: Guy Venture, Jean-Baptiste Pantaloni, Bruno Rostaing
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Patent number: 11027920Abstract: Provided is a rack management system, including a processor and a storage unit. The storage unit stores information indicating positions of sections included in an area in which storage racks that store articles can be arranged. One of the storage racks can be arranged in each of the sections. At least one of the sections is surrounded by other adjacent sections without an aisle to convey the storage racks therebetween. The processor classifies the sections into sections assigned ranks indicating a degree of efficiency of an operation to convey the storage racks placed therein to a predetermined working area, and one or more empty sections into which, if there is a need to move one or more other storage racks in order to convey a storage rack placed in a given section, the other storage racks that were moved are placed, and outputs results of the classification.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2018Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: HITACHI TRANSPORT SYSTEM, LTD.Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshimoto, Yoriko Kazama, Junichi Kimura, Ryota Kamoshida, Emi Takahashi, Haruka Terai
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Patent number: 11014745Abstract: The picking system according to the present invention for executing operation assistance corresponding to an operation target relating to physical distribution receives an order designating a specific article, retrieves a first storage position at which the specific article is stored from shelf stock information, generates operation instruction data relating to a specific operation target for instructing to move the specific article from the first storage position to a second storage position, refers to operation station information and accesses the first storage position, retrieves a specific operation station capable of performing the specific operation target, transmits the operation instruction data to a terminal of the specific operation station, and transmits, to a movement device, conveyance instruction data instructing to convey a conveyance rack to the specific operation station.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Hitachi Transport System, Ltd.Inventors: Yoriko Kazama, Junichi Kimura, Emi Takahashi