Abstract

A micro-fulfillment center fulfills orders for goods including both in-store picking of goods and online ordering of goods. Orders are fulfilled using both a picker to goods (P2G) model and an automated goods to picker (G2P) model. In examples, goods are replenished to the automated G2P system from store shelves which also serve the P2G model.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An order fulfillment system includes a storage structure for storing totes, workstations for processing customer orders and a staging and sequencing buffer having staging locations for storing the totes. The staging and sequencing buffer provides a buffer for totes as mobile robots transfer totes from the storage structure and to the one or more workstations.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical

Abstract

An automated storage and retrieval facility includes an automated decant system for decanting cases of eaches received from manufacturers or others. The automated decant system includes a decant workstation which receives the cases of eaches, cuts and removes the packaging of the cases. Once case packaging has been removed, the decant workstation separates and organizes the eaches, and drops them into totes waiting beneath the workstation.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65B 35/32 - Arranging and feeding articles in groups by gravity
• B65B 35/40 - Arranging and feeding articles in groups by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers
• B65B 35/58 - Turning articles by positively-acting means, e.g. to present labelled portions in uppermost position
• B65B 5/10 - Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles
• B65B 5/06 - Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
• B65B 39/00 - Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
• B65B 43/58 - Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation movable stepwise to position container or receptacle for the reception of successive increments of contents vertically movable
• B65B 57/16 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to stop, or to control the speed of, the machine as a whole
• B65B 69/00 - Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
• B26D 7/06 - Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form
• B26D 1/04 - Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member
• B26D 5/00 - Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting

Goods & Services

Industrial robots for use in automated storage and retrieval systems Computer hardware and downloadable computer software for controlling and managing automated storage and retrieval facilities, and for controlling and managing mobile robots for use in such systems; laboratory robots for use in automated storage and retrieval systems Pens, stickers Mugs Storage and delivery of goods at an automated storage and retrieval of goods facility

Goods & Services

Industrial robots for use in automated storage and retrieval systems Computer hardware and downloadable computer software for controlling and managing automated storage and retrieval facilities, and for controlling and managing mobile robots for use in such systems; laboratory robots for use in automated storage and retrieval systems Pens, stickers Mugs Storage and delivery of goods at an automated storage and retrieval of goods facility

Abstract

An automated storage and retrieval facility is disclosed including a storage structure, mobile robots and mobile racks for use in inventory management, order fulfillment and automation-based capacity planning. In examples, a rack or racking system may be used to transport containers, for example, totes. The rack is configured to attach to a load/unload docking station at the storage structure that enables the mobile robots to load totes onto the rack and/or unload totes from the rack. The racks can further be loaded onto a truck that transports the totes between facilities.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical
• B65G 1/06 - Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level
• B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• B65G 1/10 - Storage devices mechanical with relatively-movable racks to facilitate insertion or removal of articles

Abstract

A customer access system includes one or more customer access portals to dispense ordered items to customers and/or receive returned items from customers. A tote transfer system transports one or more totes to carry the ordered items and the returned items to and from the customer access portals. The customer access system may also include a storage structure to temporarily store one or more totes to provide a buffer to reduce or mitigate customer wait times at the customer access portal and/or to more efficiently disposition items by consolidating returned items. The storage structure may further allow "asynchronous dispositioning" of returned items where the retrieval of a returned item from the customer and the dispositioning of the returned item occurs at different times. In some implementations, the customer access portal includes one or more drawers to exchange of items with a customer in a safe and efficient manner.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/12 - Storage devices mechanical with article supports or holders movable in a closed circuit to facilitate insertion or removal of articles
• G06Q 20/20 - Point-of-sale [POS] network systems

Abstract

A micro-fulfillment center fulfills orders for goods including both in-store picking of goods and online ordering of goods. Orders are fulfilled using both a picker to goods (P2G) model and an automated goods to picker (G2P) model. In examples, goods are replenished to the automated G2P system from store shelves which also serve the P2G model.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/06 - Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A rack or racking system is disclosed for use in inventory management, order fulfillment and automation-based capacity planning. The racking system includes expandable and collapsible racks used to transport containers, for example, totes, which in the expanded configuration can attach to a load/unload fixture that enables bots to load totes onto the racks and/or unload totes from the racks, and in the collapsed configuration can be loaded onto a truck that transports the totes between facilities.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical
• B65G 1/10 - Storage devices mechanical with relatively-movable racks to facilitate insertion or removal of articles

Abstract

An automated order fulfillment system is disclosed having different temperature zones and robots and containers capable of and/or configured to work in these different temperature zones. Containers include insulated wall panels and a thermal insert which may be chilled to maintain a temperature within the container below ambient temperature. Structure within a storage location for the containers may be used to open and close the containers to facilitate cooling of the thermal insert.

IPC Classes  ?

• F25D 3/06 - Movable containers
• F25D 13/06 - Stationary devices associated with refrigerating machinery, e.g. cold rooms with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space
• B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed

Abstract

An order fulfillment system is disclosed including a multi-level tote storage structure, one or more autonomous mobile robots configured to pick, transport and place one or more tote; one or more workstations configured to accommodate a picker that transports one or more eaches from a tote on one of the autonomous mobile robots to a "put" location, wherein the autonomous mobile robots are configured to move from level to level in the order fulfillment apparatus.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed

Abstract

An automatic storage and retrieval system (10) is disclosed including storage positions (12) for storing containers, a portal (26, 28) and mobile robots (20) for transferring the containers between the storage positions and portal. The portal may include a bot-access side where the mobile robots transfer containers to and from the portal, and a user-access side where users remove items from the containers.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical
• B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed

Goods & Services

Industrial robots for use in automated storage and retrieval systems Computer hardware and downloadable computer software for controlling and managing Automated Storage and Retrieval Facilities, and for controlling and managing mobile robots for use in such systems; laboratory robots for use in automated storage and retrieval systems Automated storage and retrieval of goods at storage and retrieval facilities

Goods & Services

Industrial robots for use in automated storage and retrieval systems Computer hardware and downloadable computer software for controlling and managing Automated Storage and Retrieval Facilities, and for controlling and managing mobile robots for use in such systems; laboratory robots for use in automated storage and retrieval systems Automated storage and retrieval of goods at storage and retrieval facilities

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed including a robotic system having a robotic picking workstation, tote storage and retrieval and transit decks. The system has bots that autonomously transport totes from the storage and retrieval system to the robotic picking workstation via the transit decks. The robotic picking workstation may have a picking lane where a robotic handler transports eaches from totes on the bots to order totes in the workstation. The robotic picking workstation further has a queuing buffer where bots are cued for the picking lane.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical
• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed

Abstract

An automated order fulfillment system and mobile robot (10) are disclosed, where the mobile robot includes a compliant drive for moving between levels of a multilevel storage structure (80).

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical
• B61C 11/04 - Locomotives or motor railcars characterised by the type of means applying the tractive effort; Arrangement or disposition of running gear other than normal driving wheels tractive effort applied to racks
• F16H 55/08 - Profiling

Abstract

An automated order fulfillment system is disclosed having different temperature zones and robots and containers capable of and/or configured to work in these different temperature zones.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/02 - Storage devices
• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical
• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• F25D 19/00 - Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices
• F25D 3/08 - Movable containers portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

An automated decant system is disclosed for processing pallets of cased goods received at a facility, extracting packaging for the cases and transferring eaches within the cases to totes, possibly organized by SKU in sub-totes within the tote.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65B 35/00 - Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
• B65G 61/00 - Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for
• G06Q 10/00 - Administration; Management
• B65G 47/08 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
• B65G 57/06 - Gates for releasing articles
• B65G 65/00 - Loading or unloading

Goods & Services

An automated material handling and automated order fulfillment system comprised of mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of inventory orders; robots for material-handling and automating fulfillment of orders for industrial purposes; industrial robots; automated industrial systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, workstations and computer hardware for fulfillment of inventory orders; industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of inventory orders. An automated material handling and automated order fulfillment system comprised of computer hardware and computer software for robot management and supply-chain product inventory management, computerized inventory stations, and computerized workstations, together providing automated supply-chain product storage, delivery and replenishment. Services related to automated material handling and automated order fulfillment, namely, inventory replenishing and resetting. Services related to automated material handling and automated order fulfillment, namely, product storage and product delivery.

Goods & Services

An automated material handling and automated order fulfillment system comprised of mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of inventory orders; robots for material-handling and automating fulfillment of orders for industrial purposes; industrial robots; automated industrial systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, workstations and computer hardware for fulfillment of inventory orders; industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of inventory orders. An automated material handling and automated order fulfillment system comprised of computer hardware and computer software for robot management and supply-chain product inventory management, computerized inventory stations, and computerized workstations, together providing automated supply-chain product storage, delivery and replenishment. Services related to automated material handling and automated order fulfillment, namely, inventory replenishing and resetting. Services related to automated material handling and automated order fulfillment, namely, product storage and product delivery.

Goods & Services

Providing services and assistance associated with setting up a retail store including hand-picked items and items retrieved by an automated storage and retrieval system, namely, planning and design of retail premises, planning and layout design services for interior space of retail business establishments; automated retail system comprising the provision of temporary use of on-line non-downloadable computer software for processing and fulfilling orders at a retail store

Goods & Services

Robots for material-handling and automating fulfillment of orders for industrial purposes; industrial robots; computer hardware sold as an integral component of automated industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution; industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution. Automated material-handling systems comprising computer software for managing robotic systems for processing and fulfillment of orders for retail distribution; computer hardware for use with automated robotic systems.

Abstract

A vertical farming system is disclosed including a storage structure having racks of storage shelves for housing plant-carrying containers. Mobile robots travel around the racks to transfer containers of plants to and from the storage shelves. Under direction of a central control system, one or more mobile robots may transport a container from a storage location to a workstation. Once there, care may be provided for the plant, including water and/or other nutrients, and data may be gathered on the plant. This may be done by an owner of the plant, or by an automated service robot positioned at the workstation. Data gathered on the plant, including for example photographs, may be sent by email or other communications schemes to an owner of the plant.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01G 31/04 - Hydroponic culture on conveyors
• A01G 31/06 - Hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers
• A01G 9/26 - Electric devices

Abstract

An automated system structure (102) is disclosed which may be quickly and efficiently assembled using a number of storage modules (110). Storage modules (110) may be comprised of a pair of shelf modules (126, 128), each comprising a number of defined storage locations (106) for storing totes, cartons, trays or other containers. The shelf modules (126, 128) may themselves be modular units comprising a number of horizontal storage levels (130) affixed to a pair of vertical support assemblies at each end of the shelf modules. The pair of shelf modules (126, 128) may be accurately spaced from each other by mounting the shelf modules to tie beams (122) at the bottom and tie plates (174) at the top.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical
• A47B 47/00 - Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features related to dismountability or building-up from elements
• B65G 1/02 - Storage devices

Abstract

An opportunistic rail charging system is disclosed for recharging power supplies on mobile robots transporting goods within an automated order fulfillment system. Individual chargers may be incorporated into each mobile robot for converting a facility line voltage from the charge rail to a voltage for which the rechargeable power supplies on each mobile robot are rated.

IPC Classes  ?

• H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• B65G 1/06 - Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level

Abstract

A safety system is disclosed for failsafe servicing of areas within an order fulfillment facility. During normal operation, a number of battery-powered robots receive wireless instructions from a management control system (MCS) to transfer items to/from workstations or storage shelves in a multi-level storage structure. The order fulfillment facility may be divided into dynamically configurable service zones. When service is required in a service zone, different safety protocols may be employed based on a determination as to the priority level of service required and/or the estimated length of time service will take. One safety protocol involves physically blocking all access points to a service area with mechanical guards, so that order fulfillment operations may be proceed around the service zone while service is performed.

IPC Classes  ?

• G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control (DNC), flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), integrated manufacturing systems (IMS), computer integrated manufacturing (CIM)
• G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical
• B25J 9/16 - Programme controls
• H01Q 9/04 - Resonant antennas

Goods & Services

(1) Robots for material-handling and automating fulfillment of orders for industrial purposes; industrial robots; computer hardware sold as an integral component of automated industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution; industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution (2) Automated material-handling systems comprising computer software for managing robotic systems for processing and fulfillment of orders for retail distribution; computer hardware for use with automated robotic systems

Goods & Services

(1) Robots for automating fulfillment of orders for industrial purposes; industrial robots for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution, and for restocking and resupplying of inventory at retail distribution centres; industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution. (2) An automated order fulfillment system including automated supply-chain product storage, delivery and replenishment; computer hardware sold as an integral component of automated industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution. (1) Services related to automated order fulfillment including product storage, delivery and replenishment.

Goods & Services

(1) Robots for automating fulfillment of orders for industrial purposes; industrial robots for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution, and for restocking and resupplying of inventory at retail distribution centres; industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution. (2) An automated order fulfillment system including automated supply-chain product storage, delivery and replenishment; computer hardware sold as an integral component of automated industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution. (1) Services related to automated order fulfillment including product storage, delivery and replenishment.

Abstract

A universal gripper (110) is disclosed for transferring totes (100) and sub-totes (102), for example in an order fulfillment center. The universal gripper includes adjustable tines (112) and pins (132) capable of being positioned to engage within slots (120, 140) in the different configurations of totes (100) and sub-totes (102).

IPC Classes  ?

• B25J 15/00 - Gripping heads
• B66C 1/66 - Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting, lowering, or hauling gear of cranes, or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means comprising article-engaging members of a shape complementary to that of the articles to be handled for engaging holes, recesses, or abutments on articles specially provided for facilitating handling thereof
• B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed

Abstract

An automated self-service store is disclosed including a shopper accessible level having inventory for selection by a shopper, and an item storage and replenishment area for storing inventory. The self-service store further includes mobile robots for replenishing inventory at the shopper accessible level from the item storage and replenishment area.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/00 - Administration; Management

Abstract

A workstation is disclosed for transferring objects between containers such as product and order totes in an order fulfillment system. The workstation may include an object pick system, for example including a measuring array or a machine vision system, which directs and monitors the transfer of objects between the containers.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed

Goods & Services

Robots for material-handling and automating fulfillment of orders for industrial purposes; industrial robots; computer hardware sold as an integral component of automated industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution; industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution AN AUTOMATED MATERIAL HANDLING AND AUTOMATED ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM COMPRISED OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR ROBOT MANAGEMENT AND SUPPLY-CHAIN PRODUCT INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, COMPUTERIZED INVENTORY STATIONS, AND COMPUTERIZED WORKSTATIONS, TOGETHER PROVIDING AUTOMATED SUPPLY-CHAIN PRODUCT STORAGE, DELIVERY AND REPLENISHMENT SERVICES RELATED TO AUTOMATED MATERIAL HANDLING AND AUTOMATED ORDER FULFILLMENT, NAMELY, INVENTORY REPLENISHING AND RESETTING SERVICES RELATED TO AUTOMATED MATERIAL HANDLING AND AUTOMATED ORDER FULFILLMENT, NAMELY, PRODUCT STORAGE AND PRODUCT DELIVERY

Goods & Services

Robots for material-handling and automating fulfillment of orders for industrial purposes; industrial robots; computer hardware sold as an integral component of automated industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution; industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution AN AUTOMATED MATERIAL HANDLING AND AUTOMATED ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM COMPRISED OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR ROBOT MANAGEMENT AND SUPPLY-CHAIN PRODUCT INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, COMPUTERIZED INVENTORY STATIONS, AND COMPUTERIZED WORKSTATIONS, TOGETHER PROVIDING AUTOMATED SUPPLY-CHAIN PRODUCT STORAGE, DELIVERY AND REPLENISHMENT SERVICES RELATED TO AUTOMATED MATERIAL HANDLING AND AUTOMATED ORDER FULFILLMENT, NAMELY, INVENTORY REPLENISHING AND RESETTING SERVICES RELATED TO AUTOMATED MATERIAL HANDLING AND AUTOMATED ORDER FULFILLMENT, NAMELY, PRODUCT STORAGE AND PRODUCT DELIVERY

Abstract

A system comprising a fully automated supply chain, in combination with tracking technology and the unified commerce engine (UCE). Such a system enables the exact location of every item (or each) to be tracked from the manufacturer's facility to a customer's bag. In accordance with one example, the supply chain comprises an order fulfillment system having a regional distribution center with RDC robotic automation configured to accept one or more incoming pallets, each pallet having a plurality of common cases of goods with each case of goods containing a plurality of common eaches; the RDC robotic automation further configured to remove and store the common cases of goods; the RDC robotic automation further configured to provide one or more outgoing pallets in response to a distribution center order, each outgoing pallet having a plurality of mixed cases of goods; a market distribution center having MDC robotic automation configured to accept one or more of the outgoing pallets, the MDC robotic automation further configured to remove mixed cases of goods from the one or more outgoing pallets; the MDC robotic automation further configured to remove and store eaches from each of the mixed cases of goods in an MDC storage system, the MDC robotic automation further configured to selectively retrieve eaches from the MDC storage system and fill order totes with mixed each subtotes in response to a market order. The MDC robotic automation further configured to fulfill the market order with a plurality of common or different order totes and subtotes that flexibly match the sales velocity of the market.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/06 - Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical

Abstract

A collaborative mobile workstation system enables users of the workstations to position and reposition their own workstation in a few minutes or less, without requiring substantial disassembly and reassembly. The system enables arrangements that promote collaboration but that can also include open workstations and semi-private workstation formations with four or more substantive walls around a work surface. Each of the mobile workstations within the system is interchangeable with one another.

IPC Classes  ?

• E04B 2/74 - Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge

Abstract

A system and method for providing proxy picking of non-fungible goods within an automated storage and retrieval system is provided, which repurposes one or more automated mobile robots operating within the automated inventory management system to perform a plurality of tasks across multiple different areas of an automated store. The proxy picking system and method are configured to pick individually identified non-fungible goods according to a customer selection on an ordering screen based on measured attributes and images of the goods, the attributes selected by the customer.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed relating to an automated store or system including an automated fulfillment section having a storage structure for storing fungible and/or non-fungible goods. The fungible and/or non-fungible goods may be retrieved from storage in response to a customer order. The system and method of the present technology allows retrieved fungible and/or non-fungible goods to be sorted and packed in accordance with stored customer preferences.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Goods & Services

Transfer and transport containers of metal for transferring inventory items between storage shelves and transport robots. Transfer and transport containers, not of metal, for transferring inventory items between storage shelves and transport robots.

Abstract

A system and method for managing a plurality of automated mobile robots within automated mobile robot storage and retrieval system is provided, which repurposes one or more automated mobile robots operating within the automated inventory management system to perform a plurality of tasks across multiple different areas of an automated store. The same mobile robot is enabled to move horizontally and vertically in a multi-level storage structure (230), operate in an order fulfillment mode retrieving order totes from an automated fulfillment section (204) and delivering the order totes to the delivery section (208), operate in a replenishment section (206) in a replenishment mode receiving eaches of goods and depositing the eaches of goods in designated storage totes, and operate in a delivery mode receiving delivery bundles and transporting the delivery bundles to designated locations at the transfer station.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical
• B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for supplying one or more goods to a physical store location. The goods may be received at a distribution center (DC). At the DC, the goods may be decanted from their shipping containers into one or more sub-totes, which are contained within one or more product totes. The sub-totes may be transferred from the one or more product totes to one or more order totes based on a velocity of movement of the plurality of goods at the physical store location.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical
• B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed

Abstract

A combination automated-service and self-service store for implementation at brick-and-mortar retail locations is provided. The store and corresponding method of implementation is an automated-service model in which robots, deployed at the brick-and-mortar location, fill orders for fungible goods placed by customers either online or in-store. The store also includes a shopping section where customers can select/order items and/or personally select non-fungible goods. The store includes a shopping section for non-fungible goods that customers prefer to pick out by hand and a back end automated order fulfillment section for other goods (e.g., fungible goods, dry goods, etc.). The two sets of goods are merged to a delivery bundle and delivered together for pickup by the customer. The combination automated-service and self-service store combines the convenience of online shopping and self-service shopping using an unconventional approach that reduces costs for the retailer and simultaneously increases customer satisfaction.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

An order fulfillment system is disclosed including a multi-level tote storage structure, one or more autonomous mobile robots configured to pick, transport and place one or more tote; one or more workstations configured to accommodate a picker that transports one or more eaches from a tote on one of the autonomous mobile robots to a "put" location, wherein the autonomous mobile robots are configured to move from level to level in the order fulfillment apparatus.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/04 - Storage devices mechanical

Goods & Services

Transfer and transport containers, not of metal, for transferring inventory items between storage shelves and transport robots

Goods & Services

Automated retail system comprising computer software and hardware for processing and fulfilling orders at a retail store; interactive computer kiosks for use in providing directory and shopping assistance, and conducting monetary transactions a retail store; computer hardware for use with industrial equipment in the nature of mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations, for processing and fulfillment of orders at a retail store.

Goods & Services

Robots for material-handling and automating fulfillment of orders for industrial purposes; industrial robots; computer hardware sold as an integral component of automated industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution; industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution. Automated material-handling systems comprising computer software for managing robotic systems for processing and fulfillment of orders for retail distribution; computer hardware for use with automated robotic systems.

Goods & Services

Robots for material-handling and automating fulfillment of orders for industrial purposes; industrial robots; computer hardware sold as an integral component of automated industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution; industrial robotic systems comprising mobile robots, inventory stations, and workstations for fulfillment of orders for retail distribution Automated material-handling systems comprising computer software for managing robotic systems for processing and fulfillment of orders for retail distribution; computer hardware for use with automated robotic systems