Integrated item decanting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11820022-B2
Application number	US-202217958928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2022
Priority date	Apr 1, 2019
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

Examples provide a system for system for customized item decanting. A robotic picker device is configured to remove a selected item from a selected case in an open configuration on a conveyor device. A decan manager, implemented on a processor, is configured to identify a destination tote in a set of totes for placement of the selected item, The robotic picker device places the selected item into the destination tote and the decant manager analyzes sensor data and item data associated with the selected item to confirm an identification of the selected item placed into the destination tote for inventory update.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for customized item decanting, the system comprising:
a robotic picker device configured to remove a selected item from a selected case in an open configuration on a conveyor device;
a decant manager, implemented on a processor, configured to identify a destination tote in a set of totes for placement of the selected item, wherein the robotic picker device places the selected item into the destination tote, and wherein the decant manager analyzes sensor data and item data associated with the selected item to confirm an identification of the selected item placed into the destination tote for inventory update.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a robotic case opener device associated with the conveyor device, the robotic case opener device opening the selected case using an integrated cutting implement.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the robotic picker device removes a smaller case from the selected case and wherein the robotic case opener device opens the smaller case using the integrated cutting implement prior to the robotic picker device removing the selected item.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a robotic decanting device that removes the selected case from a pallet and places the selected case on the conveyor device for decanting.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a robotic tote transfer device that transfers the destination tote to an induction point of a tote storage device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the decant manager is further configured to output a notification to a user device that the destination tote is full or unavailable.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein responsive to the decant manager being unable to confirm the identification of the selected item placed into the destination tote, the decan manager is further configured to output a notification to a user device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the robotic picker device is further configured to place the selected item into an individual compartment of the destination tote based on the item data.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of totes includes at least one temperature-controlled tote.

10. A computer-implemented method for customized item decanting, the computer-implemented method comprising:
controlling a robotic picker device to remove a selected item from a selected case in an open configuration on a conveyor device;
identifying a destination tote in a set of totes for placement of the selected item;
controlling the robotic picker device to place the selected item into the destination tote;
analyzing sensor data and item data associated with the selected item to confirm an identification of the selected item placed into the destination tote for inventory update.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
controlling a robotic case opener device associated with the conveyor device to open the selected case using an integrated cutting implement.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
controlling a robotic decanting device to remove the selected case from a pallet and places the selected case on the conveyor device for decanting.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
controlling a robotic tote transfer device to transfer the destination tote to an induction point of a tote storage device.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining that the destination tote is full or unavailable; and
outputting a notification to a user device responsive to the determination that the destination tote is full or unavailable.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
outputting a notification to a user device responsive to an unconfirmed identification of the selected item placed into the destination tote.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
controlling the robotic picker device to place the selected item into an individual compartment of the destination tote based on the item data.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the set of totes includes at least one temperature-controlled tote.

18. A robotic decanting device comprising:
a processor;
a robotic picker device that removes a selected item from a selected case in an open configuration on a conveyor device;
a decant manager, implemented on the processor, configured to identify a destination tote in a set of totes for placement of the selected item and control the robotic picker device to remove the selected item from the selected case and place the selected item into the destination tote, wherein the decant manager analyzes sensor data and item data associated with the selected item to confirm an identification of the selected item placed into the destination tote for inventory update.

19. The robotic decanting device of claim 18 , further comprising:
a robotic case opener device that opens the selected case using an integrated cutting implement.

20. The robotic decanting device of claim 18 , wherein the decant manager is further configured to determine that the destination tote is full or unavailable and output a notification to a user device responsive to the determination that the destination tote is full or unavailable.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Edwards Ben
• Roth Brian C
• Durkee Paul

Classifications

• B25J9/1687 Primary

  Assembly, peg and hole, palletising, straight line, weaving pattern movement · CPC title

• B25J9/0093

  co-operating with conveyor means · CPC title

• B25J9/1682

  Dual arm manipulator; Coordination of several manipulators · CPC title

• B25J9/1694

  characterised by use of sensors other than normal servo-feedback from position, speed or acceleration sensors, perception control, multi-sensor controlled systems, sensor fusion · CPC title

• B65G1/1373

  for fulfilling orders in warehouses · CPC title