Systems and methods for object storage and retrieval

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12103775-B2
Application number	US-202217729902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2022
Priority date	Oct 31, 2018
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

Described in detail herein is an autonomous object storage and retrieval system. In one embodiment, an object storage and retrieval system includes a computing system hosting a service application and in communication with a database and storage and retrieval apparatuses configured to store and dispense physical objects. Each storage and retrieval apparatus is in communication with the computing system. The computing system can transmit instructions to a first one of the storage and retrieval apparatuses to render the status of the first physical object on the interactive display of the storage and retrieval apparatus.

First claim

We claim:

1. An object storage and retrieval system, the system comprising:
a plurality of storage and retrieval apparatuses configured to store and dispense a plurality of physical objects, wherein a first storage and retrieval apparatus of the plurality of storage and retrieval apparatuses is configured to:
receive information for one or more physical objects based on identities of a first set of physical objects;
transmit a request to at least a second storage and retrieval apparatus of the plurality of storage and retrieval apparatuses for the one or more physical objects; and
receive, at the first storage and retrieval apparatus, the one or more physical objects from the second storage and retrieval apparatus; and

wherein the first storage and retrieval apparatus comprises multiple lockers, and the second storage and retrieval apparatus comprises a shelving unit and a transport apparatus;
wherein the one or more physical objects are transported from the second storage and retrieval apparatus to the first storage and retrieval apparatus in response to the request; and
wherein the first storage and retrieval apparatus comprises a first receptacle, and the second storage and retrieval apparatus comprises a second receptacle, and the one or more physical objects are transported, by the transport apparatus through the second storage and retrieval apparatus and the second receptacle, to the first storage and retrieval apparatus and positioned into a first locker of the multiple lockers of the first storage and retrieval apparatus in response to the request.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more terminals in communication with the plurality of storage and retrieval apparatuses, the one or more terminals configured to:
receive information associated with the first set of physical objects interfacing with the one or more terminals;
receive additional information associated with the one or more physical objects based on the information associated with the first set of physical objects; and
transmit the additional information associated with the one or more physical objects to the first storage and retrieval apparatus.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a computing system including a database in communication with the plurality of storage and retrieval apparatuses.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of storage and retrieval apparatuses each further include a respective reader, and the first storage and retrieval apparatus is further configured to:
read one or more machine-readable elements or one or more radio frequency identifier (RFID) tags disposed on the first set of physical objects, as the first set of physical objects traverses past the reader associated with the first storage and retrieval apparatus; and
transmit to the computing system one or more identifiers associated with the one or more machine-readable elements or the one or more RFID tags read by the reader of the first storage and retrieval apparatus.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computing system is configured to:
query the database using the one or more identifiers to retrieve the information associated with the first set of physical objects;
identify the one or more physical objects based on the information associated with the first set of physical objects; and
transmit the information associated the one or more physical objects to the first storage and retrieval apparatus.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user device including an optical scanner, the user device being configured to:
execute an application; and
scan the first set of physical objects using the optical scanner.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first storage and retrieval apparatus is configured to:
receive scanned identifiers of the first set of physical objects from the application executed on the user device based on the scanning of the first set of physical objects; and
identify the information for the one or more physical objects based on the scanned identifiers of the first set of physical objects.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second storage and retrieval apparatus comprises a second storage tower;
wherein the second storage tower comprises a second housing, the shelving unit disposed within the second housing, a second controller, the transport apparatus, a second input device, and a second interactive display; and
wherein the one or more physical objects are autonomously transported from the second storage tower to the first locker in response to the request.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle is configured to be aligned with the second receptacle.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second storage tower is configured to transport, via the transport apparatus of the second storage tower, the one or more physical objects to the second receptacle of the second storage tower.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first storage and retrieval apparatus is configured to receive the one or more physical objects, via the first receptacle aligned to the second receptacle of the second storage tower.

12. An object storage and retrieval method, the method comprising:
receiving, via a first storage and retrieval apparatus of a plurality of storage apparatuses, information for one or more physical objects based on identities of a first set of physical objects, the first storage and retrieval apparatus comprising multiple lockers and a first receptacle;
transmitting, via the first storage and retrieval apparatus, a request to at least a second storage and retrieval apparatus of the plurality of storage apparatuses for the one or more physical objects wherein the second storage and retrieval apparatus comprising a shelving unit and a transport apparatus;
transporting, by the transport apparatus through the second storage and retrieval apparatus and through a second receptacle, the one or more physical objects from the second storage and retrieval apparatus in response to the request;
receiving, via the first storage and retrieval apparatus and from the second storage and retrieval apparatus, the one or more physical objects; and
positioning the one or more physical objects into a first locker of the multiple lockers of the first storage and retrieval apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving, via one or more terminals in communication with the plurality of storage apparatuses, information associated with the first set of physical objects interfacing with the one or more terminals;
receiving, via the one or more terminals, additional information associated with the one or more physical objects based on the information associated with the first set of physical objects; and
transmitting, via the one or more terminals, the additional information associated with the one or more physical objects to the first storage and retrieval apparatus.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the receiving the information for the one or more physical objects comprises accessing a database of a computing system and acquiring the information for the one or more physical objects through the computing system.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
reading, via a reader of the first storage and retrieval apparatus, one or more machine-readable elements or one or more radio frequency identifier (RFID) tags disposed on the first set of physical objects, as the first set of physical objects traverses past the reader associated with the first storage and retrieval apparatus; and
transmitting to the computing system, via the first storage

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Wilkinson Bruce W
• Tovey David G
• Bellar Jason

Classifications

• G06Q10/08

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title

• G06K19/0723

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title

• B65G2209/04

  Indication location means · CPC title

• B65G2203/046

  RFID · CPC title

• B65G1/045 Primary

  in a circular arrangement, e.g. towers · CPC title