Relabeling system for unlabeled items and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12257604-B2
Application number	US-201916706310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2019
Priority date	Dec 6, 2018
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

Systems, methods, and machine readable media are provided for relabeling items. A computing device is communicatively coupled to a scanning device, a printing device, and an inventory system. The computing device identifies at least one of the items as missing an expected label type, the expected label indicating a location where the item should be stocked. The system scans the item via the scanning device, queries the inventory system to determine a location for the item. The system prints, via the printing device, a label indicating a location where the item should be stocked in the retail facility, applies the label to the item and sorts the item, via the sorting apparatus, to transport the item to one of the outlets based on the location indicated on the label.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for relabeling an unlabeled item to facilitate sorting and transporting of the unlabeled item, the system comprising:
a sorting apparatus including at least one conveyor configured to transport items from an inlet of the sorting apparatus towards a plurality of outlets of the sorting apparatus;
a scanner disposed between the inlet and the plurality of outlets of the sorting apparatus, the scanner configured to scan the items as the items are transported past the scanner by the sorting apparatus;
a printer disposed between the scanner and the plurality of outlets of the sorting apparatus;
inventory data identifying locations at a facility for stocking of the items at the facility;
a computing system in communication with the scanner, the printer, and the inventory data, the computing system configured to execute re-labeling instructions, such that, when executed, the computing system:
identifies via the scanner, an item as missing a predetermined label type to facilitate subsequent sorting and transport of the item to a destination by failing to detect the predetermined label type during scanning, the predetermined label type indicating a location where the item should be stocked in the facility;
after identifying that the item is missing the predetermined label type, scans the item via the scanner again and detects indicia, other than the predetermined label type, from which item identifying information can be determined;
identifies the item based on the indicia;
accesses the inventory data to determine a location in the facility where the identified item should be stocked;
prints, via the printer, a label indicating the location where the item should be stocked in the facility;
re-scans the item via the scanner to detect the printed label applied to the item missing the predetermined label type and determines an associated outlet of the plurality of the outlets of the sorting apparatus corresponding to the item; and
sorts the item, via the sorting apparatus, to transport the item to the associated outlet of the plurality of outlets corresponding to the location where the item should be stocked in the facility indicated on the label.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the indicia comprise a machine readable identifier.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location where the item should be stocked at the facility is dynamically allocated for the item based on real time inventory requirements.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the location the item should be stocked comprises a storage area.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the label identifying a location at the facility where the item should be stocked includes at least one of an aisle identifier, a section identifier, and a shelf identifier.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the indicia comprise a barcode affixed to the item.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing system, when executed: applies the label to the item via the printer.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined label type indicates a location where the item should be stocked at the facility, the predetermined label type including information for use by an individual to transport the item from a conveyor location to the stocking location for the item at the facility.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the re-scanning of the item via the scanner to detect the printed label applied to the item missing the predetermined label type is performed prior to attempted sorting of the item by the sorting apparatus.

10. A method for relabeling an unlabeled item to facilitate sorting and transporting of the unlabeled item, the method comprising:
transporting an item from an inlet of a sorting apparatus to an outlet of the sorting apparatus, the outlet of the sorting apparatus being one of a plurality of outlets of the sorting apparatus;
identifying an item as missing a predetermined label type by a scanner by failing to detect the predetermined label type during scanning as the item is being transported towards the plurality of outlets by the sorting apparatus, the predetermined label type indicating a location where the item should be stocked in a facility;
after identifying that the item is missing the predetermined label type, scanning the item again by the scanner as the item is transported by the sorting apparatus and detecting indicia, other than the predetermined label type, from which item identifying information can be determined;
identifying the item based on the indicia;
accessing inventory data identifying locations at the facility for stocking of items at the facility to determine a location in the facility where the identified item should be stocked;
printing a label indicating the location where the item should be stocked in the facility;
re-scanning the item via the scanner to detect the printed label applied to the item missing the predetermined label type and determines an associated outlet of the plurality of the outlets of the sorting apparatus corresponding to the item; and
sorting the item, via the sorting apparatus, to transport the item to the associated outlet in response to scanning the label applied to the item, the outlet corresponding to the location where the item should be stocked in the facility indicated on the label.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the indicia comprise a machine readable identifier.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the location at the facility where the item should be stocked is dynamically allocated for the item based on real time inventory requirements.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the location where the item should be stocked comprises a storage area.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the label includes at least one of an aisle identifier, a section identifier, and a shelf identifier.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for relabeling an unlabeled item in a facility, having stored thereon, instructions that when executed in a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
identifying an item as missing a predetermined label type by a scanner by failing to detect the predetermined label type during scanning as the item is being transported towards a plurality of outlets by a sorting apparatus, the predetermined label type indicating a location where the item should be stocked in a facility;
after identifying that the item is missing the predetermined label type, scanning the item again by the scanner as the item is transported by the sorting apparatus and detecting indicia, other than the predetermined label type, from which item identifying information can be determined;
identifying the item based on the indicia;
accessing inventory data identifying locations at the facility for stocking of items at the facility to determine a location in the facility where the identified item should be stocked;
printing a label indicating the location where the item should be stocked in the facility;
re-scanning the item via the scanner to detect the printed label applied to the item missing the predetermined label type and determines an associated outlet of the plurality of the outlets of the sorting apparatus corresponding to the item; and
sorting the item, via the sorting apparatus, to transport the item to the associated outlet in response to scanning the label applied to the item, the outlet corresponding to the location where the item should be stocked in the facility indicated on the label.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the indicia comprise a machine readable identifier

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Bellar Jason

Classifications

• B07C3/18

  Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks {(applying data to information carriers G06K1/12)} · CPC title

• B07C2301/0025

  Recipient identification providing a unique ID for a mail recipient · CPC title

• G06Q10/08 Primary

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

• B65C9/40

  Controls; Safety devices · CPC title

• G06K1/121

  by printing code marks (applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26) · CPC title