Systems and methods of storing and retrieving retail store product inventory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12354060-B2
Application number	US-202318386217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2023
Priority date	Jul 2, 2018
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful in retail store inventory storage and retrieval. Some embodiments provide systems, comprising: a rack system positioned above a dropdown ceiling and extending over the sales floor, and comprising: a plurality of racks, a rail system and the plurality of access passages; a plurality of unmanned vehicles; a plurality of access stations, wherein the access stations physically cooperate with one of the access passages; each rack comprises storage cells to receive a reusable tote; and wherein the central control circuit is configured to receive a request for a first product, identify a first access station, access the inventory tracking system to identify a first storage cell in which the first product is stored, identify an available unmanned vehicle, and communicate to the unmanned vehicle directing the unmanned vehicle to retrieve the tote and transport the tote to the first access station.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retail inventory storage and retrieval system, comprising:
a rack system positioned in a retail facility comprising a plurality of racks;
a plurality of access passages;
a control circuit;
a plurality of unmanned vehicles in wireless communication with the control circuit, wherein each of the plurality of unmanned vehicles comprises a tote retrieval system, and are configured to travel through the rack system; and
a plurality of access stations each physically cooperated with at least one of the plurality of access passages, and each is accessible by an individual in retrieving requested products; and
wherein each rack of the plurality of racks comprises a plurality of storage locations that are each configured to receive at least one of a plurality of reusable storage totes configured to receive and temporarily store at least one product;
wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a first request for a first product, identify a first access station of the plurality of access stations to which the first product is to be routed, communicate to a first unmanned vehicle, of the plurality of unmanned vehicles, directing the first unmanned vehicle to retrieve a first tote, of the plurality of reusable storage totes, containing the first product and transport the first tote through at least one of the plurality of access passages to the first access station; and
wherein each of the plurality of access stations comprises at least one access door movably positioned to prevent and allow access to at least a portion of a product retrieval opening within the respective access station that aligns with a respective one of the plurality of reusable storage totes when positioned within the respective access station.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first tote comprises multiple compartments that are each configured to receive at one or more products;
wherein each of the plurality of access stations comprises an access system comprising an access system controller and the at least one access door; and
wherein the access system controller is configured to obtain an identifier of a first compartment, of the multiple compartments of the first tote, to which a requesting individual is to be granted access, and controls the at least one access door to align with at least one compartment, comprising the first compartment, in response to instructions from the control circuit while simultaneously preventing access to one or more other compartments of the multiple compartments of the first tote.

3. A retail inventory storage and retrieval system, comprising:
a rack system positioned in a retail facility comprising a plurality of racks;
a plurality of access passages;
a control circuit;
a plurality of unmanned vehicles in wireless communication with the control circuit, wherein each of the plurality of unmanned vehicles comprises a tote retrieval system, and are configured to travel through the rack system;
a plurality of access stations each physically cooperated with at least one of the plurality of access passages, and each is accessible by an individual in retrieving requested products; and
wherein each rack of the plurality of racks comprises a plurality of storage locations that are each configured to receive at least one of a plurality of reusable storage totes configured to receive and temporarily store at least one product;
wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a request for a first product, identify a first access station of the plurality of access stations to which the first product is to be routed, communicate to a first unmanned vehicle, of the plurality of unmanned vehicles, directing the first unmanned vehicle to retrieve a first tote, of the plurality of reusable storage totes, containing the first product and transport the first tote through at least one of the plurality of access passages to the first access station; and
wherein the control circuit is configured to direct the first unmanned vehicle to a first access passage of the plurality of access passages that links the first access station with least some of the plurality of racks, of the rack system, that are secured above a dropdown ceiling.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first access passage of the plurality of access passages comprising:
a first length extending from the rack system to a subterranean passage positioned below at least a portion of the retail facility; and
a second length extending between the first length of the first access passage along the subterranean passage to the first access station located at an exterior of the retail facility.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a transport support system with which the plurality of unmanned vehicles cooperate to travel through the rack system;
wherein the plurality of storage locations are arranged vertically and horizontally along the plurality of racks of the rack system, and the transport support system extends vertically and horizontally along the plurality of storage locations enabling the plurality of unmanned vehicles to move vertically and horizontally to access any one of the plurality of storage locations.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first temperature zone comprising a first portion of the rack system;
a first temperature control system cooperated with the first temperature zone, wherein the first temperature control system maintains a temperature within the first temperature zone within a first temperature threshold of a first temperature;
a second temperature zone comprising a second portion of the rack system, wherein the second temperature zone is separated from the first temperature zone;
a second temperature control system cooperated with the second temperature zone, wherein the second temperature control system maintains a temperature within the second temperature zone within a second temperature threshold of a second temperature, which is different than the first temperature; and
a first access passage of the plurality of access passages extending between the first temperature zone and the first access station.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of access stations comprises a user interface communicatively coupled with the control circuit and configured to enable different users at different ones of the plurality of access stations to submit a respective request; and
wherein the control circuit is configured to direct, in response to the respective requests, different unmanned vehicles of the plurality of unmanned vehicles to respective storage locations to respectively retrieve a respective reusable storage tote of the plurality of reusable storage totes storing at least one products corresponding to the request, and direct the respective unmanned vehicles to transport the retrieved respective reusable storage totes to a corresponding one of the access stations from which the respective request is received.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a conveyor system that moves multiple totes of the plurality of reusable storage totes to a loading position to receive and temporarily store one or more products delivered to the retail facility, and the control circuit is configured to direct a set of multiple unmanned vehicles of the plurality of unmanned vehicles to retrieve a respective one of the multiple totes and transport the respective one of the multiple totes to an assigned, different storage location of the plurality of storage locations.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of access passages comprises a plurality of storing access passages configured to enable multiple different unmanned vehicles to simultaneously move mul

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Durkee Paul E
• Roth Brian C

Classifications

• B64U2101/20

  for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• B64U2101/66

  for retrieving parcels · CPC title

• B65G1/1378

  the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas · CPC title

• B65G1/0492

  with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles · CPC title