Automated decant system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12378077-B2
Application number	US-202217686102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2022
Priority date	Mar 3, 2021
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for decanting cases of eaches in a supply chain, the system comprising:
a work surface configured to receive a case of eaches;
a separation module configured to receive eaches after removal of the case, the separation module further configured to separate and organize eaches for delivery to one or more totes.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a drop catch module configured to support a tote of the one or more totes and for receiving eaches from the separation module.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a packaging removal module configured to remove the case after it is cut from the eaches.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an inversion module configured to rotate eaches and allow removal of a portion of the case on which the eaches were supported prior to rotation.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the separation module comprises one or more sliding plates configured to support eaches upon being separated from the case and organized, the one or more sliding plates further configured to be rapidly removed from beneath the eaches to allow the eaches to fall from the separation module without disrupting the organization of the eaches.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a drop catch module positioned beneath the one or more sliding plates to catch the falling eaches.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the drop catch module is configured for vertical motion, the drop catch module moving downward when catching the falling eaches to prevent disrupting the organization of the falling eaches.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an edge cutting module configured to make horizontal cuts through the case on one or more sides of the case, wherein the case comprises one of cardboard or shrink wrap.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the edge cutting module comprises a first edge cutting module configured to make horizontal cuts through two sides of the case, the system further comprising a second edge cutting module configured to make horizontal cuts through the case on remaining sides of the case.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a conveyor configured to rotate the case about a vertical axis after the first edge cutting module makes the horizontal cuts through two sides of the case to present the remaining sides to the second edge cutting module for cutting.

11. The system of claim 9 , further comprising one or more sensors for sensing at least one of position and contour of the case to facilitate cutting by the first and second edge cutting modules.

12. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a case stripper module for removing a top portion of the case after cutting of the case by the first and second edge cutting modules.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising an inversion module configured to invert the case after removal of the top portion of the case, the case stripper module removing a bottom portion of the case after inversion of the case by the inversion module.

14. A system for decanting cases of eaches in a supply chain, the system comprising:
a work surface configured to receive a case of eaches;
one or more edge cutting modules configured to cut one or more edges of the case to provide access to the eaches within the case;
an inversion module configured to rotate eaches and allow removal of a portion of the case on which the eaches were supported prior to rotation;
a separation module configured to separate and organize eaches after separation from the case; and
a drop catch module configured to support a tote and receive eaches from the separation module.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein an arrangement of the eaches within the case is maintained through the one or more cutting modules and the inversion module.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the organization of the eaches is maintained after the separation and organization of the eaches through the eaches being received in the tote on the drop catch module.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more edge cutting modules comprise first and second edge cutting modules which together make horizontal cuts through the entire case.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a right-angle conveyor configured to rotate the case 90 degrees about a vertical axis after the first edge cutting module makes horizontal cuts through case to present the remaining sides of the case to the second edge cutting module for cutting.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more edge cutting modules comprise one of a razor edge and router bit for cutting the case without damaging the eaches within the case.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising one or more cameras for sensing at least one of position and contour of the case to facilitate positioning of the razor edge or router bit to cut the case without damaging the eaches within the case.

21. The system of claim 14 , the cameras capture an image of the case to enable identification of a predefined type of case, identification of the predefined type of case facilitating positioning of the razor edge or router bit to cut the case without damaging the eaches within the case.

22. The system of claim 14 , wherein the tote comprises two or more subtotes, and wherein the separation module is configured to separate and organize the eaches into groups that correspond in number and position to the two or more subtotes.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the separation module comprises one or more sliding plates configured to support eaches upon being separated from the case and organized into the groups, the one or more sliding plates further configured to be rapidly removed from beneath the groups of eaches to allow the eaches to fall from the separation module into the two or more subtotes without disrupting the organization of the eaches into the groups.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the drop catch module is positioned beneath the one or more sliding plates and is configured for vertical motion to move downward when catching the falling eaches to prevent disrupting the organization of the falling eaches from their groups as the eaches fall into the subtotes.

25. A method of decanting cases of eaches in a supply chain, the method comprising:
a) receiving a case of goods on a support table;
b) cutting edges of the case;
c) removing a first portion of the case;
d) inverting the eaches and remaining portion of the case;
e) removing the remaining portion of the case;
f) separating the eaches based on one or more totes into which the eaches are to be transferred; and
g) transferring the eaches into the one or more totes.

Assignees

• Symbotic Llc

Inventors

• Lert Jr John G
• Fosnight William J
• Solomon Mark
• Warhurst Julian
• Supernor Mark
• Stallings Nathan

Classifications

• B65G61/00

  Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B65G65/23

  Devices for tilting and emptying of containers · CPC title

• B65G2201/0258

  Trays, totes or bins · CPC title

• B65B69/0033

  by cutting (B65B69/0008-B65B69/0025 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65G1/06

  with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level (B65G1/12 takes precedence) · CPC title