B65G1/1373

Cargo transport system and automated guided vehicle

There is provided a cargo transport system including: a management device; and a plurality of automated guided vehicles. Each of the automated guided vehicles includes: a movement instruction receiving unit that receives, from the management device, a movement instruction for moving to at least one loading operation place where a loading operation of loading a cargo to be transported into the automated guided vehicle is performed or a specified position near the loading operation place; an information transmitting unit that transmits, to the management device, load information concerning a load state of the cargo loaded into the automated guided vehicle; and a traveling unit that performs automated traveling in accordance with the received movement instruction. The management device includes: a movement instruction management unit that transmits the movement instruction to each of the automated guided vehicles; a load information receiving unit; and a load amount management unit.

Control method, controller, and storage medium
11543827 · 2023-01-03 · ·

A control method performed by a controller includes calculating times required for a worker to load, on an automated guided vehicle, multiple articles placed in multiple locations regarding multiple cases among which a stop situation of the automated guided vehicle where the worker loads the articles varies and determining a position in which the automated guided vehicle is to be stopped, based on the calculated times.

Automated Transporter Fleet Control in Order Fulfillment Facilities

A method includes: obtaining a batch of item group definitions, each item group definition having one or more item identifiers and corresponding quantities; for each item identifier, retrieving (i) a location of a corresponding item in a facility, and (ii) a dimensional attribute of the corresponding item; based on the locations and dimensional attributes, assigning sets of the item group definitions to respective receptacle configurations, each receptacle configuration including, for each item group definition in the set, a receptacle type with a predefined capacity; monitoring availability of a plurality of transporters in the facility, each transporter having a chassis configured to support a selectable set of receptacles; and responsive to detecting that a transporter is available, selecting one of the receptacle configurations, and presenting the selected receptacle configuration via an output device, to initiate placement of receptacles onto the chassis of the transporter according to the selected receptacle configuration.

Multi-nodal supply chain system and method for supply chain workflow execution using transportable and continuously trackable storage bins

A multi-nodal supply chain system including multiple interconnected entities and a method for executing a supply chain workflow using transportable and continuously trackable, standardized storage bins is provided. The entities include a network of node facilities distributed throughout a geographical region, inter-nodal transport vehicles (INTVs), storage bins storable in indexed storage locations within the node facilities and the INTVs, and a computerized system. The computerized system stores bin identifiers of the storage bins and location identifiers of the indexed storage locations and dynamic storage locations of the storage bins. The computerized system also updates the location identifiers as the storage bins are transferred between the node facilities and the INTVs. The node facilities, the INTVs, and the storage bins, in communication with the computerized system, provide a complete traceability of one or more eaches of inventory items from their input into the supply chain system to fulfillment of orders.

Inventory sorting and transport

A system for sorting and transporting inventory items from a warehouse environment to a packing station. A sorting device receives the inventory item and transports the item to a sort location. The item is transferred to an inventory transport and transported to a packing station for further processing.

RACK STORAGE SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED TRANSPORT VEHICLE LIFTING DEVICE

A rack storage system includes first and second storage racks, a rack aisle therebetween, rack guide tracks arranged in pairs in driving planes above each other, a transport vehicle displaceable in the rack aisle, a transport vehicle lifting device with a vertically extending guide frame and a lift frame mounted thereon so as to be adjustable by a lift drive. A receiving device including lift guide tracks positionable relative to the rack guide tracks and by which the vehicle is transportable between the planes is arranged on the lift frame. Vertical first and second guide profiles are connected to the rack guide tracks. First and second lift guide tracks are mounted on the lift frame to be movable parallel to the rack guide tracks by guide devices. First and second coupling devices respectively couple the first and second lift guide tracks to the first and second guide profiles, respectively.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORDER PROCESSING
20220398528 · 2022-12-15 · ·

An order processing system includes a plurality of robotic devices, a set of storage systems, an order consolidation system, and a control server. The control server receives a set of orders for an item, determines a cumulative order quantity of the item, and selects a subset of the set of orders to be opened up for consolidation at the order consolidation system. The control server identifies one the storage systems that stores the item as per the cumulative order quantity and assigns the storage system to an operator station for batch picking of the cumulative order quantity. The control server controls a first robotic device to transport the storage system to the operator station, and a second robotic device to collect from the operator station a first portion of the cumulative order quantity and transfer the first portion to a set of order bins associated with the subset of orders.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DYNAMIC ROUTING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
20220397912 · 2022-12-15 ·

Disclosed are systems and methods for dynamically routing autonomous vehicles to minimize the time spent navigating a warehouse. A system may dynamically route autonomous vehicles based on a weighted arrangement (or combination) of factors including: the route determined for other autonomous vehicles, the pick lists associated with the autonomous vehicles, the pick list priority, the picker's current location, the autonomous vehicles' current location, the picker's assignment to an autonomous vehicle, the picker's progress in completing his/her tasks, the picker's projected location, the autonomous vehicles' projected location, the nearest autonomous vehicle to a picker in time based on the picker's walking speed, the nearest autonomous vehicle in urgency, the nearest autonomous vehicle in distance, autonomous vehicle battery level, orders already placed on an autonomous vehicle, priority pickers, products to be picked that can be prioritized over other pickers and/or picking routes.

Systems and methods for tray cassette warehousing

A system, includes, a semiconductor processing unit, an Automated Materials Handling System (AMHS) vehicle, and a warehouse apparatus, wherein the warehouse apparatus comprises at least one input port, at least one output port, and at least one load/unload port, wherein the warehouse apparatus is configured to perform one of the following: receiving a plurality of tray cassette containers from the AMHS vehicle at the at least one input port, transporting at least one tray cassette in each of a plurality of tray cassette containers to the at least one load/unload port via the at least one input port, transporting at least one first tray from the at least one tray cassette to the semiconductor processing unit via a tray feeder conveyor, and receiving at least one second tray from the semiconductor processing unit via the tray feeder conveyor.

Mobile inventory transport unit and autonomous operation of mobile inventory transportation unit networks
11520337 · 2022-12-06 · ·

Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for transporting a mobile inventory transportation unit (MITU) in a communication network are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may include the mobile inventory transportation communication network comprising the MITU, a transportation system, a first and a second central system, in communication with each other, the MITU comprising a housing, an inventory storage device, a power device, a drive device, a navigation device, a sensing device, and a control device. The transportation system may be configured to physically receive and transport the MITU from a first point to a second point, the second central system may be configured to determine an inventory demand at a second or more location and transmit inventory request data to the first central system, and the first central system may be configured to schedule the movement of the MITU and control the delivery of the MITU to a final destination.