Systems, devices, and methods for inventory management of carpet rolls in a warehouse
First Claim
1. A system for managing an inventory of carpet rolls in a warehouse, the system comprising:
- one or more autonomous lift trucks comprising;
a frame;
a mast attached to the frame;
a pole fixedly mounted on the mast by a carrier, which is movable laterally in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a length of the pole by one or more hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical lateral actuators, wherein the pole is configured to be inserted concentrically within a core of a carpet roll to lift the carpet roll for transport;
a plurality of imaging devices mounted on each lift truck in a displaceable manner;
at least one navigation sensor;
at least one safety sensor;
at least one emergency stop; and
at least three wheels, comprising two traction wheels located in a same vertical plane on opposite sides of the lift truck and one steering wheel, wherein the traction wheels are each configured to apply a locomotive force to the lift truck and the steering wheel is configured to rotate to change a direction of travel of the lift truck;
a database configured to store location information for a plurality of carpet rolls in the warehouse;
a server in electronic communication with the database; and
a system manager configured to send one or more instructions to the one or more lift trucks.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for managing an inventory of carpet rolls within a warehouse includes one or more autonomous lift trucks, a database configured to store location information for a plurality of carpet rolls in the warehouse, a server in electronic communication with the database, and a system manager configured to send one or more instructions to the one or more lift trucks. The one or more autonomous lift trucks include a frame, a mast attached to the frame, a pole fixedly mounted on the mast, the pole being configured for insertion within a core of a carpet roll for transport of the carpet roll, a plurality of imaging devices mounted on each lift truck in a displaceable manner, at least one navigation sensor, at least one safety sensor, at least one emergency stop, and at least three wheels.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for managing an inventory of carpet rolls in a warehouse, the system comprising:
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one or more autonomous lift trucks comprising; a frame; a mast attached to the frame; a pole fixedly mounted on the mast by a carrier, which is movable laterally in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a length of the pole by one or more hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical lateral actuators, wherein the pole is configured to be inserted concentrically within a core of a carpet roll to lift the carpet roll for transport; a plurality of imaging devices mounted on each lift truck in a displaceable manner; at least one navigation sensor; at least one safety sensor; at least one emergency stop; and at least three wheels, comprising two traction wheels located in a same vertical plane on opposite sides of the lift truck and one steering wheel, wherein the traction wheels are each configured to apply a locomotive force to the lift truck and the steering wheel is configured to rotate to change a direction of travel of the lift truck; a database configured to store location information for a plurality of carpet rolls in the warehouse; a server in electronic communication with the database; and a system manager configured to send one or more instructions to the one or more lift trucks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A lift truck for autonomous storage and retrieval of carpet rolls in a warehouse, the lift truck comprising:
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a frame; a mast attached to the frame; a cylindrically-shaped pole fixedly mounted on the mast by a carrier, which is movable laterally in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a length of the pole by one or more hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical lateral actuators, wherein the pole is configured to be inserted concentrically within a core of a carpet roll to lift the carpet roll for transport; a plurality of imaging devices mounted on the lift truck in a displaceable manner; at least one navigation sensor; at least one safety sensor; at least one emergency stop; and at least three wheels, comprising two traction wheels located in a same vertical plane on opposite sides of the lift truck and one steering wheel, wherein the traction wheels are each configured to apply a locomotive force to the lift truck and the steering wheel is configured to rotate to change a direction of travel of the lift truck. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of managing an inventory of carpet rolls in a warehouse, the method comprising:
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providing one or more lift trucks in a warehouse comprising a plurality of carpet rolls on one or more carpet racks; sending, via a system manager, at least one instruction to a lift truck of the one or more lift trucks; determining an origin point associated with the at least one instruction; moving the lift truck to the origin point specified in the at least one instruction; scanning, via an infrared camera, carpet rolls on a carpet rack located to a side of a transit path determined by the lift truck moving to the origin point; detecting, via image processing, the carpet rolls scanned by the infrared camera; moving, once an identity of a carpet roll specified in the at least one instruction is detected, the lift truck to an insertion position, such that a pole attached to the lift truck is aligned with a core of the carpet roll specified in the at least one instruction; verifying, via an infrared pole camera mounted on a distal end of the pole, the identity of the carpet roll detected; processing one or more images from the pole camera to determine a center of the core of the carpet roll; inserting, after the identity of the carpet roll is verified and the center of the core is determined, the pole into the center of the core of the carpet roll; raising a mast, by which the pole is attached to the lift truck, to lift the carpet roll; transporting, using the lift truck, the carpet roll to a destination point specified by the at least one instruction; depositing the carpet roll at the destination point; transmitting, via a wireless antenna the system manager, a location and/or a height within the warehouse where the carpet roll was deposited; and storing the location and/or height in a database. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification