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Random-access robotic inventory dispensary: replenishment and purge

  • US 9,563,194 B2
  • Filed: 05/04/2015
  • Issued: 02/07/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:

  • receiving, by a computerized controller of a processing system of a robotic inventory dispensary, through an operator user interface, a request that triggers a replenishment operation;

    accessing, by the controller in computer-accessible tangible storage, a database system to determine locations within the robotic inventory dispensary of a plurality of bins that are empty;

    receiving, by a robot of the robotic inventory dispensary, a command from the controller that causes the robot to transfer the plurality of bins to an operator-access device, wherein the bins are filled while located in the operator-access device;

    receiving, by the controller through the operator user interface, a communication that indicates that the bins of the plurality of bins have been filled with a respective product item;

    receiving, by the robot, a command from the controller that causes the robot to execute a set of actions for the replenishment operation, including for each filled bin of the plurality of bins;

    removing the filled bin from the operator-access device; and

    placing the filled bin into a respective bin location in the robotic inventory dispensary; and

    for each filled bin of the plurality of bins, recording an identifier of the filled bin, an identifier of the respective product item, and an indication of the respective bin location in the database system.

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