Random-access robotic inventory dispensary: replenishment and purge
First Claim
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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Abstract
The present invention is a robotic system for maintaining product inventory and dispensing products upon request from a customer or other user. Product items are stored in an inventory storage unit (ISU), one item per bin. Controller logic allows items to be stored in, and retrieved from, arbitrarily-assigned storage locations. The bins hang on rails within drawers. In a replenishment operation, the system transfers empty bins to an operator station for replenishment. An operator fills the empty bins with product items. The system inserts these bins into drawers in the ISU. In a purge operation, the operator enters an identifier of a class of product to be removed. The system moves the bins containing the affected items to the operator station. After the product items are removed, the empty bins are moved to the ISU.
91 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising;
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receiving, by a computerized controller of a processing system of a robotic inventory dispensary, through an operator user interface, a request that includes a specification characterizing a set containing a plurality of product items and that triggers a purge 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 in the robotic inventory dispensary that correspond, one product item per bin, to the product items in the set of the plurality of product items, wherein the plurality of bins are filled with the product items; receiving, by a robot of the robotic inventory dispensary; identifiers of the locations of the filled bins in the plurality of bins, and a command from the controller that causes the robot to transfer the filled bins in the plurality of bins to an operator-access device for emptying, wherein the filled bins are emptied while located in the operator-access device; receiving, by the controller through the operator user interface, a communication that indicates that the plurality of bins have been emptied; and receiving, by the robot, a command from the controller that causes the robot to execute a set of actions, to complete the purge operation, including for each empty bin of the plurality of bins; removing the empty bin from the operator-access device, and placing the empty bin into a respective bin location in the robotic inventory dispensary. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification