Target Brands, Inc.

David Sellner

Gregory Lisso

Arthur L Valdez

Kevin Vliet

Thomas Gardner

Tyler Park

Gervasio Mutarelli

Ernesto Saldana Pena

Justin Feider

Rebecca Swartz

Jamison Harrell-Latham

Daniel Seidel

Trevor Stratmann

Shefali Pai

Daryl Glass

Jonathan Crepeau

Pablo Lewin

Warehouse automation and methods of sorting and sequencing garment items can be used to enhance efficiencies of order fulfillment processes. For example, this document describes warehouse automation of systems and methods for efficiently compiling store replenishment orders for garment items. The systems and methods make store replenishment of garment items highly efficient. In some examples, the systems and methods are focused on automation (e.g., using autonomous mobile robots that transport pods containing garment items) and arranging the garment items in store-ready containers that can be wheeled out directly into the retail area for efficient store replenishment.

Systems and methods for handling and sorting garment items for store replenishment

Systems and methods can enhance efficiencies of order fulfillment processes. For example, this document describes systems and methods for efficiently processing direct-to-customer shipments at a last mile delivery ('LMD') facility. The systems and methods are focused on rapid loading, unloading and cycling of LMD delivery vehicles through the operation in a space-efficient manner. In some embodiments, the delivery vehicles are cycled through the LMD facility in organized batches to allow high throughput with fast cycle time.

Systems and methods for preparing direct-to-customer shipments

Warehouse automation and methods of automatically sorting and sequencing items can be implemented to streamline and expedite order fulfillment and store replenishment processes in a cost-effective manner. Some embodiments described herein include sorting items to a truck-level, inducting items for a first truck into a first portion of a mobile robot field, accumulating the items in the first portion of the mobile robot field until all the items for a first cart of the first truck are in the first portion, moving, by one or more mobile robots, all of the items for the first cart in a sequence that corresponds to a store aisle layout, loading the first cart in the sequence, and moving the loaded first cart into the first truck, which can be accomplished in a particular sequence with other carts for the first truck.

Systems and methods for warehouse order sortation

Warehouse automation and methods of handling materials can be used to enhance the safety and efficiencies of warehouse operations. For example, automation systems and methods that make depalletization processes safer and more efficient are described. In some examples, a rotary lift table is used to automatically position a pallet load of boxes in an ergonomic position where a worker can readily transfer the boxes from the pallet to another location, such as a conveyor or another pallet. In some examples, a work cell for a worker includes two of the rotary lift tables that function in that manner.

Depalletization systems and methods

Warehouse automation and methods of controlling material flow can be used to streamline order fulfillment. For example, according to some embodiments described herein, a method includes: causing a first mobile robot to engage with and transport a mobile storage unit to a robotic picking cell, causing a second mobile robot to engage with and transport an outbound container to the robotic picking cell, and causing the picking robot to transfer a sellable unit from the mobile storage unit to the outbound container.

Warehousing and order fulfillment systems and methods

Warehouse automation and methods of automatically sorting and sequencing items can be implemented to streamline and expedite order fulfillment and store replenishment processes in a cost-effective manner. Some embodiments described herein include sorting items to a truck-level and inducting those items for a first truck into a buffering and sequencing system. Items can temporarily accumulate in the buffering and sequencing system and thereafter be discharged in a desired sequence as the items become available within the buffering and sequencing system. In some embodiments, the buffering and sequencing system is used to sequence items for loading one or more store aisle-ready carts in a sequence that corresponds to a store aisle layout.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

David Sellner