Target Brands, Inc.

Gervasio Mutarelli

Gregory Lisso

Ernesto Saldana Pena

Carlos A Loza

Justin Feider

David Sellner

Thomas Gardner

Jamison Harrell-Latham

Trevor Stratmann

Poojesh Wagle

Shefali Pai

Taylor Marsh

Dillon Shirley

Joseph Goodwin

This document describes systems and methods for enhancing the efficiencies of order fulfillment and inventory management processes. For example, this document describes automated robotic systems that can autonomously pick and place a particular quantity of desired items from a container that is storing the items. The autonomous robotic systems can thereby facilitate order fulfillment and inventory management processes in an efficient manner. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can greatly reduce the amount of time required for a human worker to pick orders. Accordingly, the efficiency of item picking processes, as measured by the number of line items picked per human labor hour for example, is greatly enhanced.

Automated item picking systems and methods

Warehouse automation and methods of handling materials can be used to make depalletization processes more safe and efficient. In some examples, the depalletization systems can include a U-shaped platform lift that supports one or more workers and that defines a location for a pallet of boxes to be unloaded or 'depalletized.' The U-shaped platform lift can be raised and/or lowered to position the workers at the optimal elevations for transferring, with minimal lifting, the boxes from the pallet to a system of conveyors. Such systems are also reconfigurable in multiple ways to further minimize the manual lifting required for the depalletization process as well as the throughput of the depalletization process.

Depalletization 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: (i) picking or retrieving items from an inventory storage area, (ii) decanting individual items and placing them on carriers of a high-speed sorting and conveyance system, and (iii) final sortation as per customer orders. In some embodiments, the high-speed sorting and conveyance system includes multiple shuttles that each carry an individual item to a designated final order sortation system.

Systems and methods for high-speed warehouse order sortation

Robotic automation and methods described herein can be used to enhance the efficiencies of order fulfillment and inventory stowage processes. For example, this document describes the use of mobile robots in conjunction with a human order picker to pick and transport items for order fulfillment processes in an efficient manner. The described systems and methods allow the elimination of human labor particularly related to transporting saleable goods and similar items. Mobile robots take over many of the tasks related to transporting the picked items. Accordingly, the efficiency of the human order picker, as measured by the number of line items picked per hour for example, is greatly enhanced.

Order picking systems and methods using mobile robots

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, the depalletization systems described herein include multiple work cells/stations and a depalletization robot that traverses the work cells/stations on a rail so the robot can autonomously move between the stations.

Door and light curtain control system for depalletization systems and methods

Systems and methods can enhance efficiencies of order fulfillment processes. For example, this document describes systems and methods for optimizing the efficiency of automated order sortation processing lines to expedite order processing in a cost-effective manner. In some embodiments, this innovation includes a fast, efficient method for supplying items to order sortation process lines so that they operate at peak efficiently, and the workers are utilized at a high level of efficiency.

Systems and methods to enhance the utilization of order sortation systems

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.

Robotic systems can autonomously pick a particular desired item from a mixed inventory storage location that includes multiple differing types of items. The autonomous robotic system can thereby facilitate order fulfillment and inventory management processes in an efficient manner. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can greatly reduce the amount of time required for a human worker to pick orders. The systems described take over many of the tasks related to picking items. Accordingly, the efficiency of order picking processes, as measured by the number of line items picked per human labor hour for example, is greatly enhanced.

Autonomous picking from mixed pallets

Robotic automation and methods described herein can be used to enhance the efficiencies of order fulfillment and inventory stowage processes. For example, this document describes the integration of elevated pathways that are dedicated for mobile robots to use in conjunction with a human-operated order picker lift to transport items for order fulfillment processes in an efficient manner. In some embodiments, the elevated pathways for the mobile robots can be at least partially integrated into storage systems such as pallet racking. The described systems and methods allow the elimination of human labor particularly related to transporting saleable goods and similar items. Mobile robots take over many of the tasks related to transporting the picked items. Accordingly, the efficiency of the human order picker, as measured by the number of line items picked per hour for example, is greatly enhanced.

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Gervasio Mutarelli