The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 04, 2017
Filed:
Jul. 31, 2012
Stephen H. Hancock, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Norman B. Desrosiers, Oxford, NC (US);
Eric Fiest, Raleigh, NC (US);
John Rupert, Raleigh, NC (US);
Stephen H. Hancock, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Norman B. Desrosiers, Oxford, NC (US);
Eric Fiest, Raleigh, NC (US);
John Rupert, Raleigh, NC (US);
Flextronics AP, LLC, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
Described herein are a robotic distribution apparatus, system and method. The robotic distribution system may include a Package Delivery Kiosk (PDK), associated front end and back end package delivery management systems, portals for the consumer and the retailer, portals for the common carrier, sender, and recipient, a package inventory management system, integrated retailer access, a real and automated retailer bidding system and a kiosk for distribution. The PDK includes a distribution kiosk and shelving system. The kiosk and shelving system includes configurable shelves and dividers to enable access to the packages. The shelving system handles packages from a robotic placement mechanism and includes shelves that have receiving apertures. The shelving system further includes dividers that fit into the receiving apertures. Each of the dividers has a receiving slot that allows a robotic gripper arm to grab or handle a package with respect to a slot between a pair of dividers.