Warehousing systems and methods
AssigneeTarget Brands, Inc.
InventorsBrian Ericson, Matthew Anderson, Adam Keyser, Ashley Crowe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Warehouse automation and methods of controlling material flow can be used to enhance the efficiencies of warehouse operations. For example, automation systems and methods can be used to efficiently optimize the storage density of items in warehouses. In some examples, warehouse workers are automatically provided with instructions for how to assemble pallet loads of incoming items to a height that is determined based on the goal of fully utilizing open warehouse storage rack spaces. In some examples, a plan for optimizing the build-height of pallet loads of an incoming shipment is determined in advance of receiving the shipment.
Claims20
A system for handling an incoming shipment of items, the system comprising:
- an automated conveyance system comprising:
- (i) a main conveyor, (ii) multiple branch conveyors, and (iii) a reject conveyor, wherein the main conveyor is configured to transport items and to transfer the items onto the multiple branch conveyors and the reject conveyor;
- an automated scanning system arranged to scan items being transported on the main conveyor;
- and
- a control system comprising one or more hardware processors and computer memory, the control system in data communication with the conveyance system and the scanning system, the control system programmed and operable to:
- access or receive first information indicating types and quantities of items in an incoming shipment to be received at a future date, wherein the types information comprises an SKU or barcode;
- access or receive second information indicating sizes of the items;
- access or receive third information that specifies target heights for pallet loads of the items, wherein the target heights for the pallet loads of the items are determined based on heights of available warehouse rack storage spaces in which the pallet loads of the items may be stored;
- use the first, second, and third information to determine, prior to the future date, a plan for assembling the pallet loads of the items;
- identify rejected items that are not one of the types or quantities of the items indicated in the first information;
- and
- control the automated conveyance system to transfer the rejected items from the main conveyor to the reject conveyor in response to the identification of the rejected items.
A method for handling an incoming shipment of items, the method comprising:
- accessing or receiving by a control system comprising one or more hardware processors and computer memory:
- first information indicating types and quantities of items in an incoming shipment to be received at a future date, wherein the types information comprises an SKU or barcode;
- second information indicating sizes of the items;
- and
- third information that specifies target heights for pallet loads of the items, wherein the target heights for the pallet loads of the items are determined based on heights of available warehouse rack storage spaces in which the pallet loads of the items may be stored;
- prior to the future date, determining by the control system, using the first, second, and third information, a plan for assembling the pallet loads of the items;
- identifying rejected items that are not one of the types or quantities of the items indicated in the first information;
- and
- controlling an automated conveyance system to transfer the rejected items from a main conveyor to a reject conveyor in response to the identification of the rejected items.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.