US 12,577,050 B2Granted

Omnichannel sortation system

AssigneeDematic Corp.

InventorsArturo Hinojosa, Ozge C. Ersoy

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An omnichannel order fulfilment and sortation system and method for operating same are provided for optimizing order fulfilment processes within an order fulfilment facility. The system includes multiple automated storage and retrieval systems or units, including aisle-based systems, grid-based systems, and full case handling systems. A continuous loop sorter is positioned centrally relative to the storage units to receive a multitude of items for many different work in progress orders. Order consolidators are provided adjacent the sorter to receive items for individual orders from the sorter. The quantity consolidators is significantly higher than the quantity of storage units and inducts of the storage units, providing for many orders consolidation locations such that the storage units need not necessarily wait for consolidation locations to become available before retrieving items for other orders. The consolidator selected to receive a particular order is optimized to reduce the strain on resources within the system.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An order fulfilment system comprising:

an order management system comprising a computer adapted for controlling said order fulfilment system;
an automated storage and retrieval system comprising a plurality of storage units each configured to store a plurality of items or inventory receptacles;
a continuous loop sorter disposed adjacent said automated storage and retrieval system;
an induct at each of said storage units and operable to transfer items to and from the corresponding one of said storage units to said sorter;
a plurality of order consolidators adjacent said sorter in spaced arrangement with one another, each of said consolidators configured to receive one or more items from said sorter, wherein the items received in each of said consolidators comprises a consolidated order;
said order management system operable to:
direct said automated storage and retrieval system to release required items for a particular order from corresponding ones of said storage units containing the required items;
direct said induct at each of the corresponding ones of said storage units to transfer corresponding required items to said sorter;
and
direct said sorter to divert all of the items for the particular order to an available one of said consolidators that is at least one chosen from (i) a shortest possible combined travel distance along the sorter for first and second items and (ii) immediately downstream of said induct corresponding to the last one of said storage units to release a required item for the particular order.

7 more elements

An order fulfilment method for an order fulfilment facility having an order management system, an automated storage and retrieval system including a plurality of storage units, a continuous loop sorter, an induct in communication with each of the plurality of storage units and operable to transfer items to and from the automated storage and retrieval system, and a plurality of order consolidators positioned along the sorter and configured to receive order items for a particular order from the sorter, said method comprising:

releasing and transporting a first item for a particular order from a first one of the storage units to its corresponding induct;
transferring the first item from its induct to the sorter;
releasing and transporting a second item for the particular order from a second one of the storage units to its corresponding induct;
transferring the second item from its induct to the sorter;
assigning, with the order management system, a selected consolidator from the plurality of consolidators to receive the order items for the particular order, wherein said assigning the selected consolidator comprises selecting a best available of the plurality of consolidators based on at least one chosen from (i) the consolidator requiring shortest possible combined travel distance along the sorter for the first and second items and (ii) the consolidator that is immediately downstream of the induct that will release its order item last;
transporting and diverting the first item with the sorter to the selected consolidator;
transporting and diverting the second item with the sorter to the selected consolidator;
and
once the first and second items are present at the selected consolidator, discharging the first and second items from the consolidator to a downstream process.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/173,266Filed 23 Feb 2023 · us provisional application
Priority: 23 Feb 2022
Published: US 2023/0264899 A124 Aug 2023
Granted: 17 Mar 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B65G 1/1376
For fulfilling orders in warehouses: the orders being assembled on a commissioning conveyor
B65G 1/1378
For fulfilling orders in warehouses: the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas
G06Q 10/08741
Inventory fulfillment: by picking of items from inventory for fulfillment
G06Q 10/08743
By picking of items from inventory for fulfillment: using optimisation of routes