Logical relocation of sort destinations

{
  "publication_number": "US11878325B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Logical relocation of sort destinations",
  "abstract": "System for use in directing a sorting operation comprises a server, a receptacle logical destination identification (ID) assignment engine, a plurality of receptacles, and an automated transport device for transporting and depositing articles into the receptacles. The system is configured to: assign a first logical destination ID to a first receptacle; and direct an automated transport device to transport and deposit a first article into the first receptacle associated with the first logical destination ID. The system is further configured to: determine that the first receptacle is full; re-assign the first logical destination ID to a second receptacle; and re-direct the automated transport device to transport and deposit the first article into the second receptacle associated with the first logical destination ID.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for use in directing a sorting operation, the system comprising: a server comprising a memory, a processor, and a receptacle logical destination identification (ID) assignment engine; a plurality of receptacles; an automated transport device for transporting and depositing articles into the receptacles; and an information acquisition device electronically coupled to the server, wherein the information acquisition device is configured to determine a product type of each article by interacting with each article; wherein the system configured to: assign a first logical destination ID to a first receptacle; and direct an automated transport device to transport and deposit a first article into the first receptacle associated with the first logical destination ID.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, the system is further configured to: determine that the first receptacle is full; re-assign the first logical destination ID to a second receptacle; and re-direct the automated transport device to transport and deposit the first article into the second receptacle associated with the first logical destination ID.",
    "3. The system of claim 1, the system is further configured to: determine that the first receptacle is located beyond a predetermined distance from an article induction point; re-assign the first logical destination ID to a second receptacle, wherein the second receptacle is located within the predetermined distance from the article induction point; and redirect the automated transport device to transport and deposit the first article into the second receptacle associated with the first logical destination ID.",
    "4. The system of claim 1, wherein the automated transport device is an automated mobile robot (AMR) or a computer-controlled vehicle.",
    "5. The system of claim 2, wherein the server is configured to re-route the automated transport device to the second receptacle after the automated transport device commences travel towards the first receptacle.",
    "6. The system of claim 2, wherein the second receptacle is located within a predetermined distance from an article induction point.",
    "7. The system of claim 2, wherein the server is further configured to direct replacement of the first receptacle.",
    "8. The system of claim 7, wherein the server is further configured to receive confirmation of replacement of the first receptacle with an empty receptacle.",
    "9. The system of claim 8, wherein the server is in communication with a sensing device configured to sense that the empty receptacle is ready to receive articles.",
    "10. The system of claim 7, wherein a robot is configured to transport the first receptacle to a location of further processing.",
    "11. The system of claim 7, wherein the first receptacle is removed manually.",
    "12. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is in communication with a sensing device configured to sense that the first receptacle is full.",
    "13. The system of claim 1, wherein server is further configured to calculate a total volume of articles delivered by the automated transport device to the first receptacle to determine that the first receptacle is full.",
    "14. The system of claim 1, wherein a count of the receptacles or a count of physical locations associated with the receptacles is greater than a count of the logical destination IDs.",
    "15. The system of claim 1, wherein a count of physical locations associated with the receptacles is greater than a count of the logical destination IDs, wherein a difference between the count of the physical locations and the count of the logical destination IDs is determined based on a time interval required for replacing a full receptacle with an empty receptacle.",
    "16. The system of claim 1, wherein a sensing device in communication with the server senses that the first receptacle is full.",
    "17. The system of claim 1, the system is further configured to: determine that the first receptacle is located beyond a predetermined distance from an article induction point; re-assign the first logical destination ID to a second receptacle, the second receptacle representing a receptacle available for assignment that is located nearest to the article induction point; and redirect the automated transport device to transport and deposit the first article into the second receptacle associated with the first logical destination ID.",
    "18. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to assign a logical destination ID to each of the plurality of receptacles.",
    "19. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to verify that there is at least one non-full receptacle available for delivery of articles thereto."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates generally to the field of warehouse automation, and particularly to systems and methods for sorting articles with automated devices.\n\nAn article sorting system operates to sort articles to destinations, each destination typically represented by a receptacle. When a receptacle becomes full or when an order being sorted to that destination receptacle has been completed, that destination receptacle needs to be removed and replaced with an empty receptacle. A necessary limitation of this process is that there is a certain time interval required for the exchange of the destination receptacle to occur, and during that time, that particular destination undergoing the exchange process is unusable. The time required to replace a full or complete receptacle impacts the throughput and efficiency of article sorting system, with the replacement time needed being impacted by whether the replacement is performed manually or by an automated process involving a robot or other automated machine.\n\nAccordingly, opportunities exist for improving the throughput of an article sorting system by optimizing the receptacle replacement process.\n\nThis summary is provided to introduce in a simplified form concepts that are further described in the following detailed descriptions. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.\n\nAccording to one or more embodiments, a system for use in directing a sorting operation is provided.",
  "cpc": [
    "B07C 3/003",
    "B07C 2501/0063",
    "B07C 3/008",
    "B07C 3/18",
    "B07C 5/36",
    "B65G 47/46",
    "B65G 47/50",
    "G05D 2201/0216",
    "G06Q 10/087"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B07C 3/00",
    "B07C 3/18",
    "G06Q 10/087"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Tompkins Robotics Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "James M. Serstad",
    "Michael C. Futch"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2023-05-22",
  "publication_date": "2024-01-23",
  "grant_date": "2024-01-23",
  "priority_date": "2023-05-22",
  "application_number": "US-202318321171-A",
  "family_id": "89578338",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
  "citations": [
    "US4672280A",
    "US4669047A",
    "US6028532A",
    "US5434490A",
    "US8622194B2",
    "US20200047218A1",
    "JP2019531887A",
    "US20220126325A1",
    "JP2023047031A",
    "WO2023049948A1"
  ]
}