US 11,858,676 B2
Systems and methods for assembling unpacked merchandise in containers
Sunada S N Chakravarthy, Metuchen, NJ (US); and Rei E. Siew Hew Sam, New York, NY (US)
Assigned to WALMART APOLLO, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed by Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed on May 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/308,689.
Prior Publication US 2022/0355963 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 57/12 (2006.01); B65B 59/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 59/001 (2019.05) [B65B 57/12 (2013.01); B65B 2210/04 (2013.01); B65B 2220/18 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for assembling merchandise orders in containers, the system comprising:
an order including a plurality of merchandise items to be assembled in at least one container;
a predetermined set of containers defining different sizes and including at least two different types of containers, a first type of container comprising boxes and a second type of container comprising deformable bags, each of a plurality of types of merchandise items corresponding to one of the at least two different types of containers and corresponding to a level of protection for transport of the type of merchandise item;
a control circuit configured to:
receive notification of the order including the plurality of merchandise items;
select a first type of container from the at least two types of containers to receive a first subset of the plurality of merchandise items;
determine the first subset of the plurality of merchandise items to be received in the selected type of container, each of the merchandise items in the first subset corresponding to the selected type of container and the corresponding level of protection for transport of the type of merchandise item;
select a size of the selected type of container to receive the first subset of the plurality of merchandise items; and
instruct disposition of the first subset of the plurality of merchandise items within the selected type and size of container;
wherein the control circuit is configured to determine an arrangement of the first subset of the plurality of merchandise items within the selected type of container comprising:
iteratively applying a best fit decreasing algorithm involving reverse sorting the plurality of merchandise items from a largest volume merchandise item to a smallest volume merchandise item;
iteratively calculating a plurality of virtual packing arrangements based on the algorithm, the virtual packing arrangements being applied to the selected type of container in order of increasing size; and
selecting the arrangement in which the first subset of the plurality of items occupies a selected type of container with a smallest size.