US 12,325,592 B2
Automated smart storage of products
Scott Edward Shultz, San Diego, CA (US); Kenneth A. Regas, Poway, CA (US); Javier Escobedo, San Diego, CA (US); and Brian Mikael Andersen, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to TruMed Systems, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by TruMed Systems, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/439,422.
Application 18/439,422 is a continuation of application No. 16/839,552, filed on Apr. 3, 2020, granted, now 11,945,652.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/828,955, filed on Apr. 3, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0343489 A1, Oct. 17, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B25J 9/02 (2006.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01); G06K 7/14 (2006.01); G06Q 10/0832 (2023.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01); G06Q 20/18 (2012.01); G06Q 30/014 (2023.01); G06Q 30/018 (2023.01); G06Q 30/04 (2012.01); G06Q 30/0601 (2023.01); G07C 9/37 (2020.01)
CPC B65G 1/1371 (2013.01) [B25J 9/026 (2013.01); G05B 19/042 (2013.01); G06K 7/1413 (2013.01); G06Q 10/0832 (2013.01); G06Q 10/087 (2013.01); G06Q 20/18 (2013.01); G06Q 30/014 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0185 (2013.01); G06Q 30/04 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0633 (2013.01); G07C 9/37 (2020.01); G05B 2219/2614 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated product storage unit, comprising:
(i) a housing comprising at least one storage area framework and adjacent to the storage area framework at least one loading zone with at least one product access panel to facilitate loading and/or retrieving products stored therein;
(ii) disposed in the at least one storage area framework, a plurality of independently addressable storage bays configured to store one product container and/or empty and/or loaded product carrier;
(iii) disposed in the housing, at least one accessible storage zone that bounds a first volume that encloses at least a portion of the plurality of independently addressable storage bays in the storage area framework(s), which storage zone optionally comprises at least one environmental parameter sensor, optionally a temperature sensor;
(iv) disposed in the a loading zone accessible to a user via a product access panel, a moveable loading tray that comprises a plurality of sensed loading slots each configured to receive a product container or empty or loaded product carrier, which product container or product carrier is capable of being moved between the loading zone and the accessible storage zone;
(v) disposed in the housing, a robot to transport product containers or empty or loaded product carriers between the loading tray and storage area framework(s), wherein the robot comprises an end effector configured to interact with one or more product containers and/or empty and/or loaded product carriers, which interaction, when with a plurality of product containers and/or empty and/or loaded product carriers, may be in parallel or serially;
(vi) at least one computer, which computer(s) is (are) configured to control operation of the storage unit, robot, end effector, and communications with a computer network operably associated with the storage unit; and
(vii) optionally, an air management system operably connected to the storage zone(s).