US 12,129,066 B2
Systems and methods for assembling unpacked merchandise in containers
Sunada Sn 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 Nov. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/387,733.
Application 18/387,733 is a continuation of application No. 17/308,689, filed on May 5, 2021, granted, now 11,858,676.
Prior Publication US 2024/0083616 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
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)] 20 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;
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;
select a size of the selected type of container to receive the first subset of the plurality of merchandise items;
instruct disposition of the first subset of the plurality of merchandise items within the selected type and size of container;
receive an indication that a merchandise item is to be disposed in protective packaging occupying a predetermined amount of space;
calculate a new size of the merchandise item when disposed in the protective packaging; and
instruct packing of the protectively packaged merchandise item in a container selected from the predetermined set of containers.