Bag dispenser systems for order-fulfillment

Abstract

Bag dispenser systems for toes intended to be loaded with products for transport in an order fulfillment system include multiple totes each configured to be transported by mobile robots of an order fulfillment system. The multiple totes are each configured to be loaded with and contain and transport one or more products purchased by customers. The bag dispenser systems include a bag cartridge containing a plurality of bags and configured to be inserted into one of the multiple totes selected to contain the bag cartridge instead of the one or more products purchased by the customers.

Description

BAG DISPENSER SYSTEMS FOR ORDER-FULFILLMENTCross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 627,609, filed on January 31, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates generally to an order fulfillment system, more specifically to an order fulfillment system that uses bags for containing items for orders.Background

[0003] In conventional order fulfillment systems that use totes, one or more bags may be loaded into empty totes before the items / eaches are placed into the totes. However, loading bags into each tote may be a time-consuming step and may affect the cycle time of preparing and fulfilling customers’ orders. This step often requires manual handling or the use of inefficient machinery, which can lead to bottlenecks in high-volume environments. Additionally, the accuracy of bag placement may vary, leading to inconsistencies in the order preparation process. As a result, labor costs may increase, and overall productivity can decrease. Therefore, a need exists for improved methods / sy stems of dispensing bags for loading into the empty totes that are more efficient, accurate, and scalable, thereby streamlining the order fulfillment process and reducing operational costs for retailers.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0004] Disclosed herein are embodiments of bag dispensers relating to order fulfillment systems that use bags for containing items for orders. This description includes drawings, wherein:

[0005] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an example bag dispenser system for an order fulfillment system in accordance with some embodiments;

[0006] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a tote containing an example bag cartridge containing a plurality of bags in accordance with some embodiments;

[0007] FIG. 3 shows a side elevational view of the tote of FIG. 2 in accordance with some embodiments; and

[0008] FIG. 4 shows a side elevational view in partial cross-section of the bag-containing bag cartridge of FIG. 2 in accordance with some embodiments.

[0009] Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and / or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well- understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these embodiments of the present disclosure. Certain actions and / or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the art as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.Detailed Description

[0010] The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of exemplary embodiments. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments”, “an implementation”, “some implementations”, “some applications”, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” “in some embodiments”, “in some implementations”, and similar language throughout the application may, but do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

[0011] Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to dispense one or more bags configured to be loaded into a tote for an order fulfillment system. In some embodiments, a bag dispenser system for totes intended to be loaded with and contain products for transport comprises multiple totes each configured to be transported by mobile robots of an order fulfillment system, with the multiple totes each being configured to be loaded with and contain and transport one or more products purchased by customers, and a bag cartridge containing a plurality of bags and configured to beinserted into one of the multiple totes selected to contain the bag cartridge instead of the one or more products purchased by the customers.

[0012] Some embodiments provide a bag dispenser system for totes intended to be loaded with and contain products for transport. Some embodiments provide a bag dispenser system that may be used in dispensing bags configured to be loaded into the empty totes before the empty totes are loaded with contain products. In some embodiments, the totes may be a part of the order fulfilment system and may be transferred and transported by autonomous mobile robots or vehicles. Further, the order fulfillment system may comprise an automated storage and retrieval system that may include a storage structure with structural support configured to store totes and one or more workstations connected to the automated storage and retrieval system. In some embodiments, the automated storage and retrieval system and the workstations may be connected via one or more pathways. The mobile robots can operate and move in three dimensions throughout the order fulfillment system to transport totes throughout the order fulfillment system along tracks, vertical channels, decks, ramps and / or other sub-structures of the order fulfillment system such as workstations.

[0013] In some embodiments, the workstations may be utilized in loading bags into the empty totes transported by the mobile robots. The workstations may further enhance the decanting of products received into a facility and / or improve the fulfillment of product orders in part by providing a product flow through the workstations to enable items to more easily be acquired and moved in a reduced amount of time. In some embodiments, these workstations may be utilized in fulfilling orders from retail stores for products received from manufacturers, in fulfilling orders for discreet product units contained in such cases, that may be referred to as “eaches” (other commonly used synonyms include “pieces”, “articles”, “items”), or generally any articles ordered by stores or individual consumers in less-than-case quantities. Additionally or alternatively, at least some of the workstations may be utilized in decanting or separating items in pallets, cases and / or other such groupings into cases, sub-groups, eaches and / or other such reduced quantities. While embodiments may be used in other applications, such as storage and retrieval of parts and workin-process within manufacturing operations, one field of use is dispensing bags for the totes for order-fulfillment in retail supply chains.

[0014] Order fulfilment systems including the workstations and the automated storage and retrieval system may have features as described and / or may have in any suitable combination features as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 9,139,363; U.S. Patent No. 11,142,398; and U.S. Patent No. 10,435,241, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0015] In the order fulfillment process using totes, one or more bags may be loaded into empty totes before the items / eaches are placed into the totes. However, loading bags into each tote may be a time-consuming process and may affect the cycle time of preparing and fulfilling customers’ orders. Therefore, a need exists for improved methods / sy stems of dispensing bags for loading into the empty totes. In some embodiments, bag dispenser systems are provided which efficiently provide / dispense one or more bags for loading into empty totes. Bag dispenser systems according to some embodiments may reduce the distance to transport bags from the dispensing to loading and may increase the processing speed to fulfill orders.

[0016] In some embodiments, the order fulfillment system may comprise a memory and a control circuit. The memory may include a volatile and / or non-volatile memory. In some embodiments, the memory may include a random-access memory (RAM). The memory may serve to store computer instructions that, when executed by the control circuit, cause the control circuit to behave as described herein. In some embodiments, the memory may serve, for example, to non- transitorily store computer instructions. As used herein, this reference to "non-transitorily" will be understood to refer to a non-ephemeral state for the stored contents (and hence excludes when the stored contents merely constitute signals or waves) rather than volatility of the storage media itself and hence the memory may include both non-volatile memory (such as read-only memory (ROM) as well as volatile memory (such as an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM). The memory may provide storage for codes executable by the control circuit and, when executed by the control circuit, the codes cause the control circuit to operate devices, systems, apparatuses, and / or to perform specific steps, actions, and / or functions described herein.

[0017] In some embodiments, the control circuit may operably / communicatively couple to the memory, electrical components of the order fulfillment system including, but not limited to, mobile robots, the workstations, and the bag dispensing systems. The control circuit may access the memory and execute the codes stored in the memory. In some embodiments, the memory may be integral to the control circuit or may be physically discrete in whole or in part from the controlcircuit as desired. The memory may also be local with respect to the control circuit (where, for example, both share a common circuit board, chassis, power supply, and / or housing) or may be partially or wholly remote with respect to the control circuit (where, for example, the memory is physically located in another housing or remotely location). In some embodiments, the memory may be distributed in multiple locations. The control circuit may be configured, for example, by using corresponding programming and / or using the modules stored in memory, to carry out, direct, and / or send signals to carry out one or more of the steps, actions, and / or functions described herein. The control circuit may comprise structure that includes at least one (and typically many) electrically-conductive paths (such as paths comprised of a conductive metal such as copper or silver) that convey electricity in an ordered manner, which path(s) will also typically include corresponding electrical components (both passive (such as resistors and capacitors) and active (such as any of a variety of semiconductor-based devices) as appropriate) to effect one or more of the steps, actions, and / or functions described herein. The control circuit, for example, may comprise a fixed-purpose hard-wired hardware platform (including but not limited to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) (which is an integrated circuit that is customized by design for a particular use, rather than intended for general-purpose use), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and the like) or can comprise a partially or wholly-programmable hardware platform (including but not limited to microcontrollers, microprocessors, and the like).

[0018] FIGS. 1-4 are provided to illustrate various embodiments. When describing certain embodiments, certain features may be shown in one or more of FIGS. 1-4. Although the present embodiments will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures, it should be understood that the present concepts may be embodied with many forms of alternative embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of materials or elements may be used.

[0019] FIG. 1 depicts an example bag dispenser system 100 for an order fulfillment system. In some embodiments, the system 100 includes a workstation 112 that may receive mobile robots 104 each transporting a tote 102. The workstation 112 provides access to a tote 102 located at the workstation 112 for a user and / or an object manipulator such as a manipulation robot / device (e.g., a picker, a gripper, etc.) configured to manipulate and / or transfer objects / products from one position to another position (e.g., into a tote 102, out of the tote 102, etc.). In some embodiments, via the access provided by the workstation 112, the user and / or the object manipulator mayselect / pick items from one tote 102 located at the workstation 112 and / or place the items selected / picked from one tote 102 into another tote 102 located at the workstation 112.

[0020] In some embodiments, the bag dispenser system 100 may comprise multiple totes 102 each configured to be transported by a respective mobile robot 104 of the order fulfillment system, as well as one or more bag cartridges 106 configured to be inserted into one or more of the multiple totes 102. The mobile robots 104 may transport the multiple totes 102 between the workstation 112 and a product storage structure of the automated storage and retrieval system. In some embodiments, each of the multiple totes 102 may be configured to be loaded with and contain one or more products purchased by customers and to transport the loaded products, e.g., from a product storage structure of the automated storage and retrieval system to the workstation 1 12.

[0021] FIGS. 2-3 illustrate an example embodiment of a bag cartridge 106 inserted into one of the two totes 102 positioned at the workstation 112. In some embodiments, the bag cartridge 106 may be inserted into one of the multiple totes 102 selected (e.g., by a control circuit of the order fulfillment system) to contain the bag cartridge 106 instead of containing the one or more products purchased by the customers. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the example bag cartridge 106 is sized and shaped to be complementary to the size and shape of a tote 102 such that the bag cartridge is permitted to fit within the interior volume of each of the multiple totes 102.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a simplified cross-sectional view of an example bag cartridge 106 in accordance with some embodiments. Referring to FIG. 4, the bag cartridge 106 may contain a stack of a plurality of bags 108 configured to be loaded into the totes 102 that are not loaded with the bag cartridge 106 (e.g., empty totes). In some embodiments, the bag cartridge 106 comprises an opening 110 and each of the plurality of bags 108 may be pulled out from the bag cartridge 106 via the opening 110. In some embodiments, the plurality of bags 108 in the bag cartridge 106 may be pulled out one by one through the opening 110. In some embodiments, the housing 402 of the bag cartridge 106 may comprise a top wall 404, a bottom wall 406, a first side wall 403a, and a second side wall 403b. The opening 110 may be between the top wall 404 and the first side wall 403a of the housing 402. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the top wall 404 intersects and extends from the first side wall 403a but does not extend all the way to or intersect the second side wall 403b, leaving a gap that provides the opening 110 between a free end of the top wall 404 and a free end of the second side wall 403b.

[0023] In some embodiments, a bag 108 on the top of the stack of the plurality of bags 108 in the bag cartridge 106 may be pulled out (e.g., by a human worker or a robotic arm) from the bag cartridge 106 via the opening 110. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the bag 108 on the top of the stack of the plurality of bags 108 in the bag cartridge 106 is positioned such that a portion of the bag 108 is located in the interior of the bag cartridge 106, and a portion (e.g., a distal end) of the bag 108 protrudes out of the interior of the bag cartridge 106, thereby facilitating a human worker or a robotic arm to grasp the portion of the bag 108 protruding out of the interior of the bag cartridge 106 and to pull the grasped portion of the bag 108 to fully pull the bag 108 out from the interior of the bag cartridge 106. In some embodiments, once the bag 108 on the top of the stack of the plurality of bags 108 has been pulled out from the bag cartridge 106 via the opening 110, the next top bag automatically moves to the top of the stack of the plurality of bags 108 such that this bag 108 may then be pulled out as a next top of the stack bag 108 via the opening 110.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the bag cartridge 106 may include one or more lifting devices 408a, 408b extending from a bottom wall 406 in a direction toward the top wall 404 that may lift the plurality of bags 108 in the interior of the bag cartridge 106. In some aspects, the one or more lifting devices 408a, 408b may lift the plurality of bags 108 in the bag cartridge 106 in a direction away from the bottom wall 406 and toward the top wall 404 to allow the top bag 108 of the stack of the plurality of bags 108 to be positioned such that a portion of the bag 108 protrudes out of the interior of the bag cartridge 106 and to be easily pulled out from the interior of the bag cartridge 106 via the opening 110.

[0025] In some embodiments, each of the lifting devices 408a, 408b may include a spring (biased to push the stack of the bags 108 in a direction toward the top wall 404) mounted to the bottom wall 406 of the housing 402. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the lifting devices 408a, 408b are configured such that the lifting device 408a has a greater maximum height (which may be accomplished, for example, via a longer spring) than the maximum height of lifting device 408b (which may be accomplished, for example, via a shorter spring), such that the bags 108 in the stack of bags 108 resting on the lifting devices 408a, 408b have a slanted orientation, with one end of each bag 108 being positioned higher than the other, opposite, end of each bag 108, and with each bag 108 being oriented to be not parallel to the bottom wall 406 of the housing 402 and parallel to the top wall 404 of the housing 402. It is noted that the bags 108 stored in and dispensed from the bag cartridge 106 may be made of any suitable bag material, such as plastic or papermaterials. Further, the stack of bags 108 may be laid flat in the interior of the bag cartridge 106 or otherwise folded into the stack for dispensing.

[0026] In some embodiments, the top wall 404 of the housing 402 of the bag cartridge 106 may be slanted (i.e., not parallel) relative to the (horizontal) bottom wall 406 of the housing 402 of the bag cartridge 106 such that the free end of the top wall 404 of the housing 402 is positioned higher (i.e., above) than the end of the top wall 404 of the housing 402 that is attached to the first side wall 403a of the housing 402, and such that the free end of the top wall 404 of the housing 402 is positioned higher (i.e., above) the free end of the second side wall 403b of the housing 402. This slanted orientation of the top wall 404 of the housing 402 may facilitate a user or a robotic arm to pull out each of the plurality of bags 108 from the interior of the bag cartridge 106 via the opening 110, particularly when the user or the robotic arm intends to pull out a top bag 108 in the stack of bags 108 located in the bag cartridge 106 by grasping and pulling a portion of the top bag 108 that protrudes outwardly from the interior of the bag cartridge 106 through the opening 110. In some other embodiments, the top wall 404 of the housing 402 of the bag cartridge 106 may not be slanted relative to the bottom wall 406 of the housing 402 of the bag cartridge 106 such that the top wall 404 may be substantially parallel to the bottom wall 406.

[0027] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 2 the top wall 404 of the housing 402 of the bag cartridge may include a notch 220 for grasping and pulling bags 108 out of the interior of the bag cartridge 106 through the opening 110. In some embodiments, the notch 220 may be a rounded cutout in the top wall 404 of the housing 402 and may align with a portion of a top bag 108 and may extend to the opening 110. In some embodiments, the bag 108 on the top of the stack of the plurality of bags 108 in the bag cartridge 106 is initially positioned such that the bag 108 is entirely located in the interior of the bag cartridge 106 and no portion of the bag 108 protrudes out of the interior of the bag cartridge 106 through the opening 110. In such embodiments, the notch 220 enables a human worker or a robotic arm to grasp a portion of the top bag 108 accessible via the notch 220 and to pull the portion of the bag 108 grasped via the notch 220 through the opening 110 to fully pull the bag 108 out from the interior of the bag cartridge 106.

[0028] Referring back to FIG. 1, the workstation 112 may include a first receiving area 114a configured to receive a mobile robot 104 transporting an empty tote 102 and a second receiving area 114b configured to receive a mobile robot 104 transporting a tote 102 containingthe bag cartridge 106. The first and second receiving areas 1 14a, 114b may also provide a human worker or a robotic arm access to the totes 102 when the totes 102 are located at the first and second receiving areas 114a, 114b. For example, the first receiving area 114a may provide the human worker or the robotic arm access to the empty tote 102 when the mobile robot 104 transporting the empty tote 102 is located at the first receiving area 114a, and the second receiving area 114b may provide the human worker or the robotic arm access to the tote 102 containing the bag cartridge 106 when the mobile robot 104 transporting the tote 102 containing the bag cartridge 106 is located at the second receiving area 114b.

[0029] In some embodiments, while the mobile robot 104 supporting the empty tote 102 is located at the first receiving area 1 14a and while the mobile robot 104 transporting the tote 102 containing the bag cartridge 106 is located at the second receiving area 114b, one or more bags 108 in the bag cartridge 106 inserted into the tote 102 may be pulled out (e.g., by the human worker or a robotic arm) from the bag cartridge 106 and may then be loaded into the empty tote 102. In some embodiments, to reduce / minimize the distance to the transport bags 108 pulled out from the bag cartridge 106 inserted into the tote 102 located in the second receiving area 114b to the empty tote 102 located in the first receiving area 114a, the first receiving area 114a and the second receiving area 114b may be adjacent to one another (e.g., such that a human worker, while remaining in place, would be able to pull out a bag 108 from the bag cartridge 106 of the tote 102 located in the second receiving area 114b and to place this pulled out bag 108 into the empty tote 102 located in the first receiving area 114a). Although the second receiving area 114b is illustrated as disposed at the right side of the first receiving area 114a in FIG, 1, the location of the first and second receiving area 114a, 114b is not limited to the illustration of FIG. 1 and may be changed (e.g., the second receiving area 114b is at the left side of the first receiving area 114a).

[0030] In some embodiments, when the mobile robot 104 transporting the empty tote 102 is located at the first receiving area 114a and the mobile robot 104 transporting the tote 102 containing the bag cartridge 106 is located at the second receiving area 114b, the bag cartridge 106 may be disposed in the tote 102 located at the second receiving area 114a such that the opening 110 of the bag cartridge 106 may be facing the empty tote 102. In some embodiments, the facing direction of the opening 110 may be adjusted by changing the insertion direction of the bag cartridge 106 into the tote selected to contain the bag cartridge 106.

[0031] In some embodiments, the bag dispenser system 100 may include two or more bag cartridges 106 and the bag cartridges 106 not being actively used may be stored in the automated storage and retrieval system. In some embodiments, the bag cartridges 106 not being actively used may be stored as being inserted into one or more totes 102 selected to contain such bag cartridge 106 until such time when the order fulfillment system determines that a bag cartridge 106 located at the workstation is empty, and causes a mobile robot 104 to transport a tote 102 with a bag cartridge 106 that was not in active use to the workstation 112 for active use (i.e., to permit a human worker or a robotic arm located at the workstation 112 to pull one or more bags 108 from the bag cartridge 106 transported to the workstation 112 in a tote 102 by a mobile robot 104). In some aspects, when the bag cartridge 106 is empty and contains no more bags 108 therein, the bag cartridge 106 may be reloaded with a stack of new replacement bags 108.

[0032] In some aspects, a bag dispenser system for totes intended to be loaded with and contain products for transport comprises multiple totes each configured to be transported by mobile robots of an order fulfillment system, wherein the multiple totes are each configured to be loaded with and contain and transport one or more products purchased by customers, and a bag cartridge containing a plurality of bags and configured to be inserted into one of the multiple totes selected to contain the bag cartridge instead of the one or more products purchased by the customers.

[0033] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of other modifications, alterations, and combinations can also be made with respect to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A bag dispenser system for totes to be loaded with and contain products for transport, the bag dispenser system comprising: a plurality of totes each configured to be transported by mobile robots of an order fulfillment system, wherein each of the totes is configured to be loaded with and contain and transport one or more products purchased by customers; and a bag cartridge containing a plurality of bags and inserted into one of the totes selected to contain the bag cartridge instead of containing the one or more products purchased by the customers.

2. The bag dispenser system of claim 1, wherein: the order fulfillment system comprises a workstation and an automated storage and retrieval system; the mobile robots are configured to transport the totes between the workstation and the automated storage and retrieval system; and the workstation includes a first receiving area configured to receive a mobile robot transporting an empty tote of the plurality of totes and a second receiving area configured to receive a mobile robot transporting a tote of the plurality of totes that contains the bag cartridge.

3. The bag dispenser system of claim 2, wherein the first receiving area is configured to provide access to the empty tote when the mobile robot transporting the empty tote is located at the first receiving area, and the second receiving area is configured to provide access to the tote containing the bag cartridge when the mobile robot transporting the tote containing the bag cartridge is located at the second receiving area.

4. The bag dispenser system of claim 2, wherein the first receiving area and the second receiving area are located adjacent one another.

5. The bag dispenser system of claim 2, wherein the bag cartridge comprises an opening through which the plurality of bags is configured to be pulled out from the bag dispenser.

6. The bag dispenser system of claim 5, wherein, when the mobile robot transporting the empty tote is at the first receiving area and the mobile robot transporting the tote containing the bag cartridge at the second receiving area, the bag cartridge is positioned in the tote such that the opening face the empty tote.

7. The bag dispenser system of claim 5, wherein the bag cartridge contains a stack of the plurality of bags, and the opening of the bag cartridge permits a top bag of the stack of the plurality of bags to be pulled therethrough out of the bag cartridge.

8. The bag dispenser system of claim 7, wherein the stack of the plurality of bags are disposed in the bag cartridge such that one portion of the top bag is located in an interior of the bag cartridge and another portion of the top bag protrudes out of the interior of the bag cartridge through the opening.

9. The bag dispenser system of claim 7, wherein the stack of the plurality of bags are disposed in the bag cartridge such that the top bag is fully contained in an interior of the bag cartridge.

10. The bag dispenser system of claim 1, wherein: the bag cartridge further comprises a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of the top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall opposite of the first side wall; and the top wall intersects the first side wall and extends from the first side wall in a direction toward the second side wall but does not intersect the second side wall.

11. The bag dispenser system of claim 10, wherein the top wall and the first side wall are positioned such that there is a gap between a free end of the top wall and a free end of the first side wall, the gap providing an opening through which the plurality of bags are permitted to be pulled out from the bag dispenser.

12. The bag dispenser system of claim 11, wherein the bottom wall is horizontal and the top wall is slanted relative to the bottom wall such that the free end of the top wall is positioned above the free end of the first side wall.

13. The bag dispenser system of claim 12, wherein a stack of the plurality of bags is oriented within the bag cartridge in a slanted orientation such that a top of the stack is oriented in parallel to the slanted top wall of the bag cartridge and a bottom of the stack is oriented in parallel to the horizontal bottom wall of the bag cartridge.

14. The bag dispenser system of claim 10, wherein the top wall includes a notch that is aligned with a portion of a top bag of the plurality of bags in the bag cartridge and permits the top bag to be grasped and pulled out of the bag cartridge.

15. The bag dispenser system of claim 10, wherein: the bag cartridge contains a stack of the plurality of bags; and the bag cartridge further comprises one or more lifting devices configured to support the stack of the plurality of bags within the bag cartridge.

16. The bag dispenser system of claim 15, wherein the one or more lifting devices extend from the bottom wall in a direction toward the top wall.

17. The bag dispenser system of claim 15, wherein: a first lifting device of the one or more lifting devices has a maximum height than is greater than a maximum height of a second lifting device of the one or more lifting devices; and the stack of the plurality of bags supported on the first lifting device and on the second lifting device is slanted such a side of the stack supported by the first lifting device is positioned higher than a side of the stack supported by the second lifting device.

18. The bag dispenser system of claim 15, wherein: a first lifting device of the one or more lifting devices includes a spring and a second lifting device of the one or more lifting devices includes a spring, andthe spring of the first lifting device is longer than the spring of the second lifting device.

19. The bag dispenser system of claim 18, wherein the spring of each of the first and second lifting devices is biased to lift the stack of the plurality of bags toward the top wall.

20. The bag dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the bag cartridge, when empty and contains no more of the bags therein, is configured to be reloadable with a stack of replacement bags.