Tote adapters for order fulfillment

Abstract

Tote adapters useful to handle and carry one or more containers containing products purchased by consumers and configured to be loaded into a tote in an order fulfillment system include a first panel portion comprising a first container interface configured to engage a first portion of a container configured to contain products purchased by a customer as part of an order placed by the customer and a first tote interface configured to rest on a first edge of a tote. The tote adapters further include a second panel portion comprising a second container interface configured to engage a second portion of the container, and a second tote interface configured to rest on a second edge of the tote.

Description

TOTE ADAPTERS FOR ORDER FULFILLMENTCross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 627,334, 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 an order fulfillment system using totes for containing items to fulfill 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 tote adapters for use with bagged products purchased by customers. This description includes drawings, wherein:

[0005] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an example tote adapter for use with bagged products purchased by customers in accordance with some embodiments;

[0006] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an example tote usable with the tote adapter of FIG. 1 in accordance with some embodiments;

[0007] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an example tote adapter not including any containers is placed onto an example tote in accordance with some embodiments;

[0008] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the tote adapter of FIG. 3 in use and having one container loaded into it and not fully resting on the tote in accordance with some embodiments.

[0009] FIG. 5 shows an end elevational view of the tote adapter of FIG. 3 in use, where the tote adapter is holding a container while being held by a user in accordance with some embodiments;

[0010] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an example tote adapter for use with bagged products purchased by customers in accordance with some embodiments;

[0011] FIG. 7 shows a simplified perspective view of the tote adapter of FIG. 6, illustrating the use of the tote adapter in accordance with some embodiments;

[0012] FIG. 8A is a simplified perspective view of a container that may be used with the tote adapter 600 of FIG. 6 in accordance with some embodiments, the container being shown in an open configuration; and

[0013] FIG. 8B is a simplified perspective view of the container of FIG. 8A in accordance with some embodiments, the container being shown in a closed configuration.

[0014] 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

[0015] Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to handle and carry one or more containers configured to be loaded into a tote in an order fulfillment system. In some embodiments, a tote adapter for use withbagged products purchased by customers comprises a first panel portion comprising a first container interface configured to engage a first portion of a container, the container configured to contain products purchased by a customer as part of an order and a first tote interface configured to rest on a first edge of a tote, and a second panel portion comprising a second container interface configured to engage a second portion of the container, and a second tote interface configured to rest on a second edge of the tote.

[0016] Some embodiments provide tote adopters that facilitate taking out one or more containers loaded into a tote from the tote and / or carrying / transporting the one or more containers taken out from the tote. In some embodiments, the tote adapters may be configured to sit / rest on a tote. The tote adapters of the present disclosure may hold one or more containers loaded into the tote while the tote adapters are sitting / resting on the tote. When a user removes the tote adapter from the tote, the tote adapter may keep holding the one or more containers such that the one or more containers loaded into the tote may be removed together with the tote adapter. In some embodiments, the tote adopter may be configured to hold multiple containers at the same time such that users may take out multiple containers by lifting the tote adaptor instead of taking out each of the multiple containers from the tote and / or may carry multiple containers by simply holding the tote adapter instead of holding each of the multiple containers with their hand(s).

[0017] In some embodiments, the containers configured to be held by the tote adapter may be a portable container that can be inserted into the totes and held by users (e.g., customers of the retail stores). In some embodiments, the container may contain products purchased by a customer as part of an order. The containers may be made of any suitable bag material, such as plastic or paper materials. For example, the containers may include, but not limited to, plastic shopping bags, paper bags, reusable bags, bags provided by retail stores, customers’ reusable bags, and so on.

[0018] In some embodiments, the tote adapter includes one or more container interface portions configured to engage at least a portion of one or more containers to hold the one or more containers. The tote adapter may further include one or more tote interface portions configured to allow the tote adapter to rest / sit on the tote. In some embodiments, the tote interface portions may interface with one or more edges of the tote when the tote adapter sits / rests on the tote.

[0019] In some embodiments, the tote on which the tote adapters can sit / rest may be a tote of an order fulfillment system and may be transported by one or more mobile robots / vehicles ofthe order fulfillment system. In some embodiments, 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.

[0020] In some embodiments, the workstations may be utilized in loading containers and products into the empty totes transported by the mobile robots, and / or removing the loaded containers and products from the totes. In some embodiments, the containers may be loaded to the empty tote first and then the products may be placed in the containers loaded to the totes. 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 work-in-process within manufacturing operations, one field of use is holding and / or carrying bagged products purchased by customers.

[0021] Order fulfilment systems including sub-structures / sub-components (e.g., the workstations, the automated storage and retrieval system, totes, mobile robots, and so on) may have features as described and / or may have in any suitable combination features as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 9,139,363, entitled “Automated Systems for Transporting Payloads”; 11,142,398 entitled “Order Fulfillment System”; and 10,435,241 entitled “Storage and Retrieval System”, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0022] In the order fulfillment process using totes, one or more containers may be loaded into empty totes before items / products purchased by customers are placed into the totes and the containers may be removed from the totes to remove / carry the contained / bagged products purchased by the customers. The tote adapters of the present disclosure may allow the users to easily remove the one or more product-containing containers from the totes. Sometimes, when the products purchased by the customers are placed into the multiple containers loaded into the tote, the customers may remove each of multiple containers from the tote individually / sequentially to carry the purchased products. In some embodiments, the tote adapter may allow the users / customers to remove multiple containers loaded into the tote simultaneously and to carry them together at the same time by simply removing the tote adapter loaded into the tote instead of individually removing each of the multiple containers. Further, the tote adapter of the present disclosure may facilitate carrying multiple containers.

[0023] 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.

[0024] In some aspects, the control circuit may operably / communicatively couple to the memory, electrical components of the order fulfillment system including, but not limited to, mobile robots and the workstations. 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 control circuit as desired. The memory mayalso 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.

[0025] The control circuit is 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 hardwired 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).

[0026] FIGS. 1-8B are provided to illustrate various embodiments. When describing certain embodiments, certain features may be shown in one or more of FIGS. 1-8B. 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.

[0027] FIG. 1 depicts an example tote adapter 100 for use with bagged products purchased by customers in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 2 depicts an example tote 200 in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the tote 200 may be configured to be transported by one or more mobile robots of an order fulfillment system. As mentioned, the mobile robots and the order fulfillment 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; 10,435,241; and 11,142,398, incorporated herein by reference.

[0028] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the tote adapter 100 includes a first panel portion 101 and a second panel portion 102. In some embodiments, the first panel portion 101 may include a first container interface 121 configured to engage a first handle 141 of a container 140 configured to contain products purchased by a customer and processed by the order fulfillment system. In the illustrated embodiment, the first panel portion 101 further includes a first tote interface 111 configured to rest on a first edge 201 of a tote 200. Similarly, in some embodiments, the second panel portion 102 may comprise a second container interface 122 configured to engage a second handle 142 of the container 140, and a second tote interface 112 configured to rest on a second edge 202 of the tote 200.

[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first and second edges 201 , 202 of the tote 200 may be opposite parallel top edges of the tote 200. In some embodiments, the tote 200 may generally have a rectangular prism shape with an open top and may include the first and second edges 201, 202 located opposite one another and third and fourth edges 203, 204 located opposite one another and interconnecting the first and second edges 201, 202 such that the first, second, third, and fourth edges 201, 202, 203, and 204 form a perimeter surrounding the open top of the tote 200. In some embodiments, the first and second edges 201, 202 on which the first and second tote interfaces 111, 112 are configured to rest on may be longer than the third and fourth edges 203, 204 such that the tote 200 has an overall shape of a rectangle, with the first and second edges 201, 202 representing the longer sides of the perimeter of the rectangle and the third and fourth edges 203, 204 representing the shorter sides of the perimeter of the rectangle.

[0030] In some embodiments, the first and second panel portions 101, 102 of the tote adapter 100 may be separate and distinct pieces that are not directly connected to one another by one or more interconnecting members. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first and second panel portions 101, 102 are separate and distinct and spaced apart from one another and respectively and independently rest on the first and second edges 201, 202 of the tote 200.

[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates the tote 200 and the tote adapter 100 resting on the tote 200 in accordance with some embodiments. In some aspects, the first and second panel portions 101, 102 may be rigid but configured to be folded when the first tote interface 111 and the second tote interface 112 respectively rest on the first edge 201 and the second edge 202 of the tote 200.

[0032] In some aspects, the first tote interface 1 11 may be disposed on the outer surface of the first panel portion 101 and the second tote interface 112 may be disposed on the outer surface of the second panel portion 102. In some embodiments, the first panel portion 101 may be folded along the first edge 201 of the tote 200 when the first tote interface 111 rests on the first edge 201 of the tote 200, and the second panel portion 102 may be folded along the second edge 202 of the tote 200 when the second tote interface 112 rests on the second edge 202 of the tote 200.

[0033] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first panel portion 101 includes a first panel 103a and a second panel 105a, with the first panel 103a and the second panel 105a being joined by a folding line 107a that permits the first panel 103a and the second panel 105a of the first panel portion 101 to pivot toward each other and / or away from each other about the folding line 107a, which facilitates the folding and unfolding of the first panel portion 101. In some embodiments, the folding line 107a of the first panel portion 101 is colinear with the first tote interface 111 of the first panel portion 101.

[0034] In some aspects, a folded configuration of the first and second panels 103a, 105a of the first panel portion 101 may allow the first tote interface 111 of the first panel portion 101 to stably rest on the first edge 201 of the tote 200 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. In certain aspects, when the first panel portion 101 is folded such that the first tote interface 111 rests on the first edge 201 of the tote 200 as shown in FIG. 3, the folding line 107a overlies and is oriented substantially colinearly relative to the first edge 201 of the tote 200. Additionally, in certain aspects, when the first panel portion 101 is folded such that the first tote interface 111 rests on the first edge 201 of the tote 200 as shown in FIG. 3, the first and second panels 103a, 105a are oriented relative to each other such that they form a upside-down V-configuration and are disposed such that the first panel 103a is located in an interior of the tote 200 while the second panel 105a is located outside of the interior of the tote 200.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the second panel portion 102 includes a first panel 103b and a second panel 105b, with the first panel 103b and the second panel 105b being joined by a folding line 107b that permits the first panel 103b and the second panel 105b of the second panel portion 101 to pivot toward each other and / or away from each other about the folding line 107b, which facilitates the folding and unfolding of the second panel portion 102.

[0036] In some embodiments, the folding line 107b of the first panel portion 101 is colinear with the second tote interfaces 122 of the second panel portion 102. In some aspects, a folded configuration of the first and second panels 103b, 105b of the second panel portion 102 may allow the second tote interface 112 of the second panel portion 102 to stably rest on the second edge 202 of the tote 200 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. In certain aspects, when the second panel portion 102 is folded such that the second tote interface 112 rests on the second edge 202 of the tote 200 as shown in FIG. 3, the folding line 107b overlies and is oriented substantially colinearly relative to the second edge 202 of the tote 200. Additionally, in certain aspects, when the second panel portion 102 is folded such that the second tote interface 112 rests on the second edge 202 of the tote 200 as shown in FIG. 3, the first and second panels 103b, 105b are oriented relative to each other such that they form a upside-down V-configuration and are disposed such that the first panel 103b is located in an interior of the tote 200 while the second panel 105b is located outside of the interior of the tote 200.

[0037] In some embodiments, each of the first and second panel portions 101, 102 may have a handle section 131, 132. In some aspects, the handle section 131 is a cutout made in the second panel 105a of the first panel portion 101, and the handle section 131 is a cutout made in the second panel 105b of the second panel portion 102.

[0038] In some embodiments, the first container interface 121 of the first panel portion 101 is in a form of a ridge protruding / extending from the first panel portion 101. In certain aspects, when the first tote interface 111 of the first panel portion 101 fully rests on the first edge 201 of the tote 200 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3, the fold line 107a overlies and is substantially colinear with the first edge 201 of the tote 200. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the ridgelike first container interface 121 of the first panel portion 101 extends / protrudes upwardly (e.g., substantially vertically) from the fold line 107a such that the first container interface 121 is oriented perpendicularly relative to the fold line 107a and is colinear with the first edge 201 of the tote 200. When the first container interface 121 of the first panel portion 101 is in a vertical position as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first container interface 121 may hold and provide support to at least a portion of a container 140 (in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the first container interface 121 holds and provides support to a first handle 141 of the container 140).

[0039] In some embodiments, the second container interface 122 of the second panel portion 102 is in a form of a ridge protruding / extending from the second panel portion 102. In certain aspects, when the second tote interface 112 of the second panel portion 102 fully rests on the second edge 202 of the tote 200 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3, the fold line 107b overlies and is substantially colinear with the second edge 202 of the tote 200. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the ridge-like second container interface 122 of the second panel portion 102 extends upwardly (e.g., substantially vertically) from the fold line 107b such that the second container interface 122 is oriented perpendicularly relative to the fold line 107b and is colinear with the second edge 202 of the tote 200. When the second container interface 122 of the second panel portion 102 is in a vertical position as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second container interface 122 may hold and provide support to at least a portion of a container 140 (in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the second container interface 122 holds and provides support to a second handle 142 of the container 140).

[0040] In some embodiments, each of the containers 140 may be a bag including a first handle 141 and a second handle 142 opposite the first handle 141. In some aspects, the first and second handles 141, 142 are rigid to permit the first and second handles 141, 142 to engage (e.g., wrap around and hang on) the first and second container interfaces 121, 122, respectively, and are held in place by virtue of their engagement with the first and second container interfaces 121, 122, as shown in FIG. 4. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the first handle 141 and the second handle 142 are connected to each other and form a unitary continuous (and generally oval-shaped) rim that surrounds an opening of the container 140. It will be appreciated that the first handle 141 and the second handle 142 may be spaced apart from each other and not connected to each other in some embodiments.

[0041] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the relative positions of the first and second container interfaces 121, 122 are such that they are located opposite one another. In some embodiments, each of the first and second panel portions 101, 102 may include multiple (two or more) container interfaces 121, 122 to permit the tote adapter 100 to hold multiple containers 140 at the same time. For example, FIG. 3 shows the first panel portion 101 as containing three first container interfaces 121 and the second panel portion 102 as containing three second container interfaces 122, which would permit three containers 140 to be held by the three pairs of the firstand second interfaces 121 , 122, as schematically shown in FIG. 1 . It will be appreciated, however, that each of the first and second panel portions 101, 102 may include less than three or more than three containing interfaces in some aspects.

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates the tote 200 and the tote adapter 100 in use where the tote adapter 100 is not fully resting on the tote 200 in accordance with some embodiments. In particular, in FIG. 4, the second panel 105a of the first panel portion 101 is pivoted about the fold line 107a such that a free end 113 of the second panel 105a is positioned above the fold line 107a and above the first edge 201 of the tote 200, and the second panel 105b of the second panel portion 102 is pivoted about the fold line 107b such that a free end 115 of the second panel 105b is positioned above the fold line 107b and above the second edge 202 of the tote 200. On the other hand, when the tote adapter 100 fully rests on the first edge 201 of the tote 200 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3, the second panel 105a of the first panel portion 101 is pivoted about the fold line 107a such that the free end 113 of the second panel 105a is positioned below the fold line 107a and below the first edge 201 of the tote 200, and the second panel 105b of the second panel portion 102 is pivoted about the fold line 107b such that the free end 115 of the second panel 105b is positioned below the fold line 107b and below the second edge 202 of the tote 200.

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates the tote adapter 100 in use where the tote adapter 100 is holding the container 140 and being held by a user. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, when the user holds one or more containers 140 using the tote adapter 100, the first and second panel portions 101, 102 may be held by one hand of the user using the handle sections 131, 132 of each first and second panel portions 101, 102.

[0044] In some aspects, when the user holds a container 140 using the tote adapter 100 as shown in FIG. 5, the second panel 105a of the first panel portion 101 and the second panel 105b of the second panel portion 102 are brought together into contact with each other and such that they are oriented substantially vertically and in parallel to each other, and the free ends 113, 115 of the second panels 105a, 105b, respectively, are brought together such that they are positioned adjacent each other. On the other hand, the first panel 103a of the first panel portion 101 and the first panel 103b of the second panel portion 102 are oriented such that they diverge away from each other and form an upside-down V with an obtuse interior angle therebetween. Additionally, the first panel 103a of the first panel portion 101 is oriented relative to the second panel 105a ofthe first panel portion 101 such that they form a side-facing V and such that an obtuse interior angle is formed therebetween, and the first panel 103b of the second panel portion 102 is oriented relative to the second panel 105b of the second panel portion 102 such that they form a side-facing V and such that an obtuse interior angle is formed therebeteween.

[0045] Referring back to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the tote adapter 100 may include an identifier 302 (e.g., a marker, tag, code, logo, etc.) that may be used for various purposes relating to order fulfillment. In some embodiments, the identifier 302 may indicate the ownership of the tote adapter 100. In some embodiments, the identifier 302 may be a scannable code (e.g., a QR code), which when scanned by a scanning device, causes a cost to be charged to a user for using the tote adapter 100 (which cost may be subsequently returned to the user when the user returns the tote adapter 100 to the owner of the tote adapter 100 (e.g., a retailer)). In some embodiments, the identifier 302 may be unique to a specific order to facilitate the organization and / or picking of items for orders.

[0046] In some embodiments, even when the first and second panel portions 101, 102 are not folded as shown in FIG. 3, the first and second panel portions 101, 102 may be bent outward as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 such that when the user holds first and second panel portions 101, 102 with a single hand, the tote adapter 100 may provide a space to accommodate the containers 140 held by the tote adapter 100 such that the containers 140 held by the tote adapter 100 are not pressed or deformed by the tote adapter 100.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a simplified view depicting another example tote adapter 600 for use with bagged products purchased by customers in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 7 is a simplified view of the tote adapter 600 illustrating use of the tote adapter 600 in accordance with some embodiments. The tote adapter 600 may have one or more features of the tote adapter 100 as described above with reference to FIG. 1 and / or may have in any suitable combination features of the tote adapter 100 as described.

[0048] In some embodiments, the tote adapter 600 may include the first panel portion 601, the second panel portion 602, a third panel portion 603, and a fourth panel portion 604. In some embodiments, the third panel portion 603 interconnects a first end of the first panel portion 601 and a first end of the second panel portion 602, and the fourth panel portion 604 interconnects a second (opposite) end of the first panel portion 601 and a second (opposite) end of the secondpanel portion 602 such that the first panel portion 601, the second panel portion 602, the third panel portion 603, and the fourth panel portion 604 may form a continuous perimeter surrounding an open top of the tote adapter 600.

[0049] In some embodiments, the tote interfaces 611, 612 of the tote adapter 600 may be in the form of the bottom edge 605 of the first, second, third, and fourth panel portions 601, 602, 603, 604 of the tote adapter 600 as illustrated in FIG. 6. When the tote adapter 600 is placed on the tote 200, the bottom edge 605 of the first, second, third, and fourth panel portions 601, 602, 603, 604 may rest on the first, second, third, and fourth edges 201, 202, 203, 204 of the tote 200, respectively. With continued reference to FIG. 6, in some aspects, the first and second container interfaces 621, 622 of the tote adapter 600 may be in the form of the top edge 607 of the first, second, third, and fourth panel portions 601, 602, 603, 604 of the tote adapter 600. For example, when containers 640 are placed on the tote adapter 600, portions of the containers 640 (e.g., the protrusions 641, 642) may rest on the top edge 607 of the first, second, third, and fourth panel portions 601, 602, 603, 604 of the tote adapter 600.

[0050] In some embodiments, the tote adapter 600 may be held by a user such that the user holds the third panel portion 603 and the fourth panel portion 604. In some embodiments, the first panel portion 601 and the second panel portion 602 of the tote adapter 600 may be collapsible. For example, when the user pulls grasps and pulls the third panel portion 603 and the fourth panel portion 604 in a direction toward each other, the first and second panel portions 601, 602 may collapse / fold to permit the user to bring the third panel portion 603 and the fourth panel portion 604 adjacent to each other and to hold both the third panel portion 603 and the fourth panel portion 604 with a single hand.

[0051] In some embodiments, the first and second panel portions 601, 602 of the tote adapter 600 may have one or more weakened (or flexible) portions 617 that facilitate the collapsing / folding of the first and second panel portions 601, 602 of the tote adapter 600 while the third and fourth panel portions 603, 604 are being brought together from their initial position shown in FIG. 6. In some embodiments, the weakened portions 617 may include a perforation line. In some embodiments, while the third and fourth panel portions 603, 604 are being brought together from their initial position shown in FIG. 6, the first and second panel portions 601, 602 may collapse / fold downwardly along the weakened portions 617 as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0052] FIG. 8A is a simplified view of the container 640 that can be used with the tote adapter 600 in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 8B is a simplified view of the container 640 in a closed configuration in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the container 640 may include a container body 650 and first and second top portions 651, 652 extending upwardly from the container body 650. Each top portion 651, 652 may include a to edge 646 and a hole 644 configured to be used by a user (e.g., to pass a portion of fingers and / or hand of the user) when the user grips the container 640. In some aspects, a user may hold the container 640 by gripping the top portions 651, 652 above the holes 644. In some embodiments, when the container 640 is in the closed configuration, the top edges 646 of the top portions 651, 652 may be brought together and positioned in contact with and / or adjacent each other as shown in FIG. 8B.

[0053] In some embodiments, the container 640 may include protrusions 641, 642, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8A. In some embodiments, the protrusions 641, 642 may protrude / extend horizontally from the top edges 646 of each of the top portions 651, 652 in a direction along a width of the container 640 (e.g., in a direction transverse to a height of the container 640). In some aspects, the protrusions 641, 642 are configured to rest on the first and second container interfaces 121, 122 at the top edge 607 of the first and second panel portions 601, 602 of the tote adapter 600.

[0054] In some embodiments, a maximum width W1 of the container 640 including the protrusions 641, 642 may be greater than a maximum distance between the first and second panel portions 601, 602 when the tote adapter 600 rests on the tote 200. In addition, in some embodiments, the maximum width W2 of the container 640 excluding the protrusions 641, 642 (i.e., the maximum width of the portion of the container 640 excluding the protrusions 641, 642) may be less than the distance between the first and second panel portion 601, 602 when the tote adapter 600 rests on the tote 200. As such, the container 640 may be inserted into the tote 200 by passing through the tote adapter 600 and at least a portion of the container 640 (e.g., the protrusions 641, 642) may hang on and / or otherwise interfaces with / engages the tote adapter 600.

[0055] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the holes 644 of the container 640 may be positioned under the third and fourth panel portions 603, 604. As such, when the tote adapter 600 rests on the tote 200 and when the containers 640 are inserted into the tote 200 while interfacing with the tote adapter 600, the users are permitted to grasp and hold the containers 640together with the tote adapter 600 with a single hand by passing a portion of the users’ fingers and / or hand through the holes 644.

[0056] In some embodiments, a tote adapter for use with bagged products purchased by customers may comprise a first panel portion comprising a first container interface configured to engage a first portion of a container, the container configured to contain products purchased by a customer as part of an order and a first tote interface configured to rest on a first edge of a tote, and a second panel portion comprising a second container interface configured to engage a second portion of the container, and a second tote interface configured to rest on a second edge of the tote.

[0057] 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 tote adapter for use with bagged products purchased by customers, the tote adapter comprising: a first panel portion comprising: a first container interface configured to engage a first portion of a container, the container configured to contain products purchased by a customer as part of an order; and a first tote interface configured to rest on a first edge of a tote; and a second panel portion comprising: a second container interface configured to engage a second portion of the container; and a second tote interface configured to rest on a second edge of the tote.

2. The tote adapter of claim 1, wherein the tote is configured to be transported by one or more mobile robots of an order fulfillment system.

3. The tote adapter of claim 1, wherein the first panel portion and the second panel portion are separate pieces that are not directly connected to each other by one or more interconnecting members.

4. The tote adapter of claim 1, wherein each of the first panel portion and the second panel portion includes a first panel and a second panel joined by a folding line that permits the first panel and the second panel to pivot relative to each other to facilitate folding and unfolding of the first panel portion and the second panel portion.

5. The tote adapter of claim 4, wherein: when the first panel portion is folded such that the first tote interface rests on the first edge of the tote, the first and second panels of the first panel portion are disposed such that the firstpanel of the first panel portion is located in an interior of the tote and the second panel of the first panel portion is located outside of the interior of the tote; and when the second panel portion is folded such that the second tote interface rests on the second edge of the tote, the first and second panels of the second panel portion are disposed such that the first panel of the second panel portion is located in an interior of the tote and the second panel of the second panel portion is located outside of the interior of the tote.

6. The tote adapter of claim 5, wherein a free end of the second panel of the first panel portion is positioned below the folding line that joins the first and second panels of the first panel portion, and wherein a free end of the second panel of the second panel portion is positioned below the folding line that joins the first and second panels of the second panel portion.

7. The tote adapter of claim 5, wherein the folding line that joins the first and second panels of the first panel portion is positioned colinearly with the first edge of the tote, and the folding line that joins the first and second panels of the second panel portion is positioned colinearly with the second edge of the tote.

8. The tote adapter of claim 7, wherein the folding line that joins the first and second panels of the first panel portion is colinear with the first tote interface of the first panel portion, and the folding line that joins the first and second panels of the second panel portion is colinear with the second tote interface of the second panel portion.

9. The tote adapter of claim 4, wherein each of the first panel portion and the second panel portion includes a handle section that may be grasped for carrying the tote adapter, and wherein the handle section of the first panel portion is formed as a cutout in the second panel of the first panel portion and the handle section of the second panel portion is formed as a cutout in the second panel of the second panel portion.

10. The tote adapter of claim 9, wherein: when the first panel portion and the second panel portions are brought together such that the handle section of the first panel portion is located adjacent the handle section of the secondpanel portion to permit a user to grasp both the handle section of the first panel portion and the handle section of the second panel portion with a single hand, the second panel of the first panel portion and the second panel of the second panel portion are positioned in an upwardly orientation and in parallel to each other, and the first panel of the first panel portion and the first panel of the second panel portion are oriented to diverge in opposite directions from each other..

11. The tote adapter of claim 4, wherein the first container interface of the first panel portion is in a form of a ridge protruding upwardly from the folding line that joins the first panel and the second panel of the first panel portion, and wherein the second container interface of the second panel portion is in a form of a ridge protruding upwardly from the folding line that joins the first panel and the second panel of the second panel portion.

12. The tote adapter of claim 1, wherein the container includes a first handle and a second handle opposite the first handle, and wherein the first container interface and the second interface are disposed opposite each other at a distance that permit the first handle of the container to hang on and be supported by the first container interface and the second handle of the container to hang on and be supported by the second container interface.

13. The tote adapter of claim 1, wherein the first panel portion further comprises a plurality of first container interfaces configured to respectively engage a first portion of a plurality of containers, and wherein the second panel portion further comprises a plurality of second container interfaces configured to respectively engage a second portion of the plurality of the containers.

14. The tote adapter of claim 1, further comprising a third panel portion and a fourth panel portion, wherein the third panel portion interconnects first ends of the first panel portion and the second panel portion, and the fourth panel portion interconnects second, opposite, ends of the first panel portion and the second panel portion, and wherein the first panel portion, second panel portion, third panel portion, and fourth panel portion together form a continuous perimeter surrounding an open top of the tote adapter.

15. The tote adapter of claim 14, wherein the first tote interface and the second tote interface are formed by a bottom edge of the first panel portion and a bottom edge of the second panel portion, respectively, such that, when the tote adapter is placed to rest on the first edge of the tote, the bottom edge of the first panel rests on the first edge of the tote and the bottom edge of the second panel portion rests on the second edge of the tote.

16. The tote adapter of claim 14, wherein the first container interface and the second container interface are formed by a top edge of the first panel portion and a top edge of the second panel portion, respectively, s such that, when the first and second container interfaces engage the first and second portions of the container, portions of the container rest on the top edge of the first panel portion and on the top edge of the second panel portion.

17. The tote adapter of claim 14, wherein the first panel portion and the second panel portion are configured to collapse or fold when the third panel portion and the fourth panel portion are pulled in a direction toward each other.

18. The tote adapter of claim 17, wherein each one of the first and second panel portions includes at least one weakened or flexible portion that permits the first panel portion and the second panel portion to collapse or fold when the third panel portion and the fourth panel portion are pulled in a direction toward each other.

19. The tote adapter of claim 17, wherein the first panel portion and the second panel portion collapse or fold to permit the third panel portion to be brought into contact with the fourth panel portion.

20. The tote adapter of claim 1, further comprising an identifier that uniquely identifies the tote adapter, wherein the identified is disposed on at least the first panel portion and the second panel portion, and wherein the identifier is scannable by a scanning device.