Temperature-controlled dispenser for order fulfillment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a temperature-controlled dispenser system for order fulfillment. The system includes a dispenser apparatus with a cart compartment sized to receive a shopping cart and accessible from both a fulfillment side and a pickup side. Positioned above the cart compartment is a temperature-controlled compartment, also accessible from both sides. The dispenser features an access door on the pickup side and an access controller configured to manage access to both compartments via the access door.

Description

TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED DISPENSER FOR ORDER FULFILLMENTRelated Applications(s)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 610,861, filed December 15, 2023, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.Background

[0002] In the field of retail order fulfillment, there has been a growing demand for efficient and reliable systems to manage the storage and dispensing of items for pickup orders. Traditional methods often involve manual retrieval of items from various storage areas by store workers, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors. This is particularly challenging when dealing with items that require temperature-controlled storage, such as chilled or frozen goods.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0003] Disclosed herein are embodiments of apparatuses, systems, and methods for dispensing items. This description includes drawings, wherein:

[0004] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a dispenser apparatus in accordance with several embodiments.

[0005] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a dispenser system from a fulfillment side in accordance with several embodiments;

[0006] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a dispenser system from a pickup side in accordance with several embodiments;

[0007] FIG. 4 is another illustration of a dispenser system from the pickup side in accordance with several embodiments;

[0008] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a cart rail in accordance with several embodiments;

[0009] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a sliding tray in accordance with several embodiments;

[0010] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a fulfillment system in accordance with several embodiments;

[0011] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method for item dispensing in accordance with several embodiments; and

[0012] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a process for order fulfillment in accordance with several embodiments.

[0013] 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 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 various embodiments of the present invention. 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 technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.Detailed Description

[0001] Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for pickup order fulfillment with a dispenser. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a dispenser apparatus, including: a cart compartment sized to receive a shopping cart and accessible from a fulfillment side and a pickup side; a temperature-controlled compartment positioned above the cart compartment and accessible from the fulfillment side and the pickup side; an access door on the pickup side; and an access controller configured to control access to the cart compartment and the temperature-controlled compartment via the access door.

[0002] Stores or dedicated fulfillment centers can fill customer orders by aggregating items from a storage area to a staging area for customer or delivery driver pickup. Generally, in a storage area, items are grouped by type, whereas in a staging area, items are grouped by order. Conventionally, items with different storage temperature requirements (e.g., room, chilled, frozen) are stored in separate parts of the staging area to maintain cold chain compliance. When a customer or delivery driver arrives for pickup, a store employee manually retrieves itemsstaged in different temperature zones of the staging area to transfer to the customer or delivery driver.

[0003] In some aspects, a fulfillment system can include customer-facing pickup locations for order staging that increases throughput and ease of use. Multiple customer orders can be staged at the same time to allow multiple customers to pick up their orders from the dispensers during the same time window and simultaneously. In some embodiments, the dispensers described here are safe and intuitive for both trained associates and unfamiliar customers. The dispensers may remove the need for order marshaling by associates for chilled and frozen items while the customer is waiting for pickup. The dispenser system further allows the customer to receive and load the orders to their vehicle without associate assistance.

[0004] In some embodiments, the dispensers may be made of preassembled components and involve minimal automation and maintenance. In some embodiments, the dispenser system may be independent of the operations of the item aggregation part of order fulfillment and may work with a variety of item aggregators such as an automated robotic fulfillment system, an in-store personal shopper, etc. In some embodiments, the dispenser system described herein can further reduce item staging time for the associates and the wait time for the customers.

[0005] In some embodiments, a dispenser system functions as a customer-facing portal where all items in a customer order are staged in appropriate temperatures prior to arrival for contactless pickup. The dispensers may be ergonomic for use by both customers and associates. In some embodiments, the dispenser includes an access control mechanism to prevent entry into the store / fulfillment side through the cart compartment. In some embodiments, the dispenser includes compartments for maintaining items in chilled and / or frozen temperatures. In some embodiments, the dispenser system further provides space reservation for oversized items.

[0006] In some embodiments, a dispenser may include doors on the store / fulfillment side and customer side, a mechanical or electromagnetic lock, lighting, indicator lights, cart tracks, a customer-facing access keypad, temperature-controlled compartment(s) for chilled / frozen items, and one or more sliding trays to position items accessibly for customers. In some embodiments, the dispensers are configured to be compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access requirements.

[0007] Referring now to FIG. 1, a dispenser apparatus is shown. The dispenser 100 has a fulfillment side 103 and a pickup side 102 and includes a structure 105 defining a cart compartment 110 and a temperature-controlled compartment 120 directly above the cart compartment 110.

[0008] The cart compartment 110 is generally sized to receive a shopping cart and is accessible from the fulfillment side 103 and the pickup side 102. The cart compartment 110 is defined by two side walls and a top dividing wall between the cart compartment 110 and cart compartment 110. In some embodiments, the bottom of the cart compartment 110 may be the floor of the fulfillment facility or be substantially level with the floor of the fulfillment facility. In some embodiments, the cart compartment 110 has a height (Hcc), width (Wcc), and depth (Dec) that are similar in proportions to a conventional shopping cart and are greater than the dimensions of a conventional shopping cart. For example, Hcc may be at least 35 inches, Wcc may be at least 21 inches, and Dec may be at least 33 inches. In some embodiments, the cart compartment 110 includes a cart guide rail and / or guard for guiding the placement and removal of shopping cart from the fulfillment side 103 and the pickup side 102. An example of cart rails 115 that may be installed on the floor of the cart compartment 110 is shown in FIG. 5. In some embodiments, cart rails 115 or guards may be installed on the floor or the side walls of cart compartment 110. In some embodiments, the floor of the cart compartment 110 may include a cart hump configured to prevent a shopping cart from rolling out of the cart compartment 110 without being pulled or pushed.

[0009] The temperature-controlled compartment 120 is positioned above the cart compartment 110 and accessible from the fulfillment side 103 and the pickup side 102. In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled compartment 120 is sized to store chilled and / or frozen products in bags, totes, and / or without containers. In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled compartment 120 may have a width similar to Wcc and a height lesser than Hcc. In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled compartment includes a chilled section 122 and a frozen section 121 separated by a divider 123. In some embodiments, the divider 123 is repositionable and the temperature-controlled compartment 120 includes a plurality of slots for repositioning the divider to adjust the sizes of the chilled section 122 and the frozen section 121. In some embodiments, the divider 123 may be a vertical divider asshown in FIG. 1 and the chilled section 122 and the frozen section 121 are side-by-side. In some embodiments, the divider 123 may be a horizontal divider that divides the temperature- controlled compartment 120 into top and bottom portions. In some embodiments, the divider 123 may be fixed to the structure 105 of cart compartment 110. In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled compartment 120 includes one or more vents for circulating cooled air from an active cooling system. In some embodiments, the vent to the active cooling system may be on the frozen section 121 of the temperature-controlled compartment 120 and a secondary vent may control the airflow between chilled section 122 and the frozen section 121 to regulate the temperature in the chilled section 122. In some embodiments, the temperature- controlled compartment 120 may be cooled by one or more cooling methods including vaporcompression cycle, acoustic cooling, air cycle, magnetic cooling, Malone engine, pulse tube, thermoelectric cooling, thermionic cooling, vortex tube, and water cycle systems, etc. In some embodiments, the active cooling system may be coupled to affect the temperatures of multiple dispensers 100. In some embodiments, the active cooling system and / or the vent may be controlled by a central system based on the usage status of the dispenser 100. For example, a central computer system may turn on and off the cooling of one or more dispensers of the dispenser system based on the number of pickup orders with chilled and frozen items scheduled for pickup in a time frame.

[0010] In some embodiments, the frozen section 121 and / or the chilled section 122 of the temperature-controlled compartment 120 may include a sliding tray positioned at the bottom of the compartment space, and configured to hold items placed into the frozen section 121 and / or the chilled section 122. An example of a sliding tray that may be included in the temperature-controlled compartment 120 is shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, a tray 128 is mounted on rails 129 which allows the tray to slide between a retracted position and an extended position. The rails 129 may be secured to the bottom of the temperature-controlled compartment 120. In some embodiments, the sliding tray may be configured to slide out on the fulfillment side 103, the pickup side 102, or both sides of the dispenser 100. For example, a fulfillment center associate may slide the tray out to place items on the far side of the sliding tray. When the sliding tray is pushed back into the temperature-controlled compartment 120, the items would be near the pickup side 102 for customer pickup. In another example, acustomer may pull the sliding tray out of the temperature-controlled compartment 120 to access any item placed near the fulfillment side 103 of the temperature-controlled compartment 120. In some embodiments, the tray may include raised edges or a basket. In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled compartment 120 may include two or more layers of sliding trays. In some embodiments, the sliding tray may include pull-down hinges or joints allowing the tray to be pulled below the bottom walls of the temperature-controlled compartment 120 on one or both sides.

[0011] The dispenser 100 further includes an access door on the pickup side 102 with an access controller. In some embodiments, the dispenser 100 also includes one or more doors on the fulfillment side 103. Details of the access door and access controller are described in more detail with reference to, for example, FIGS. 3, 7, and 8 herein.

[0012] In some embodiments, the dispenser 100 may include one or more sensors for sensing the state of the access door and / or for monitoring the space within the temperature- controlled compartment 120 and / or the cart compartment 110. For example, one or more monitoring sensors may be mounted on a wall of the temperature-controlled compartment 120 and / or the cart compartment 110. Further details of sensors that may be installed on the dispenser 100 are described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 herein. In some embodiments, a dispenser system may include a plurality of dispensers 100 that share one or both side walls with an adjacent dispenser similarly configured. Each dispenser may include independently controlled access doors and may hold items for different pickup orders.

[0013] Next referring to FIG. 2, an illustration of a dispenser system 200 from the fulfillment side 103 is shown. In FIG. 2, four dispensers 100 are shown. However, it should be understood that a dispenser system 200 may include any number of dispensers 100. The cart compartment 110 and the temperature-controlled compartment 120 of each of the dispensers 100 are accessible from the fulfillment side 103. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the cart compartment 110 is open to the fulfillment facility space on the fulfillment side without a door or other barrier. A shopping cart 210 may be placed in the cart compartment 110 in each of the dispensers 100. In some embodiments, the cart compartment 110 may include a security door on the fulfillment side 103. For example, the security door may be lockable to prevent entryinto the fulfillment area through the cart compartment 110 when the access door on the pickup side 102 is open.

[0014] In FIG. 2, the temperature-controlled compartment 120 has a chilled section door 125 and a frozen section door 124. In FIG. 2, these doors are marked with “chilled” and “frozen” for easy identification by the associates. In some embodiments, a single door may cover both the chilled section 122 and the frozen section 121 on the fulfillment side 103. In some embodiments, the door may be variously configured for example, the door(s) may swing up, down, left, right, slide, or be a rolling door. In some embodiments, the dispenser system 200 may further include indicator lights and / or sensors on the fulfillment side 103. For example, an indicator light may indicate the available dispensers 100 to the associates. In some embodiments, one or more display screens may display dispenser assignments for one or more pickup orders. In some embodiments, the dispensers may be marked with dispenser identifiers on the pickup side 102.

[0015] Next referring to FIG. 3, an illustration of dispenser system 200 from the pickup side 102 is shown. From the pickup side 102, a dispenser 100 may be covered by an access door 130. An access door 130 may include an access control mechanism such as a bolt lock, an electromagnetic lock, and the like. In some embodiments, the dispenser 100 may include a user interface 133 of an access controller 134 such as a keypad, an optical sensor, and / or a wireless sensor configured to receive an access code. In some embodiments, a plurality of dispenser 100 may share a user interface 133. In some embodiments, the access door 130 may be unlockable remotely via a central computer system. For example, a customer may send an unlock request to the central computer system via a mobile application and the central computer system may then remotely cause the access door 130 to unlock.

[0016] In some embodiments, the access door 130 may include a self-closing hinge for staying closed unless a force is applied. In some embodiments, the access door 130 may be powered and configured to be actuated opened, or closed via the central computer system, a controller on the fulfillment side 103, and / or a controller on the pickup side 102. For example, an ADA-compliant “push to open” button may be provided to open one or more access doors of the dispenser system 200. In some embodiments, the access door 130 is configured to have two or more states, such as locked, unlocked but closed, and open.

[0017] In some embodiments, the dispenser system 200 may further include indicator lights and / or sensors on the fulfdlment side 103. For example, an indicator light may indicate that a dispenser 100 has been unlocked in response to an unlock request from the user interface 133 and / or the central computer system. In some embodiments, one or more display screens may display dispenser assignments for one or more pickup orders. In some embodiments, the dispensers may be marked with dispenser identifiers on the pickup side 102.

[0018] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, when the access door 130 is opened, the cart compartment 110, the frozen section 121, and the chilled section 122 are all accessible from the pickup side 102. In such embodiments, the shopping cart 210 in the cart compartment 110 and the content of the temperature-controlled compartment 120 are visible when the access door 130 is opened. In some embodiments, frozen section 121 and / or the chilled section 122 may include one or more additional inner access doors similar to the chilled section door 125 and frozen section door 124 on the fulfdlment side 103, separate from the access door 130. In some embodiments, the access door 130 and / or the additional inner access doors may be at least partially transparent or translucent. In some embodiments, the access door 130 may include seal / gasket elements for the frozen section 121 and / or chilled section 122 to maintain an air seal in the temperature-controlled compartment 120 when the access door 130 is closed. In some embodiments, the access door 130 may include a safety release mechanism allowing a locked door to be opened from the inside.

[0019] In FIG. 3, the access door 130 includes a single panel covering both the temperature-controlled compartment 120 and the cart compartment 110. In some embodiments, the access door 130 may include two or more panels. For example, a top panel may cover the temperature-controlled compartment 120, and a bottom panel may cover the cart compartment 110. In some embodiments, the chilled section 112 and the frozen section 121 may be covered by separate panels. In some embodiments, an unlock request would cause the access controller to unlock all panels of the access door 130. In some embodiments, the locking / unlocking of each panel may be controlled separately. For example, depending on the content of the order associated with the dispenser, the access controller may only partially unlock some of the access door panels (e.g., only cart compartment, only cart compartment and frozen, only chilled, etc.).

[0020] Next referring to Fig. 4, a fulfillment facility 400 with a dispenser system 200 is shown. The dispenser system 200 separates the fulfillment area 410 and the pickup area 420 of the fulfillment facility 400. The fulfillment area 410 may include a storage structure for storing products. In some embodiments, the fulfillment area 410 may further include an automated item consolidation / order fulfillment system 415. For example, the fulfillment area 410 may include mobile robots, robotic arms, conveyor systems, etc. that are configured to aggregate items in an order from different parts of the storage structure. In some embodiments, the fulfillment area 410 includes room and temperature-controlled storage areas such as a chilled area and a frozen area. An order may include items stored in two or more different temperature areas. In some embodiments, the fulfillment area 410 may include an automated order fulfillment system described in US Patent 11,142,398, filed May 10, 2017, titled “Order Fulfillment System” the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. Once items in an order are aggregated, a fulfillment center associate and / or a mobile robot may bring the items in a shopping cart into a dispenser 100.

[0021] On the pickup side 102, customers or drivers may drive up to the dispenser system 200, park their cars, and make an unlock request. In some embodiments, the unlock request may be made via a user interface on the dispenser system or via a mobile application running on a user device. Once the access door of the dispenser 100 associated with the customer or driver opens, the customer or driver can retrieve the shopping cart 210 and items from the temperature-controlled compartment 120, and bring all items to their vehicle in the shopping cart 210. In some embodiments, the customer or driver may return the shopping cart 210 to the dispenser 100 after the items are loaded into their vehicles. In some embodiments, a separate cart collection area may be provided. In some embodiments, the pickup area 420 may be part of the parking lot or parking structure of the fulfillment facility 400. In some embodiments, the fulfillment facility 400 may be a retail facility having a store portion for in-store shopping in addition to the fulfillment area 410. In some embodiments, the pickup orders fulfilled via the dispenser system 200 may be collected from the in-store shopping portion of a retail facility.

[0022] Next referring to FIG. 7, a block diagram of a system for pickup order fulfillment is shown. The system includes one or more dispensers 100 and a central computer system 700.

[0023] In some embodiments, the dispenser 100 may include a temperature-controlled compartment 120, a cart compartment 110, and at least one access door 130 secured via a user interface 133 as described with reference to FIGS. 1-4. In some embodiments, the dispenser 100 may further include a sensor system 140. In some embodiments, the user interface 133 may include a user interface device near the access door 130 for making an unlock request. For example, the user interface device may include a keypad, an optical sensor, and / or a wireless sensor configured to receive an access code as an unlock request. In some embodiments, the access controller 134 may communicate with the central computer system 700 to receive a onetime use or a time-limited access code. The access controller 134 may be configured to unlock the access door 130 when the code received via the user interface device matches the access code received from the central computer system 700. In some embodiments, the access controller 134 is configured to unlock the access door 130 based on signals from the central computer system 700. For example, the central computer system 700 may communicate an unlock or lock message to the access controller 134, and the access controller may affect the state (e.g., lock / unlock) of the access door 130 accordingly. In some embodiments, the access controller 134 may further be configured to unlock or lock the access door 130 in response to a signal from a user interface device on the fulfillment side 103. For example, once an order is loaded into a dispenser 100, an associate may push a button on the fulfillment side 103 to lock the access door 130 on the pickup side. In some embodiments, the access controller 134 may include actuators for actuating the access door 130 open or close based on signals from the central computer system 700 or a user interface device near the dispenser 100. For example, the access controller 134 may include an ADA-compliant “push to open” button. In some embodiments, the access controller 134 may not communicate with the central computer system 700. For example, the access controller 134 may have a fixed access code or the access code may be set via a local user interface device by a fulfillment associate.

[0024] In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled compartment 120 may be coupled to a temperature controller such as an active cooling system. In some embodiments, the central computer system 700 may further be communicatively coupled to the temperature controller to turn on and off the cooling of the temperature-controlled compartment 120 based on anticipated orders and / or the tracked status of the temperature-controlled compartment 120.For example, the temperature controller may be turned on when an order is anticipated to be placed in the temperature-controlled compartment 120 within a time frame (e.g., 30 minutes, 60 minutes) and / or may be turned off when the order assigned to the dispenser 100 has no chilled or frozen items to place inside the temperature-controlled compartment 120. In some embodiments, the temperature control system and / or a temperature sensor of the sensor system 140 may communicate temperature readings to the central computer system 700 for cold chain compliance monitoring. For example, the dispenser 100 may notify the central computer system 700 when a temperature-controlled compartment 120 has reached a temperature suitable for holding a chilled or frozen item. In another example, the dispenser 100 may notify the central computer system 700 if temperature-controlled compartment 120 is not maintaining the correct temperature because an access door on either the pickup side 102 or the fulfillment side 103 is not properly closed or if the temperature control system has failed.

[0025] In some embodiments, the dispenser 100 may include a sensor system 140 for monitoring the status and usage of the dispenser 100. In some embodiments, the sensor system 140 is configured to capture data from the cart compartment 110, the temperature-controlled compartment 120, and / or the access door 130. In some embodiments, the sensor system 140 may include a camera, an optical sensor, a range sensor, a light curtain, a temperature sensor, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transceiver, a pressure sensor, a weight scale, and the like. In some embodiments, the sensor system 140 may detect whether items are present in the temperature-controlled compartment 120 and / or the cart compartment 110 for the central computer system 700 to track the usage status of the dispenser 100. For example, the sensor system 140 may detect when items are placed into the temperature-controlled compartment 120 and / or the cart compartment 110 by a fulfillment associate or mobile robot. The central computer system 700 may then update the status of the dispenser 100 to “in-use” in the dispenser database 721 and the status of the order to “ready for pickup” in the order database 723. In another example, the sensor system 140 may detect when the access door 130 is opened and / or when items are removed from the temperature-controlled compartment 120 and the cart compartment 110. The system 700 may then update the status of the dispenser to “available” in the dispenser database 721 and the status of the order to “complete” in the order database 723. In some embodiments, the sensor system 140 may further be configured to detect errors.For example, if the dispenser 100 is assigned an order with chilled and frozen items, but the sensor system 140 does not detect items in the temperature-controlled compartment 120, the central computer system 700 may generate an alert to the fulfillment associates to verify that the order is incomplete and / or incorrectly staged for pickup. In another example, the sensor system 140 may detect that the access door 130 on the pickup side has been opened and then closed by a customer or driver, but items remain in the temperature-controlled compartment 120. The central computer system 700 may then generate a notification to the customer, for example via a mobile app, to retrieve the remaining items. In some embodiments, the sensor system 140 may be configured to verify the identities of the container and / or items placed in the temperature-controlled compartment 120 and cart compartment 110 match the order associated with the dispenser 100. For example, item identifiers may be detected via an RFID transceiver and / or an optical sensor from the temperature-controlled compartment 120 and cart compartment 110. In some embodiments, the bags or containers for frozen and / or chilled items may be encoded (e.g., color, optical code, RFID) to indicate the corresponding storage temperature for detection and verification via the sensor. In some embodiments, shopping carts may include a shopping cart identifier that may be associated with an order in the database. The system may determine whether the shopping cart is correctly placed in the dispenser assigned to the associated order. In some embodiments, the sensor system 140 may measure the weight of the content of the temperature-controlled compartment 120 and / or the cart compartment 110 to verify that the weight matches the expected weight of items in the order. In some embodiments, the sensor system 140 may be configured to detect an order identifier from a label on a bag, tote, or shopping cart. In some embodiments, the order identifier may be used to verify that the correct order has been placed in the assigned dispenser 100. In some embodiments, the order identifier may be transmitted to the central computer system 700 to associate the dispenser 100 with the order. For example. The fulfillment associate may place an order in any available dispenser 100, and the dispenser may automatically transmit the order identifier to the central computer system 700 to update the dispenser database 721 and / or the order database 723. In some embodiments, the sensor system 140 may be omitted.

[0026] In some embodiments, the dispenser 100 may further include a control circuit such as a processor or ASIC for communicating with the central computer system 700 and / orcontrolling the access controller 134, the sensor system 140, and / or the cooling of the temperature-controlled compartment 120. The access controller 134 and / or the sensor system 140 may communicate with the central computer system 700 via a wired or wireless data connection.

[0027] The central computer system 700 includes a control circuit 710, a memory 711, and a network interface device 712. The central computer system 700 may include one or more of a server, a central computing system, a cloud-based compute engine, a desktop computer system, a personal computer, a portable device, and the like. The control circuit 710 may include a processor, a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the like and may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage memory 711. The computer-readable storage memory 711 may include volatile and / or nonvolatile memory and have stored upon it, a set of computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the control circuit 710, causes the central computer system 700 to facilitate pickup order fulfillment via dispensers 100 of a dispenser system. In some embodiments, the computer-executable instructions may cause the control circuit 710 of the central computer system 700 to perform one or more functions described herein, such as steps described with reference to FIG. 8. In some embodiments, the computer-executable instructions may cause the control circuit 710 of the central computer system 700 to communicate with the dispenser 100 and / or the user interface device 730 based on the information stored in the dispenser database 721 and the order database 723, and data detected by the access controller 134 and / or the sensor system 140 of the dispenser 100. While one dispenser 100 and one user interface device 730 are shown in FIG. 7, the central computer system 700 may communicate with any number of user interface devices 730 and / or dispensers 100.

[0028] The network interface device 712 may include a data port, a wired or wireless network adapter, and the like. In some embodiments, the central computer system 700 may communicate with the user interface device 730 over one or more networks such as a local network, a private network, a cloud computing network, or the Internet. The user interface device 730 may include user input / output devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, a display screen, a virtual reality / augmented reality display device, a speaker, a microphone,etc. In some embodiments, the user interface device 730 may be a processor-based standalone user device such as a personal computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a mobile device, a smartphone, and the like.

[0029] In some embodiments, the user interface device 730 may be a fulfillment center device executing a fulfillment task application for displaying fulfillment tasks based on data provided by the central computer system 700. For example, the user interface device may display orders, dispensers associated with the orders, order statuses, dispenser statuses, etc. for fulfillment task management. In some embodiments, the user interface device 730 may further be used to update or modify orders, dispensers associated with the orders, order statuses, dispenser statuses, etc.

[0030] In some embodiments, the user interface device 730 may be a user device of a customer or a delivery driver executing a shopping or driving application for displaying order and pickup information based on data provided by the central computer system 700. For example, the user interface device 730 may display a shopping interface for selecting items for a pickup order. The user interface device 730 may further display order status (e.g., process, ready for pickup, complete), pickup instructions, dispenser assignment, dispenser access code, etc., based on communications with the central computer system 700. In some embodiments, the user interface device 730 may include an unlock request interface allowing a customer or a driver to request access to a dispenser 100. In some embodiments, the user interface device 730 may include a location tracker such as a goal positioning system (GPS) sensor. The GPS data of the user interface device 730 may be transmitted to the central computer system 700 to provide pickup instructions, verify unlock requests, and / or provide driving instructions. For example, the central computer system 700 may verify that the user interface device 730 is within a threshold distance from the dispenser 100 before causing the dispenser 100 to unlock in response to an unlock request received from the user interface device 730.

[0031] The dispenser database 721 and the order database 723 may include computer- readable storage memory accessible by the central computer system 700 locally or via a network. In some embodiments, the dispenser database 721 and the order database 723 may be implemented on one or more storage devices such as a hard drive, a server storage system,a cloud-based storage system and the like. In some embodiments, the dispenser database 721 and the order database 723 may be at least partially implemented on the memory 711.

[0032] The dispenser database 721 may store the status of dispensers 100 managed by the central computer system 700. In some embodiments, the dispenser database 721 may include a list of dispenser identifiers and statuses associated with each dispenser identifier. In some embodiments, dispenser statuses may include one or more of available, assigned, in-use, out- of-order, etc. In some embodiments, the dispenser database 721 may further track the status of the access doors 130 via associated access controllers 134. In some embodiments, the status of the access door 130 may include one or more of locked, unlocked, opened, closed, etc. In some embodiments, the dispenser database 721 may store access codes for the access controllers 134 of the dispensers 100. For example, the central computer system 700 may include a random number generator for generating a one-time use access code. The access code may be transmitted to the access controller 134 and the user interface device 730, and stored in the dispenser database 721 and / or the order database 723. In some embodiments, the dispenser database 721 may further record data detected by the sensor system 140 such as temperature- controlled compartment 120 temperature, item presence, detected item identifier, detected cart / order identifier, etc. In some embodiments, the dispenser database 721 and / or the order database 723 may store the dispenser assignments for one or more pickup orders.

[0033] The order database 723 may store a plurality of pickup orders. In some embodiments, the order records in the order database 723 may include one or more of items ordered, item storage temperatures, order pickup time, order statuses, order dispenser assignment, associated customer identifier, assigned driver identifier, etc. In some embodiments, order statuses may include one or more of received, confirmed, processing, aggregated, ready for pickup, completed, etc. In some embodiments, the order database 723 may also be accessed and updated by the fulfillment system of the fulfillment facility.

[0034] In some embodiments, the central computer system 700 may further access other databases to perform the functionalities described herein. For example, a customer profile database may store customer information for communicating with a user interface device 730 of a customer. A product database may store product information for determining product storage temperature and / or for order verification.

[0035] Next referring to FIG. 8, a method for order fulfillment with a dispenser system is shown. In some embodiments, one or more steps of FIG. 8 may be executed by a processorbased device executing computer-readable instructions stored on a memory device. In some embodiments, one or more steps of FIG. 8 may be performed by the central computer system 700 described with reference to FIG. 7 herein or other similar devices.

[0036] In step 810, the system receives a pickup order. The pickup order may generally include a list of items, a customer identifier, and in some cases, a driver identifier. In some embodiments, the pickup order may further include a pickup time. In step 820, the system instructs the fulfillment of the pickup order. In some embodiments, the fulfillment is carried out by an automated system, an associate, and / or a combination of both. In some embodiments, the fulfillment instruction may include machine instructions communicated to one or more mobile robots that travel on a storage structure to aggregate items in the order to an aggregation area. In some embodiments, items may be collected from a plurality of storage temperature zones (e.g., zoom, chilled, frozen). In some embodiments, the system may track the time that chilled or frozen items are outside of the temperature-controlled zone (e.g., between the time the order is aggerated by the fulfillment system and placed into a temperature-controlled dispenser) and issue an alert when the duration exceeds a threshold.

[0037] In step 830, the system associates a dispenser of the dispenser system to the order. In some embodiments, the system may select an available dispenser based on the dispenser status information stored in the dispenser database. In some embodiments, the system may be configured to assign the dispenser based on the expected pickup times of a plurality of orders. For example, the system may avoid assigning orders expected to be picked up around the same time to adjacent dispensers. In some embodiments, the dispenser system may include dispensers of different types, such as dispensers without a temperature-controlled compartment, dispensers without a cart compartment, and / or dispensers with differently configured temperature / controlled compartments (e.g., no divider, horizontal divider, vertical divider). In some embodiments, the system may assign a dispenser to an order based on the dispenser type and the items in the order. For example, an order without frozen items may be assigned to a dispenser with only chilled and cart compartments. In some embodiments, a single order may be assigned to multiple dispensers. For example, an order may be assigned toa first dispenser with a temperature compartment and a second dispenser for overside items. The system may then provide stating instructions to fulfillment associates and / or mobile robots to stage the aggregated items in the assigned dispenser(s). In some embodiments, the instruction may be displayed on a user interface device and / or an indicator display on the dispenser system.

[0038] In some embodiments, a store associate may select from any available dispenser. The store associate or a sensor of the dispenser may then provide the order identifier and / or the dispenser identifier to the system for storage. For example, the associate may operate a user interface device to scan a dispenser identifier to associate the dispenser with the order displayed on the user interface device.

[0039] Step 840, the system detects that the order is ready for pick up. In some embodiments, a fulfillment associate and / or a mobile robot may update the status of the order in step 840 after the order is staged in the dispenser. For example, n fulfillment associate may scan a dispenser identifier or order identifier to indicate the placement of the ordered items in the dispenser. In some embodiments, step 840 may be based on a sensor of the dispenser 100 detecting the placement or presence of items in one or more compartments of the dispenser. In some embodiments, the system may further verify the order via sensors of the dispenser in step 840. For example, the system may determine whether items are present in the chilled or frozen sections when the order contains items for these sections. In some embodiments, in step 840, the system updates the order database to indicate that the order is ready for pickup. The status may be communicated to a user device associated with a customer and / or driver. In some embodiments, the system may further update the dispenser database to indicate that the dispenser is in use in step 830 or 840. In some embodiments, the system may cause the access controller to lock the pickup side access door of the assigned dispenser in step 830 or 840. In some embodiments, the system and / or a fulfillment associate may further lock an access / security door on the fulfillment side of the dispenser in step 840.

[0040] In some embodiments, prior to step 850, the system may generate an access code for the order. The access code may be transmitted to the access controller of the dispenser. The access code may also be transmitted to the user interface device of the customer and / or driver associated with the order.

[0041] In step 850, the system receives an unlock request. In some embodiments, the unlock request may be received via a local user interface of the access controller near the dispenser. For example, a customer may enter an access code at a number pad on the access door. The access control may then compare the access code received from the central computer system with the access code received via the user interface. In some embodiments, the unlock request may be received at the central computer system from a user interface device such as a customer or driver mobile phone associated with a user account. For example, the application executed on the user interface may provide an unlock option which can be selected when the driver or customer arrives at the dispenser. In some embodiments, the customer or driver may use a mobile device to scan an optical code on the dispenser to send an unlock request to the central computer system. In some embodiments, the system may identify a dispenser associated with an order placed with the user account and verify the credential and / or location of the user device making the unlock request in step 850.

[0042] In step 860, after the unlock request is verified, the access controller causes the access door to unlock. In step 870, the system detects the retrieval of the items in the dispenser. In some embodiments, the retrieval may be detected via input by a fulfillment associate, a customer, and / or a driver. In some embodiments, the retrieval may be detected by tracking the state of the access door and / or access controller. For example, retrieval may be assumed when the access door has been opened and closed at least once. In some embodiments, the retrieval may be detected based on the sensors of the dispensers. In some embodiments, the system may be configured to verify the completion of the retrieval by detecting for remaining items in the dispenser. In some embodiments, an alert may be generated to the fulfillment associates or the customer in step 870 if the order has not been completely retrieved and / or the access door is not properly closed after retrieval. In some embodiments, if retrieval is not detected within a time frame (e.g., 2 minutes, 5 minutes) after the door is unlocked in step 860, an associate may be notified to provide assistance to the customer or driver.

[0043] In some embodiments, if the retrieval is not detected within a predetermined time frame (e.g., 30 minutes, 60 minutes), the system may instruct for the cart and items to be removed from the dispenser to make the dispenser available for other orders.

[0044] In step 880, in response to the detection of the retrieval, the system may mark the order as complete and / or the dispenser as available. In step 890, the system may cause the access door to lock again upon the completion of retrieval. In some embodiments, the access door may remain unlocked until the next order is assigned to or placed into the dispenser.

[0045] Generally, the steps in FIG. 8 may be repeated for any number of orders fulfilled via any number of dispensers.

[0046] Next referring to FIG. 9, an example process for pickup order fulfillment is shown. In some embodiments, one or more steps of FIG. 9 may be facilitated or executed by a processor-based device executing computer-readable instructions stored on a memory device. In some embodiments, one or more steps of FIG. 9 may be performed by or facilitated by the central computer system 700 described with reference to FIG. 7 herein or other similar devices. In some embodiments, one or more steps of FIG. 9 may be performed using a dispenser 100 and a dispenser system 200 described herein.

[0047] During the precondition phase, in step 901, the customer order is placed online and confirmed by the retailer. In step 902, the order is assembled by a fulfillment system, such as an automated mobile robot system, and loaded into an empty shopping cart. In some embodiments, the order may be assembled from different temperature areas of the fulfillment system, such as room, chilled, and frozen.

[0048] In step 911, an associate transports the filled cart to the dispenser associated with the order. In step 912, an associate loads the cart into the cart compartment of the dispenser from the fulfillment side. In step 913, the associate scans the order to register the order with the dispenser. In step 914, the associate prepares the dispenser for customer pickup. For example, the associate may preload the pickup side doors and / or lock the fulfillment side door.

[0049] In some embodiments, after step 914 the system may start a pickup timer. For example, the system may determine whether the order has been picked up within 60 minutes in step 915. If the timer expires before the order is picked up, the associate may be notified to remove the loaded cart from the dispenser and return the items to the storage system in step 916.

[0050] If the customer arrives and enters an access code in step 915, the pickup side customer-facing door opens in step 921. In step 922, the customer takes the cart from thedi spenser, loads the order into their vehicle, and delivers the cart to the cart return area, in step 923, the associate checks that the cart compartment is empty and unobstructed. In step 924, the associate or system determines whether the dispenser is empty, and the pickup side door is safe to close. If the dispenser is not empty, the associate may be notified to provide customer assistance in step 925. If the dispenser is empty, the process ends in step 930, with the associate opening the fulfillment side door and closing the pickup side door, cleaning items or debris from the dispenser, and preparing the dispenser for the next order.

[0051] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a dispenser apparatus, including: a cart compartment sized to receive a shopping cart and accessible from a fulfillment side and a pickup side; a temperature-controlled compartment positioned above the cart compartment and accessible from the fulfillment side and the pickup side; an access door on the pickup side; and an access controller configured to control access to the cart compartment and the temperature-controlled compartment via the access door.

[0052] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an item dispensing system including: a plurality of dispenser apparatuses each including: a cart compartment; a temperature-controlled compartment; and an access door for controlling access to the cart compartment and the temperature-controlled compartment from a pickup side; and a central computer system including a control circuit configured: track statuses of the plurality of dispenser apparatuses based on communications with access controllers and / or sensor systems of each of the plurality of dispenser apparatuses; and provide fulfillment instructions based on the statuses of the plurality of dispenser apparatuses.

[0053] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of dispensing items including: receiving, at a central computer system, an order; associating, in an order database, an item dispenser with the order, the item dispenser includes: a cart compartment sized to receive a shopping cart and accessible from a fulfillment side and a pickup side; a temperature-controlled compartment positioned above the cart compartment and accessible from the fulfillment side and a pickup side; and an access controller configured to control access to the cart compartment and the temperature-controlled compartment via an access door on the pickup side; and unlocking, via the access controller, the access door in response to receiving an unlock request.

[0054] 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 dispenser apparatus, comprising: a cart compartment sized to receive a shopping cart and accessible from a fulfillment side and a pickup side; a temperature-controlled compartment positioned above the cart compartment and accessible from the fulfillment side and the pickup side; an access door on the pickup side; and an access controller configured to control access to the cart compartment and the temperature-controlled compartment via the access door.

2. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature-controlled compartment comprises a chilled section and a frozen section separated by a divider.

3. The dispenser apparatus of claim 2, wherein the divider is repositionable; and wherein the temperature-controlled compartment comprises a plurality of slots for repositioning the divider to adjust the sizes of the chilled section and the frozen section.

4. The dispenser apparatus of claim 2, wherein the chilled section and the frozen section are side-by-side.

5. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature-controlled compartment comprises a sliding tray configured to extend out of the fulfillment side and / or the pickup side.

6. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature-controlled compartment comprises a vent for circulating cooled air from an active cooling system.

7. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature-controlled compartment includes a second access door on the fulfillment side and wherein the cart compartment is open to a fulfillment facility space on the fulfillment side.

8. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature-controlled compartment includes an inner access door on the pickup side separate from the access door.

9. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cart compartment comprises a cart guide rail and / or guard for placing and removing the shopping cart from the fulfillment side and the pickup side.

10. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cart compartment extends from a floor level to a height of at least 35 inches.

11. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access controller comprises a keypad, an optical sensor, and / or a wireless sensor configured to receive an access code from the pickup side.

12. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access controller comprises a network interface configured to receive an unlock signal from a central computer system.

13. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access door covers both the temperature-controlled compartment and the cart compartment on the pickup side.

14. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access door comprises a selfclosing hinge.

15. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicator device on the fulfillment side for indicating a status associated with the dispenser apparatus.

16. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor system configured to capture data from the cart compartment, the temperature-controlled compartment and / or the access door.

17. An item dispensing system comprising: a plurality of dispenser apparatuses each comprising: a cart compartment; a temperature-controlled compartment; and an access door for controlling access to the cart compartment and the temperature- controlled compartment from a pickup side; and a central computer system comprising a control circuit configured: track statuses of the plurality of dispenser apparatuses based on communications with access controllers and / or sensor systems of each of the plurality of dispenser apparatuses; and provide fulfillment instructions based on the statuses of the plurality of dispenser apparatuses.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the control circuit is further configured to: detect a placement of an order into a dispenser apparatus; associate a dispenser identifier of the dispenser apparatus with the order; update a status of the order to indicate pickup ready in an order database; and transmit the dispenser identifier to a user associated with the order.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the control circuit is further configured to: receive an unlock request from a user device associated with a user account; identify a dispenser apparatus associated with an order placed with the user account; and cause the access door of the dispenser apparatuses to unlock.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the control circuit is further configured to: detect retrieval of an order from a dispenser apparatus; andupdate the status of the dispenser apparatus to indicate storage available in a storage status database.

21. A method of dispensing items comprising: receiving, at a central computer system, an order; associating, in an order database, an item dispenser with the order, the item dispenser comprises: a cart compartment sized to receive a shopping cart and accessible from a fulfillment side and a pickup side; a temperature-controlled compartment positioned above the cart compartment and accessible from the fulfillment side and a pickup side; and an access controller configured to control access to the cart compartment and the temperature-controlled compartment via an access door on the pickup side; and unlocking, via the access controller, the access door in response to receiving an unlock request.

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