Automated System for Emptying and Sorting Items from Shipping Containers
This patent describes an automated system for quickly emptying items from shipping containers, like totes, by inverting them onto a conveyor belt for scanning and sorting into customer orders.
Original patent title: “Systems and methods to enhance the utilization of order sortation systems”
This patent describes an automated system for quickly emptying items from shipping containers, like totes, by inverting them onto a conveyor belt for scanning and sorting into customer orders. Granted to Target Brands in 2023 with 22 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2041.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent outlines a system and method for efficiently processing items from containers in a warehouse. It involves an incoming conveyor that brings a container, like a tote, to a container handling system. This system then uses a pusher mechanism to slide the container to an inversion mechanism, which grasps and flips the container to dump its contents onto an item conveyor system. As the items travel on this conveyor, a barcode scanner identifies them. Finally, an automated item sorter separates these items into groups based on specific customer orders, while the now-empty container is moved away on an outgoing conveyor. For example, a tote filled with various products for different online orders would be automatically emptied, scanned, and its contents sorted for packing.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover manual unloading of containers by human workers.
- Does not cover systems that pick individual items from a container without inverting the entire container.
- Does not cover sorting systems that do not include a barcode scanner to identify items.
- Does not cover systems where the empty container is not automatically transported away on an outgoing conveyor.
- Does not cover systems that use methods other than inversion to transfer items from a container to a conveyor, such as scooping or vacuuming.
- Does not cover sorting items without an 'automated item sorter' as specified in the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is the integrated automation of container handling, specifically the precise inversion of a container to transfer its contents directly onto an item conveyor for immediate scanning and sorting, streamlining a traditionally manual or semi-manual process.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Target fulfillment centers
Amazon warehouses
Walmart distribution centers
Large e-commerce logistics operations
Automated parcel sorting hubs
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses the critical need for speed and efficiency in modern order fulfillment, especially with the growth of e-commerce. By automating the process of emptying containers and feeding items into a sorting system, it helps companies like Target reduce labor costs and process orders faster. This efficiency can lead to quicker delivery times for customers and more cost-effective operations for retailers.
Filed
August 5, 2021
Granted
May 16, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Target Brands, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively implementing and refining such systems within its own supply chain and fulfillment centers. Other major retailers and e-commerce giants like Amazon and Walmart, along with logistics automation companies such as Dematic, Honeywell Intelligrated, and Knapp AG, are continuously developing and deploying similar automated solutions to enhance warehouse efficiency.
Market impact
This type of automation has a significant impact on the logistics and retail market by enabling faster, more accurate, and less labor-intensive order fulfillment. It allows companies to scale their operations to meet increasing e-commerce demand, reduce operational costs, and offer competitive shipping speeds. This technology helps set new benchmarks for efficiency in warehouse management and order processing.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent outlines a system and method for efficiently processing items from containers in a warehouse. It involves an incoming conveyor that brings a container, like a tote, to a container handling system. This system then uses a pusher mechanism to slide the container to an inversion mechanism, which grasps and flips the container to dump its contents onto an item conveyor system. As the items travel on this conveyor, a barcode scanner identifies them. Finally, an automated item sorter separates these items into groups based on specific customer orders, while the now-empty container is moved away on an outgoing conveyor. For example, a tote filled with various products for different online orders would be automatically emptied, scanned, and its contents sorted for packing.
The clever bit
The clever bit is the integrated automation of container handling, specifically the precise inversion of a container to transfer its contents directly onto an item conveyor for immediate scanning and sorting, streamlining a traditionally manual or semi-manual process.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover manual unloading of containers by human workers.
- Does not cover systems that pick individual items from a container without inverting the entire container.
- Does not cover sorting systems that do not include a barcode scanner to identify items.
- Does not cover systems where the empty container is not automatically transported away on an outgoing conveyor.
- Does not cover systems that use methods other than inversion to transfer items from a container to a conveyor, such as scooping or vacuuming.
- Does not cover sorting items without an 'automated item sorter' as specified in the claims.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$42K – $135K
Midpoint $84K · 14.9 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Marsh, T., Mutarelli, G., & Feider, J. (2023). Automated System for Emptying and Sorting Items from Shipping Containers (U.S. Patent No. 11,648,589). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11648589/systems-and-methods-to-enhance-the-utilization-of-order-sortation-systems
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Automated System for Emptying and Sorting Items from Shipping Containers cover?
This patent describes an automated system for quickly emptying items from shipping containers, like totes, by inverting them onto a conveyor belt for scanning and sorting into customer orders.
Who owns patent US 11648589?
Target Brands owns this patent, granted in 2023.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 5, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11648589 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses the critical need for speed and efficiency in modern order fulfillment, especially with the growth of e-commerce. By automating the process of emptying containers and feeding items into a sorting system, it helps companies like Target reduce labor costs and process orders faster. This efficiency can lead to quicker delivery times for customers and more cost-effective operations for retailers.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover manual unloading of containers by human workers.
Same assignee
More from Target Brands
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