Systems and methods for processing objects provided in vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10618745-B2
Application number	US-201715835764-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2017
Priority date	Dec 9, 2016
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

An object processing system is disclosed for unloading objects from a trailer of a tractor trailer. The object processing system includes an engagement system including a truck entry portion for entering the trailer and for indiscriminately engaging unidentified objects within the trailer, and a conveyance system for conveying objects engaged by the engagement system toward an unloading portion of the trailer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An object processing system for unloading objects from a trailer of a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:
an engagement system including a truck entry portion for entering the trailer and for indiscriminately engaging unidentified objects within the trailer; and
a conveyance system including a cleated conveyor for conveying objects engaged by the engagement system toward an unloading portion of the trailer, wherein the engagement system includes a portion of the cleated conveyor.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cleated conveyor engages the unidentified objects within the trailer.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the conveyance system includes a further non-cleated conveyor.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the conveyance system includes a chute.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the engagement system includes a wheeled structure that moves into the trailer, the wheeled structure supporting the cleated conveyor.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system further includes at least one perception unit.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the perception unit is a camera.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the unloading portion of the trailer is at the rear portion of the trailer.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system further includes a further conveyance system for transporting the objects toward a distribution location.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the distribution location includes at least one bin.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the distribution location includes at least one chute.

12. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the distribution location includes an object processing system within a further trailer.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the conveyance system includes a further conveyor that provides the objects to the further trailer.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the object processing system provides a plurality of output stations within the further trailer where processed objects are provided.

15. An object processing system for unloading objects from a trailer of a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:
an engagement system including a truck entry portion for entering the trailer and a cleated conveyor for indiscriminately engaging unidentified objects within the trailer; and
a conveyance system receiving objects from the cleated conveyor and for conveying objects engaged by the engagement system toward an unloading portion of the trailer.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the conveyance system includes a further non-cleated conveyor.

17. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the conveyance system includes a chute.

18. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the engagement system includes a wheeled structure that moves into the trailer, the wheeled structure supporting the cleated conveyor.

19. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the system further includes at least one perception unit.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the perception unit is a camera.

21. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the unloading portion of the trailer is at the rear portion of the trailer.

22. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the system further includes a further conveyance system for transporting the objects toward a distribution location.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the distribution location includes at least one bin.

24. The system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the distribution location includes at least one chute.

25. The system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the distribution location includes an object processing system within a further trailer.

26. The system as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the conveying system includes a further conveyor that provides the objects to the further trailer.

27. The system as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the object processing system provides a plurality of output stations within the further trailer where processed objects are provided.

28. An object processing system for unloading objects from a trailer of a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:
an engagement system including a truck entry portion for entering the trailer and for indiscriminately engaging unidentified objects within the trailer;
a unloading conveyance system for conveying objects engaged by the engagement system toward an unloading portion of the trailer; and
a processing conveyance system for transporting objects to an object processing system within a further trailer, wherein said object processing system provides a plurality of output stations where processed objects are provided.

29. The system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the engagement system includes a portion of a conveyor.

30. The system as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the conveyor is a cleated conveyor.

31. The system as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the unloading conveyance system includes a further portion of the conveyor.

32. The system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the unloading conveyance system includes a chute.

33. The system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the engagement system includes a wheeled structure that moves into the trailer, the wheeled structure supporting the unloading conveyance system.

34. The system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the system further includes at least one perception unit.

35. The system as claimed in claim 34 , wherein the perception unit is a camera.

36. An object processing system for unloading objects from a trailer of a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:
an engagement system including a truck entry portion for entering the trailer and for indiscriminately engaging unidentified objects within the trailer;
a unloading conveyance system for conveying objects engaged by the engagement system toward an unloading portion of the trailer; and
a processing conveyance system for transporting objects to an object processing system within a further trailer, wherein said object processing system provides a plurality of processing stations where, at each of which, processed objects are provided to any of a plurality of destination locations.

37. The system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the engagement system includes a portion of a conveyor.

38. The system as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the conveyor is a cleated conveyor.

39. The system as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the unloading conveyance system includes a further portion of the conveyor.

40. The system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the unloading conveyance system includes a chute.

41. The system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the engagement system includes a wheeled structure that moves into the trailer, the wheeled structure supporting the unloading conveyance system.

42. The system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the system further includes at least one perception unit.

43. The system as claimed in claim 42 , wherein t

Assignees

• Berkshire Grey Inc

Inventors

• Wagner Thomas
• Ahearn Kevin
• Cohen Benjamin
• DAWSON-HAGGERTY Michael
• GEYER Christopher
• Koletschka Thomas
• MARONEY Kyle
• Mason Matthew T
• Price Gene Temple
• Romano Joseph
• Smith Daniel
• SRINIVASA Siddhartha
• Velagapudi Prasanna
• Allen Thomas

Classifications

• B65G2201/0285

  Postal items, e.g. letters, parcels · CPC title

• B65G47/12

  from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles · CPC title

• B65G47/493 Primary

  by use of light responsive means · CPC title

• B65G65/06 Primary

  with endless scraping or elevating pick-up conveyors · CPC title

• B65G67/24

  Unloading land vehicles · CPC title