Systems and methods for processing objects including space efficient distribution stations and automated output processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10796116-B2
Application number	US-201916543105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2019
Priority date	Apr 18, 2017
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A space efficient automated processing system for processing objects is disclosed. The processing system includes an input conveyance system for moving objects from an input area in at least an input conveyance vector that includes an input conveyance horizontal direction component and an input conveyance vertical direction component, a perception system for receiving objects from the input conveyance system and for providing perception data regarding an object, a primary transport system for receiving the object from the perception system and for providing transport of the object along at least a primary transport vector including an primary transport horizontal component and a primary transport vertical component that is generally opposite the input conveyance horizontal direction component, and at least two secondary transport systems, each of which receives the object from the primary transport system and moves the object in either of reciprocal directions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A space efficient automated processing system for processing objects, said processing system comprising:
an input conveyance system for moving objects from an input area in at least an input conveyance vector that includes an input conveyance horizontal direction component and an input conveyance vertically upward direction component;
a perception system for receiving objects from the input conveyance system and for providing perception data regarding an object in a perception vector that includes a vertically downward direction component;
a primary transport system for receiving the object from the perception system and for providing transport of the object along at least a primary transport vector including a primary transport horizontal direction component and a primary transport vertically upward direction component; and
at least two secondary transport systems, each of which is adapted to receive the object from the primary transport system along a path that includes a vertically downward direction component.

2. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system includes a third secondary transport system that is adapted to receive the object from the primary transport system along a further path that includes a vertically downward direction component.

3. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system includes a diverter for selectively causing the object to be returned from the primary transport system to the input area.

4. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the diverter selectively causes the object to be returned from the primary transport system to the input area along a return path that includes a vertically downward direction component.

5. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each secondary transport system includes a reciprocating carriage.

6. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein each reciprocating carriage of each secondary transport system is configured to deliver the object to one of plurality of destination stations.

7. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the plurality of destination stations associated with each of the secondary transport systems is provided as two rows of bins or boxes on either side of the each secondary transport system.

8. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of bins or boxes is provided on a bin or box input conveyor.

9. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein each input conveyor is gravity biased to urge the plurality of bins or boxes on the bin or box input conveyor to one side of the bin or box input conveyor.

10. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the system includes a plurality of bin or box output conveyors, as well as at least one bin displacement system for selectively urging a bin or box of the plurality of bins or boxes onto one of the plurality of bin or box output conveyors.

11. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein each bin or box output conveyor is gravity biased to urge the bin or box on the bin or box output conveyor to one side of the bin or box output conveyor.

12. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein each of the bins or boxes includes a collection bag.

13. The space efficient automated processing system as claimed in claim 1 , where the primary transport system includes a cleated conveyor, and wherein the system further includes a primary transport system perception unit for monitoring a status of each of a plurality of areas of the cleated conveyor that are defined by cleats on the cleated conveyor.

14. A method for providing space efficient automated processing of objects, said method comprising the steps of:
conveying objects on an input conveyance system from an input area in at least an input conveyance vector that includes an input conveyance horizontal direction component and an input conveyance vertically upward direction component;
receiving objects from the input conveyance system and providing perception data regarding an object responsive to the object falling in a perception system vertical direction that includes a vertically downward direction component;
transporting objects received from the perception system using a primary transport system along at least a primary transport vector including a primary transport horizontal direction component and a primary transport vertically upward direction component; and
receiving the object from the primary transport system along a path that includes a vertically downward direction component.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the method further includes the step of selectively causing the object to be returned from the primary transport system to the input area.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of selectively causing the object to be returned from the primary transport system to the input area includes moving the object along a return path that includes a vertically downward direction component.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of receiving the object from the primary transport system includes receiving the object in a reciprocating carriage.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the method further includes the step of delivering the object to one of plurality of bins or boxes.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the plurality of bins or boxes is provided as two rows of bins or boxes on either side of a secondary transport system that performs the steps of receiving the object from the primary transport system, and moving the object in the direction that is each generally parallel with the input conveyance horizontal direction component and the primary direction horizontal direction component.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of bins or boxes is provided on a bin or box input conveyor.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein each bin or box input conveyor is gravity biased to urge the plurality of bins or boxes on the bin or box input conveyor to one side of the bin or box input conveyor.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the method further includes the step of providing a plurality of bin or box output conveyors, as well as at the step of selectively urging a bin or box of the plurality of bins onto one of the plurality of bin or box output conveyors.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22 , wherein each output conveyor is gravity biased to urge the bin or box on the bin or box output conveyor to one side of the bin or box output conveyor.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein each of the bins or boxes includes a collection bag.

25. The method as claimed in claim 14 , where the primary transport system includes a cleated conveyor, and wherein the method further includes a primary transport system perception unit for monitoring a status of each of a plurality of areas of the cleated conveyor that are defined by cleats on the cleated conveyor.

26. An automated processing system for processing objects, said automated processing system co

Assignees

• Berkshire Grey Inc

Inventors

• Wagner Thomas
• Ahearn Kevin
• Amend Jr John Richard
• Cohen Benjamin
• DAWSON-HAGGERTY Michael
• Fort William Hartman
• GEYER Christopher
• Hinchey Victoria
• King Jennifer Eileen
• Koletschka Thomas
• Koval Michael Cap
• MARONEY Kyle
• Mason Matthew T
• McMahan William Chu-Hyon
• Price Gene Temple
• Romano Joseph
• Smith Daniel
• SRINIVASA Siddhartha
• Velagapudi Prasanna
• Allen Thomas

Classifications

• B65G1/1373

  for fulfilling orders in warehouses · CPC title

• B65G1/0485 Primary

  Check-in, check-out devices · CPC title

• B07C5/3412

  according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication (sorting according to size measured by light-responsive means B07C5/10; sorting according to optical properties B07C5/342; for packages B65D79/02; for information carriers G06K7/00) · CPC title

• B07C5/362

  Separating or distributor mechanisms (switches for postal sorting B07C3/065; particular discharging devices for B65G47/74) · CPC title

• B65G1/1378 Primary

  the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas · CPC title