Automated package transport vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10934093-B2
Application number	US-201816189853-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2018
Priority date	Nov 14, 2017
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

Embodiments provide shelves, bracket systems, automated picker robots, totes, and other features that may be used with delivery vehicle configurations that have automated cargo areas. A delivery vehicle may include a picking robot that selectively retrieves packages for delivery without requiring substantial human intervention for locating those packages. The cargo area of the delivery vehicle may further comprise a plurality of customizable shelving units that generate custom-sized shelves for packages. The shelves may include a plurality of individually movable shelf brackets having retaining members that pivot between an extended and retracted position to hold the package in place and to enable the picking robot to retrieve the package from the shelf. Another embodiment provides for a tote having a drive mechanism to hold letters so that a letter may be automatically retrieved from the cargo area and provided at a delivery location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shelf bracket comprising:
a support rail extending linearly from a support rail base end to a support rail distal end, the support rail having a planar top surface and at least one bottom surface, wherein the at least one bottom surface is comprised of a left planar bottom surface, a right planar bottom surface, and a central bottom surface; wherein the left planar bottom surface and the right planar bottom surface are separated by the central bottom surface which has a depth greater than the left planar bottom surface and the right planar bottom surface;
a channel defined by the planar top surface and extending along at least a portion of the support rail; and
a plurality of retaining members, each retaining member having a retaining member base end and a retaining member distal end, and each retaining member pivotably secured within the channel at each retaining member base end, respectively, wherein each retaining member pivots from an extended position where a corresponding retaining member distal end extends above the planar top surface to a retracted position where the corresponding retaining member distal end is nested within the channel.

2. The shelf bracket of claim 1 , further comprising:
a base plate proximate the support rail base end, the support rail extending linearly from the base plate; and
an engagement feature extending from the base plate.

3. The shelf bracket of claim 2 , wherein the engagement feature comprises:
a first portion perpendicular to the base plate and extending away from the base plate opposite the support rail distal end; and
a second portion parallel to the base plate, the second portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the second portion is joined to the base plate between the first end and the second end.

4. The shelf bracket of claim 1 , wherein the planar top surface includes a first planar surface and a second planar surface, the first planar surface having a first edge that defines a first side of the channel, the second planar surface having a second edge that defines a second side of the channel.

5. The shelf bracket of claim 4 , wherein the channel further comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall extending downwardly from the first edge of the first planar surface, and the second sidewall extending downwardly from the second edge of the second planar surface.

6. The shelf bracket of claim 1 , wherein each retaining member further comprises a pin at the retaining member base end, and wherein the pin is at least one of:
integrally formed from the retaining member; and a component secured to the retaining member.

7. The shelf bracket of claim 6 , wherein each retaining member is pivotably secured at a first sidewall of the channel and at a second sidewall of the channel by the pin.

8. The shelf bracket of claim 1 , wherein each retaining member is pivotably secured within the channel at a channel location that is spaced apart from the planar top surface by a distance.

9. The shelf bracket of claim 1 , wherein each retaining member is pivotable by at least 90 degrees from the extended position to the retracted position.

10. The shelf bracket of claim 1 , wherein each retaining member further comprises a biasing member that applies a biasing force about a pivot axis to bias each retaining member toward the extended position.

11. A shelf comprising:
a plurality of shelf brackets, each shelf bracket comprising:
a support rail extending linearly from a support rail base end to a support rail distal end, the support rail having a planar top surface and at least one bottom surface, wherein the at least one bottom surface is comprised of a left planar bottom surface, a right planar bottom surface, and a central bottom surface; wherein the left planar bottom surface and the right planar bottom surface are separated by the central bottom surface which has a depth greater than the left planar bottom surface and the right planar bottom surface;
a channel defined by the planar top surface and extending along at least a portion of the support rail; and
a plurality of retaining members, each retaining member having a retaining member base end and a retaining member distal end, and each retaining member pivotably secured within the channel at each retaining member base end, respectively, wherein each retaining member pivots from an extended position where a corresponding retaining member distal end extends above the planar top surface to a retracted position where the corresponding retaining member distal end is nested within the channel.

12. The shelf of claim 11 , wherein each shelf bracket of the plurality of shelf brackets further comprises an engagement feature, each engagement feature proximate each support rail base end, respectively.

13. The shelf of claim 12 , wherein each shelf bracket further comprises a base plate proximate each support rail base end, respectively, each support rail extending linearly from each base plate, respectively, and wherein each engagement feature comprises:
a first portion perpendicular to the respective base plate and extending away from the respective base plate opposite the respective support rail distal end; and
a second portion parallel to the respective base plate, the second portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the second portion is joined to the respective base plate between the first end and the second end.

14. The shelf of claim 12 , further comprising:
a plurality of vertical bracket supports, the plurality of vertical bracket supports comprising a first vertical bracket support and a second vertical bracket support; and
the plurality of shelf brackets comprising a first shelf bracket having a first engagement feature and a second shelf bracket having a second engagement feature, wherein the first engagement feature is movably secured to the first vertical bracket support and the second engagement feature is movably secured to the second vertical bracket support.

15. The shelf of claim 14 , wherein the first shelf bracket is vertically movable about the first vertical bracket support and the second shelf bracket is vertically movable about the second vertical bracket support.

16. The shelf of claim 15 , wherein the first shelf bracket is individually movable relative to the second shelf bracket.

17. A method of loading a package onto a shelf, the method comprising:
placing a package onto a shelf, the shelf having a plurality of horizontally aligned shelf brackets, each shelf bracket comprising:
a support rail extending linearly from a support rail base end to a support rail distal end, the support rail having a planar top surface and at least one bottom surface, wherein the at least one bottom surface is comprised of a left planar bottom surface, a right planar bottom surface, and a central bottom surface; wherein the left planar bottom surface and the right planar bottom surface are separated by the central bottom surface which has a depth greater than the left planar bottom surface and the right planar bottom surface;
a channel defined by the planar top surface and extending along at least a portion of the support rail; and
a plurality of retaining members, each retaining member having a retaining member base end and a retaining member distal end, and each retaining member pivotably secured within the channel at each retaining member base end, respectively, wherein each retaining member pivots from an extended position where a corresponding retaining member distal end extends above the planar top surface to

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Gil Julio

Classifications

• B60P7/0892 Primary

  by preventing lateral movement of the load, e.g. using stop blocks · CPC title

• B25J18/02

  extensible · CPC title

• B60P1/64

  the load supporting or containing element being readily removable ({B60P1/48 takes precedence}; caravan, camping, or the like vehicles characterised by living accommodation in the form of a removable body supported by the vehicle unit {B60P3/34}) · CPC title

• B25J9/1682 Primary

  Dual arm manipulator; Coordination of several manipulators · CPC title

• B65G1/14 Primary

  Stack holders or separators · CPC title