Systems and methods for separating objects using drop conveyors with one or more object processing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11200390-B2
Application number	US-202016737215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2020
Priority date	Apr 18, 2017
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

A distribution system is disclosed for use with an induction system with an object processing system. The distribution system provides distribution of dissimilar objects into one of a plurality of receiving units. The distribution system includes an urging system for urging an object on a conveyor from the conveyor to a chute that includes at least one actuatable door for selectively dropping the object through the at least one actuable door, said chute leading to a first receiving station with a second receiving station being positioned below the at least one actuable door.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A distribution system for providing dissimilar objects into one of a plurality of receiving stations, said distribution system comprising an urging system for urging an object on conveyor from the conveyor to a chute that includes at least one actuatable door for selectively dropping the object through the at least one actuable door, said chute leading to a first receiving station with a second receiving station being positioned below the at least one actuable door, wherein the urging system includes an air intake system that provides a negative air flow to urge the object from the conveyor to the chute.

2. The distribution system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the urging system further includes a forced air system that opposes the air intake system and directs a positive air flow at the object to urge the object from the conveyor to the chute.

3. The distribution system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuatable door is provided as pair of doors that are opened to drop the object therethrough.

4. The distribution system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first receiving station includes a conveyor and the second receiving station includes a mobile carrier.

5. The distribution system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the mobile carrier is remotely controlled to move along a floor surface guided by an array of raised rectangular-shaped track segments spaced apart on the floor surface.

6. The distribution system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first receiving station is a first output conveyor and the second receiving station is a second output conveyor.

7. The distribution system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a second chute that opposes the chute on an opposite side of the conveyor, wherein the second chute leads to a third receiving station.

8. The distribution system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the third receiving station includes any of an output conveyor and a mobile carrier.

9. A distribution system in an induction system for use with an object processing system, said distribution system for providing dissimilar objects into one of a plurality of receiving units, said distribution system comprising an urging system for urging an object from an input conveyor to one of a first chute and a second chute positioned on opposite sides of the input conveyor, the first chute leading to a first receiving station, the second chute leading to a second receiving station, wherein at least one of the first chute and the second chute includes two actuatable doors that are selectively opened to drop the object onto a third receiving station positioned below the two actuatable doors,
wherein the urging system includes a first source and a second source positioned on opposite sides of the input conveyor, wherein the first source generates a vacuum and the second source generates a forced air flow to urge the object in one direction from the input conveyor to the first chute, and wherein the first source generates a forced air flow and the second source generates a vacuum to urge the object in an opposite direction from the input conveyor to the second chute.

10. The distribution system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the two actuatable doors are selectively opened based on a detected mass of the object.

11. The distribution system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first receiving station includes a conveyor, the second receiving station includes a mobile carrier, and the third receiving station is a conveyor.

12. The distribution system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the mobile carrier is remotely controlled to move along a floor surface guided by an array of raised rectangular-shaped track segments spaced apart on the floor surface.

13. The distribution system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the input conveyor includes an air-permeable conveyor section, and the distribution system further comprises a third source that directs a force air flow in an upward direction at the object through the air-permeable conveyor section.

14. A method of distributing objects, comprising:
moving a plurality of dissimilar objects on a conveyor;
urging an object from the conveyor to a chute on one side of the conveyor by providing a negative air flow at the object, wherein the chute leads to a first receiving station and includes at least one actuatable door positioned above a second receiving station;
dropping the object from the conveyor to the chute; and
selectively opening the at least one actuatable door to drop the object from the chute toward the second receiving station that is positioned below the at least one actuable door.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein urging an object from the conveyor to a chute further includes directing a positive air flow at the object to urge the object from the conveyor to the chute.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the at least one actuatable door is provided as pair of doors that are opened to drop the object therethrough.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the chute leads to one of a plurality of adjacent receiving stations.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first receiving station includes a conveyor and a second receiving station includes a mobile carrier.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the mobile carrier is adapted to move among a plurality of tracks in the object processing system.

20. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first receiving station is a first output conveyor and the second receiving station is a second output conveyor.

21. The method as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising a second chute that opposes the chute on an opposite side of the conveyor, wherein the second chute leads to a third receiving station.

Assignees

• Berkshire Grey Inc

Inventors

• Wagner Thomas
• Mason Matthew T
• GEYER Christopher
• Amend Jr John Richard
• MARONEY Kyle
• Romano Joseph
• Hinchey Victoria
• Kittredge Jeffrey
• Gauthier Andrew
• Kumar Lakshman
• Velagapudi Prasanna

Classifications

• B65G47/18

  Arrangements or applications of hoppers or chutes · 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

• G06K7/10693 Primary

  for omnidirectional scanning · CPC title

• B65G2203/041

  Camera · CPC title

• B65G25/04

  the carrier or impeller having identical forward and return paths of movement, e.g. reciprocating conveyors · CPC title