Systems and methods for limiting induction of objects to one or more object processing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11301654-B2
Application number	US-202016737202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2020
Priority date	Apr 18, 2017
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

An induction system for filtering the induction of objects to an object processing system is disclosed. The induction system includes an evaluation means for evaluating at least one characteristic of an object, and a routing system for routing the object in one of a plurality of directions responsive to the evaluated characteristic, at least one of the plurality of directions leading to the object processing system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An induction system for filtering the induction of objects to an object processing system, said induction system comprising:
an evaluation means for evaluating at least one characteristic of an object;
a processing station for processing non-rigid objects; and
routing means for routing the object in one of a plurality of directions responsive to the evaluated characteristic, at least one of the plurality of directions includes a path that leads to the processing station for processing non-rigid objects.

2. The induction system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the evaluation means determines any of a weight, mass, volume or density of the object.

3. The induction system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the evaluation means includes at least one load cell or torque force sensor.

4. The induction system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the at least one load cell or force torque sensor is provided in a conveyor system.

5. The induction system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the evaluation means includes an elevated roller.

6. The induction system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the elevated roller is adapted to rotate faster than a transport conveyance system preceding the elevated roller.

7. The induction system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the elevated roller is mounted on one of a load cell or a force torque sensor.

8. The induction system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the routing means applies any of a vacuum and forced air to move the object.

9. The induction system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the routing means includes a drop mechanism for dropping the object through doors.

10. The induction system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the routing means includes a three-way conveyor for moving the object in one of three selectable directions.

11. The induction system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of directions lead to a plurality of object processing stations.

12. The induction system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the plurality of object processing stations include automated object processing stations and manual object processing stations.

13. The induction system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the plurality of object processing stations include automated object processing stations and manual object processing stations.

14. An induction system for filtering the induction of objects to an object processing system, said induction system comprising:
a processing station for processing non-rigid objects; and
discrimination means for routing the object in one of a plurality of directions responsive to a discriminating characteristic of the object, at least one of the plurality of directions includes a path that leads to the processing station for processing non-rigid objects.

15. The induction system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the discrimination means determines any of a weight, mass, volume or density of the object.

16. The induction system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the discrimination means includes at least one load cell.

17. The induction system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the at least one load cell is provided in a conveyor system.

18. The induction system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the discrimination means applies any of a vacuum and forced air to move the object.

19. The induction system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the discrimination means includes a drop mechanism for dropping the object through doors.

20. The induction system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the discrimination means includes a three-way conveyor for moving the object in one of three selectable directions.

21. The induction system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the plurality of directions lead to a plurality of object processing stations.

22. The induction system as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the plurality of object processing stations include automated object processing stations and manual object processing stations.

23. The induction system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the discrimination means includes an air-permeable conveyor and a vacuum source for providing vacuum through the conveyor as the conveyor reverses direction.

24. A method of limiting induction of objects to an object processing system, said method comprising:
evaluating at least one characteristic of an object; and
routing the object in one of a plurality of directions responsive to the evaluated characteristic, at least one of the plurality of directions including a path that leads to a processing station for processing non-rigid objects.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein evaluating the at least one characteristic of the object includes determining any of a weight, mass, volume or density of the object.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25 , wherein evaluating the at least one characteristic of the object includes determining any of a weight, mass, volume or density of the object using at least one load cell.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the at least one load cell is provided in a conveyor system.

28. The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the routing of the object includes applying any of a vacuum and forced air to move the object.

29. The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the routing of the object includes dropping the object through doors.

30. The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the routing of the object includes using a three-way conveyor for moving the object in one of three selectable directions.

31. The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the plurality of directions lead to a plurality of object processing stations.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31 , wherein the plurality of object processing stations include automated object processing stations and manual object processing stations.

33. An induction system for filtering the induction of objects to an object processing system, said induction system comprising:
evaluation means for evaluating at least one characteristic of an object, wherein the evaluation means includes an elevated roller; and
routing means for routing the object in one of a plurality of directions responsive to the evaluated characteristic, at least one of the plurality of directions leading to the object processing system.

34. The induction system as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the elevated roller determines any of a weight, mass, volume or density of the object.

35. The induction system as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the elevated roller is adapted to rotate faster than a transport conveyance system preceding the elevated roller.

36. The induction system as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the elevated roller is mounted on one of a load cell or a force torque sensor.

37. The induction system as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the plurality of directions includes a path that leads to a processing station for processing non-rigid objects.

38. The induction system as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the routing means applies any of a vacuum and forced air to move the object.

39. The induction system as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the routing means includes a drop mechanism for dropping the object through doors.

40

Assignees

• Berkshire Grey Operating Company 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

• B07C5/36 Primary

  Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution {(sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02)} · CPC title

• B65G47/46

  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points (in tube mail systems B65G51/36) · 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

• B65G47/48

  according to bodily destination marks on either articles or load-carriers · CPC title

• G06K7/10693 Primary

  for omnidirectional scanning · CPC title