Package sorting systems and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11724633-B2
Application number	US-202117323820-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2021
Priority date	May 18, 2021
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

Package sorting systems and methods of use are disclosed herein. An example system includes a platform of a vehicle, where the platform is arranged as a grid having a plurality of slots (including an open slot and a target slot). A plurality of slabs can be placed into the grid except for in the open slot. A slab moving assembly is used to move the slabs in order to place a selected slab into the target slot on the platform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a platform of a vehicle, the platform being arranged as a grid having a plurality of slots comprising at least an open slot and a target slot, wherein the target slot is located proximate to a target location of the vehicle, the target location comprising an external access point of the vehicle;
a plurality of slabs placed into the grid except for in the open slot, wherein each slab of the plurality of slabs comprises a substantially flat base having a base surface oriented parallel to the platform and configured to receive a package directly atop the base surface;
a slab moving assembly comprising:
a pair of frame rails laterally disposed on opposing sides of the platform;
a cross-member extending perpendicularly between the pair of frame rails, the cross-member being configured to translate along the pair of frame rails; and
a carrier head coupled to the cross-member, the carrier head capable of translating along the cross-member, the carrier head having a slab interface for selectively coupling with a selected slab of the plurality of slabs; and

a controller comprising a processor and memory, the processor executing instructions stored in the memory to:
determine the selected slab to move to the target slot on the platform;
determine a repositioning schema for rearranging at least a portion of the plurality of slabs so that the selected slab is located proximate to the target slot of the plurality of slots; and
cause the slab moving assembly to reposition one or more of the plurality of slabs in accordance with the repositioning schema to place the selected slab proximate to the target slot on the platform.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is disposed within a cargo area of the vehicle, the cargo area comprising at least one of a side door or a rear door.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the target slot is located proximate to the side door or the rear door.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the slab interface magnetically engages with the selected slab.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the slab interface mechanically engages with the selected slab.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each slab of the plurality of slabs further comprises one or more rolling members that allow for translation across an upper surface of the platform.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the package which the substantially flat base of each slab is configured to receive is associated with a delivery address.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the processor executes the instructions to determine a next delivery address that comprises the delivery address, wherein the repositioning of the one or more of the plurality of slabs occurs as the vehicle drives to the next delivery address.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each slab of the plurality of slabs further comprises one or more retention elements configured to restrict movement of the package to the base surface, the one or more retention elements comprising one or more ribs or flanges.

10. A system, comprising:
a platform of a vehicle having a plurality of slabs placed into a grid configuration, each slab of the plurality of slabs being configured to translate along an upper surface of the platform and comprising a substantially flat base having a base surface oriented parallel to the platform and configured to receive a package directly atop the base surface;
a slab moving assembly comprising:
a pair of frame rails laterally disposed on opposing sides of the platform;
a cross-member extending perpendicularly between the pair of frame rails, the cross-member being configured to translate along the pair of frame rails; and
a carrier head coupled to the cross-member, the carrier head capable of translating along the cross-member, the carrier head having a slab interface for selectively coupling with a selected slab; and

a controller comprising a processor and memory, the processor executing instructions stored in the memory to:
determine a repositioning schema for rearranging the plurality of slabs so that the selected slab is located proximate to a target slot of a plurality of slots, wherein the target slot is located proximate to a target location of the vehicle, the target location comprising an external access point of the vehicle; and
cause the slab moving assembly to reposition the plurality of slabs in accordance with the repositioning schema to place the selected slab at the target slot on the platform.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein each slab of the plurality of slabs is configured to translate in each of two linear directions.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the system is disposed within a cargo area of the vehicle, the cargo area having at least one of a side door or a rear door.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the target slot is located proximate to the side door or the rear door.

14. A method comprising:
determining a package to be delivered to a delivery address, the package being located on a selected slab of a plurality of slabs arranged onto a platform of a vehicle in a plurality of slots, wherein each slab of the plurality of slabs comprises a substantially flat base having a base surface oriented parallel to the platform and configured to receive the package directly atop the base surface;
determining a repositioning schema for rearranging the plurality of slabs so that the selected slab is located proximate to a target slot of the plurality of slots, wherein the target slot is located proximate to a target location of the vehicle, the target location comprising an external access point of the vehicle; and
causing a slab moving assembly to reposition one or more of the plurality of slabs in accordance with the repositioning schema to place the selected slab at the target slot on the platform;
activating a carrier head of the slab moving assembly to engage with the one or more of the plurality of slabs;
causing the carrier head to translate along a cross-member; and
causing the cross-member to translate along a pair of frame rails laterally disposed on opposing sides of the platform.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the repositioning of the one or more of the plurality of slabs occurs as the vehicle drives to a next delivery address that comprises the delivery address of the package.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Perez Marcos
• Mondragon David
• Jimenez Juan Pablo
• Martinez Victoria Marco A
• Vicencio Rodrigo
• Cortina Jose Adan

Classifications

• G06Q50/40

  Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083) · CPC title

• G06Q10/08

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title

• B60P3/007 Primary

  for delivery of small articles, e.g. milk, frozen articles · CPC title

• B60P1/52

  using rollers in the load-transporting element · CPC title

• B60P1/649

  Guiding means for the load-transporting element · CPC title