Unloading system and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12157647-B2
Application number	US-202117392537-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2021
Priority date	Aug 4, 2020
Publication date	Dec 3, 2024
Grant date	Dec 3, 2024

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to unloading system and methods of using the same. In various embodiments, an unloading system comprises a trailer bed configured to receive a container thereon, wherein the trailer bed comprises one or more joints configurable between a plurality of joint positions, wherein the trailer bed is configured to lift, tilt, and oscillate at least a portion of the container based on the joints; and an extendable conveyor configured to receive a box that has been released from the container and convey the box away from the trailer bed. Various embodiments are directed to a method comprising tilting the container such that an open end of the container is lower than a closed end of the container, wherein the open end of the container is proximate to an extendable conveyor; and oscillating the container to facilitate release of a box from the container onto the extendable conveyor.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. An unloading system, comprising:
a trailer bed configured to receive a container thereon, wherein the trailer bed comprises one or more joints configurable between a plurality of joint positions, wherein the trailer bed is configured to at least one of lift, tilt, or oscillate at least a portion of the container based at least in part on the one or more joints;
an extendable conveyor configured to receive a box that has been released from the container and convey the box away from the trailer bed; and
a closed loop feedback system that optimizes a frequency of a tilt process comprising a repeated forward and a backward motion of the trailer bed to release at least one box from the container.

2. The unloading system of claim 1 , wherein the extendable conveyor comprises a slide and a conveyor, wherein the slide receives the box that has been released from the container, and the conveyor receives the box from the slide and conveys the box away from the trailer bed.

3. The unloading system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more joints comprise a telescoping joint.

4. The unloading system of claim 1 , wherein the container is oscillated at least one of laterally, vertically, and rotationally.

5. The unloading system of claim 1 , wherein the closed loop feedback system further optimizes the lifting, and oscillating of the container to improve trailer unloading.

6. The unloading system of claim 5 , wherein the closed loop feedback system comprises a set of sensors that measure container volume and box throughput.

7. The unloading system of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the set of sensors is installed at the trailer bed.

8. The unloading system of claim 1 , wherein the trailer bed comprises a set of multi-axial wheels to maneuver the trailer bed.

9. The unloading system of claim 8 , wherein the set of multi-axial wheels are configured to maneuver the trailer bed in a lateral direction from a first lateral position to a second lateral position.

10. The unloading system of claim 1 , wherein the trailer bed comprises a flood gate that can be at least partially opened to release the box from the container.

11. The unloading system of claim 10 , wherein at least partially opening the flood gate of the trailer bed comprises lowering at least a portion of the flood gate.

12. The unloading system of claim 10 , wherein the extendable conveyor comprises a platform that can be selectively positioned based at least in part on a height of a top of the flood gate to reduce a distance that the box falls.

13. The unloading system of claim 12 , wherein selectively positioning the platform comprises one or both of raising and lowering the platform to match the height of the top of the flood gate.

14. The unloading system of claim 1 , wherein the container is tilted at least one of laterally and vertically.

15. The unloading system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the extendable conveyor is selectively configurable between a plurality of longitudinal conveyor positions based at least in part on a length of the container.

16. The unloading system of claim 1 , wherein the trailer bed further comprises at least one locking mechanism configured to secure at least a portion of the container relative to the trailer bed.

17. A method comprising:
repeatedly tilting a container forward and backward by a trailer bed, wherein an open end of the container is proximate to an extendable conveyor; and
oscillating the container, by the trailer bed, to facilitate release of a box from the container onto the extendable conveyor,
wherein the trailer bed is configured to receive the container thereon, and
wherein a closed loop feedback system optimizes a frequency of a tilt process comprising the repeated tilting of the container forward and backward to release at least one box from the container.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
controlling the oscillating and tilting to optimize throughput and minimize damage to the box.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising at least partially opening a flood gate positioned at least substantially proximate the open end of the container from a first flood gate position to a second flood gate position.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising adjusting a height of at least a portion of the extendable conveyor based at least in part on the second flood gate position.

Assignees

• Intelligrated Headquarters Llc

Inventors

• Krishnamoorthy Sai Prasanth
• Swain Dikshya
• Pai Ramdas
• Ferner Thomas M

Classifications

• B65G2814/0323

  with chutes or plates in or beneath the opening · CPC title

• B65G2814/0205

  for preventing breakage, pulverisation or damage to materials · CPC title

• B65G2203/0241

  Quantity of articles · CPC title

• B65G2201/047

  Articles manipulated as bulk · CPC title

• B65G69/24

  having platform level adjusting means · CPC title