Controllable array sorting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12214971-B2
Application number	US-202117409630-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2021
Priority date	Oct 2, 2020
Publication date	Feb 4, 2025
Grant date	Feb 4, 2025

Abstract

A controllable array sorting device is disclosed, including: an array of diverting mechanisms; and a processor coupled to the array of diverting mechanisms, wherein the processor is configured to: process an instruction to perform a sorting action on a target item, wherein the instruction specifies a selected at least subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to use to perform the sorting action; and in response to the instruction, cause the selected at least subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to perform the sorting action on the target item.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A controllable array sorting device, comprising:
an array of diverting mechanisms; and
a processor coupled to the array of diverting mechanisms, wherein the processor is configured to:
process an instruction to perform a sorting action on a target item, wherein the instruction specifies a selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to use to perform the sorting action, wherein the selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms comprises a specified width of diverting mechanisms in a specified section within the array of diverting mechanisms,
wherein the specified width of diverting mechanisms and the specified section within the array of diverting mechanisms are determined based at least in part on a location of the target item on a conveyor device and an attribute of the target item; and

in response to the instruction, cause the selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to perform the sorting action on the target item.

2. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the array of diverting mechanisms comprises a first array of diverting mechanisms, and wherein the controllable array sorting device comprises a plurality of arrays of diverting mechanisms including the first array of diverting mechanisms, wherein each array of diverting mechanisms is configured to deflect items into a different direction.

3. The controllable array sorting device of claim 2 , wherein the instruction further specifies to use the first array of diverting mechanisms to perform the sorting action.

4. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the instruction further specifies a duration of time for which to perform the sorting action on the target item and wherein the processor is further configured to cause the selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to perform the sorting action on the target item for the duration of time.

5. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the instruction further specifies a first instruction to start performing the sorting action and a second instruction to stop performing the sorting action on the target item and wherein the processor is further configured to cause the selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to perform the sorting action on the target item in accordance with the first instruction and the second instruction.

6. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the instruction further specifies a first instruction and a second instruction, wherein each of the first instruction and the second instruction causes the selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to activate in association with performing the sorting action on the target item and wherein the processor is further configured to cause the selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to perform the sorting action on the target item in accordance with the first instruction and the second instruction.

7. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the instruction further specifies a degree of force with which to perform the sorting action on the target item and wherein the processor is further configured to cause the selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to perform the sorting action on the target item using the degree of force.

8. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the array of diverting mechanisms comprises an array of air orifices that are coupled to one or more pressurized air sources.

9. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the array of diverting mechanisms comprises an array of mechanical paddles that are coupled to an actuation mechanism.

10. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the instruction was determined to be sent to the controllable array sorting device based at least in part on a set of neighboring non-target items relative to the target item on the conveyor device.

11. The controllable array sorting device of claim 10 , wherein the set of neighboring non-target items relative to the target item on the conveyor device was determined, including:
wherein a respective distance between a polygon of the target item and a respective polygon of each of a set of non-target items was determined; and
wherein a subset of the set of non-target items that is associated with the respective distances relative to the polygon of the target item that are less than a predetermined proximity threshold or a dynamically determined and configured proximity threshold is determined as the set of neighboring non-target items relative to the target item.

12. The controllable array sorting device of claim 10 , wherein the instruction was determined to be sent to the controllable array sorting device based at least in part on a comparison of attribute information associated with the target item and attribute information associated with the set of neighboring non-target items relative to the target item.

13. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the specified width of diverting mechanisms and the specified section within the array of diverting mechanisms are further determined based at least in part on a collection container corresponding to the target item.

14. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein to cause the selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to perform the sorting action on the target item comprises to cause the selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to perform the sorting action on the target item after the target item falls between conveyor devices.

15. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the controllable array sorting device is operable to be inserted and detached from a sorting line at a designated location.

16. The controllable array sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the instruction was determined based at least in part on using one or more of neural networks and artificial intelligence on sensed data associated with the target item.

17. A method, comprising:
processing an instruction to perform a sorting action on a target item, wherein the instruction specifies a selected subset of an array of diverting mechanisms of a controllable array sorting device to use to perform the sorting action, wherein the selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms comprises a specified width of diverting mechanisms in a specified section within the array of diverting mechanisms,
wherein the specified width of diverting mechanisms and the specified section within the array of diverting mechanisms are determined based at least in part on a location of the target item on a conveyor device and an attribute of the target item; and

in response to the instruction, causing the selected subset of the array of diverting mechanisms to perform the sorting action on the target item.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the specified width of diverting mechanisms and the specified section within the array of diverting mechanisms are further determined based at least in part on location information associated with the target item and a collection container corresponding to the target item.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the instruction was determined to be sent to the controllable array sorting device based at least in part on a set of neighboring non-target items relative to the target item on the conveyor device.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the instruction was determined to be sent to the controllable array sorting

Assignees

• Amp Robotics Corp

Inventors

• Douglas Cameron D
• Chiou Geoffrey N
• Horowitz Matanya B
• Baybutt Mark
• Martin Travis W
• Ehlmann Kevin M
• Calaiaro Jason M
• Espinosa Robert M
• Dawes Paul

Classifications

• B07C5/342 Primary

  according to optical properties, e.g. colour {(according to radiation transmittivity B07C5/3416)} · CPC title

• B07C5/368

  actuated independently · CPC title

• B65G43/00

  Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting · CPC title

• B65G47/28 Primary

  during transit by a single conveyor · CPC title