Systems and methods for separating objects using conveyor transfer with one or more object processing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12475340-B2
Application number	US-202418811141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2024
Priority date	Apr 18, 2017
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

A distribution system is disclosed for use in 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 one of a plurality of adjacent receiving stations via a receiving chute, wherein each receiving station is lower than the conveyor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of processing objects comprising:
moving an object along an in-feed conveyance system in a first direction; receiving the object from the in-feed conveyance system at a weight sensing conveyor section, said weight sensing conveyor section being operable to selectively move the object in any direction selected from among the first direction and two mutually opposing cross-directions that are generally transverse to the first direction; determining a weight of the object at the weight sensing conveyor section; directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object; receiving the object from the weight sensing conveyor section in the cross-direction at a processing conveyor; and moving the object along the processing conveyor in a second direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the object from the weight sensing conveyor section includes providing the object along a chute between the weight sensing conveyor section and the processing conveyor.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the chute includes at least one underside door that permits a further object thereon to be dropped to a further processing conveyor that moves in a third direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction belts.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction paddles.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction air movement systems.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second direction is below the first direction.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the weight of the object includes supporting the object on rollers of the weight sensing conveyor section that are mounted on load cells.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the weight of the object includes supporting the object on rollers of the weight sensing conveyor section that are mounted on force torque sensors.

10 . A method of processing objects comprising:
moving an object along an in-feed conveyance system in a first direction; receiving the object from the in-feed conveyance system at a weight sensing conveyor section, said weight sensing conveyor section being operable to selectively move the object in any direction selected from among the first direction and at least one cross-direction that is generally transverse to the first direction; determining a weight of the object at the weight sensing conveyor section; directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in the cross-direction responsive to the determined weight of the object; receiving the object from the weight sensing conveyor section in the cross-direction at a chute; receiving the object from the chute at a processing conveyor; and moving the object along the processing conveyor in a second direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the chute includes at least one underside door that permits a further object thereon to be dropped to a further processing conveyor that moves in a third direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction belts.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction paddles.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction air movement systems.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second direction is below the first direction.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining the weight of the object includes supporting the object on rollers of the weight sensing conveyor section that are mounted on load cells.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining the weight of the object includes supporting the object on rollers of the weight sensing conveyor section that are mounted on force torque sensors.

18 . An object processing system comprising:
an in-feed conveyance system for moving an object in a first direction; a weight-sensing conveyor section for receiving the object from the in-feed conveyance system, said weight sensing conveyor section being operable to selectively move the object in any direction selected from among the first direction and two mutually opposing cross-directions that are generally transverse to the first direction; an actuation system for directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to a determined weight of the object as determined at the weight-sensing conveyor section; and a processing conveyor for receiving the object from the weight sensing conveyor section in the cross-direction, the processing conveyor for moving the object in a second direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

19 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the object processing system further includes a chute for receiving the object from the weight sensing conveyor section.

20 . The object processing system of claim 19 , wherein the chute includes at least one underside door that permits a further object thereon to be dropped to a further processing conveyor that moves in a third direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

21 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the object processing system further includes cross-direction belts for directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object.

22 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the object processing system further includes cross-direction paddles for directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object.

23 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the object processing system further includes cross-direction air movement systems for directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object.

24 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the second direction is below the first direction.

25 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the weight sens

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

• B65G25/04

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

• B65G2203/041

  Camera · CPC title

• B65G1/1378

  the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas · 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

• B65G47/962

  tilting about an axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction · CPC title