Systems and methods for separating objects using drop conveyors with one or more object processing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12536394-B2
Application number	US-202418917116-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2024
Priority date	Apr 18, 2017
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

A distribution system is disclosed for use with 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 a chute that includes at least one actuatable door for selectively dropping the object through the at least one actuable door, said chute leading to a first receiving station with a second receiving station being positioned below the at least one actuable door.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A distribution system for providing dissimilar objects into one of a plurality of receiving stations, said distribution system comprising:
an urging system for urging an object on a conveyor from the conveyor to a chute that includes at least one actuatable door for selectively dropping the object through the at least one actuatable door, said chute leading to a first receiving station with a second receiving station being positioned below the at least one actuatable door, wherein the first receiving station is a first output conveyor and the second receiving station is a second output conveyor.

2 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the urging system includes a forced air system for providing positive air flow at the object in either of two opposing directions.

3 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the urging system includes a bi-directional conveyor section.

4 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the urging system includes at least one paddle.

5 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each receiving station includes a corresponding chute.

6 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuatable door is provided as a pair of doors that are opened to drop the object therethrough.

7 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a second chute that opposes the chute on an opposite side of the conveyor, wherein the second chute leads to a third receiving station.

8 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the third receiving station includes any of an output conveyor and a mobile carrier.

9 . A distribution system in an induction system for use with an object processing system, said distribution system for providing dissimilar objects into one of a plurality of receiving stations, said distribution system comprising:
an urging system for urging an object of the dissimilar objects from an input conveyor to one of a first chute and a second chute, the first chute and the second chute positioned on opposite sides of the input conveyor, the first chute leading to a first receiving station, the second chute leading to a second receiving station, at least one of the first chute and the second chute including a cooperative pair of actuatable doors for selectively dropping the object through the cooperative pair of actuatable doors to a third receiving station positioned below the cooperative pair of actuatable doors, wherein the third receiving station is an output conveyor.

10 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the urging system includes a forced air system for providing positive air flow at the object in either of two opposing directions.

11 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the urging system includes a bi-directional conveyor section.

12 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the urging system includes at least one paddle.

13 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the cooperative pair of doors are selectively opened based on a detected mass of the object.

14 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second receiving stations is one of a conveyor and a mobile carrier.

15 . The distribution system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the mobile carrier is adapted to move among a plurality of tracks in the object processing system.

16 . A method of distributing objects comprising:
moving a plurality of dissimilar objects on a first conveyor; urging an object on the first conveyor from the first conveyor to a chute adjacent the first conveyor, the chute leading to a first receiving station, the chute including an actuatable door positioned above a second receiving station, wherein the first receiving station is a first output conveyor and the second receiving station is a second output conveyor; directing the object down the chute towards the first output conveyor; and actuating the actuatable door to drop the object to the second output conveyor.

17 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the step of urging includes providing positive air flow at the object toward the chute.

18 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the step of urging includes activating a bi-directional conveyor section.

19 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the step of urging includes actuating at least one paddle.

20 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the actuatable door is a cooperative pair of doors that are opened to drop the object therethrough.

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

• B65G2203/041

  Camera · CPC title

• B65G47/962

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

• B65G47/46

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

• B65G47/18

  Arrangements or applications of hoppers or chutes · CPC title

• B65G47/12

  from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles · CPC title