Systems and methods for processing objects provided in vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237986-A1
Application number	US-202117236252-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2021
Priority date	Dec 9, 2016
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An object processing system is disclosed for unloading objects from a trailer of a tractor trailer. The object processing system includes an engagement system including a truck entry portion for entering the trailer and for indiscriminately engaging unidentified objects within the trailer, and a conveyance system for conveying objects engaged by the engagement system toward an unloading portion of the trailer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 - 23 . (canceled)

24 . A non-ordered method of engaging objects in a trailer of a tractor trailer, comprising:
moving an engagement structure into the trailer, the engaging structure including a substantially planar engagement surface that extends substantially along a width of the insider of the trailer; engaging unidentified objects with the substantially planar engagement surface of the engagement structure, said objects being engaged indiscriminately such that no order of engagement of the objects is selected; and conveying the objects in an indiscriminate sequence out of the trailer.

25 . The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the engaging structure includes at least one perception unit providing perception data.

26 . The method as claimed in claim 25 , where the perception data is not used to facilitate engagement of the objects by the engaging surface of the engaging structure.

27 . The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the method further includes transporting the objects from the trailer to a distribution location.

28 . The method as claimed in claim 27 , wherein the distribution location includes an object processing system within another tractor trailer.

29 . The method as claimed in claim 27 , wherein the method further includes singulating the indiscriminate sequence of objects.

30 . The method as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the method further includes dropping singulated objects through a drop scanner, the drop scanner providing object perception data regarding each object as it falls through the drop scanner.

31 . The method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the method further includes routing each object in any of a plurality of routing paths responsive to object perception data associated with each object.

32 . The method as claimed in claim 31 , wherein the method further includes presenting processed objects at any of a plurality of access locations in a trailer of a further tractor trailer.

33 . A non-ordered method of engaging objects in a trailer of a tractor trailer, comprising:
moving an engagement structure into the trailer, the engaging structure including an engagement surface that extends substantially along a width of the insider of the trailer; perceiving perception data regarding the objects in the trailer; engaging unidentified objects with the engagement surface of the engagement structure, said objects being engaged indiscriminately and not using the perception data such that no order of engagement of the objects is selected; and conveying the objects in an indiscriminate sequence out of the trailer.

34 . The method as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the engaging structure includes a plurality of perception units, each of which provides perception data, and wherein none of the perception data is used to facilitate engagement of the objects by the engaging surface of the engaging structure.

35 . The method as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the engagement surface is substantially planar.

36 . The method as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the method further includes transporting the objects from the trailer to a distribution location.

37 . The method as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the distribution location includes an object processing system within another tractor trailer.

38 . The method as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the method further includes singulating the indiscriminate sequence of objects.

39 . The method as claimed in claim 38 , wherein the method further includes dropping singulated objects through a drop scanner, the drop scanner providing object perception data regarding each object as it falls through the drop scanner.

40 . The method as claimed in claim 39 , wherein the method further includes routing each object in any of a plurality of routing paths responsive to object perception data associated with each object.

41 . The method as claimed in claim 40 , wherein the method further includes presenting processed objects at any of a plurality of access locations in a trailer of a further tractor trailer.

42 . A method of processing non-ordered objects in a trailer of a tractor trailer, comprising:
moving an engagement structure into the trailer, the engaging structure including an engagement surface that extends substantially along a width of the insider of the trailer; engaging unidentified objects with the engagement surface of the engagement structure, said objects being engaged indiscriminately such that no order of engagement of the objects is selected; conveying the objects in an indiscriminate sequence out of the trailer; and transporting the objects from the trailer to a distribution location within another tractor trailer.

43 . The method as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the engaging structure includes at least one perception unit providing perception data.

44 . The method as claimed in claim 43 , where the perception data is not used to facilitate engagement of the objects by the engaging surface of the engaging structure.

45 . The method as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the engagement surface is substantially planar.

46 . The method as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the method further includes singulating the indiscriminate sequence of objects.

47 . The method as claimed in claim 46 , wherein the method further includes dropping singulated objects through a drop scanner, the drop scanner providing object perception data regarding each object as it falls through the drop scanner.

48 . The method as claimed in claim 47 , wherein the method further includes routing each object in any of a plurality of routing paths responsive to object perception data associated with each object.

49 . The method as claimed in claim 48 , wherein the method further includes presenting processed objects at any of a plurality of access locations in a trailer of the further tractor trailer.

50 . The method as claimed in claim 49 , wherein the presenting processed objects at any of the plurality of access locations in the trailer of the further tractor trailer includes presenting processed objects that have been automatically bagged.

Assignees

• Berkshire Grey Inc

Inventors

• Wagner Thomas
• Ahearn Kevin
• Cohen Benjamin
• DAWSON-HAGGERTY Michael
• GEYER Christopher
• Koletschka Thomas
• MARONEY Kyle
• Mason Matthew T
• Price Gene Temple
• Romano Joseph
• Smith Daniel
• SRINIVASA Siddhartha
• Velagapudi Prasanna
• Allen Thomas

Classifications

• B65G65/06 Primary

  with endless scraping or elevating pick-up conveyors · CPC title

• B65G67/02

  Loading or unloading land vehicles · CPC title

• B65G47/493 Primary

  by use of light responsive means · CPC title

• B65G47/12

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

• B65G2201/0285

  Postal items, e.g. letters, parcels · CPC title