Automated handling and manipulation of packages and packages specially adapted therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022241971-A1
Application number	US-202117167787-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2021
Priority date	Feb 4, 2021
Publication date	Aug 4, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for handling and manipulating packages in automated or semi-automated fashion and packages adapted for the same. The systems may include package-holding devices, package-manipulating devices, and package-detection components for locating packages or portions thereof in a three-dimensional space. The packages may include features that enable automated or semi-automated handling and manipulation thereof, such as different types of opening/closing mechanisms with different geometric structures that allow for holding, shifting, and manipulating the packages and/or portions thereof with the package-manipulating devices. The packages additionally or alternatively may include mechanical fasteners, magnets, and/or spring-biased opening/closing mechanisms for keeping the packages closed prior to manipulation thereof. Such packages and systems may be used in a logistics network to the increase speed, accuracy, and efficiency of processing packages having, at least in part, a non-fixed geometry.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for opening and closing packages in automated fashion, the system comprising:
a support frame; a package-holder coupled to the support frame, the package-holder comprising:
a first package-engaging structure, and
a second package-engaging structure,
the package-holder configured to engage a first contact point on a package using the first package-engaging structure and engage a second contact point on the package using the second package-engaging structure; and
a package-manipulator coupled to the support frame and comprising a third package-engaging structure that is movable to different positions through operation of an actuator coupled thereto,
wherein the third package-engaging structure is configured to engage an opening/closing mechanism on the package, and
wherein the package-manipulator is configured to open or close the package by shifting the third package-engaging structure while it is engaged with the opening/closing mechanism of the package.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the opening/closing mechanism comprises a zipper mechanism, and wherein the package comprises an enclosure formed at least partially of a pliable material.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the package comprises a bag, and wherein the first contact point and the second contact point each comprise a geometric structure having a higher degree of rigidity than the pliable material.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a detection component configured to identify and/or locate the first contact point and the second contact point in a three-dimensional space in which the system operates.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the detection component is configured to identify and/or locate the first contact point and the second contact point using image capture and analysis.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the detection component is configured to identify and/or locate the first contact point and the second contact point using near-field communications.

7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the detection component is configured to identify and/or locate the first contact point and the second contact point using radio frequency identification (RFID).

8 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the first package-engaging structure is configured to adaptively re-position to engage the first contact point based on its location in the three-dimensional space as determined by the detection component, and wherein the second package-engaging structure is configured to adaptively re-position to engage the second contact point based on its location in the three-dimensional space as determined by the detection component.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first package-engaging structure, when engaged with the first contact point, and the second package-engaging structure, when engaged with the second contact point, are configured to adjustably impart a tension to the package.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a package-supply apparatus that is configured to advance a plurality of packages into a three-dimensional space in which the system operates.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first package-engaging structure, the second package-engaging structure, and the third package engaging structure are each coupled to a separate multi-axis robot.

12 . A method for opening and closing packages in automated fashion, the method comprising:
positioning a package in a three-dimensional space in which a package-handling system operates, the package-handling system comprising:
a support frame;
a package-holder coupled to the support frame, the package-holder comprising:
a first package-engaging structure, and
a second package-engaging structure; and

a package-manipulator coupled to the support frame, the package-manipulator comprising a third package-engaging structure that is movable to a plurality of different positions through operation of an actuator coupled thereto, wherein the package includes an opening/closing mechanism;
engaging a first contact point on the package with the first package-engaging structure; engaging a second contact point on the package with the second package-engaging structure; engaging the opening/closing mechanism of the package with the third package-engaging structure; and shifting the third package-engaging structure to open or close the package while the first package-engaging structure is engaging the first contact point and the second package-engaging structure is engaging the second contact point.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the package comprises an enclosure formed at least partially of a pliable material.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising identifying and/or locating the first contact point and the second contact point in the three-dimensional space using a detection component.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first package-engaging structure is configured to adaptively re-position to engage the first contact point based on its location in the three-dimensional space as determined by the detection component, and wherein the second package-engaging structure is configured to adaptively re-position to engage the second contact point based on its location in the three-dimensional space as determined by the detection component.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein engaging the opening/closing mechanism comprises:
identifying a location of the opening/closing mechanism in the three-dimensional space using the detection component; and shifting the third package-engaging structure to the identified location of the opening/closing mechanism.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first contact point, the second contact point, and the opening/closing mechanism each comprise a geometric structure having a characteristic that is identifiable by the detection component.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the characteristic comprises:
a machine-identifiable indicia, a near-field communication signal, or an RFID tag.

19 . A package adapted for automated opening and closing, the package comprising:
a storage compartment formed at least partially of a pliable material; a first geometric structure coupled to the storage compartment at a first location, the first geometric structure having a higher degree of rigidity than the pliable material; a second geometric structure coupled to the storage compartment at a second location, the second geometric structure having a higher degree of rigidity than the pliable material; and an opening/closing mechanism configured for manipulation by an automated package-handling system,
wherein the first geometric structure comprises a first machine-identifiable and/or machine-locatable feature,
wherein the second geometric structure comprises a second machine-identifiable and/or machine-locatable feature, and
wherein the opening/closing mechanism comprises a third machine-identifiable and/or machine-locatable feature.

20 . The package of claim 19 , wherein the opening/closing mechanism comprises a zipper mechanism.

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Bell Julian Leland
• Woodrough Jr Stephens B
• Ashtiani Justin

Classifications

• B65B51/046

  Applying a closure element to the mouths of bags · CPC title

• B65D33/14

  Suspension means (handles B65D33/06) · CPC title

• B65D33/2584

  characterized by the slider · CPC title

• G05B2219/45048

  Packaging · CPC title

• G05B2219/39123

  Manipulate, handle flexible object · CPC title