Systems and methods for dynamic processing of objects using intermediate storage caches
A method of processing objects with a programmable motion device includes receiving a plurality of received objects at an input area proximate the programmable motion device, selecting and grasping a first object of the plurality of received objects from the input area using the programmable motion device, moving the first object to a cache area using the programmable motion device, the cache area being proximate the programmable motion device, selecting and grasping a second object of the plurality of received objects, moving the second object to a first destination location using the programmable motion device, selecting and grasping the first object from the cache area using the programmable motion device, and moving the first object to the first destination location using the programmable motion device.
1 . A method of processing objects with a programmable motion device, said method comprising:
receiving a plurality of received objects at an input area proximate the programmable motion device;
selecting and grasping a first object of the plurality of received objects from the input area using the programmable motion device;
moving the first object to a cache area using the programmable motion device, said cache area being proximate the programable motion device;
selecting and grasping a second object of the plurality of received objects;
moving the second object to a first destination location using the programmable motion device;
selecting and grasping the first object from the cache area using the programmable motion device; and
moving the first object to the first destination location using the programmable motion device,
wherein the cache area is configured to temporarily store objects and to permit the programmable motion device to move objects stored in the cache area to one or more destination locations in an order that is independent of an order in which the programmable motion device moved the objects from the input area into the cache area.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first object is not yet associated with an assigned destination location when moved to the cache area.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first destination location is not yet ready to receive the first object when the first object is moved to the cache area.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cache area receives a plurality of cached objects that include the first object.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cache area includes a first portion that moves with respect to a second portion, said first portion including a first portion area for receiving the first object.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first portion receives a plurality of cached objects among a plurality of first portion areas.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first portion includes an actuation mechanism for ejecting a cached object from any of the first portion areas.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of received objects is provided in at least one tote or bin at the input area.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more destination locations are provided proximate the programmable motion device.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first destination location includes an auto-bagging system.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cache area is provided by a dynamically assigned destination location of a plurality of destination locations that includes the first destination location.
12 . A method of processing objects with a programmable motion device, said method comprising:
receiving a plurality of objects at an input area proximate the programmable motion device;
selecting, grasping and moving the plurality of objects by the programmable motion device in a first order from the input area to a plurality of cache locations at a cache area; and
selecting, grasping and moving the plurality of objects from the plurality of cache locations by the programmable motion device in a second order that is different than the first order to at least one destination location, wherein the second order is one of a plurality of orders in which the plurality of objects are capable of being moved from the plurality of cache locations at the cache area to the at least one destination location.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of objects includes a first object that is first in the first order of the plurality of objects that are moved to the plurality of cache locations, and wherein the first object is not yet associated with an assigned destination location when moved to the cache area.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of objects includes a first object that is first in the first order of the plurality of objects that are moved to the plurality of cache locations, and wherein the first object is moved to the cache area when a destination location that is assigned to the first object is not yet ready to receive the first object.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cache area includes a first portion that moves with respect to a second portion, said first portion including a first portion area for receiving the first object.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first portion receives a plurality of cached objects among a plurality of first portion areas.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first portion includes an actuation mechanism for ejecting a cached object from any of the first portion areas.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of received objects is provided in at least one tote or bin at the input area.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one destination location is provided proximate the programmable motion device.
20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one destination location includes an auto-bagging system.
21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cache area is provided by a dynamically assigned destination location of a plurality of destination locations that includes the first destination location.
22 . An object processing system comprising:
an output system;
an object processing station that receives objects from an input conveyance system and provides objects to the output system; and
an intermediate cache area including a plurality of intermediate storage locations at which a subset of the plurality of objects received at the object processing station are placed prior to being moved to the output system,
wherein the intermediate cache area is configured to temporarily store the subset of objects and to permit the subset of objects stored in the intermediate cache area to be moved to the output system in an order that is independent of an order in which the subset of objects were provided from the object processing station to the intermediate cache area.
23 . The object processing system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the intermediate cache area includes intermediate storage locations that move.
24 . The object processing system as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the intermediate storage locations move horizontally in a circuit.
25 . The object processing system as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the intermediate storage locations move vertically in a circuit.
26 . The object processing system as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the intermediate storage locations move reciprocally linearly.
27 . The object processing system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of objects is provided to the output system via the intermediate storage locations.
28 . The object processing system as claimed in claim 27 , wherein each intermediate storage location includes a tilt-tray.
29 . The object processing system as claimed in claim 27 , wherein each intermediate storage location includes a conveyor section.
30 . The object processing system as claimed in claim 27 , wherein each intermediate storage location includes a bomb-bay drop section.