IP Library Granted Patent US 10,618,745
Granted Patent B2
US 10,618,745 · App. 15/835,764 · Granted Apr 14, 2020

Systems and methods for processing objects provided in vehicles

Inventors: Thomas Wagner (Concord, MA); Kevin Ahearn (Fort Mill, SC); Benjamin Cohen (Somerville, MA); Michael Dawson-Haggerty (Pittsburgh, PA); Christopher Geyer (Arlington, MA); Thomas Koletschka (Cambridge, MA); Kyle Maroney (North Attleboro, MA); Matthew T. Mason (Pittsburgh, PA); Gene Temple Price (Cambridge, MA); Joseph Romano (Somerville, MA); Daniel Smith (Canonsburg, PA); Siddhartha Srinivasa (Seattle, WA); Prasanna Velagapudi (Pittsburgh, PA); Thomas Allen (Reading, MA)
Assignee: Berkshire Grey, Inc.
B65G47/493B65G47/12B65G65/06B65G65/08B65G67/02B65G67/24B65G2201/0285
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,618,745
App. No.
15/835,764
Granted
Apr 14, 2020
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (69)

1. An object processing system for unloading objects from a trailer of a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:

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 including a cleated conveyor for conveying objects engaged by the engagement system toward an unloading portion of the trailer, wherein the engagement system includes a portion of the cleated conveyor.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cleated conveyor engages the unidentified objects within the trailer.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the conveyance system includes a further non-cleated conveyor.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the conveyance system includes a chute.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the engagement system includes a wheeled structure that moves into the trailer, the wheeled structure supporting the cleated conveyor.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system further includes at least one perception unit.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the perception unit is a camera.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the unloading portion of the trailer is at the rear portion of the trailer.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system further includes a further conveyance system for transporting the objects toward a distribution location.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the distribution location includes at least one bin.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the distribution location includes at least one chute.

12. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the distribution location includes an object processing system within a further trailer.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the conveyance system includes a further conveyor that provides the objects to the further trailer.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the object processing system provides a plurality of output stations within the further trailer where processed objects are provided.

15. An object processing system for unloading objects from a trailer of a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:

an engagement system including a truck entry portion for entering the trailer and a cleated conveyor for indiscriminately engaging unidentified objects within the trailer; and

a conveyance system receiving objects from the cleated conveyor and for conveying objects engaged by the engagement system toward an unloading portion of the trailer.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the conveyance system includes a further non-cleated conveyor.

17. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the conveyance system includes a chute.

18. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the engagement system includes a wheeled structure that moves into the trailer, the wheeled structure supporting the cleated conveyor.

19. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the system further includes at least one perception unit.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the perception unit is a camera.

21. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the unloading portion of the trailer is at the rear portion of the trailer.

22. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the system further includes a further conveyance system for transporting the objects toward a distribution location.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the distribution location includes at least one bin.

24. The system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the distribution location includes at least one chute.

25. The system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the distribution location includes an object processing system within a further trailer.

26. The system as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the conveying system includes a further conveyor that provides the objects to the further trailer.

27. The system as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the object processing system provides a plurality of output stations within the further trailer where processed objects are provided.

28. An object processing system for unloading objects from a trailer of a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:

an engagement system including a truck entry portion for entering the trailer and for indiscriminately engaging unidentified objects within the trailer;

a unloading conveyance system for conveying objects engaged by the engagement system toward an unloading portion of the trailer; and

a processing conveyance system for transporting objects to an object processing system within a further trailer, wherein said object processing system provides a plurality of output stations where processed objects are provided.

29. The system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the engagement system includes a portion of a conveyor.

30. The system as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the conveyor is a cleated conveyor.

31. The system as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the unloading conveyance system includes a further portion of the conveyor.

32. The system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the unloading conveyance system includes a chute.

33. The system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the engagement system includes a wheeled structure that moves into the trailer, the wheeled structure supporting the unloading conveyance system.

34. The system as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the system further includes at least one perception unit.

35. The system as claimed in claim 34 , wherein the perception unit is a camera.

36. An object processing system for unloading objects from a trailer of a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:

an engagement system including a truck entry portion for entering the trailer and for indiscriminately engaging unidentified objects within the trailer;

a unloading conveyance system for conveying objects engaged by the engagement system toward an unloading portion of the trailer; and

a processing conveyance system for transporting objects to an object processing system within a further trailer, wherein said object processing system provides a plurality of processing stations where, at each of which, processed objects are provided to any of a plurality of destination locations.

37. The system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the engagement system includes a portion of a conveyor.

38. The system as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the conveyor is a cleated conveyor.

39. The system as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the unloading conveyance system includes a further portion of the conveyor.

40. The system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the unloading conveyance system includes a chute.

41. The system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the engagement system includes a wheeled structure that moves into the trailer, the wheeled structure supporting the unloading conveyance system.

42. The system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the system further includes at least one perception unit.

43. The system as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the perception unit is a camera.

44. An object processing system for unloading objects from a trailer of a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:

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 including a cleated conveyor for conveying objects engaged by the engagement system toward an unloading portion of the trailer, wherein the engagement system includes a wheeled structure that moves into the trailer, the wheeled structure supporting the cleated conveyor.

45. The system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein the engagement system includes a portion of the cleated conveyor.

46. The system as claimed in claim 45 , wherein the cleated conveyor engages the unidentified objects within the trailer.

47. The system as claimed in claim 45 , wherein the conveyance system includes a further non-cleated conveyor.

48. The system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein the conveyance system includes a chute.

49. The system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein the system further includes at least one perception unit.

50. The system as claimed in claim 49 , wherein the perception unit is a camera.

51. The system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein the unloading portion of the trailer is at the rear portion of the trailer.

52. The system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein the system further includes a further conveyance system for transporting the objects toward a distribution location.

53. The system as claimed in claim 52 , wherein the distribution location includes at least one bin.

54. The system as claimed in claim 52 , wherein the distribution location includes at least one chute.

55. The system as claimed in claim 52 , wherein the distribution location includes an object processing system within a further trailer.

56. The system as claimed in claim 55 , wherein the conveyance system includes a further conveyor that provides the objects to the further trailer.

57. The system as claimed in claim 55 , wherein the object processing system provides a plurality of output stations within the further trailer where processed objects are provided.

Assignments (3)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2022
From: BERKSHIRE GREY, INC.; BERKSHIRE GREY OPERATING COMPANY, INC.
To: BERKSHIRE GREY OPERATING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 058947/0548 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE DATA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 044537 FRAME: 0598. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 19, 2019
From: 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
To: BERKSHIRE GREY, INC.
Reel/Frame 049528/0761 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2018
From: 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
To: BERKSHIRE GREY INC.
Reel/Frame 044537/0598 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,258,223