MOBILE CARRIERS FOR USE IN SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING OBJECTS INCLUDING MOBILE MATRIX CARRIER SYSTEMS
An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a base structure of a carrier on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels mounted to at least two motors to provide at least two wheel assemblies, the at least two wheel assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.
1 .- 22 . (canceled)
23 . A method of moving objects to be processed, said method comprising providing a base structure of a carrier on which an object may be supported;
providing at least two wheels mounted to at least two motors to provide at least two wheel assemblies; and pivoting each of said wheel assemblies, from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier from a first direction to a second direction that is generally orthogonal to the first direction.
24 . The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said method further includes providing tracks along which the carrier may be moved.
25 . The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said tracks include intermittent tracks that are not mutually connected.
26 . The method as claimed in claim 25 , wherein said tracks are generally in the shape of a square.
27 . The method as claimed in claim 25 , wherein said method further includes detecting identifiable indicia associated with an intermittent track section by the carrier.
28 . The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said carrier includes guide rollers for engaging the tracks.
29 . The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said carrier includes a conveyor that may be engaged to move a load in one of two directions off of the carrier.
30 . The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said carrier includes a tilt portion that may be engaged to dump a load off of the carrier.
31 . The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said carrier includes at least one openable bottom trap door through which an object may be dropped from the carrier.
32 . The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said method further includes providing a vacuum source that provides vacuum on an underside of the carrier.
33 . The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said method further includes retrieving objects from outside of the carrier, and for placing the retrieved objects into a bin of the carrier.
34 . The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said method further includes detecting objects in an environment of the carrier.
35 . The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said method further includes retrieving a disabled carrier.
36 . A method of moving objects to be processed, said method comprising providing a base structure of a carrier on which an object may be supported; providing at least two wheels mounted to at least two motors to provide at least two wheel assemblies; moving the carrier over a first track section while at least one wheel assemblies travels outside of the first track section; and
moving the carrier away from the first track section as the carrier is moved toward a second track section.
37 . The method as claimed in claim 36 , wherein said method further includes providing a plurality of track sections along which the carrier may be moved, said plurality of track sections including the first track section and the second track section.
38 . The method as claimed in claim 37 , wherein said plurality of track sections include intermittent tracks that are not mutually connected.
39 . The method as claimed in claim 38 , wherein said plurality of track sections are generally in the shape of a square.
40 . The method as claimed in claim 38 , wherein said method further includes detecting identifiable indicia associated with a track section of the plurality of track sections by the carrier.
41 . The method as claimed in claim 36 , wherein said carrier includes guide rollers for engaging the tracks.
42 . The method as claimed in claim 36 , wherein said carrier includes a conveyor that may be engaged to move a load in one of two directions off of the carrier.
43 . The method as claimed in claim 36 , wherein said carrier includes a tilt portion that may be engaged to dump a load off of the carrier.
44 . The method as claimed in claim 36 , wherein said carrier includes at least one openable bottom trap door through which an object may be dropped from the carrier.
45 . The method as claimed in claim 36 , wherein said method further includes providing a vacuum source that provides vacuum on an underside of the carrier.
46 . The method as claimed in claim 36 , wherein said method further includes retrieving objects from outside of the carrier, and for placing the retrieved objects into a bin of the carrier.
47 . The method as claimed in claim 36 , wherein said method further includes detecting objects in an environment of the carrier.
48 . The method as claimed in claim 36 , wherein said method further includes retrieving a disabled carrier.
49 . A method of moving objects to be processed, said method comprising providing a base structure of a carrier on which an object may be supported; providing at least two wheels mounted to at least two motors to provide at least two wheel assemblies; moving the carrier away from a first track section; and aligning the carrier as the carrier is moved toward a second track section.
50 . The method as claimed in claim 49 , wherein said method further includes providing a plurality of track sections along which the carrier may be moved, said plurality of track sections including the first track section and the second track section.
51 . The method as claimed in claim 50 , wherein said plurality of track sections include intermittent tracks that are not mutually connected.
52 . The method as claimed in claim 51 , wherein said plurality of track sections are generally in the shape of a square.
53 . The method as claimed in claim 51 , wherein said method further includes detecting identifiable indicia associated with a track section of the plurality of track sections by the carrier.
54 . The method as claimed in claim 49 , wherein said carrier includes guide rollers for engaging the tracks.
55 . The method as claimed in claim 49 , wherein said carrier includes a conveyor that may be engaged to move a load in one of two directions off of the carrier.
56 . The method as claimed in claim 49 , wherein said carrier includes a tilt portion that may be engaged to dump a load off of the carrier.
57 . The method as claimed in claim 49 , wherein said carrier includes at least one openable bottom trap door through which an object may be dropped from the carrier.
58 . The method as claimed in claim 49 , wherein said method further includes providing a vacuum source that provides vacuum on an underside of the carrier.
59 . The method as claimed in claim 49 , wherein said method further includes retrieving objects from outside of the carrier, and for placing the retrieved objects into a bin of the carrier.
60 . The method as claimed in claim 49 , wherein said method further includes detecting objects in an environment of the carrier.
61 . The method as claimed in claim 49 , wherein said method further includes retrieving a disabled carrier.