IP Library Granted Patent US 11,945,003
Granted Patent B2
US 11,945,003 · App. 17/837,173 · Granted Apr 2, 2024

Systems and methods for providing for the processing of objects in vehicles

Inventors: Thomas Wagner (Concord, MA); Kevin Ahearn (Nebo, NC); 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 (Arlington, MA); Daniel Smith (Canonsburg, PA); Siddhartha Srinivasa (Seattle, WA); Prasanna Velagapudi (Pittsburgh, PA); Thomas Allen (Reading, MA)
Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
B07C5/362B07C3/02B07C5/02B07C5/3412B07C5/38B25J9/0018B25J9/1679B60P3/007B65G1/1378
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,945,003
App. No.
17/837,173
Granted
Apr 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An object processing system within a trailer for a tracker trailer is discloses. The object processing system includes an input area of the trailer at which objects to be processed may be presented, a perception system for providing perception data regarding objects to be processed, and a primary transport system for providing transport of each object in one of at least two primary transport directions within the trailer based on the perception data.

Claims (42)

1. An object processing system within a trailer for a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:

a perception system providing perception data regarding an object;

a first transporting system for transporting the object in one of at least two primary directions based on the perception data;

a second transporting system for transporting the object from the one of at least two primary directions in one of at least two secondary directions based on the perception data; and

a plurality of drop containers positioned above an output conveyor that leads to a destination bin within the trailer,

wherein the second transporting system transports the object in the one of the at least two secondary directions and drops the object into a selected drop container among the plurality of drop containers,

wherein the selected drop container opens one or more doors at a bottom of the selected drop container to drop the object onto the output conveyor, and

wherein the output conveyor receives the object from the selected drop container and transports the object to the destination bin.

2. The object processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the object processing system further includes a cleated conveyor for facilitating providing a singulated stream of objects to the perception system.

3. The object processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second transporting system includes a plurality of carriages that tip to drop the object from the first transporting system to the second transporting system.

4. The object processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least two secondary directions are mutually orthogonal to the at least two primary directions.

5. The object processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the perception system includes a drop perception unit through which the object falls.

6. The object processing system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the object falls from the drop perception unit onto the first transporting system on which the object is transported in the one of the at least two primary directions based on the perception data.

7. The object processing system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the second transporting system transports the object in the one of the at least two secondary directions using any of the plurality of reciprocating carriages movable on a linear track inside of the trailer.

8. The object processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the object processing system includes a bagging station at which the object is enclosed in a bag prior to reaching the destination bin.

9. The object processing system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the bagging station includes a sealer for sealing the bag.

10. An object processing system within a trailer for a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:

a perception system for providing perception data regarding an object;

a first transporting system for transporting the object in one of at least two primary directions based on the perception data;

a second transporting system for transporting the object from the one of at least two primary directions in one of at least two secondary directions based on the perception data, each of the two secondary directions being mutually orthogonal to the two primary directions; and

at least one output conveyor that leads to a destination bin within the trailer, the at least one output conveyor being positioned below a plurality of containers,

wherein a selected container among the plurality of containers receives the object from the second transporting system and releases the object onto the at least one output conveyor that conveys the object to the destination bin.

11. The object processing system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the object processing system further includes a cleated conveyor for facilitating providing a singulated stream of objects to the perception system.

12. The object processing system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the second transporting system includes a plurality of carriages that tip to drop the object from the first transporting system to the second transporting system.

13. The object processing system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the perception system includes a drop perception unit through which the object falls.

14. The object processing system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the object falls from the drop perception unit onto the first transporting system on which the object is transported in the one of the at least two primary directions based on the perception data.

15. The object processing system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the second transporting system transports the object in the one of the at least two secondary directions using any of the plurality of reciprocating carriages movable on a linear track inside of the trailer.

16. The object processing system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the object processing system includes a bagging station at which the object is enclosed in a bag prior to reaching the destination bin.

17. The object processing system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the bagging station includes a sealer for sealing the bag.

18. An object processing system within a trailer for a tractor trailer, said object processing system comprising:

a perception system for providing perception data regarding an object;

a first transporting system for transporting the object in one of at least two primary directions based on the perception data;

a second transporting system for transporting the object from the one of at least two primary directions in one of at least two secondary directions based on the perception data, each of the two secondary directions being mutually orthogonal to the two primary directions; and

at least one bagging station at which the object is enclosed in a bag within the trailer; and

at least one output conveyor that leads the at least one bagging station within the trailer, the at least one output conveyor being positioned below a plurality of containers,

wherein a selected container among the plurality of containers receives the object from the second transporting system and releases the object onto the at least one output conveyor that conveys the object to the at least one bagging station.

19. The object processing system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the object processing system further includes a cleated conveyor for facilitating providing a singulated stream of objects to the perception system.

20. The object processing system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the second transporting system includes a plurality of carriages that tip to drop the object from the first transporting system to the second transporting system.

21. The object processing system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the perception system includes a drop perception unit through which the object falls.

22. The object processing system as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the object falls from the drop perception unit onto the first transporting system on which the object is transported in the one of the at least two primary directions based on the perception data.

23. The object processing system as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the second transporting system transports the object in the one of the at least two secondary directions using any of the plurality of reciprocating carriages movable on a linear track inside of the trailer.

24. The object processing system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the at least one bagging station includes a sealer for sealing the bag.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2022
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 OPERATING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 060417/0901 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17086645 · Nov 2, 2020
Continuation 15833194 · Dec 6, 2017
Provisional Application 62430664 · Dec 6, 2016
Related Publication 20220297163A1 · Sep 22, 2022
Cited By (3)
US 12,434,270 US 12,552,014 US 12,678,938