IP Library Granted Patent US 12,734,950
Granted Patent B2
US 12,734,950 · App. 19/246,842 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Tray, belt, or carrier on computer controlled transport vehicle

Inventors: Michael C. Futch (Cocoa, FL); James M. Serstad (Orlando, FL)
Assignee: TOMPKINS ROBOTICS, INC.
B60P1/38B60P1/04B60P3/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,734,950
App. No.
19/246,842
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Method of transporting an article with a computer controlled transport vehicle to a destination includes transporting an article carried by a computer controlled transport vehicle to a destination, wherein a tray, belt, or carrier attached to the computer controlled transport vehicle engages the article. The method further includes determining a characteristic for the article. The method furthermore includes manipulating the tray, belt, or carrier from a first position to a second position to deposit the article at the destination, wherein the manipulation of the tray, belt, or carrier is adjusted based on the characteristic determined for the article to adjust a deposit characteristic of the article.

Claims (38)

1 . A control system configured for use with transporting an article with a computer controlled transport vehicle to a destination, the control system comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:

control transport of the article carried by the computer controlled transport vehicle to the destination, wherein a tray, belt, or carrier attached to the computer controlled transport vehicle engages the article; and

manipulate the tray, belt, or carrier from a first position to a second position to deposit the article at the destination,

wherein the manipulation is adjusted based on a characteristic determined for the article to adjust a deposit period for the article,

wherein the manipulation occurs over a specific span of time based on the characteristic.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic comprises one or more of: a deposit acceleration, a deposit angle, a deposit period, and a deposit movement.

3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to adjust a diverting attribute of a diverting arm to deposit the article at the destination, the diverting attribute based on the characteristic determined for the article.

4 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to adjust a pushing attribute of a pushing device to deposit the article at the destination, the pushing attribute based on the characteristic determined for the article.

5 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic determined for the article is one of: acquired by the control system, and provided to the control system.

6 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the destination is a receptacle, wherein the manipulation of the tray, belt, or carrier from the first position to the second position causes the article to deposit at the receptacle.

7 . The control system of claim 6 , wherein the receptacle is one of a: tote, carton, bag, and Gaylord liner.

8 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to: adjust a deceleration of a speed of the manipulation of the tray, belt, or carrier from the first position to the second position to cause the article to slide across a tray surface, traverse a belt, or move away from the computer controlled transport vehicle, and deposit at the destination.

9 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to: adjust an acceleration of a speed of the manipulation of the tray, belt, or carrier from the first position to the second position to cause the article to slide across a tray surface, traverse a belt, or move away from the computer controlled transport vehicle, and deposit at the destination.

10 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to: set a first deposit angle for a first article, and set a second deposit angle different from the first deposit angle for a second article.

11 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the tray, belt or carrier carries two articles at a same time, wherein the control system is further configured to: set a first deposit angle for a first article, and set a second deposit angle different from the first deposit angle for a second article.

12 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to maintain a sortation criteria of the article to thereby maintain a predetermined orientation of the article.

13 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to eliminate a chance of the article being mis-diverted to a wrong destination.

14 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the computer controlled transport vehicle comprises a push bar for diverting the article.

15 . A control system configured for use with transporting an article with a computer controlled transport vehicle to a destination, the control system comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:

control transport of the article carried by the computer controlled transport vehicle to the destination, wherein a tray, belt, or carrier attached to the computer controlled transport vehicle engages the article; and

manipulate the tray, belt, or carrier from a first position to a second position to deposit the article at the destination,

wherein the manipulation is adjusted to adjust a deposit period for the article,

wherein the destination comprises a chute with a powered chute belt,

wherein the control system is further configured to coordinate a speed or acceleration of the belt attached to the computer controlled transport vehicle to match the speed or acceleration of the powered chute belt.

16 . A control system configured for use with transporting an article with a computer controlled transport vehicle to a destination, the control system comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:

control transport of the article carried by the computer controlled transport vehicle to the destination, wherein a tray, belt, or carrier attached to the computer controlled transport vehicle engages the article; and

manipulate the tray, belt, or carrier from a first position to a second position to deposit the article at the destination,

wherein the manipulation is adjusted based on a characteristic determined for the article to adjust a deposit characteristic of the article,

wherein the manipulation occurs over a specific span of time based on the characteristic,

wherein the destination is one of: a tote, a carton, a bag and a Gaylord liner.

17 . A control system configured for use with transporting an article with a computer controlled transport vehicle to a destination, the control system comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:

control transport of the article carried by the computer controlled transport vehicle to the destination, wherein a tray attached to the computer controlled transport vehicle engages the article, wherein the tray comprises a tilting divert mechanism; and

manipulate the tray from a first position to a second position to deposit the article at the destination, wherein the manipulation is adjusted based on a characteristic determined for the article,

wherein the manipulation occurs over a specific span of time based on the characteristic.

18 . A control system configured for use with transporting an article with a computer controlled transport vehicle to a destination, the control system comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:

control transport of the article carried by the computer controlled transport vehicle to the destination, wherein a tray, belt, or carrier attached to the computer controlled transport vehicle engages the article; and

manipulate the tray, belt, or carrier from a first position to a second position to deposit the article at the destination,

wherein the manipulation occurs over a specific span of time based on a characteristic determined for the article.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2025
From: FUTCH, MICHAEL C; SERSTAD, JAMES M
To: TOMPKINS INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 072867/0418 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2025
From: TOMPKINS ASSOCIATES INC DBA TOMPKINS INTERNATIONAL
To: TOMPKINS ROBOTICS LLC
Reel/Frame 072867/0644 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 12, 2025
From: TOMPKINS ROBOTICS LLC
To: TOMPKINS ROBOTICS INC
Reel/Frame 073522/0574 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17323595 · May 18, 2021
Continuation PCTUS2019050191 · Sep 9, 2019
Provisional Application 62792111 · Jan 14, 2019
Provisional Application 62771621 · Nov 27, 2018
Related Publication 20250313141A1 · Oct 9, 2025
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