Systems and methods for processing objects including payload positionable mobile carriers and intermediate processing systems
A method of providing transfer between a remotely actuatable carrier and a container support structure is disclosed, the method including providing a remotely actuatable carrier including a plurality of support ridges proximate the support structure and providing sensor output information regarding alignment of the remotely actuatable carrier and the container support structure, the container support structure including a plurality of support structure protrusions; and passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions responsive to the sensor output information.
1. A method of providing transfer between a remotely actuatable carrier and a container support structure, said method comprising:
providing a remotely actuatable carrier including a plurality of support ridges proximate a container support structure, the container support structure including a plurality of support structure protrusions;
providing sensor output information regarding alignment of the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier and the plurality of support structure protrusions of the container support structure; and
passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions responsive to the sensor output information.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method further includes actuating a pair of independently actuatable wheels of the remotely actuatable carrier.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method further includes moving the plurality of support ridges with respect to a base of the remotely actuatable carrier.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein moving the plurality of support ridges with respect to the base includes lifting and lowering the plurality of support ridges with respect to the base.
5. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions includes passing the plurality of support ridges between the plurality of support structure protrusions at different heights.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of container support surface protrusions includes a plurality of conveyor belts.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges proximate the container support structure includes providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges under the container support structure.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges proximate the container support structure includes providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges next to the container support structure.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions includes passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier upward between the plurality of support structure protrusions to engage a load.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions includes passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier horizontally between the plurality of support structure protrusions to deliver a load to the container support structure.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor output information is provided by a sensor on at least one of the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier, and wherein the sensor output information indicates that the remotely actuatable carrier is aligned with the container support structure when the sensor is positioned between a pair of markers on an underside of a respective pair of the plurality of support protrusions of the container support structure.
12. A method of providing transfer between a remotely actuatable carrier and a container support structure, said method comprising:
providing a remotely actuatable carrier that includes a plurality of support ridges proximate a container support structure, the container support structure including a plurality of support structure protrusions;
providing at least one sensor on the remotely actuatable carrier that provides sensor output information indicating whether the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier and the plurality of support structure protrusions of the container support structure are aligned; and
passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions of the container support structure responsive to the sensor output information indicating that the plurality of support ridges and the plurality of support structure protrusions are aligned.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the method further includes actuating a pair of independently actuatable wheels of the remotely actuatable carrier.
14. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the method further includes moving the plurality of support ridges with respect to a base of the remotely actuatable carrier.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein moving the plurality of support ridges with respect to the base includes lifting and lowering the plurality of support ridges with respect to the base.
16. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions includes passing the plurality of support ridges between the plurality of support structure protrusions at different heights.
17. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the plurality of container support surface protrusions includes a plurality of conveyor belts.
18. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges proximate the container support structure includes providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges under the container support structure.
19. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges proximate the container support structure includes providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges next to the container support structure.
20. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions includes passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier upward between the plurality of support structure protrusions to engage a load.
21. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions includes passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier horizontally between the plurality of support structure protrusions to deliver a load to the container support structure.
22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor is provided on at least one of the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier, and wherein the sensor output information indicates that the remotely actuatable carrier is aligned with the container support structure when the at least one sensor is positioned between a pair of markers on an underside of a respective pair of the plurality of support protrusions of the container support structure.
23. A method of providing transfer between a remotely actuatable carrier and a container support structure, said method comprising:
providing a remotely actuatable carrier that includes a plurality of support ridges proximate a container support structure, the container support structure including a plurality of support structure protrusions;
providing at least one sensor on the remotely actuatable carrier that provides sensor output information indicating whether the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier and the plurality of support structure protrusions of the container support structure are aligned, wherein the at least one sensor detects markers on an underside of one or more of the plurality of support structure protrusions; and
passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions responsive to the sensor output information indicating that the plurality of support ridges and the plurality of support structure protrusions are aligned.
24. The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the method further includes actuating a pair of independently actuatable wheels of the remotely actuatable carrier.
25. The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the method further includes moving the plurality of support ridges with respect to a base of the remotely actuatable carrier.
26. The method as claimed in claim 25 , wherein moving the plurality of support ridges with respect to the base includes lifting and lowering the plurality of support ridges with respect to the base.
27. The method as claimed in claim 25 , wherein passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions includes passing the plurality of support ridges between the plurality of support structure protrusions at different heights.
28. The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the plurality of container support surface protrusions includes a plurality of conveyor belts.
29. The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges proximate the container support structure includes providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges under the container support structure.
30. The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges proximate the container support structure includes providing the remotely actuatable carrier including the plurality of support ridges next to the container support structure.
31. The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions includes passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier upward between the plurality of support structure protrusions to engage a load.
32. The method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier between the plurality of support structure protrusions includes passing the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier horizontally between the plurality of support structure protrusions to deliver a load to the support structure.
33. The method of claim 23 , the at least one sensor is provided on at least one of the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier, and wherein the sensor output information indicates that the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier and the plurality of support structure protrusions of the container support structure are aligned when the at least one sensor on the remotely actuatable carrier is positioned between a pair of the markers on an underside of a respective pair of the plurality of support protrusions of the container support structure.
34. A processing system for providing transfer between a remotely actuatable carrier and a container support structure, said system comprising:
a remotely actuatable carrier including a plurality of support ridges proximate a container support structure and a sensor, the container support structure including a plurality of support structure protrusions,
wherein the sensor provides sensor output information indicating whether the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier are aligned with the plurality of support structure protrusions of the container support structure, and
wherein the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier are passed between the plurality of support structure protrusions responsive to the sensor output information indicating that the plurality of support ridges and the plurality of support structure protrusions are aligned.
35. The processing system as claimed in claim 34 , wherein the remotely actuatable carrier includes a pair of independently actuatable wheels of the remotely actuatable carrier.
36. The processing system as claimed in claim 34 , wherein the plurality of support ridges are movable with respect to a base of the remotely actuatable carrier.
37. The processing system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the plurality of support ridges are movable with respect to the base in elevational and rotation directions.
38. The processing system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier fit between the plurality of support structure protrusions when aligned.
39. The processing system as claimed in claim 34 , wherein the plurality of container support surface protrusions includes a plurality of conveyor belts.
40. The method of claim 34 , wherein the sensor output information indicates that the plurality of support ridges of the remotely actuatable carrier and the plurality of support structure protrusions of the container support structure are aligned when the sensor on the remotely actuatable carrier is positioned between a pair of markers on an underside of a respective pair of the plurality of support protrusions of the container support structure.