IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,475,340
Granted Patent B2
US 12,475,340 · App. 18/811,141 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Systems and methods for separating objects using conveyor transfer with one or more object processing systems

Inventors: Thomas Wagner (Concord, MA); Matthew T. Mason (Pittsburgh, PA); Christopher Geyer (Arlington, MA); John Richard Amend, Jr. (Belmont, MA); Kyle Maroney (North Attleboro, MA); Joseph Romano (Arlington, MA); Victoria Hinchey (Winchester, MA); Jeffrey Kittredge (Lexington, MA); Andrew Gauthier (Somerville, MA); Lakshman Kumar (Burlington, MA); Prasanna Velagapudi (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
G06K7/10693B07C5/3412B65G1/1378B65G25/04B65G47/12B65G47/18B65G47/46B65G47/962B65G2203/041
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,475,340
App. No.
18/811,141
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A distribution system is disclosed for use in an induction system with an object processing system. The distribution system provides distribution of dissimilar objects into one of a plurality of receiving units. The distribution system includes an urging system for urging an object on a conveyor from the conveyor to one of a plurality of adjacent receiving stations via a receiving chute, wherein each receiving station is lower than the conveyor.

Claims (43)

1 . A method of processing objects comprising:

moving an object along an in-feed conveyance system in a first direction;

receiving the object from the in-feed conveyance system at a weight sensing conveyor section, said weight sensing conveyor section being operable to selectively move the object in any direction selected from among the first direction and two mutually opposing cross-directions that are generally transverse to the first direction;

determining a weight of the object at the weight sensing conveyor section;

directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object;

receiving the object from the weight sensing conveyor section in the cross-direction at a processing conveyor; and

moving the object along the processing conveyor in a second direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the object from the weight sensing conveyor section includes providing the object along a chute between the weight sensing conveyor section and the processing conveyor.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the chute includes at least one underside door that permits a further object thereon to be dropped to a further processing conveyor that moves in a third direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction belts.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction paddles.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction air movement systems.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second direction is below the first direction.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the weight of the object includes supporting the object on rollers of the weight sensing conveyor section that are mounted on load cells.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the weight of the object includes supporting the object on rollers of the weight sensing conveyor section that are mounted on force torque sensors.

10 . A method of processing objects comprising:

moving an object along an in-feed conveyance system in a first direction;

receiving the object from the in-feed conveyance system at a weight sensing conveyor section, said weight sensing conveyor section being operable to selectively move the object in any direction selected from among the first direction and at least one cross-direction that is generally transverse to the first direction;

determining a weight of the object at the weight sensing conveyor section;

directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in the cross-direction responsive to the determined weight of the object;

receiving the object from the weight sensing conveyor section in the cross-direction at a chute;

receiving the object from the chute at a processing conveyor; and

moving the object along the processing conveyor in a second direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the chute includes at least one underside door that permits a further object thereon to be dropped to a further processing conveyor that moves in a third direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction belts.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction paddles.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object involves actuation of cross-direction air movement systems.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second direction is below the first direction.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining the weight of the object includes supporting the object on rollers of the weight sensing conveyor section that are mounted on load cells.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining the weight of the object includes supporting the object on rollers of the weight sensing conveyor section that are mounted on force torque sensors.

18 . An object processing system comprising:

an in-feed conveyance system for moving an object in a first direction;

a weight-sensing conveyor section for receiving the object from the in-feed conveyance system, said weight sensing conveyor section being operable to selectively move the object in any direction selected from among the first direction and two mutually opposing cross-directions that are generally transverse to the first direction;

an actuation system for directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to a determined weight of the object as determined at the weight-sensing conveyor section; and

a processing conveyor for receiving the object from the weight sensing conveyor section in the cross-direction, the processing conveyor for moving the object in a second direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

19 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the object processing system further includes a chute for receiving the object from the weight sensing conveyor section.

20 . The object processing system of claim 19 , wherein the chute includes at least one underside door that permits a further object thereon to be dropped to a further processing conveyor that moves in a third direction that is generally parallel with the first direction.

21 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the object processing system further includes cross-direction belts for directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object.

22 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the object processing system further includes cross-direction paddles for directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object.

23 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the object processing system further includes cross-direction air movement systems for directing the object off of the weight sensing conveyor section in one of the two cross-directions responsive to the determined weight of the object.

24 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the second direction is below the first direction.

25 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the weight sensing conveyor section includes supporting the object on rollers of the weight sensing conveyor section that are mounted on load cells.

26 . The object processing system of claim 18 , wherein the weight sensing conveyor section includes supporting the object on rollers of the weight sensing conveyor section that are mounted on force torque sensors.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2024
From: WAGNER, THOMAS; MASON, MATTHEW T.; GEYER, CHRISTOPHER; AMEND, JOHN RICHARD, JR.; MARONEY, KYLE; ROMANO, JOSEPH; HINCHEY, VICTORIA; KITTREDGE, JEFFREY; GAUTHIER, ANDREW; KUMAR, LAKSHMAN; VELAGAPUDI, PRASANNA
To: BERKSHIRE GREY OPERATING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 068600/0459 →
Continuity (11)
Continuation 18142071 · May 2, 2023
Continuation 17516862 · Nov 2, 2021
Continuation 16737213 · Jan 8, 2020
Continuation In Part 16661820 · Oct 23, 2019
Continuation In Part 16543105 · Aug 16, 2019
Continuation 15956442 · Apr 18, 2018
Provisional Application 62884351 · Aug 8, 2019
Provisional Application 62789775 · Jan 8, 2019
Provisional Application 62749509 · Oct 23, 2018
Provisional Application 62486783 · Apr 18, 2017
Related Publication 20240412014A1 · Dec 12, 2024
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