# US 10,870,131 B2 · Mobile sorter platforms and method for sorting articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,131 B2 - Document ID: US10870131B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/232,669 - Filed: 2018-12-26 - Published: 2019-05-02 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-15 - Assignees: Tompkins International - Applicants: Tompkins International - Inventors: Michael C. Futch; James M. Serstad; Ryan Fehrenbacher; Milan Patel; Ray Wells; Steven Wu; Richard C. Kaminska, III; James Edouard; Denny McKnight; John C. Spain - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870131B2 ## CPC - B07C 5/36: Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution {(sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02)} - B07C 3/008: {Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items (pile receivers in general B65H31/00)} - B07C 3/18: Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks {(applying data to information carriers G06K1/12)} - B07C 5/344: according to electric or electromagnetic properties {(sorting according to size measured electrically or electronically B07C5/08; material testing by magnetic means G01N24/00, G01N27/00, by electrical means G01N27/00; electrical measuring devices in general G01R; coin testing G07D5/00)} - B07C 7/02: Compartmented furniture, e.g. pigeon-holes ({B07C7/005 takes precedence; furniture per se A47B}; storage racks B65G) - B65G 1/065: {with self propelled cars} - G05B 19/41895: {using automatic guided vehicles [AGV] (control of position or course of AGV's G05D1/00)} - G06K 7/10: by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation - G06K 7/10366: {the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications} - G06K 7/1417: {2D bar codes} - G06K 19/06028: {using bar codes} - G06K 19/06196: {Constructional details} - G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs} - B07C 2301/0016: RFID-tags - B07C 2501/0063: Using robots - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract A platform assembly for use with sorting articles includes a first panel including a plurality of markers thereon, the markers forming a track on the first panel for transit thereabout by a plurality of vehicles. Each marker includes one or more magnetic characteristics for determining an orientation of the marker. A container is positioned about at least one of the plurality of markers. The platform assembly defines a first orientation in which the platform assembly is in a retracted position and a second orientation in which the platform assembly is in an extended position with a horizontal disposition. During operation, the vehicle is directed by a control system to deposit an article carried thereon into a container associated with a marker based on the location and the orientation of the marker. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A platform assembly for use with sorting articles, the platform assembly comprising: a first panel comprising a plurality of markers thereon, the markers forming a track on the first panel for transit thereabout by a plurality of vehicles, each marker comprising one or more magnetic characteristics for determining an orientation of the marker, and a container positioned about at least one of the plurality of markers, wherein the platform assembly defines a first orientation in which the platform assembly is in a retracted position and a second orientation in which the platform assembly is in an extended position with a horizontal disposition, wherein, in operation, the vehicle is directed by a control system to deposit an article carried thereon into a container associated with a marker based on the location and the orientation of the marker. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The platform assembly of claim 1, wherein the first panel defines two partial sections that are pivotably engaged when the platform assembly is in the extended position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The platform assembly of claim 1, wherein the container is one of a bag or a box. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The platform assembly of claim 1, wherein an imaging device, RFID reader or a scanner interacts with an identifier on the article. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The platform assembly of claim 1, comprising a second panel, wherein the first panel is elevated compared to the second panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The platform assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an imaging device, RFID reader or a scanner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The platform assembly of claim 1, wherein the container is associated with a delivery hub, delivery route, a zip code or other geographic identifier, wherein the delivery hub, delivery route, zip code or other geographic identifier is associated with a plurality of parcels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The platform assembly of claim 1, wherein the container is associated with a retail or online order. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The platform assembly of claim 1, wherein the track includes a grid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The platform assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one marker comprises an RFID tag and a magnetic array, the magnetic array comprising one or more magnetic bars, wherein the magnetic bars extend from a periphery of an RFID tag to form a magnetic field that produces a magnetic signature. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The platform assembly of claim 10, wherein at least one magnetic bar is of an opposite magnetic polarity as the other magnetic bars, or at least one side of the periphery of the RFID tag lacks a magnetic bar. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The platform assembly of claim 10, wherein the RFID tag is configured to provide a location of the marker, and a magnetic force is configured to provide an orientation of the marker, wherein the magnetic force corresponds to the magnetic field that produces the magnetic signature. ### Claim 13 A system for use with sorting articles, the system comprising: a platform assembly comprising a first panel comprising a plurality of markers thereon, the markers forming a track on the first panel for transit thereabout by a plurality of vehicles, each marker comprising one or more magnetic characteristics for determining an orientation of the marker, wherein the platform assembly defines a first orientation in which the platform assembly is in a retracted position and a second orientation in which the platform assembly is in an extended position with a horizontal disposition, and a container positioned about at least one of the plurality of markers, and a control system configured to: determine a location and an orientation of a marker; determine an identity of an article carried by the vehicle based on an identifier on the article; and communicate over a network with the vehicle to direct the vehicle to deposit the article carried thereon into a container associated with the marker and the article. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the control system is configured to: sort articles from a batched order comprising a plurality of orders, and communicate over a network with the vehicle to direct the vehicle to deposit articles associated with a single order into the container associated with the marker. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the control system is configured to inform a user to remove the container associated with the marker after deposit of all articles associated with an order. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the first panel defines two partial sections that are pivotably engaged when the platform assembly is in the extended position. ### Claim 17 A method for sorting articles, the method comprising: determining, by a controller, a location and an orientation of a marker formed on a first panel of a platform assembly, the first panel comprising a plurality of markers thereon, the markers forming a track on the first panel for transit thereabout by a plurality of vehicles, each marker comprising one or more magnetic characteristics for determining the orientation of the marker, wherein the platform assembly defines a first orientation in which the platform assembly is in a retracted position and a second orientation in which the platform assembly is in an extended position with a horizontal disposition, determining, by the controller, an identity of an article carried by the vehicle based on an identifier on the article; communicating over a network, by the controller, with the vehicle to direct the vehicle to deposit the article carried thereon into a container associated with the marker and the article, the container positioned about at least one of the plurality of markers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: sorting articles, by the controller, from a batched order comprising a plurality of orders, and communicating over a network, by the controller, with the vehicle to direct the vehicle to deposit articles associated with a single order into the container associated with the marker. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: informing a user, by the controller, to remove the container associated with the marker after deposit of the article. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the first panel defines two partial sections that are pivotably engaged when the platform assembly is in the extended position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the container is one of a bag or a box. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein an imaging device, RFID reader or a scanner interacts with an identifier on the article. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the panel comprises a second panel, wherein the first panel is elevated compared to the second panel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the vehicle comprises an imaging device, RFID reader or a scanner. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein at least one marker comprises an RFID tag and a magnetic array, the magnetic array comprising one or more magnetic bars, wherein the magnetic bars extend from a periphery of an RFID tag to form a magnetic field that produces a magnetic signature.