Automatic transportation of pallets of goods
AssigneeLineage Logistics, LLC
InventorsChristopher Frank Eckman, Daniél Walet, Elliott Gerard Wolf, Frank Baijens, Sudarsan Thattai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A layer pick system optimizes usage of a layer picker gantry or robotic arm by arranging and/or displacing the gantry or arm in optimal locations with respect to one or more groups of pallets, and/or by grouping pallets by their attributes and arranging the same group of pallets close to each other. In some implementations, a plurality of pallets is categorized into multiple groups by different velocities.
Claims20
A system for automatically assembling pallets of goods, the system comprising:
- a computing system configured to perform operations comprising controlling an automated pallet mover to place a first pallet in a first location in an assembly area, wherein the automated pallet mover is mobile and is configured to move in and out of the assembly area;
- and
- a layer picking apparatus in the assembly area and in communication with the computing system, the layer picking apparatus including a robotic arm, wherein the layer picking apparatus is affixed to a support structure and is configured to reach pallets located within the assembly area, wherein the layer picking apparatus is configured to perform operations comprising:
- receiving, from the computing system, instructions to relocate at least a portion of goods from the first pallet to a second pallet, the first pallet being located at the first location in the assembly area and the second pallet being located at a second location in the assembly area;
- moving, based on the instructions, to the first location of the first pallet in the assembly area;
- picking, based on the instructions, at least the portion of goods from the first pallet;
- moving, based on the instructions, to the second location of the second pallet in the assembly area;
- and
- placing, based on the instructions, at least the portion of goods from the first pallet onto the second pallet in the second location of the assembly area.
A layer picking apparatus for automatically assembling pallets of goods, the layer picking apparatus configured to perform operations comprising:
- determining instructions to relocate at least a portion of goods from a first pallet to a second pallet, the first pallet being located at a first location in an assembly area and the second pallet being located at a second location in the assembly area, wherein the first pallet was placed in the first location in the assembly area by an automated pallet mover, wherein the automated pallet mover is mobile and is configured to move in and out of the assembly area;
- moving, based on the instructions, to the first location of the first pallet in the assembly area;
- picking, based on the instructions, at least the portion of goods from the first pallet;
- moving, based on the instructions, to the second location of the second pallet in the assembly area;
- and
- placing, based on the instructions, at least the portion of goods from the first pallet onto the second pallet in the second location of the assembly area.
A robotic arm for palletizing and depalletizing pallets of goods, the robotic arm configured to perform operations comprising:
- receiving instructions to relocate at least a portion of goods from a first pallet to a second pallet, the first pallet being located at a first location in an assembly area and the second pallet being located at a second location in the assembly area, wherein the first pallet was placed in the first location in the assembly area by an automated pallet mover, wherein the automated pallet mover is mobile and is configured to move in and out of the assembly area;
- moving, based on the instructions, to the first location of the first pallet in the assembly area;
- picking, based on the instructions, at least the portion of goods from the first pallet;
- moving, based on the instructions, to the second location of the second pallet in the assembly area;
- and
- placing, based on the instructions, at least the portion of goods from the first pallet onto the second pallet in the second location of the assembly area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.