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US 11,897,652 B2Granted
Devices, systems and processes for facilitating opening of boxes
AssigneeDISH Network L.L.C.
InventorsJimmy A. Pollard, Jr., Zachary Morrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An opening station for facilitating box opening may include a scanning station, an edge opening station, and a conveyor assembly. The scanning station is configured to measure a length “L”, height “H”, and/or width “W” of a substantially square box having a top, a bottom, two sides, and two edge portions. The edge opening station is configured to perform perforation operations on at least one of the two edge portions. A complete box opening system may include the scanning station, edge opening station, conveyor, and at least one of a top opening station and a side opening station.
Claims20
A system, for facilitating automated opening of a box, comprising:
- a scanning station configured to measure one or more of a length, height, and width of a box;
- wherein the box has a length L, a height H, and a width W;
- wherein the box is formed in substantially one of a square or rectangular configuration by:
- a top portion;
- a bottom portion;
- wherein each of the top portion and the bottom portion having L by W dimensions;
- two side portions having L by H dimensions;
- and
- two edge portions having H by W dimensions;
- an edge opening station configured to perform perforation operations on at least one of the two edge portions;
- wherein the edge opening station further comprises:
- an edge leading plate;
- an edge trailing plate;
- and
- wherein at least one of the edge leading plate and edge trailing plate further comprise an edge guide slot;
- a first edge adjustment mechanism coupled to the edge leading plate and the edge trailing plate;
- and
- a conveyor assembly configured to contact the bottom portion of the box and facilitate movement of the box through each of the scanning station and the edge opening station;
- an edge perforating wheel;
- an edge perforating wheel holding block coupled to the edge perforating wheel and configured to facilitate movement of the edge perforating wheel within the edge guide slot;
- a second edge adjustment mechanism coupled to the first edge adjustment mechanism;
- and
- a third edge adjustment mechanism coupled to the edge perforating wheel block and to the second edge adjustment mechanism.
20 more elements
A system, for facilitating automated opening of a box, comprising:
- a scanning station configured to measure one or more of a length, height, and width of a box;
- wherein the box has a length L, a height H, and a width W;
- wherein the box is formed in substantially one of a square or rectangular configuration by:
- a top portion;
- a bottom portion;
- wherein each of the top portion and the bottom portion having L by W dimensions;
- two side portions having L by H dimensions;
- and
- two edge portions having H by W dimensions;
- an edge opening station configured to perform perforation operations on at least one of the two edge portions;
- wherein the edge opening station further comprises:
- an edge leading plate;
- an edge trailing plate;
- and
- wherein at least one of the edge leading plate and edge trailing plate further comprise an edge guide slot
- a first edge adjustment mechanism coupled to the edge leading plate and the edge trailing plate;
- and
- a conveyor assembly configured to contact the bottom portion of the box and facilitate movement of the box through each of the scanning station and the edge opening station;
- an edge perforating wheel;
- an edge perforating wheel holding block coupled to the edge perforating wheel and configured to facilitate movement of the edge perforating wheel within the edge guide slot;
- a second edge adjustment mechanism coupled to the first edge adjustment mechanism;
- a third edge adjustment mechanism coupled to the edge perforating wheel block and to the second edge adjustment mechanism;
- a top opening station configured to perforate the top portion of the box;
- and
- wherein the conveyor assembly is further configured to facilitate movement of the box through the top opening station.
22 more elements
A device, for perforating an edge of a box, comprising:
- a leading plate configured to first secure a box during a perforation operation;
- wherein the box has a length L, a height H, and a width W;
- a trailing plate configured to second secure the box during the perforation operation;
- wherein the trailing plate further comprises a guide slot;
- a perforating wheel configured to perforate the box during the perforation operation;
- a first adjustment mechanism, coupled to and configured to adjust a distance between the leading plate and the trailing plate;
- a second adjustment mechanism, coupled to the leading plate and the trailing plate, configured to adjust a first height of the leading plate and a second height of the trailing plate;
- and
- a third adjustment mechanism configured to move the perforating wheel along the guide slot along a portion S of the width W of the box.
6 more elements
A method, for automatically opening a box, comprising:
- determining, using a scanning system, dimensions of a box;
- wherein the box has a length L, a height H, and a width W;
- wherein the box comprises a top portion and a bottom portion;
- wherein each of the top portion and the bottom portion are definable by L×W;
- wherein the box comprises a proximal side portion and a distal side portion;
- wherein each of the proximal side portion and the distal side portion are definable by H×L;
- and
- wherein the box comprises a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion;
- wherein each of the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion are definable by H×W;
- determining whether the box dimensions are acceptable;
- when the box dimensions are not acceptable;
- identifying the box for manual opening operations;
- and
- when the box dimensions are acceptable,
- inserting the box into an edge opening station comprising:
- an edge leading plate;
- an edge trailing plate;
- wherein at least one of the edge leading plate and edge trailing plate further comprise an edge guide slot;
- an edge perforating wheel;
- an edge perforating wheel holding block coupled to the edge perforating wheel and configured to facilitate movement of the edge perforating wheel within the edge guide slot;
- and
- a first edge adjustment mechanism coupled to the edge leading plate and the edge trailing plate;
- and
- perforating, by the edge perforating wheel, at least one of the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of the box.
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.