# US 12,005,478 B2 · Multi-tiered parcel sortation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,478 B2 - Document ID: US12005478B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/107,228 - Filed: 2023-02-08 - Published: 2023-06-22 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-31 - Assignees: United Parcel Service of America, Inc. - Applicants: United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. - Inventors: Julian Leland Bell; Gregory Casanova Brown, II; Stephens Woodrough; Dameion Teres Drake - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005478B2 ## CPC - B07C 3/008: {Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items (pile receivers in general B65H31/00)} - B07C 3/02: Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution - B07C 3/006: {Electric or electronic control circuits, e.g. delay lines (delay devices per se H03H7/30, H03H11/26)} - B07C 5/36: Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution {(sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02)} - B65G 1/0464: {with access from above} - B65G 1/0478: {for matrix-arrangements} - B65G 47/54: at least one of which is a roller-way - B07C 2501/0063: Using robots - B65G 2201/0285: Postal items, e.g. letters, parcels - B65G 2203/0283: Position of the load carrier - 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) ## Abstract A multi-tiered automated parcel sortation system is utilized to sort parcels according to a common destination. A first tier includes an automated sorter configured to transport parcels from a source location to a release destination. A second tier includes accumulation containers each associated with a shipping destination, and the release destination within the first tier is a positioned directly above the accumulation container associated with the shipping destination of the parcel. Once transported to the release destination, a parcel is released into the accumulation container, and once the accumulation container is filled, the accumulation of parcels within the container is released into a third tier, which may include conveyors or autonomous guided vehicles with transport containers. In the third tier, the parcels are transported away for further processing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automated parcel sortation system comprising: a first tier comprising a plurality of tracks that intersect to form a grid that is horizontally oriented, and one or more autonomous guided vehicles that traverse the grid along the plurality of tracks; a second tier positioned beneath the first tier and comprising a plurality of accumulation containers, each accumulation container of the plurality of accumulation containers being associated with a shipping destination; and a third tier comprising a parcel accumulation transporter positioned beneath the second tier and configured to transport an accumulation of parcels received from one of the plurality of accumulation containers towards a perimeter of the automated parcel sortation system, wherein the one or more autonomous guided vehicles are each configured to transport a parcel across the grid to a position above an accumulation container of the plurality of accumulation containers that is associated with the shipping destination that corresponds to an assigned shipping destination of the parcel and to release the parcel into the accumulation container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more autonomous guided vehicles is configured to determine a route to the position above the accumulation container that is associated with the shipping destination that corresponds to the assigned shipping destination of the parcel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 2, wherein each of the one or more autonomous guided vehicles determines the route by receiving the route from a remote computer system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 3, wherein each of the one or more autonomous guided vehicles is configured to determine a return route from the position above the accumulation container to a return source location. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more autonomous guided vehicles contemporaneously traverse the grid along different routes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more autonomous guided vehicles comprises a body and a tray forming a lower portion of the body that is configured to hold the parcel and release the parcel when the tray is positioned over the accumulation container. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 6, wherein the tray comprises one or more hinged doors. ### Claim 8 An automated parcel sortation system comprising: a first tier comprising an automated parcel sorter configured to transport a plurality of parcels, each parcel of the plurality of parcels having an assigned shipping destination; a second tier positioned beneath the first tier and comprising a plurality of accumulation containers, each accumulation container of the plurality of accumulation containers being associated with a shipping destination; and a third tier comprising a parcel accumulation transporter positioned beneath the second tier and configured to transport an accumulation of parcels received from one of the plurality of accumulation containers towards a perimeter of the automated parcel sortation system, wherein the second tier is suspended above the third tier, and the automated parcel sorter is configured to transport a parcel to a position above an accumulation container of the plurality of accumulation containers that is associated with the shipping destination that corresponds to the assigned shipping destination the parcel and release the parcel into the accumulation container. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 8, wherein the automated parcel sorter comprises: a plurality of tracks that intersect to form a grid that is horizontally oriented, the grid comprising openings between the tracks that are each positioned above an accumulation container of the plurality of accumulation containers; and one or more autonomous guided vehicles configured to traverse the grid along the plurality of tracks. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 9, wherein the one or more autonomous guided vehicles contemporaneously traverse the grid along different routes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 8, wherein the automated parcel sorter comprises a plurality of omnidirectional transfer units arranged adjacent one another to form a grid that is horizontally oriented, and each omnidirectional transfer unit of the plurality of omnidirectional transfer units is configured to move along at least two axes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 11, wherein the automated parcel sorter further comprises a computerized sortation manager communicatively coupled to the plurality of omnidirectional transfer units, and the computerized sortation manager is configured to determine a route from a source location at which the parcel is received on the grid to the position above the accumulation container associated with the shipping destination that corresponds to the assigned shipping destination of the parcel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 8, wherein the parcel accumulation transporter of the third tier comprises a conveyor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 8, wherein the parcel accumulation transporter of the third tier comprises an autonomous guided vehicle that includes a transport container, and the autonomous guided vehicle is configured to position the transport container beneath the one of the plurality of accumulation containers and transport the accumulation of parcels that is received by the transport container from the one of the plurality of accumulation containers. ### Claim 15 An automated parcel sortation system comprising: a first tier comprising an automated parcel sorter configured to transport a plurality of parcels, each parcel of the plurality of parcels having an assigned shipping destination; and a second tier positioned beneath the first tier and comprising a plurality of accumulation containers, each accumulation container of the plurality of accumulation containers being associated with a shipping destination, wherein the automated parcel sorter is configured to transport a parcel to a position directly above an accumulation container of the plurality of accumulation containers that is associated with the shipping destination that corresponds to the assigned shipping destination the parcel and to release the parcel into the accumulation container, and each accumulation container of the plurality of accumulation containers is suspended above a third tier comprising a parcel accumulation transporter for transporting an accumulation of parcels received from one of the plurality of accumulation containers towards a perimeter of the automated parcel sortation system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 15, wherein the one of the plurality of accumulation containers is configured to hold the accumulation of parcels and release the accumulation of parcels to the parcel accumulation transporter when an accumulation threshold for the one of the plurality of accumulation containers is satisfied. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 16, wherein the accumulation threshold is at least one of an accumulation volume threshold, an accumulation weight threshold, or an accumulation height threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 15, wherein the automated parcel sorter comprises: a plurality of tracks that intersect to form a grid that is horizontally oriented, the grid comprising openings between the tracks that are each positioned above an accumulation container of the plurality of accumulation containers; and one or more autonomous guided vehicles configured to traverse the grid along the plurality of tracks. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 15, wherein the automated parcel sorter comprises a plurality of omnidirectional transfer units arranged adjacent one another to form a grid that is horizontally oriented, and each omnidirectional transfer unit of the plurality of omnidirectional transfer units is configured to move along at least two axes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The automated parcel sortation system of claim 19, wherein each omnidirectional transfer unit of the plurality of omnidirectional transfer units comprises a first door and a second door, and each of the first door and the second door is configured to at least partially open to create a temporary opening within the grid and release the parcel positioned on one of the omnidirectional transfer units into the accumulation container.