Buffering systems and methods for dynamic processing of objects
AssigneeBerkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
InventorsRobert Williams, Anthony Paul, Nector Ritzakis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A buffering system is disclosed for use between an upper processing area and a lower processing area. The buffering system includes a belt and at least one roller around at least a portion of which the belt extends. The belt is anchored at a first anchor location to a frame. The buffering system also includes an actuation system for moving the at least one roller with respect to the first anchor location to cause the belt to move such that a portion of the buffering system becomes open thereby providing a retractable belt door.
Claims81
A buffering system for use between an upper processing area and a lower processing area, said buffering system comprising a belt and at least one roller around at least a portion of which the belt extends, wherein a first end of the belt is fixed to a frame at a first anchor location and a second end of the belt is fixed to the frame at a second anchor location, and an actuation system for moving the at least one roller with respect to the first anchor location and the second anchor location to cause the belt to move such that a portion of the buffering system becomes open thereby providing a retractable belt door.
A buffering system for use between an upper processing area and a lower processing area, said buffering system comprising:
- a frame;
- a retractable belt door moveably coupled within the frame, the retractable belt door including at least one roller mounted to a common panel for reciprocal movement with respect to the frame, and a belt extending around the at least one roller, wherein a first end of the belt is fixed to the frame at a first anchor location and a second end of the belt is fixed to the frame at a second anchor location;
- and
- an actuation system for moving the common panel with respect to the frame to cause the belt to move such that a portion of the frame becomes open.
A method of buffering an object falling from an upper processing area to a lower processing area, said method comprising:
- providing at least one retractable belt door mounted for reciprocal movement with respect to a frame onto which the object may fall, the retractable belt door including a belt, wherein a first end of the belt is fixed to the frame at a first anchor location and a second end of the belt is fixed to the frame at a second anchor location;
- retracting the belt to peel away from the object;
- and
- permitting the object to fall through the retractable belt door.
A buffering system for use between an upper processing area and a lower processing area, said buffering system comprising a belt and at least one roller around at least a portion of which the belt extends, wherein the belt is anchored at a first anchor location to a frame, and an actuation system for moving the at least one roller with respect to the first anchor location to cause the belt to move such that a portion of the buffering system becomes open thereby providing a retractable belt door, wherein the buffering system further comprises a sub-frame suspended below and connected to the frame by suspension mechanisms to absorb impact of an object.
A buffering system for use between an upper processing area and a lower processing area, said buffering system comprising at least one roller mounted for reciprocal movement with respect to a frame, and a belt extending around the at least one roller, and an actuation system for moving the at least one roller with respect to frame to cause the belt to move such that a portion of the buffering system becomes open thereby providing a retractable belt door, wherein the buffering system further comprises a sub-frame suspended below and connected to the frame by suspension mechanisms to absorb impact of an object.
A method of buffering an object falling from an upper processing area to a lower processing area, said method comprising:
- providing at least one retractable belt door mounted for reciprocal movement with respect to a frame onto which the object may fall, the retractable belt door including a belt;
- retracting the belt by moving one end only of the belt to peel away from the object;
- and
- permitting the object to fall through the retractable belt door,
- wherein a sub-frame is suspended below and connected to the frame by suspension mechanisms to absorb impact of the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.