Systems and methods for processing objects including payload positionable mobile carriers and processing systems for sequencing delivery of objects
AssigneeBerkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
InventorPrasanna Velagapudi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is disclosed of providing processing of a plurality of objects. The method comprises providing a plurality of containers from an input conveyance system to a plurality of container input stations, actuating a plurality of remotely actuatable carriers to move the containers from the plurality of input stations to a plurality of container support structures, as well as to any of a plurality of programmable motion devices for moving objects between containers; scheduling movement of the containers to and from the plurality of programmable motion devices; and providing a completed subset of the plurality of containers to an output conveyance system.
Claims23
An object processing system for processing a plurality of objects, said object processing system comprising:
- an input conveyance system for providing a plurality of containers containing the plurality of objects;
- a plurality of container storage locations for temporarily storing any of the plurality of containers, wherein one or more of the container storage locations includes a container support structure having a plurality of protrusions;
- a plurality of vertical levels on which the plurality of container storage locations are distributed, said input conveyance system being in communication with the plurality of vertical levels;
- and
- a plurality of automated carriers for moving the plurality of containers from the input conveyance system, and among the plurality of container storage locations, and to an output conveyance system;
- said output conveyance system providing subsets of completed containers of the plurality of containers from any of a plurality of vertical output conveyance systems that are in communication with each of the levels of the plurality of container storage locations, each subset of completed containers being provided together at an output location of a plurality of output locations, and wherein each subset of completed containers is associated with a designated shelving area at another location,
- at least one automated carrier of the plurality of automated carriers having a payload portion that includes a plurality of support ridges adapted to pass between the plurality of protrusions of the container support structure,
- wherein the at least one automated carrier and the container support structure include a plurality of detection units and a plurality of markers detectable by the detection units for confirming alignment such that the plurality of support ridges pass between the plurality of protrusions.
An object processing system for processing a plurality of objects, said object processing system comprising:
- an input conveyance system for providing a plurality of containers containing the plurality of objects;
- a plurality of container storage locations for temporarily storing any of the plurality of containers, wherein one or more of the container storage locations includes a container support structure having a plurality of protrusions;
- a plurality of vertical levels on which the plurality of container storage locations are distributed, said input conveyance system being in communication with the plurality of vertical levels;
- and
- a plurality of automated carriers for moving the plurality of containers from the plurality of container storage locations, and to an output conveyance system;
- said output conveyance system providing subsets of completed containers of the plurality of containers from any of a plurality of vertical output conveyance systems that are in communication with each of the levels of the plurality of container storage locations, each subset of completed containers being provided together at an output location of a plurality of output locations on further automated carriers, and wherein each subset of completed containers is associated with a designated shelving area at another location,
- at least one automated carrier of the plurality of automated carriers having a payload portion that includes a plurality of support ridges adapted to pass between the plurality of protrusions of the container support structure,
- wherein the at least one automated carrier includes a plurality of detection units disposed on at least two of the plurality of support ridges for confirming alignment with the plurality of protrusions of the container support structure such that the plurality of support ridges of the at least one automated carrier pass between the plurality of protrusions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.