# US 12,759,805 B2 · Systems, methods, and apparatuses for locating, engaging, and shifting objects in automated or semi-automated fashion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,805 B2 - Document ID: US12759805B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/769,256 - Filed: 2024-07-10 - Published: 2024-11-07 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-16 - Assignees: United Parcel Service of America, Inc. - Applicants: United Parcel Service of America, Inc. - Inventors: Julio Gil; Julian Leland Bell; Youngjun Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759805B2 ## CPC - B65G 47/24: orientating the articles - B65G 15/105: {the surface being formed by two or more ropes} - B65G 65/02: Loading or unloading machines comprising essentially a conveyor for moving the loads associated with a device for picking-up the loads - B65G 67/46: Apparatus for lifting and tilting - B65G 67/08: using endless conveyors - 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 Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for locating, engaging, and shifting objects. The systems may be used to unload objects from a storage space, e.g., inside a vehicle or facility, including one associated with a logistics network operation. The systems disclosed herein may operate in automated or semi-automated fashion, e.g., at the direction of a control system associated with a computing device. The systems may further utilize shifter mechanisms that each include one or more belt-driven mechanisms and position-changing mechanisms that facilitate the locating, engaging, and shifting of objects in a storage space. The components of these systems may operate independently, or in coordination, thereby increasing the efficiency of an object-handling operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a shifter mechanism configured for shifting objects, the shifter mechanism comprising: a belt-driven mechanism that comprises a belt extending over a series of rollers and an actuator operable to translate the belt over the series of rollers; and an integrated actuator assembly comprising an elongated structure extending between a roller of the series of rollers and a pin coupled to a linear actuator and positioned within an elongated slot, wherein the linear actuator is operable to shift the pin within the elongated slot to decrease a distance between the roller and the pin and adjust relative positions of the series of rollers to cause the series of rollers to form a wedge-like shape and increase the distance between the roller and the pin and adjust the relative positions of the series of rollers to cause the series of rollers to form a substantially linear alignment; and a detection system operable to detect at least one of edges, boundaries, surfaces, or contours of the objects. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the pin is mounted to and at least partially confined within the elongated slot. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator extends between the roller and the pin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein decreasing the distance between the roller and the pin produces a more compact geometry of the shifter mechanism. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein increasing the distance between the roller and the pin produces a more lengthened geometry of the shifter mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shifter mechanism of claim 1, wherein the detection system comprises a physical-contacting element that at least one of extends or retracts into contact with one of the objects. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The shifter mechanism of claim 1, wherein the detection system comprises an imaging device with an optical sensor to detect one of the objects. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The shifter mechanism of claim 1, wherein the detection system comprises a distance-measuring laser to detect one of the objects. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The shifter mechanism of claim 1, wherein the detection system comprises a rotation sensor operable to detect a rotational resistance to a pivoting motion imparted to the shifter mechanism to determine the shifter mechanism is in contact with one of the objects. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The shifter mechanism of claim 1, wherein increasing the distance between the roller and the pin produces a more lengthened geometry of the shifter mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The shifter mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a detection system operable to detect at least one of edges, boundaries, surfaces, or contours of objects. ### Claim 12 A shifter mechanism comprising: a belt-driven mechanism that comprises a belt extending over a series of rollers and an actuator operable to translate the belt over the series of rollers; and an integrated actuator assembly comprising an elongated structure, a pin, an elongated slot, and a linear actuator, wherein: the elongated structure extends between a roller of the series of rollers and the pin, the pin is coupled to the linear actuator and is positioned within the elongated slot, and the linear actuator is operable to shift the pin within the elongated slot to decrease a distance between the roller and the pin and adjust relative positions of the series of rollers to cause the series of rollers to form a wedge-like shape and increase the distance between the roller and the pin and adjust the relative positions of the series of rollers to cause the series of rollers to form a substantially linear alignment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The shifter mechanism of claim 12, wherein the pin is mounted to and at least partially confined within the elongated slot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The shifter mechanism of claim 12, wherein the linear actuator extends between the roller and the pin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The shifter mechanism of claim 12, wherein decreasing the distance between the roller and the pin produces a more compact geometry of the shifter mechanism. ### Claim 16 A system comprising: a shifter mechanism configured for shifting objects, the shifter mechanism comprising: a belt-driven mechanism that comprises a belt extending over a series of rollers and an actuator operable to translate the belt over the series of rollers; and an integrated actuator assembly comprising a structure extending between a roller of the series of rollers and a pin coupled to a linear actuator and positioned within a slot, wherein the linear actuator is operable to shift the pin within the slot to decrease a distance between the roller and the pin and adjust relative positions of the series of rollers to form a wedge-like shape; and a detection system operable to detect at least one of edges, boundaries, surfaces, or contours of the objects. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the pin is mounted to and at least partially confined within the slot. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the linear actuator extends between the roller and the pin. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein decreasing the distance between the roller and the pin produces a more compact geometry of the shifter mechanism. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein increasing the distance between the roller and the pin produces a more lengthened geometry of the shifter mechanism.