Patents by Inventor Thomas M. FERNER

Thomas M. FERNER has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11318620
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a material handling system for manipulating items. The material handling system includes a repositioning system comprising a robotic tool which includes a robotic arm portion and an end effector. The robotic tool is configured to manipulate an item in a first orientation and reorient the item to a second orientation. The material handling system further includes a vision system having one or more sensors positioned within the material handling system. The vision system is configured to generate inputs corresponding to the characteristics of the items. The material handling system may further include a controller executing instructions to cause the material handling system to identify the item in the first orientation, based on the one or more characteristics of the item, initiate, by the repositioning system, picking of the item in the first orientation, and re-orient the item in the second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC, Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Matthew R. Wicks, Michael L. Girtman, Thomas M. Ferner, John Simons, Herman Herman, Gabriel Goldman, Jose Gonzalez-Mora, Katharina Muelling
  • Publication number: 20220041383
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to unloading system and methods of using the same. In various embodiments, an unloading system comprises a trailer bed configured to receive a container thereon, wherein the trailer bed comprises one or more joints configurable between a plurality of joint positions, wherein the trailer bed is configured to lift, tilt, and oscillate at least a portion of the container based on the joints; and an extendable conveyor configured to receive a box that has been released from the container and convey the box away from the trailer bed. Various embodiments are directed to a method comprising tilting the container such that an open end of the container is lower than a closed end of the container, wherein the open end of the container is proximate to an extendable conveyor; and oscillating the container to facilitate release of a box from the container onto the extendable conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Sai Prasanth Krishnamoorthy, Dikshya Swain, Ramdas Pai, Thomas M. Ferner
  • Publication number: 20190344447
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a material handling system for manipulating items. The material handling system includes a repositioning system comprising a robotic tool which includes a robotic arm portion and an end effector. The robotic tool is configured to manipulate an item in a first orientation and reorient the item to a second orientation. The material handling system further includes a vision system having one or more sensors positioned within the material handling system. The vision system is configured to generate inputs corresponding to the characteristics of the items. The material handling system may further include a controller executing instructions to cause the material handling system to identify the item in the first orientation, based on the one or more characteristics of the item, initiate, by the repositioning system, picking of the item in the first orientation, and re-orient the item in the second orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew R. WICKS, Michael L. GIRTMAN, Thomas M. FERNER, John SIMONS, Herman HERMAN, Gabriel GOLDMAN, Jose GONZALEZ-MORA, Katharina MUELLING