Article Handling Patents (Class 700/213)
- Operator or payment initiated (Class 700/232)
- Blending or mixing (Class 700/239)
- Condition controlled dispensing (e.g., weight or volume) (Class 700/240)
- Central control of plural dispensing units (Class 700/241)
- Particular supply arrangement (e.g., plural sources or compartments) (Class 700/242)
- Monitoring or inspection (Class 700/244)
-
Patent number: 11958695Abstract: A system (100) for delaminating a stream (110) of articles (A, B, C, D, E) includes a delamination unit (130) with a plurality of individually controlled rollers (134) configured to carry a stream (110) of articles (A, B, C, D, E), a detection unit (150) with a sensor (152), and a control unit (160) with a processor (162) and interfacing with the delamination unit (130) and the detection unit (150), wherein the detection unit (150) is configured to detect a position of each of the articles (A, B, C, D, E) and to transmit position data to the control unit (160), and wherein the control unit (160) is configured, through operation of the processor (162), to correlate positions of the articles (A, B, C, D, E) with the plurality of individually controlled rollers (134), and to individually control the rollers (134) based on the position data to delaminate the stream (110) of articles (A, B, C, D, E).Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2019Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Körber Supply Chain LLCInventor: Michael D. Carpenter
-
Patent number: 11946796Abstract: A method of generating feedback for a container load process includes: during a load process for a container at a load bay, controlling a sensor assembly disposed at the load bay to capture sensor data depicting an interior of the container; at a computing device connected to the sensor assembly, detecting, based on the sensor data, a wall of items placed in the container interior; determining, at the computing device from the sensor data: (i) a boundary attribute of the detected wall, and (ii) a composition attribute of the detected wall; comparing, at the computing device, (i) the boundary attribute to a boundary criterion, and (ii) the composition attribute to a composition criterion; and responsive to at least one of the boundary attribute not meeting the boundary criterion, or the composition attribute not meeting the composition attribute, generating an alert for transmission to a client computing device.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorporationInventors: Seth David Silk, Andrew Ehlers, Nirav Shah, Peter S. Carberry, IV
-
Patent number: 11931895Abstract: A robot control system includes circuitry configured to: determine a necessity of assisting a robot to complete an automated work, based on environment information of the robot; select a remote operator from candidate remote operators based on stored operator data in response to determining that it is necessary to assist the robot to complete the automated work; transmit the environment information to the selected remote operator via a communication network; receive an operation instruction based on the environment information from the selected remote operator via the communication network; and control the robot to complete the automated work based on the operation instruction.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Inventors: Hiroyuki Handa, Koji Sokabe, Keita Shimamoto, Masaru Adachi, Ryokichi Hirata
-
Patent number: 11861556Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for fully automated order fulfillment. A method includes identifying a shelf tote having an item contained therein for transfer to an order tote; dispatching a first carrier to pick up the shelf tote and a second carrier to pick an order tote; causing the picker to pick the item from the shelf tote while the shelf tote is moving through the transfer station; and transferring the item to the order tote by the picker.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: VECNA ROBOTICS, INC.Inventors: Daniel Theobald, Siddharth Ram Chhatpar
-
Patent number: 11858573Abstract: A steerable drive wheel assembly includes two independently motor-driven wheels. The wheels are supported in side-by-side orientation for independent rotation about a common horizontal rolling axis, and equally laterally offset from said vertical steering axis. The wheels and their respective drive motors are carried in a drive module that is mounted like a turret under an intermediate suspension module via a rotary bearing. The intermediate suspension module is mounted on linear bearing assemblies within an outer housing. Biasing members urge the intermediate suspension module together with its drive module downwardly to maintain traction with a floor. A compact configuration is achieved by overlapping the drive motors with the opposite wheels. Position control is achieved by a strategic sensor array. Electrical wire management is achieved by a serpentine energy chain located in the plane of the rotary bearing.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Conceptual Innovations, L.L.C.Inventors: Elmer Lee, Tyler Bretes, Michael Anthony Aerts, Ryan Joseph Lotsbaich
-
Patent number: 11839986Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a robotic control system and method that utilizes active perception to gather the relevant information related to a robot, a robotic environment, and objects within the environment, and allows the robot to focus computational resources where needed, such as for manipulating an object. The present disclosure also enables viewing and analyzing objects from different distances and viewpoints, providing a rich visual experience from which the robot can learn abstract representations of the environment. Inspired by the primate visual-motor system, the present disclosure leverages the benefits of active perception to accomplish manipulation tasks using human-like hand-eye coordination.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2020Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Ocado Innovation LimitedInventors: David Gabriel Hallock, Youssef Zaky, Gaurav Paruthi, Bryan Tripp, James Sterling Bergstra
-
Patent number: 11829688Abstract: A system including one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computing instructions that, when executed on the one or more processors, perform certain acts. The acts can include obtaining information about a trailer that has been partially loaded with preloaded stacks in a manner that deviates from an original load design. The trailer is being loaded with stacks of pallets comprising the preloaded stacks and unloaded stacks. The acts also can include determining positions of empty floor spots remaining in the trailer. The acts additionally can include determining a first portion of an incremental load design for the unloaded stacks using a gap-filling pattern behind an uneven rear edge of the preloaded stacks. The acts further can include determining a second portion of the incremental load design. The acts additionally can include updating the incremental load design based on an overall load design of the trailer.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLCInventors: Minghui Liu, Jing Huang, Mingang Fu
-
Patent number: 11823094Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for disambiguating between multiple potential users that may have performed an item action (e.g., item removal or item placement) at an inventory location. For example, if there are three picking agents (users) standing near an inventory location and one of the agents removes an item (item action) from the inventory location, the example systems and processes described herein may utilize various inputs to disambiguate between the users and determine which of the potential users performed the item action.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dilip Kumar, Ammar Chinoy, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Shrivatsan Vasudhevan, Jin Dong Kim
-
Patent number: 11780096Abstract: A robotic singulation system is disclosed. In various embodiments, sensor data including image data associated with a workspace is received. The sensor data is used to generate a three dimensional view of at least a portion of the workspace, the three dimensional view including boundaries of a plurality of items present in the workspace. A grasp strategy is determined for each of at least a subset of items, and for each grasp strategy a corresponding probability of grasp success is computed. The grasp strategies and corresponding probabilities of grasp success are used to determine and implement a plan to autonomously operate a robotic structure to pick one or more items from the workplace and place each item singly in a corresponding location in a singulation conveyance structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.Inventors: Zhouwen Sun, Kevin Jose Chavez, Samir Menon, Harry Zhe Su, Talbot Morris-Downing, Rohit Arka Pidaparthi, Ayush Sharma, Raphael Georg Wirth
-
Patent number: 11753198Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a production facility of a series of containers from a series of preforms made of plastic materials. The method includes a first step of producing a preliminary series of individual containers from a preliminary series of preforms made of plastic materials. For each individual container produced during a tracking period, the method records (i) a marking that distinguishes said container other containers produced during said tracking period, and (ii) data relative to the production facility, its operation, and/or the preform or container. The method also includes a second step during which one or more physical values of each of the individually identified containers are measured during the first step, and a third step of compiling a database that matches, for each individually identified container, the measurement(s) of the second step, and the series of data acquired during the first step.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONSInventors: Franck Feilloley, Laurent Danel, Stéphane Linglet, Yves-Alban Duclos, Christophe Maran, Sébastien Moulin, Cyrille Lecanu, David Gariou
-
Patent number: 11751559Abstract: A method includes receiving, by the treatment system, during operation in an agricultural environment, one or more images comprising one or more agricultural objects in the agricultural environment, identifying, in real-time, one or more objects of interest from the one or more agricultural objects by analyzing the one or more images, wherein the analyzing results in a first object being identified as belonging to one or more target objects and a second object being identified as not belonging to the one or more target objects, logging one or more results of the identification of each of the one or more objects of interest and a corresponding treatment decision; and activating the treatment mechanism to treat the one or more target objects.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: VERDANT ROBOTICS, INC.Inventors: Gabriel Thurston Sibley, Lorenzo Ibarria, Curtis Dale Garner, Patrick Christopher Leger
-
Patent number: 11745987Abstract: An image-processing unit, a system, an automatic loading and/or unloading system and a method for detecting a locking device on a movable object, wherein the locking device locks a plurality of movable objects to one other and is arranged in a locking region of the movable object and the movable object is moved via a loading device, where the locking region can be sensed in a sensing region of at least one camera and an image-processing unit evaluates a signal of the camera to detect locking devices in a locking region of a movable object so as to detect locking devices efficiently and reliably.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2017Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Ralf Gerdhenrichs, Thomas Dobler, Alexander Willhoeft
-
Patent number: 11720112Abstract: A self-propelled device is disclosed to recognize objects, possess objects, and transport objects to a new location. A method is disclosed to use the device to transport objects in environments dangerous to humans. Other example embodiments are described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: JAR Scientific LLCInventors: Justin Starr, Ashish Basuray, Roman Kazantsev
-
Patent number: 11651463Abstract: It is disclosed a system and method for picking and delivering articles (14) in accordance with a plurality of orders from customers (24), wherein the orders comprise pouchable article (14) of an online supermarket, which have been ordered by the customers (24), comprising the steps of: providing a storage and order-picking installation (11), in which the articles (14) of the online supermarket are stored in, preferably different, storage and picking areas (12); filling pouches (16), in accordance with the orders, with the ordered articles (14) within the storage and picking areas (12); coupling the pouches (16) to an overhead conveyor (22); handing over the filled pouches (16) to a delivery vehicle (20) configured to transport the pouches (16) in a hanging manner; transporting the hanging pouches (16) with the delivery vehicle (20) to the customers (24); determining a delivery tour by means of a controlling device (28), wherein the delivery tour defines a sequence in which the customers (24) are delivered byType: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: SSI Schäfer Automation GmbHInventors: Elmar Issing, Christian Herzmaier, Jakob Beer
-
Patent number: 11647700Abstract: One variation of a method for monitoring growth of plants within a facility includes: aggregating global ambient data recorded by a suite of fixed sensors, arranged proximal a grow area within the facility, at a first frequency during a grow period; extracting interim outcomes of a set of plants, occupying a module in the grow area, from module-level images recorded by a mover at a second frequency less than the first frequency while interfacing with the module during the period of time; dispatching the mover to autonomously deliver the module to a transfer station; extracting interim outcomes of the set of plants from plant-level images recorded by the transfer station while sequentially transferring plants out of the module at the conclusion of the grow period; and deriving relationships between ambient conditions, interim outcomes, and final outcomes from a corpus of plant records associated with plants grown in the facility.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: IRON OX, INC.Inventors: Brandon Ace Alexander, Jonathan Binney, Winnie Ding, Zachary Wielgosz
-
Vehicle-mounted device, cargo handling machine, control circuit, control method, and program thereof
Patent number: 11643312Abstract: A vehicle-mounted device includes an analysis unit and a control unit. The analysis unit detects an insertion target into which an insertion blade can be inserted, on the basis of sensing information acquired from a spatial recognition device. The control unit performs a loading misalignment determination to determine whether or not the insertion target loaded on a conveyance destination is misaligned from the conveyance destination on the basis of the sensing information.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: NEC CORORATIONInventors: Jun Uchimura, Hideaki Takahashi -
Patent number: 11628572Abstract: A robotic pack station is disclosed. The robotic pack station automates the transfer of items from a tote or bin to a shipping container such as a box in a warehouse, storage or sales facility. The robotic pack station includes system and method components, and includes a work cell with a robotic arm, machine vision or sensing system, a conveyor and pack platform. Imaging of the contents of the tote with a scan tunnel and connectivity with a sorter device allows for the operation of multiple robotic pack stations, each with a specialized function such as a small box line, a medium box line, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: MSC Services Corp.Inventor: Darin Lee Russell
-
Patent number: 11625675Abstract: A system and a method for controlling a plurality of electronic locks are provided. In an embodiment, a request for opening a door is received and verified. If the request is approved, signals are sent to open the electronic lock that locks the door. If the request is rejected, a message is sent to notify the user of the invalid request.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Luxer CorporationInventors: Arik Seth Levy, Dustin Erik Fjeld
-
Patent number: 11610167Abstract: In some implementations, a warehouse management system is used. An order manager receives an order requiring an item to be moved to a first physical location. Data of the order is stored. The data for the order is accessed. A target item matching the required item to be moved is identified. Data representing a logical location of a target item is accessed. The workload manager identifies based on the data representing the logical location of the target item one or more tasks that are configured to move the target item to the first location. The tasks can be performed to move the target items to the first location.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2019Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Dejong, Aaron Zirbes
-
Patent number: 11593730Abstract: Provided is a schedule creation device for creating a conveyance schedule according to which a conveyance device conveys a product to work positions designated for each manufacturing process. Said schedule creation device sets a first score to the work positions and to a conveyance path of the conveyance device; sets a second score for products; and uses the first score and the second score to determine the product to be conveyed by the conveyance device from among products present at a plurality of work positions.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Tatsuki Takazaki
-
Patent number: 11579610Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for identifying a target aerial vehicle, deploying an interceptor aerial vehicle comprising at least one effector, maneuvering the interceptor aerial vehicle to a position to engage a target aerial vehicle, deploying the at least one effector to intercept the target aerial vehicle, and confirming that the target aerial vehicle has been intercepted.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2018Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.Inventors: Christopher Eugene Fisher, Michael Franklin Morgan
-
Patent number: 11565414Abstract: A machining control system includes: a numerical control device controlling a machine tool; and a robot control device communicating with the numerical control device and controlling a robot having a plurality of drive axes. The numerical control device includes: a coordinate position command generation unit generating a coordinate position command specifying a target coordinate position at each time of a leading end part of the robot, based on a machining program; and a communication unit sending the current target coordinate position to the robot control device. The robot control device includes: a target drive position calculation unit calculating a target drive position of each of the plurality of drive axes to position the leading end part at the target coordinate position; and a drive command generation unit generating a drive command to each of the drive axes to position the drive axes at the calculated target drive position.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventors: Nao Ooshima, Shunichi Ozaki, Tomoyuki Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 11548038Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for optimizing sorting and loading of packages are disclosed. An exemplary system includes a memory storing instructions and may include at least one processor configured to execute the instructions. The system may perform operations including receiving data comprising a plurality of package identifiers associated with a plurality of packages. The operations may include determining a plurality of block areas associated with delivery locations for the plurality of packages. The operations may further include determining a delivery route by determining a first set of routes, determining optimal combinations of the inputs for each set of routes and determining a shortest route associated with the optimal combinations. The operations may include determining an order in which to load each of the packages into a delivery vehicle. The operations may further include generating instructions for causing a device to display a visual representation of the loading order.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: COUPANG CORP.Inventors: Wenting Mo, Yoo Suk Kim, Sun Seung Lee, Sen Yang, Hongyuan Li, Changquan Piao
-
Patent number: 11550968Abstract: A system including one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processors and perform certain acts. The acts can include obtaining a route for delivering one or more orders in a trailer from a distribution center to physical stores in a sequence of stops. The route can have an associated assignment of stack groups comprising stacks of pallets. The acts also can include determining a load design for the stacks in the trailer based on the sequence of the stops in the route. The acts additionally can include updating the load design using a first simulated annealing to adjust a front-to-rear center-of-gravity of the load design. The acts further can include updating the load design using a second simulated annealing to adjust a side-to-side center-of-gravity of the load design.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLCInventors: Jing Huang, Minghui Liu, Mingang Fu, Amritayan Nayak
-
Patent number: 11545374Abstract: A device for transferring components from a first carrier to a second carrier. A first receptacle receives the first carrier so that components carried by the first carrier are oriented towards a second receptacle. A separating device separates the components from the first carrier for transfer to the second carrier. A first conveyor moves the first receptacle transverse to the conveying direction of the second carrier. A second conveyor moves the separating device transverse to the conveying direction of the second carrier. A first inspection device detects one of the components in its position relative to a storage position on the second receptacle guiding the second carrier. A second inspection device is arranged upstream of the storage position and detects one of the subassemblies on the second carrier relative to the second receptacle and signals the position of the subassembly to a controller.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: MUEHLBAUER GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Marcel Freimuth, Alexander Ruhland
-
Patent number: 11526836Abstract: A system including one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processors and perform certain acts. The acts can include obtaining orders for fulfillment to physical stores from a distribution center. There can be one or more respective stack groups associated with each of the orders. The acts also can include generating a set of feasible route templates for delivering the orders to the physical stores. The acts additionally can include formulating a mixed integer programming formulation for an assignment of the respective stack groups associated with the orders to the set of route templates. The acts further can include using an optimization solver for the mixed integer programming formation to determine the assignment that minimizes an overall cost of delivering the orders to the physical stores from the distribution center. The acts additionally can include outputting the assignment.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLCInventors: Minghui Liu, Jing Huang, Mingang Fu, Amritayan Nayak
-
Patent number: 11527008Abstract: A robot control device includes an obtaining unit that obtains, from an image sensor that captures a workpiece group to be handled by a robot, a captured image, a simulation unit that simulates operation of the robot, and a control unit that performs control such that the captured image is obtained if, in the simulation, the robot is retracted from an image capture forbidden space, in which an image is potentially captured with the workpiece group and the robot overlapping each other, and which is set based on either or both a first space being the visual field range of the image sensor, and a columnar second space obtained by taking a workpiece region including the workpiece group or each of divided regions into which the workpiece region is divided, as a bottom area, and extending the bottom area to the position of the image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2019Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Haruka Fujii, Toshihiro Moriya, Takeshi Kojima, Norikazu Tonogai
-
Patent number: 11505436Abstract: An overhead system assists an operator in moving an object when the operator imparts a manual force to the object in a shared workspace characterized by overlapping ranges of motion of the robot and operator. The system includes an articulated serial robot, a cable, sensors, and a control system. One end of the cable connects to a distal end link of the robot. Another end of the cable connects to the object to suspend the object. The sensors measure a cable force and/or angle. The control system regulates operation of the robot by translating vertically and horizontally in response to the cable force and/or angle. The control system limits the position and/or velocity of the end link according to corresponding work space rules, including respective position and velocity limits, such that the system is immune to a single-point failure.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Muhammad E. Abdallah, James W. Wells
-
Patent number: 11488436Abstract: Computerized locker banks and related computing systems, according to various embodiments, are adapted to track consignee-specific and non-consignee-specific data regarding the pickup of parcels from particular locker banks (or other alternate delivery locations) and to use that information to forecast inventories for the particular locker banks over time. For example, the system may use this information, and/or other suitable information, to generate a set of projected inventories for a particular locker bank for each sequential two-hour block of time on a particular day. This information may be used to determine which locker bank to route a particular parcel to. This may be especially useful in the context of “not-in-one” deliveries in which a delivery driver unsuccessfully attempts to deliver a parcel to a consignee's primary delivery address and the parcel is re-routed to a locker bank or other alternative delivery location for later pickup by the consignee.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2018Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Kalin Robinson
-
Patent number: 11488235Abstract: Examples include a HUD that (i) identifies a fulfillment route comprising item entries, each comprising an item identifier and item location corresponding to a location within a given environment, (ii) presents a visualization corresponding to a first item entry that includes an indication of a first item location, (iii) based on a first sound and/or visual input, verifies that there is an instance of a first item identified in the first item entry, (iv) based on the verification, presents a placement visualization representing item receptacles in the given environment and a placement indication identifying a target item receptacle that is to receive the first item, (v) based on a second sound and/or visual input, determines that the target item receptacle received the first item, and (vi) based on the determination, presents a second visualization corresponding to a second item entry that includes an indication of a second item location.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Oculogx Inc.Inventor: Charu Thomas
-
Patent number: 11472636Abstract: The present application provides a transfer device and a transfer method. The transfer device includes: a frame; a module transfer arm, arranged above the frame and with a number of at least one; a pre-inspection station, arranged on the frame at an initial placement position in a conveying direction of the module transfer arm, and configured to place thereon a target object to be inspected; a post-inspection station, arranged on the frame at a finish-placement position in the conveying direction of the module transfer arm, and configured to place thereon the target object after being inspected; an inspection station, respectively arranged on the frame and between the pre-inspection station and the post-inspection station, and configured to place thereon and inspect the target object; a feed mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2018Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: HKC CORPORATION LIMITEDInventor: Huailiang He
-
Patent number: 11472035Abstract: An augmented reality (AR) system for production-tuning of parameters for a visual tracking robotic picking system. The robotic picking system includes one or more robots configured to pick randomly-placed and randomly-oriented parts off a conveyor belt and place the parts in an available position, either on a second moving conveyor belt or on a stationary device such as a pallet. A visual tracking system identifies position and orientation of the parts on the feed conveyor. The AR system allows picking system tuning parameters including upstream, discard and downstream boundary locations to be visualized and controlled, real-time robot pick/place operations to be viewed with virtual boundaries, and system performance parameters such as part throughput rate and part allocation by robot to be viewed. The AR system also allows virtual parts to be used in simulations, either instead of or in addition to real parts.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: FANUC AMERICA CORPORATIONInventors: Ganesh Kalbavi, Derek Jung, Leo Keselman, Min-Ren Jean, Kenneth W. Krause, Jason Tsai
-
Patent number: 11424016Abstract: A method may include filling an order of a plurality of orders with a dosing filler system. The method may include receiving pharmaceutical orders including order for drugs used in multi-drug regimens using an order processing device. Each of the multi-drug regimen may have a plurality of scheduled dosing events. The method may include transporting containers to a dosing device, using the dosing device to dispense drugs for scheduled dosing events into the containers based on the received pharmaceutical orders, transporting the containers with the dispensed drugs to the container sealing device, using the container sealing device to seal the plurality of the containers with the dispensed drugs, transporting the dosage unit containers to the container identifier assembly, and using the container identifier assembly to identify the dosage unit containers based on the received pharmaceutical order.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2019Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Express Scripts Strategie Development, Inc.Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
-
Patent number: 11397934Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to one example embodiment is an information processing apparatus that performs a checkout process for a product or a service, and the information processing apparatus includes: a motion unit that causes the information processing apparatus to autonomously move; a detection unit configured to detect a position of a person; and a control unit that controls the motion unit in accordance with the position of the person.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2019Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventor: Jun Uchimura
-
Patent number: 11390469Abstract: Article takeout apparatus and article takeout method capable of eliminating unnecessary measurements. The article takeout apparatus includes a sensor, a position/posture detector to detect a position/posture of an article in a working area, a robot configured to take out the article, a data storage to store evaluation data to evaluate a plurality of sensor measurement positions corresponding to respective positions at which the sensor measures a plurality of measurement areas, a data update section to update the evaluation data after the measurement area is measured by the sensor and after the article is taken out by the robot, an evaluation value calculator to calculate a comprehensive evaluation value of the working area on the basis of the updated evaluation data, and a sensor position selector to select a next sensor measurement position from among the plurality of sensor measurement positions on the basis of the calculated comprehensive evaluation value.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Fanuc CorporationInventor: Taiga Satou
-
Patent number: 11378975Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer -storage media, for swarming technology. In some implementations, the system can be modeled on the spatial reasoning process found in rodents and other mammals. A plurality of synaptic weights can be formed within a neural network. The neural network along with additional data of a system can be used to determine motion vectors for one or more devices within a group of devices or swarm. The motion vectors can help determine where the devices within a group of devices are located at a given time. Motion vectors can direct devices to areas of high activity in a similar manner to how spatial cells in a brain direct animals in accordance with high activity rates of particular cells within their brain.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: The Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Grace M. Hwang, Kevin M. Schultz, Robert W. Chalmers, Joseph D. Monaco, Kechen Zhang
-
Patent number: 11358781Abstract: An insulated bag reduces heat exchange between temperature-sensitive items and ambient surroundings. The insulated bag has a bag body which can be covered by a bag lid. The bag lid is provided with a first portion of a securing element. The insulated bag is suitable for insertion into an item space of a mobile delivery robot. The mobile robot has a robot lid provided with a complementary second portion of the securing element. After the insulated bag is inserted into the item space, the two portions of the securing element are connected. Thereafter, when the robot lid is opened, the bag lid is also opened, permitting access to its contents.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Starship Technologies OÜInventors: Lauri Väin, Tommy Biene, Sylvia-Johanna Annus, Piret Uustal
-
Patent number: 11354546Abstract: An insect sortation system can track movement of insects along a predefined pathway. The insect sortation system includes a puff-back system for moving insects toward an inlet of the pathway and a puff-forward system for moving insects toward an outlet of the pathway. An overhead imaging system captures images of the insects at one or more locations along the pathway. Once imaged, the insect may be classified into a category (e.g., sex category, species category, size category, etc.) using a variety of different classification approaches including, for example, an industrial vision classifier and/or a machine learning classifier. Once classified, the insects can be directed to various chambers for subsequent processing.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLCInventors: Victor Criswell, Peter Massaro
-
Patent number: 11348196Abstract: A logistics center automation system includes a singulator to which a cluster control for simultaneously moving articles unloaded from a plurality of unloading vehicles is applied, a transport robot configured to deliver the articles moved by the singulator to a loading vehicle corresponding to destination information, a mobile multi-recognizer configured to extract destination information of the transport robot, and a controller configured to control the singulator, the transport robot, and the mobile multi-recognizer.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventor: Ki Hak Kim
-
Patent number: 11320807Abstract: A control device for a conveyor device, comprises a control unit adapted to generate control signals for a conveyor device, a data interface adapted for signal transmission of control signals to the control unit, a first power interface adapted for power supply to the control unit, a connection interface adapted for establishing a signal control connection and a power supply connection between the control unit and a conveyor device located outside the control device. A second power interface is adapted to supply power to the control unit, the first interface being adapted to receive a power supply in the form of a power supply with a first voltage, the second interface being adapted to receive a power supply in the form of a power supply with a second voltage or, instead of the second voltage, with a third voltage whose level is different from the level of the second voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AGInventor: Herbert Henze
-
Patent number: 11319153Abstract: A floor-to-floor transport system that transports an article between different floors by using an upward path and a downward path in a vertical transporter that revolves in one direction includes, on at least one floor: a loading transport line that transports to the vertical transporter an article to be transported to another floor; a first loading opening through which the article is loaded into the upward path in the vertical transporter; a second loading opening through which the article is loaded into the downward path in the vertical transporter; a transferor that selectively transfers to the first loading opening or the second loading opening an article transported by the loading transport line; and a controller that controls the transferor depending on a destination of the article.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventor: Toshihiro Maeda
-
Patent number: 11317565Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural device for semi-automatic movement of a holding tool, for holding an object, between two positions, said two positions being at different heights. The device comprises said holding tool for holding the object, load sensing means for determining if the holding tool holds an object, driving means (9) for moving the holding tool up and down, a control unit for controlling the driving means, and a user interface for user input to the control unit. The device can be used in two modes of operations, wherein the holding tool in a first mode of operation is freely movably, and in a second mode of operation is semi-automatically movable between a plurality of determined positions (URP, UPP, LRP, LPP) depending on if the holding tool is holding an object or not, and which command is given to the user interface.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: ÅLÖ ABInventors: Tomas Nygren, Gustaf Lagunoff, David Wiberg
-
Patent number: 11315073Abstract: Described is a system and method for presenting event information to a user and, if necessary, obtaining confirmation of different aspects (user, item, action) of the event. In some implementations, an event includes a user, an action, and an item. For example, an event may include a user picking an item from an inventory location, a user placing an item into a tote associated with the user, etc. if the aspects of the event cannot be determined with a high enough degree of confidence, a user interface may be generated and sent to the user requesting confirmation of one or more of the aspects of the event.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jason Michael Famularo, Amber Autrey Taylor, Dilip Kumar, Gianna Lise Puerini, Thomas Meilandt Mathiesen
-
Patent number: 11299347Abstract: The present invention provides a material transportation system, a material transportation method and a material storage apparatus. The material storage apparatus is provided with a movable storage rack, wherein the movable storage rack is configured for carrying a plurality of material boxes and can be separated from the material storage apparatus; and an automatic transportation apparatus can move freely along any route in any direction, wherein the automatic transportation apparatus is configured for carrying the movable storage rack. Moreover, the movable storage rack is sent to be in front of the material storage apparatus or transported from the material storage apparatus to a target storage position. The present invention simultaneously transports a plurality of material boxes between the material storage apparatuses and between the material storage apparatus and the processing equipment.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Shanghai Fortrend Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kung Wu
-
Patent number: 11300016Abstract: A valve opening and closing timing control device includes a drive-side rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, a driven-side rotating body that rotates with a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, an electric motor that controls a relative rotation phase of the drive-side rotating body and the driven-side rotating body, a motor control unit that controls a current supplied to the electric motor, a current sensor that detects the current flowing into the electric motor, a regulation unit that determines a regulation phase in which the relative rotation phase is mechanically limited in an advanced angle direction and in a delayed angle direction, and a regulation phase detection unit that detects the regulation phase based on when the relative rotation phase in which a change is stopped by the regulation unit is reached and a current value detected by the current sensor increases.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Amano, Shogo Katsuki, Takano Nakai, Kenichiro Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Kamoyama, Toru Hirota
-
Patent number: 11302543Abstract: A substrate carrier apparatus includes a hand, an advancing/retracting mechanism, an elevation mechanism, a movement mechanism, and a detector. The advancing/retracting mechanism moves the hand in a forward and backward direction to cause the hand to enter and be retracted from a substrate container. The elevation mechanism elevates the hand so that the hand lifts a substrate from below. The movement mechanism moves the hand to a position facing the substrate container. The detector detects a position of the substrate in the forward and backward direction in an entry state where the advancing/retracting mechanism causes the hand to enter the substrate container, moves integrally with the hand, and is disposed at a position adjacent to the substrate in a measurement direction intersecting with the forward and backward direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.Inventor: Joji Kuwahara
-
Patent number: 11235929Abstract: Autonomous vehicles may be deployed to areas where an item is in demand, and configured to fulfill orders for the item received from the areas. The autonomous vehicles are loaded with the item and dispatched to the area under their own power or in a carrier. When an order for the item is received, an autonomous vehicle delivers the item to a location in the area. Autonomous vehicles may also be equipped with a 3D printer or other equipment and loaded with materials for manufacturing the item. When an order for the item is received, the autonomous vehicle manufactures the item from such materials, and delivers the item. Autonomous vehicles may be configured for collaboration, such as to deliver or manufacture items in multiple stages and to transfer the items between vehicles. Autonomous vehicles may also be configured to automatically access locations in the area, e.g., using wireless access codes.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tye Michael Brady, Darren Ernest Canavor, Ethan Zane Evans, Pragyana K. Mishra, Hilliard Bruce Siegel
-
Patent number: 11213954Abstract: Whether or not workpieces are present in a workpiece storage area is determined based on an image acquired by image capturing. When the workpieces are determined to be present, whether or not a crossing part is present in the workpiece storage area is determined based on the image, the crossing part being a part where soft body portions of a plurality of workpieces cross each other in an overlapping manner. When the crossing part is determined to be present, an uppermost soft body portion placed at an uppermost position among the soft body portions crossing each other is determined based on the image. A workpiece including the uppermost soft body portion thus determined is determined as an uppermost workpiece placed at an uppermost position.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akira Tsukui
-
Patent number: 11141864Abstract: A detection system includes a first detection apparatus that detects an object that is being moved, within a predetermined detection region, a number of times, a work-data creation device that creates, every time the first detection apparatus detects the object, work data having a first data element that indicates at least a position of the object obtained by the first detection apparatus and a second data element that includes at least an index related to the object and obtained at the time of the detection, and a work-data storage unit that stores the work data created by the work-data creation means. The work-data storage unit selects, as the work data that should be stored, one of the work data that is newly created for the object and the work data for the object that has been stored by the work-data storage unit, on the basis of the index.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventor: Masafumi Ooba
-
Patent number: 11127618Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamically compensating position errors of a sample. The system can comprise one or more sensing units configured to generate a signal based on a position of a sample and a controller. The controller can be configured to determine the position of the sample based on the signal and in response to the determined position, provide information associated with the determined position for control of one of a first handling unit in a first chamber, a second handling unit in a second chamber, and a beam location unit in the second chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2017Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventor: Fangfu Li