Abstract: Various embodiments described herein generally relate to techniques for conveying articles on a conveyor system of a robotic carton unloader in a material handling environment. In accordance with an embodiment, the robotic carton unloader includes angled center guides for conveying and guiding one or more articles on one or more individually actuatable zones of the center conveyor. In this aspect, one or more zones may be actuated selectively to move rollers-driven belts of respective zones, in either of an upstream direction or a downstream direction, to separate and convey cartons on the center conveyor.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism includes a pair of bracket and a spacer plate sandwiched in between the pair of brackets. Each bracket of the of brackets comprise a first cutout formed on a top face of each bracket of the brackets. A retainer bar coupled to the pair of brackets, wherein the retainer bar comprises a second cutout formed on a bottom face of the retainer bar and a flat top surface. The second cutout and the first cutout abut each other to form an opening, wherein the opening receives an axle of a conveyor roller.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a material handling method that generates three-dimensional (3-D) point cloud data based on a field-of-view of an image capturing unit. A first set of cluster areas are extracted from a plurality of cluster areas based on orientation data of the 3-D point cloud data. Further, a two-dimensional depth map is generated based upon the 3-D point cloud data. A candidate region that corresponds to a cluster area from the first set of cluster areas is determined. A ratio of a cross-sectional area of the cluster area and a cross-sectional area of the container is determined that exceeds a first cross-sectional threshold. Accordingly, a classification score of the candidate region is determined when the determined ratio exceeds a first cross-sectional threshold. In response to classifying the candidate region as a region-of-interest, a navigation path in the container that prevents collision with the region-of-interest is defined.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a goods to operator workstation for presenting a container of articles to an operator for picking. The goods to operator workstation includes a container presenting mechanism having laterally movable arms positioned at a first predetermined distance from each other to create a first space to receive and present the container to the operator for picking. A lifting unit moves vertically upwards into the first space to receive the picked container, the laterally movable arms move outwardly away from each other to be positioned at a second predetermined distance from each other, and the lifting unit moves vertically downwards through the at least two laterally movable arms to transfer the picked container onto the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A modular order fullment system uses a number of inexpensive mobile apparatuses such as containers with horizontally accessible bins that are brought to a stationary frame that supports a pick-to-light system to direct a human or robotic operator to pick from or put to receptacles in the mobile apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pouch conveying system for routing one or more pouches. Each pouch may include at least one self-closing frame attached to an end of a pouch body. The self-closing frame has a first frame section having at least two portions coupled to each other through a first joint, and a second frame section having at least two portions coupled to each other through a second joint. The second frame section coupled to the first frame section at a first end by a first coupler and at a second end by a second coupler, such that at least one of the first coupler and the second coupler move inward, flexing the first frame section and the second frame section about the first joint and the second joint.

Abstract: A reconfigurable carrying device, such as a cart, is provided for storing and/or transporting objects. The cart may include a first storage section for receiving the objects, and a second storage section pivotally attached to the first storage section. The second storage section may be movable upwards relative to the first storage section to be positioned on top of the first storage section in a first mode of operation of the cart and may be movable downwards relative to the position in the first mode of operation to be positioned adjacent to the first storage section in a second mode of operation of the cart.

Abstract: A system and method provides data reporting and real-time user interfaces to a client device of a material handling system according to a unified architecture. The method includes (i) receiving, by a machine automation controller, real-time data of one or more machine automation devices of a material handling system; (ii) controlling, by the machine automation controller, the one or more machine automation devices using the real-time data as feedback; (iii) shaping the real-time data according to a domain model into a staging object; (iv) maintaining a cache object that corresponds to the staging object in a broker process; and (v) responding to one or more client requests for a data item by transmitting at least a portion of data contained in the cache object to a client device for presenting in a user interface. The client device may also be collecting historical data or statistical data for reporting purposes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an axle retainer and associated conveyor system. An example axle retainer is defined by a housing that includes a first surface configured to be secured to an inner-sidewall of a conveyor frame and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface defines two or more apertures configured to mount a conveyor roller axle therein. Each aperture includes a snap-fit bracket defining two arms each with a corresponding protrusion. The two arms of the snap-fit bracket are configured to expand from a first position to a second position within the aperture to receive a conveyor roller axle and rebut from the second position to the first position such that the pair of corresponding protrusions defined by the two arms of the snap-fit bracket retain the conveyor roller axle in the aperture.

Abstract: Robotic carton loader or unloader incorporates three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) sensors to detect respectively a 3D point cloud and a 2D image of a carton pile within transportation carrier such as a truck trailer or shipping container. Edge detection is performed using the 3D point cloud, discarding segments that are two small to be part of a product such as a carton. Segments that are too large to correspond to a carton are 2D image processed to detect additional edges. Results from 3D and 2D edge detection are converted in a calibrated 3D space of the material carton loader or unloader to perform one of loading or unloading of the transportation carrier. Image processing can also detect jamming of products sequence from individually controllable zones of a conveyor of the robotic carton loader or unloader for singulated unloading.

Abstract: A material handling system automatically each picking orders using a put wall. A controller determines whether any of more than one removable intermediate holders in a put wall that are within the reach of a first robotic arm contain one or more articles that are ready for transporting away from the put wall. The controller directs the first robotic arm to: (i) engage the selected removable intermediate holder, (ii) move the selected removable intermediate holder to an empty order container, and (iii) reorient the selected removable intermediate holder to transfer the one or more articles from the selected removable intermediate holder to the empty order container. In one or more embodiments, the articles can be placed in the put wall by conveying donor totes to an each picking robotic arm that places picked articles into an end effector of a second robotic arm.

Abstract: An autonomous device for loading and unloading trucks comprises a mobile body, a robot arm and a body conveyor system to convey cartons during loading and unloading. A manipulator attaches to a moveable end of the robot arm and is maneuverable within the tight confines of the truck. The manipulator picks up a row of articles at a first location and places the row of articles down at a second location. The manipulator is reconfigurable to match to both locations.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tray locator assembly for aligning one or more trays in a tray-based automated storage and retrieval system. The tray locator assembly may include one or more guide pin assemblies having one or more guide pins engaging with one or more slots formed in a surface of at least one tray of the one or more trays. The tray locator assembly may further include at least one translational actuator to move the one or more guide pins inserted into the one or more slots so as to translate the at least one tray, wherein the translation of the at least one tray separates a second group of trays having a second size from a first group of trays having a first size along the conveyance plane to a second position in order to reduce tolerance stack up associated with the first group of trays.

Abstract: A controller of a material handling system performs a method of creating a multidrop pattern of articles for robotic placement in layers on a pallet. A pattern is presented on a user interface of any currently positioned representations of articles on a pallet. A control affordance for inputting drag'n'drop and numeric inputs is presented on the user interface for robotic control operations to perform a multidrop of the more than one article in an end effector of a robotic arm for placement of the more than one article. User inputs are received that indicate placement position of a first subset of the more than one article. User inputs are received that indicate placement position of a second subset, which is mutually exclusive of the first subset, of the more than one article. The user inputs are converted into a place sequence of robotic control operations to perform a multidrop of the articles by the robotic arm.

Abstract: A vacuum coupling applies vacuum from a vacuum source to a rotating tool attached to a rotating end of a robotic arm. The vacuum coupling includes a rotating portion attaching the rotating tool to the rotating end of the robotic arm. The rotating portion communicates vacuum with the rotating tool. A fixed portion is positioned around the rotating portion such that the rotating portion is rotatable relative to the fixed portion. The fixed portion communicates vacuum to the rotating portion. At least one rotating vacuum seal is positioned between the fixed portion and the rotating portion.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for identifying and tracking products in a material handling system and/or for identifying and handling product defects in a material handling system are provided. An example method may include receiving one or more articles in the material handling system; capturing one or more images of the one or more articles; identifying at least one visual defect indicator on at least one article of the one or more articles; and determining an indication corresponding to at least one of a defect of the at least one article or a portion of the material handling system causing the defect.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tote exchange module for handling totes. The tote exchange module includes a pick-up conveyor and an L-shaped pushing member. The L-shaped pushing member having a forward element and a side element. The forward element may be secured to the side element at the one end. Further, an actuator may move the L-shaped pushing member from a first position proximate a first side of the pick-up conveyor to a second position proximate a second side, opposite to the first side, of the pick-up conveyor. The second position defining a pick-up location.

Abstract: A material handling system has a vertical lift two vertically aligned carriages that are independently positionable on a vertical support structure by respective drive systems. A processor subsystem selects one of the two carriages to move an article from at least one in-feed conveyor to a selected level of an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). The processor subsystem concurrently positions the other carriage to avoid a collision.

Abstract: Various embodiments described herein generally relate to techniques for conveying articles on a conveyor system of a robotic material handling system in a material handling environment. In accordance with an embodiment, the robotic material handling system includes a front portion and a rearward conveyor. The front portion may be expandable to a first configuration and retractable to a second configuration. On detecting a jam on the front portion, the robotic material handling system may actuate expansion of the front portion to the first configuration, and attempt to dislodge the jammed articles by causing one or more of (i) separating the jammed articles by activating one or more of a plurality of zones of the front portion under the jammed articles, and/or (ii) activating one or more of the plurality of zones under the jammed articles in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A controller of a robotic material handling system performs a method that conveys articles from a pile within a confined space. One or more articles per operation are robotically moved onto a vertically-positionable nose conveyor surface conveys toward a narrower rearward conveyor. Controller detects a jammed article that is at least partially supported by the nose conveyor and that has failed to fully convey onto the rearward. The controller attempts to dislodge the jammed article by causing at least one of: (i) vertically repositioning the nose conveyor surface; and (ii) activating at least one of the two or more parallel conveyors of the nose conveyor surface to run in a forward direction. After the attempt to dislodge, the controller activates at least one parallel conveyor that is contact with the jammed article in a rearward direction.