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.

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: 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.

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader is configured for automatic unloading of cartons from a carton pile. In various embodiments, the robotic carton unloader may include a mobile body, a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector, a conveyor system having a front portion, and a lift attached to the mobile body and the front portion of the conveyor system to move the front portion. In some embodiments, the conveyor system may comprise a front-end shelf conveyor configured to be moved (e.g., raised, lowered, laterally moved, tilted, etc.) relative to the body of the unloader. The front-end shelf conveyor may be moved separately for positioning below the robotic arm in order to receive cartons from a small distance. The front-end shelf conveyor may be moved via various mechanisms (e.g., scissor lifts, pedestal lifts, etc.).

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader for unloading cartons in a carton pile has a mobile body and a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body that has an end effector at a movable end thereof to unload cartons from the carton pile. A conveyor system is attached to the mobile body and extends from front to rear of the carton unloader to convey cartons received thereon by the moveable robotic arm. The conveyor system comprises a central portion carried on the mobile body and a front portion extending therefrom towards the carton pile. The front portion is configured to change width from narrow to wider to act as a shield to catch and then move falling cartons received thereon.

Abstract: A self-aligning interface (6300) is attached to a robotic carton unloader (6100) and provides an interface between an extendable conveyor (6200) and the robotic carton unloader (6100). The self-aligning interface (6300) can include a positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) mounted on the robotic carton unloader (6100) and operatively engaged with the extendable conveyor (6200) to provide positional information about the location of the extendable nose conveyor (6220) relative to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c). A control unit (6180) is attached to the robotic carton unloader (6100) for full robotic control of robotic carton unloader (6100) and the unloading process. The control unit (6180) is connected to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) and the extendable conveyor (6200).

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 robotic carton unloader for unloading cartons in a carton pile has a mobile body and a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body that has an end effector at a movable end thereof to unload cartons from the carton pile. A conveyor system is attached to the mobile body and extends from front to rear of the carton unloader to convey cartons received thereon by the moveable robotic arm. The conveyor system comprises a central portion carried on the mobile body and a front portion extending therefrom towards the carton pile. The front portion is configured to change width from narrow to wider to act as a shield to catch and then move falling cartons received thereon.

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader for automatic unloading of canons from a carton pile. In various embodiments, a robotic carton unloader may comprise a mobile body, a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector configured to unload a row of cartons in a side-by-side orientation from the carton pile, and a conveyor system mounted on the mobile body and configured to receive the row of cartons from the end effector in the side-by-side orientation. In various embodiments the conveyor system may comprise a front-end descrambler and a central descrambler coupled to the front-end descrambler. In various embodiments, the robotic arm may be configured to straddle at least a portion of the mobile body and at least a portion of the conveyor system such that the conveyor system conveys cartons from the carton pile through the robotic arm.

Abstract: A self-aligning interface (6300) is attached to a robotic carton unloader (6100) and provides an interface between an extendable conveyor (6200) and the robotic carton unloader (6100). The self-aligning interface (6300) can include a positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) mounted on the robotic carton unloader (6100) and operatively engaged with the extendable conveyor (6200) to provide positional information about the location of the extendable nose conveyor (6220) relative to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c). A control unit (6180) is attached to the robotic carton unloader (6100) for full robotic control of robotic carton unloader (6100) and the unloading process. The control unit (6180) is connected to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) and the extendable conveyor (6200).

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader is configured for automatic unloading of cartons from a carton pile. In various embodiments, the robotic carton unloader may include a mobile body, a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector, a conveyor system having a front portion, and a lift attached to the mobile body and the front portion of the conveyor system to move the front portion. In some embodiments, the conveyor system may comprise a front-end shelf conveyor configured to be moved (e.g., raised, lowered, laterally moved, tilted, etc.) relative to the body of the unloader. The front-end shelf conveyor may be moved separately for positioning below the robotic arm in order to receive cartons from a small distance. The front-end shelf conveyor may be moved via various mechanisms (e.g., scissor lifts, pedestal lifts, etc.).

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader for unloading a carton pile resting on a floor includes a mobile body movable across the floor on more than one wheel. A conveyor system mounted on the mobile body conveys unloaded cartons thereon. A robotic arm assembly has a manipulator head attached to a front end of the upper arm assembly. The manipulator head engages at least one carton at a time from a carton pile resting on a floor for movement to the conveyor system. A built-in jacking apparatus is extendable from the mobile body to a floor to raise the mobile body a distance sufficient to raise at least one of the more than one wheel away from contacting the floor.

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader for automatic unloading of canons from a carton pile. In various embodiments, a robotic carton unloader may comprise a mobile body, a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector configured to unload a row of cartons in a side-by-side orientation from the carton pile, and a conveyor system mounted on the mobile body and configured to receive the row of cartons from the end effector in the side-by-side orientation. In various embodiments the conveyor system may comprise a front-end descrambler and a central descrambler coupled to the front-end descrambler. In various embodiments, the robotic arm may be configured to straddle at least a portion of the mobile body and at least a portion of the conveyor system such that the conveyor system conveys cartons from the carton pile through the robotic arm.

Abstract: A self-aligning interface (6300) is attached to a robotic carton unloader (6100) and provides an interface between an extendable conveyor (6200) and the robotic carton unloader (6100). The self-aligning interface (6300) can include a positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) mounted on the robotic carton unloader (6100) and operatively engaged with the extendable conveyor (6200) to provide positional information about the location of the extendable nose conveyor (6220) relative to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c). A control unit (6180) is attached to the robotic carton unloader (6100) for full robotic control of robotic carton unloader (6100) and the unloading process. The control unit (6180) is connected to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) and the extendable conveyor (6200).

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader for unloading a carton pile resting on a floor includes a mobile body movable across the floor on more than one wheel. A conveyor system mounted on the mobile body conveys unloaded cartons thereon. A robotic arm assembly has a manipulator head attached to a front end of the upper arm assembly. The manipulator head engages at least one carton at a time from a carton pile resting on a floor for movement to the conveyor system. A built-in jacking apparatus is extendable from the mobile body to a floor to raise the mobile body a distance sufficient to raise at least one of the more than one wheel away from contacting the floor.

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader for unloading cartons in a carton pile has a mobile body and a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body that has an end effector at a movable end thereof to unload cartons from the carton pile. A conveyor system is attached to the mobile body and extends from front to rear of the carton unloader to convey cartons received thereon by the moveable robotic arm. The conveyor system comprises a central portion carried on the mobile body and a front portion extending therefrom towards the carton pile. The front portion is configured to change width from narrow to wider to act as a shield to catch and then move falling cartons received thereon.

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader is configured for automatic unloading of cartons from a carton pile. In various embodiments, the robotic carton unloader may include a mobile body, a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector, a conveyor system having a front portion, and a lift attached to the mobile body and the front portion of the conveyor system to move the front portion. In some embodiments, the conveyor system may comprise a front-end shelf conveyor configured to be moved (e.g., raised, lowered, laterally moved, tilted, etc.) relative to the body of the unloader. The front-end shelf conveyor may be moved separately for positioning below the robotic arm in order to receive cartons from a small distance. The front-end shelf conveyor may be moved via various mechanisms (e.g., scissor lifts, pedestal lifts, etc.).

Abstract: Robotic carton unloader has right and left lower arms of robotic arm assembly that are pivotally attached at lower end respectively to mobile body on opposing lateral sides of conveyor system passing there between. Upper arm assembly has rear end pivotally attached at upper end respectively of right and left lower arms to pivotally rotate about upper arm axis perpendicular to longitudinal axis of conveyor system and parallel to lower arm axis. Manipulator head attached to front end of upper arm assembly engages carton/s from carton pile resting on floor for movement to conveyor system. Upper arm axis is maintained at a height that enables carton/s to be conveyed by conveyor system without being impeded by robotic arm assembly as soon as manipulator head is clear. Lift attached between mobile body and front portion of conveyor system reduces spacing underneath carton/s during movement from carton pile to conveyor system.

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader is configured for automatic unloading of cartons from a carton pile. In various embodiments, the robotic carton unloader may include a mobile body, a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector, a conveyor system having a front portion, and a lift attached to the mobile body and the front portion of the conveyor system to move the front portion. In some embodiments, the conveyor system may comprise a front-end shelf conveyor configured to be moved (e.g., raised, lowered, laterally moved, tilted, etc.) relative to the body of the unloader. The front-end shelf conveyor may be moved separately for positioning below the robotic arm in order to receive cartons from a small distance. The front-end shelf conveyor may be moved via various mechanisms (e.g., scissor lifts, pedestal lifts, etc.).

Abstract: A self-aligning interface (6300) is attached to a robotic carton unloader (6100) and provides an interface between an extendable conveyor (6200) and the robotic carton unloader (6100). The self-aligning interface (6300) can include a positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) mounted on the robotic carton unloader (6100) and operatively engaged with the extendable conveyor (6200) to provide positional information about the location of the extendable nose conveyor (6220) relative to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c). A control unit (6180) is attached to the robotic carton unloader (6100) for full robotic control of robotic carton unloader (6100) and the unloading process. The control unit (6180) is connected to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) and the extendable conveyor (6200).