Article Handling Patents (Class 700/213)
  • Patent number: 12243011
    Abstract: An inventory control system is described that includes a tool storage device including a drawer or a tray providing a pallet, wherein the pallet includes storage locations for objects; a sensing device configured to form an image of the storage locations; and a data processor configured to determine presence or absence of the pallet and presence or absence of objects within the storage locations of the pallet using the information from the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Preston Phillips, David C. Fly, Matthew J. Lipsey, Joseph Chwan, Frederick J. Rogers
  • Patent number: 12240114
    Abstract: A method for optimizing an automated process to select and grip an object by a robot in an arrangement that includes a plurality of robots with regard to a specifiable optimization criterion, wherein the objects to be potentially gripped irregularly occur with respect to their spatial position and a time of their arrival, where detection of objects to be potentially gripped by robots is performed, detection of a priority characteristic as well as an assignment to one of the robots for the objects to be potentially gripped via an automated learning algorithm, taking the optimization criterion into account, and where selection and gripping depending on the assignment and the priority characteristic is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Mathias Witt
  • Patent number: 12226915
    Abstract: A belt conveyor calibration method includes transporting a marker by a belt of a belt conveyor, imaging the marker by a first camera, detecting the marker passing through one section of a plurality of sections formed by division of a first imaging area of the first camera from a captured image of the first camera, moving a second camera by a robot and tracking and imaging the detected marker by the second camera, and calculating and storing a correction value as a difference between a position of the marker estimated from a transportation amount of the belt and a position of the marker detected from an image of the marker tracked and imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masato Yokota
  • Patent number: 12214512
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: 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: 12211001
    Abstract: An example method includes: during a container load process, controlling a sensor assembly to capture sensor data depicting a container interior; detecting, from the sensor data, items in the container interior; determining, based on the detected items, first and second load process metrics associated with first and second targets; generating first and second normalized metrics based on the first and second load process metrics, and the first and second targets; obtaining a first weighting factor associated with the first load process metric, and a second weighting factor associated with the second load process metric; combining the first normalized metric and the first weighting factor, with the second normalized metric and the second weighting factor, to generate an aggregated load process metric; and transmitting a control command according to the aggregated load process metric; and rendering, at an indicator device, a load process state indicator according to the control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Adithya H. Krishnamurthy, Miroslav Trajkovic, Justin F. Barish
  • Patent number: 12188671
    Abstract: A system and method controls a heat transfer system for palletized product. A controller and an array of sensors cooperate to control chillers and fans to efficiently change the temperature of product within the cases, while collecting and providing data regarding the efficacy and overall spatial profile of the freezing or other temperature-control operation. These data can be used to provide user feedback, optimize the temperature-control process, and ensure a desired performance of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Tippmann Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel J. Tippmann, Robert T. Tippmann, III
  • Patent number: 12183614
    Abstract: A transportation system of a cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a port and a system controller. The port accommodates a cassette carrying a glass substrate. The port includes a plurality of displacement sensors for sensing a position of a cassette. The system controller calculates a distortion amount of the cassette using a plurality of sensed values of the cassette and a misplaced amount of the displacement sensors to determine whether the cassette is in a normal settlement status. Therefore, the position of the cassette can be automatically taught without clamping operation of a clamping device clamping the cassette disposed in the port, so that it is possible to prevent defects of the glass substrate by removing various defect-causing factors such as particles and static electricity that may occur during a conventional clamping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: RORZE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jeong Tae Yun
  • Patent number: 12162685
    Abstract: An automated packing system is disclosed for placing a plurality of objects into a shipping container. The system includes a supply bin receiving conveyor for receiving a supply bin at a supply station, the supply bin receiving conveyor including sensing unit for determining an extent of advancement of the supply bin in a conveyor direction along the supply bin receiving conveyor, a detection system for detecting a plurality of objects within the supply bin responsive to the position of the supply bin on the receiving conveyor as aligned by the alignment system, an object selection system for selecting a selected object from the plurality of objects to be placed into the shipping container, and a programmable motion device for grasping and acquiring the selected object from the plurality of objects at the supply station, and for placing the selected object into the shipping container in a selected orientation and pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Cohen, Christopher Geyer, Thomas Koletschka, Jay Link, Joshua Lurz, Matthew T. Mason, Richard Musgrave, Ryan O'Hern, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Wagner, Jeremy Saslaw
  • Patent number: 12164430
    Abstract: An apparatus to facilitate data prefetching is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cache, one or more execution units (EUs) to execute program code, prefetch logic to maintain tracking information of memory instructions in the program code that trigger a cache miss and compiler logic to receive the tracking information, insert one or more pre-fetch instructions in updated program code to prefetch data from a memory for execution of one or more of the memory instructions that triggered a cache miss and download the updated program code for execution by the one or more EUs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vasileios Porpodas, Guei-Yuan Lueh, Subramaniam Maiyuran, Wei-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 12157231
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a robotic system to place objects into containers that have support walls is disclosed. The robotic system may detect an unexpected condition associated with a container during or before a real-time operation. Accordingly, the robotic system may dynamically adjust an existing packing plan based on detecting the unexpected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: MUJIN, Inc.
    Inventors: Denys Kanunikov, Rosen Nikolaev Diankov
  • Patent number: 12122610
    Abstract: It is disclosed: a conveying system; an interface station; as well as a method for transferring a conveying good from a driverless transport vehicle (DTV) via an interface station, which includes a diverting conveyor unit, to a continuous conveyor operated at a preset conveying speed and comprising a preferred conveying direction, wherein the method comprises the steps of: actuatorless inertia-based delivering the conveying good from the DTV to the interface station; repeatedly detecting, by a sensor system, the delivered conveying good in an area of the interface station, while the delivered conveying good moves due to the inertia-based delivery, and generating corresponding sensor signals; based on the sensor signals, determining, by a controlling unit, a current speed and movement direction of the delivered conveying good; based on the current speed and movement direction, generating, by the controlling unit, a current control signal for the diverting conveyor unit such that the current speed and movement
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: SSI Schäfer Automation GmbH (AT)
    Inventor: Christoph Groessl
  • Patent number: 12091257
    Abstract: A travel path of an article transport facility provided with a plurality of article transport vehicles that travel along the travel path and transport articles, and a control device that controls operation of the article transport vehicles includes a path set in an inspection area for causing a target transport vehicle designated as an inspection target from among the plurality of article transport vehicles to travel along. The target transport vehicle includes a sensor that detects behavior of the target transport vehicle during travel. The control device controls the plurality of article transport vehicles such that only the one target transport vehicle is present in the inspection area, and causes the target transport vehicle to travel in the inspection area in an inspection travel pattern prescribed in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Hagiwara, Shota Masamura
  • Patent number: 12062291
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method for managing available capacity at a location for receiving an asset includes obtaining data indicative of one or more first assets that will arrive at a first location within a first transfer hub at an arrival time, the one or more first assets being associated with a first service provider. The method includes determining an available capacity at the first location within the first transfer hub for receiving the one or more first assets at the arrival time. The method includes moving one or more second assets positioned at the first location to a second location within the first transfer hub to increase the available capacity at the first location for receiving the one or more first assets at the arrival time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Alden James Woodrow, Alan Hugh Wells, Maxwell MacGavin Pike
  • Patent number: 12059811
    Abstract: An automated palletizer for building a mixed case pallet, the automated palletizer including a case infeed that feeds mixed cases to provide an input queue feed sequence of mixed cases. At least one pallet building robot communicably connected to the case infeed and configured to receive the mixed cases in the input queue feed sequence of mixed cases, and place the mixed cases according to and dependent on the input queue feed sequence of mixed cases so as to effect building the mixed case pallet at a predetermined substantially steady placement rate. A controller communicably connected to the case infeed and at least one pallet building robot, and being configured so as to generate a complete and stable mixed case arrangement plan that completes at least a predetermined whole part of the mixed case pallet and that describes a predetermined planned location and pose for each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Ke Fu, Wenyin San, Rick Youping Huang
  • Patent number: 11981548
    Abstract: A crane includes a boom and a hook suspended from the boom by a wire rope and transports a load in a state in which the load W is suspended from the hook, and further includes a sensor that detects the position of an obstacle, and a control device that generates a transport path CR by arranging a plurality of node points in an area containing a lifting-up point and a lifting-down point of the load and connecting the node points. The control device generates a new transport path after increasing a number of node points arranged around the obstacle when the sensor detects movement of the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TADANO LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamauchi, Yoshimasa Minami, Soichiro Fukamachi, Kazuma Mizuki, Shohei Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 11958695
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Körber Supply Chain LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 11946796
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Seth David Silk, Andrew Ehlers, Nirav Shah, Peter S. Carberry, IV
  • Patent number: 11931895
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Handa, Koji Sokabe, Keita Shimamoto, Masaru Adachi, Ryokichi Hirata
  • Patent number: 11861556
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: VECNA ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Theobald, Siddharth Ram Chhatpar
  • Patent number: 11858573
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Conceptual Innovations, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Elmer Lee, Tyler Bretes, Michael Anthony Aerts, Ryan Joseph Lotsbaich
  • Patent number: 11839986
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Ocado Innovation Limited
    Inventors: David Gabriel Hallock, Youssef Zaky, Gaurav Paruthi, Bryan Tripp, James Sterling Bergstra
  • Patent number: 11829688
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Minghui Liu, Jing Huang, Mingang Fu
  • Patent number: 11823094
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dilip Kumar, Ammar Chinoy, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Shrivatsan Vasudhevan, Jin Dong Kim
  • Patent number: 11780096
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: 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: 11751559
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: VERDANT ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Gabriel Thurston Sibley, Lorenzo Ibarria, Curtis Dale Garner, Patrick Christopher Leger
  • Patent number: 11753198
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventors: Franck Feilloley, Laurent Danel, Stéphane Linglet, Yves-Alban Duclos, Christophe Maran, Sébastien Moulin, Cyrille Lecanu, David Gariou
  • Patent number: 11745987
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ralf Gerdhenrichs, Thomas Dobler, Alexander Willhoeft
  • Patent number: 11720112
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: JAR Scientific LLC
    Inventors: Justin Starr, Ashish Basuray, Roman Kazantsev
  • Patent number: 11647700
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: IRON OX, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon Ace Alexander, Jonathan Binney, Winnie Ding, Zachary Wielgosz
  • Patent number: 11651463
    Abstract: 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 by
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SSI Schäfer Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Elmar Issing, Christian Herzmaier, Jakob Beer
  • Patent number: 11643312
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORORATION
    Inventors: Jun Uchimura, Hideaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11628572
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: MSC Services Corp.
    Inventor: Darin Lee Russell
  • Patent number: 11625675
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Luxer Corporation
    Inventors: Arik Seth Levy, Dustin Erik Fjeld
  • Patent number: 11610167
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Dejong, Aaron Zirbes
  • Patent number: 11593730
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuki Takazaki
  • Patent number: 11579610
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Eugene Fisher, Michael Franklin Morgan
  • Patent number: 11565414
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nao Ooshima, Shunichi Ozaki, Tomoyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11548038
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: COUPANG CORP.
    Inventors: Wenting Mo, Yoo Suk Kim, Sun Seung Lee, Sen Yang, Hongyuan Li, Changquan Piao
  • Patent number: 11550968
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Jing Huang, Minghui Liu, Mingang Fu, Amritayan Nayak
  • Patent number: 11545374
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MUEHLBAUER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Marcel Freimuth, Alexander Ruhland
  • Patent number: 11526836
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Minghui Liu, Jing Huang, Mingang Fu, Amritayan Nayak
  • Patent number: 11527008
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Haruka Fujii, Toshihiro Moriya, Takeshi Kojima, Norikazu Tonogai
  • Patent number: 11505436
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Muhammad E. Abdallah, James W. Wells
  • Patent number: 11488235
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Oculogx Inc.
    Inventor: Charu Thomas
  • Patent number: 11488436
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Kalin Robinson
  • Patent number: 11472636
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: HKC CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventor: Huailiang He
  • Patent number: 11472035
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ganesh Kalbavi, Derek Jung, Leo Keselman, Min-Ren Jean, Kenneth W. Krause, Jason Tsai
  • Patent number: 11424016
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategie Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11397934
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Uchimura
  • Patent number: 11390469
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Taiga Satou