Systems and methods for processing objects, including automated re-circulating processing stations

US10843333B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Berkshire Grey, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Thomas Wagner · Concord, US
• Kevin Ahearn · Nebo, US
• Benjamin Cohen · Somerville, US
• Michael Dawson-Haggerty · Pittsburgh, US
• Christopher Geyer · Arlington, US
• Victoria Hinchey · Winchester, US
• Thomas Koletschka · Cambridge, US
• Kyle Maroney · Dodgeville, US
• Matthew T. Mason · Pittsburgh, US
• Gene Temple Price · Cambridge, US
• Joseph Romano · Arlington, US
• Daniel Smith · Pittsburgh, US
• Siddhartha Srinivasa · Seattle, US
• Prasanna Velagapudi · Pittsburgh, US
• Thomas Allen · Reading, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 6, 2018
• Grant date: Nov 24, 2020
• Expiry date: Jun 6, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/40554
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of processing objects using a programmable motion device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an input conveyance system by which input bins of objects may be provided to a processing station that includes the programmable motion device that includes an end effector, perceiving at the processing station identifying indicia representative of an identity of a plurality of objects at an input area of the input conveyance system, grasping the an acquired object using the end effector, moving the acquired object toward an identified processing container using the programmable motion device, the identified processing container being associated with the identifying indicia and said identified processing container being provided as one of a plurality of processing containers at the processing station, and providing an output conveyance system in communication with the processing station, by which processing containers that contain processed objects may be provided.