Patent · US Expired

Flats sequencing system and method of use

US6881916B2 · kind B2 · utility

35Cited by
11References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 13, 2003
Grant dateApr 19, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 22, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S209/90
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A system and method sequencing objects in trays by assigning a direction to tray locations, where each of the tray locations provides space for trays. The objects are placed into the trays corresponding to assigned directions of the objects. A determination is made as to whether there are additional objects that correspond to the direction and, if so, the direction is assigned to unassigned tray locations based on pre-defined rules. Once all of the objects are in the trays, the trays are moved to the feeder system in a sequential order based on the directions. In a second pass, the directions are reassigned to the tray locations based on a number of trays required to hold the objects. The objects are placed into the trays corresponding to the directions of the objects. The trays are then transported to an unloading stage in a sequential order corresponding to the reassigned directions.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.