US 11,866,255 B2
Discontinuous grid system for use in systems and methods for processing objects including mobile matrix carrier systems
Thomas Wagner, Concord, MA (US); Kevin Ahearn, Nebo, NC (US); John Richard Amend, Jr., Belmont, MA (US); Benjamin Cohen, Somerville, MA (US); Michael Dawson-Haggerty, Pittsburgh, PA (US); William Hartman Fort, Stratham, NH (US); Christopher Geyer, Arlington, MA (US); Jennifer Eileen King, Oakmont, PA (US); Thomas Koletschka, Cambridge, MA (US); Michael Cap Koval, Mountain View, CA (US); Kyle Maroney, North Attleboro, MA (US); Matthew T. Mason, Pittsburgh, PA (US); William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Cambridge, MA (US); Gene Temple Price, Cambridge, MA (US); Joseph Romano, Arlington, MA (US); Daniel Smith, Canonsburg, PA (US); Siddhartha Srinivasa, Seattle, WA (US); Prasanna Velagapudi, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Thomas Allen, Reading, MA (US)
Assigned to Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc., Bedford, MA (US)
Filed by Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc., Bedford, MA (US)
Filed on Jan. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/099,573.
Application 18/099,573 is a continuation of application No. 16/952,428, filed on Nov. 19, 2020, granted, now 11,597,615.
Application 16/952,428 is a continuation of application No. 16/172,255, filed on Oct. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,913,612, issued on Feb. 9, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/681,409, filed on Jun. 6, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/641,640, filed on Mar. 12, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/578,030, filed on Oct. 27, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0159271 A1, May 25, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B65G 67/02 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B25J 9/10 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01); G05B 19/418 (2006.01); B61B 13/00 (2006.01); B61D 3/00 (2006.01); B61D 9/00 (2006.01); B65G 1/02 (2006.01); B65G 1/00 (2006.01); B65G 37/00 (2006.01); B65G 47/90 (2006.01); B07C 5/36 (2006.01); B07C 5/38 (2006.01); B65G 9/00 (2006.01); B65G 41/02 (2006.01); B65G 47/48 (2006.01); B65G 47/96 (2006.01); B65G 65/00 (2006.01); B65G 65/23 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/0471 (2013.01) [B65G 1/0492 (2013.01); B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B65G 1/1375 (2013.01); B65G 67/02 (2013.01); B07C 5/361 (2013.01); B07C 5/38 (2013.01); B07C 2301/0091 (2013.01); B25J 9/106 (2013.01); B25J 9/162 (2013.01); B25J 9/1687 (2013.01); B61B 13/00 (2013.01); B61D 3/00 (2013.01); B61D 9/00 (2013.01); B65G 1/00 (2013.01); B65G 1/026 (2013.01); B65G 1/0478 (2013.01); B65G 1/0485 (2013.01); B65G 1/1371 (2013.01); B65G 1/1373 (2013.01); B65G 1/1378 (2013.01); B65G 9/002 (2013.01); B65G 9/008 (2013.01); B65G 37/00 (2013.01); B65G 41/02 (2013.01); B65G 47/48 (2013.01); B65G 47/902 (2013.01); B65G 47/904 (2013.01); B65G 47/96 (2013.01); B65G 65/005 (2013.01); B65G 65/23 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0258 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0216 (2013.01); B65G 2203/044 (2013.01); B65G 2811/0678 (2013.01); B65G 2814/0346 (2013.01); G05B 19/0428 (2013.01); G05B 19/41815 (2013.01); G05B 19/41895 (2013.01); G05B 2219/24001 (2013.01); G05B 2219/40078 (2013.01); G05B 2219/40252 (2013.01); G05D 2201/0216 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of moving objects to be processed, said method comprising:
receiving an object by an automated carrier, said automated carrier being provided as one of a plurality of automated carriers on a discontinuous track system;
receiving commands at each of the plurality of automated carriers to move the plurality of automated carriers a plurality of respective limited distances that are each short of any final destination for each automated carrier; and
moving the plurality of automated carriers in accordance with their respective commands, wherein the moving of each automated carrier includes leaving an associated first track element of the discontinuous track system and approaching an associated second track element of the discontinuous track system, and wherein the associated first track element and the associated second track element are not contiguous.