US 11,868,840 B2
Systems and methods for separating objects using a vacuum roller with one or more object processing systems
Thomas Wagner, Concord, MA (US); Matthew T. Mason, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Christopher Geyer, Arlington, MA (US); John Richard Amend, Jr., Belmont, MA (US); Kyle Maroney, North Attleboro, MA (US); Joseph Romano, Arlington, MA (US); Victoria Hinchey, Winchester, MA (US); Jeffrey Kittredge, Lexington, MA (US); Andrew Gauthier, Somerville, MA (US); Lakshman Kumar, Burlington, MA (US); and Prasanna Velagapudi, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Assigned to Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc., Bedford, MA (US)
Filed by Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc., Bedford, MA (US)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/899,294.
Application 17/899,294 is a continuation of application No. 17/324,588, filed on May 19, 2021, granted, now 11,481,566.
Application 17/324,588 is a continuation of application No. 16/737,208, filed on Jan. 8, 2020, granted, now 11,055,504, issued on Jul. 6, 2021.
Application 16/737,208 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/661,820, filed on Oct. 23, 2019, granted, now 11,373,134, issued on Jun. 28, 2022.
Application 16/661,820 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/543,105, filed on Aug. 16, 2019, granted, now 10,796,116, issued on Oct. 6, 2020.
Application 16/543,105 is a continuation of application No. 15/956,442, filed on Apr. 18, 2018, granted, now 10,438,034, issued on Oct. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/884,351, filed on Aug. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/789,775, filed on Jan. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/749,509, filed on Oct. 23, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/486,783, filed on Apr. 18, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0414359 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06K 7/10 (2006.01); B65G 47/46 (2006.01); B65G 47/18 (2006.01); B65G 47/12 (2006.01); B07C 5/34 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B65G 25/04 (2006.01); B65G 47/96 (2006.01)
CPC G06K 7/10693 (2013.01) [B07C 5/3412 (2013.01); B65G 1/1378 (2013.01); B65G 25/04 (2013.01); B65G 47/12 (2013.01); B65G 47/18 (2013.01); B65G 47/46 (2013.01); B65G 47/962 (2013.01); B65G 2203/041 (2013.01)] 35 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A distribution system comprising:
an air-permeable conveyor section that is driven around at least one vacuum roller;
the vacuum roller being provided at a free end of the air-permeable conveyor section and including openings through which a vacuum pressure is applied to a plurality of dissimilar objects at the free end of the air-permeable conveyor section;
a perception system for providing monitoring data regarding actions of the plurality of dissimilar objects as the plurality of dissimilar objects are dropped from the free end of the air-permeable conveyor section; and
a controller for controlling any of a rotational speed of the at least one vacuum roller and the vacuum pressure within the at least one vacuum roller responsive to the monitoring data for providing that the plurality of dissimilar objects each travel a selected distance around the vacuum roller before falling from the free end of the air-permeable conveyor section.