US 11,748,584 B2
Systems and methods for separating objects using drop conveyors 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 Oct. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/508,217.
Application 17/508,217 is a continuation of application No. 16/737,215, filed on Jan. 8, 2020, granted, now 11,200,390.
Application 16/737,215 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/661,820, filed on Oct. 23, 2019, granted, now 11,373,134.
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 2022/0043991 A1, Feb. 10, 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)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A distribution system for providing dissimilar objects into one of a plurality of receiving stations, said distribution system comprising an urging system for urging an object on a conveyor from the conveyor to a chute in a generally horizontal direction, wherein the urging system includes an air intake system that provides a negative air flow to urge the object from the conveyor to the chute, and wherein the urging system further includes a first forced air system that opposes the air intake system and directs a first positive air flow at the object in the generally horizontal direction to urge the object from the conveyor to the chute.