US 12,234,104 B2
Item de-binning systems and methods
Evan Long, San Luis Obispo, CA (US); Zachary Pascual, Sacramento, CA (US); Charles Johnstone, Davis, CA (US); and Cedric Jeanty, Davis, CA (US)
Assigned to Advanced Farm Technologies, Inc., Davis, CA (US)
Filed by Advanced Farm Technologies, Inc., Davis, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/512,734.
Application 18/512,734 is a continuation of application No. 18/303,443, filed on Apr. 19, 2023, granted, now 11,827,460.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/363,294, filed on Apr. 20, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0343500 A1, Oct. 17, 2024
Int. Cl. B65G 47/38 (2006.01); B65G 43/00 (2006.01); B65G 47/90 (2006.01); B65G 65/23 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 47/38 (2013.01) [B65G 43/00 (2013.01); B65G 47/904 (2013.01); B65G 65/23 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0211 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0258 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for transferring items from a container, the system comprising:
an item transfer apparatus comprising:
a first conveyor configured to move a first conveyor belt surface; and
a frame coupled to the first conveyor and configured to receive a container;
one or more processors; and
a memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to actuate one or more motors or actuators to perform operations comprising:
securing a container holding one or more items to the frame such that the first conveyor belt surface covers an opening of the container;
inverting the first conveyor and the frame to an inverted position in which the items rest on the first conveyor belt surface and are laterally contained by side walls of the container; and
translating the frame along a lateral direction in coordination with parallel movement of the first conveyor belt surface to move the items off of the first conveyor belt surface.