US 11,911,801 B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for automatically performing sorting operations
Matthew Wicks, Charlotte, NC (US); and David Pepley, Charlotte, NC (US)
Assigned to INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC, Mason, OH (US)
Filed by INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC, Mason, OH (US)
Filed on Oct. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/451,572.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/124,482, filed on Dec. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0184666 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 65/00 (2006.01); B07C 5/08 (2006.01); B07C 5/28 (2006.01); B07C 5/342 (2006.01); B07C 5/36 (2006.01)
CPC B07C 5/3422 (2013.01) [B07C 5/08 (2013.01); B07C 5/28 (2013.01); B07C 5/362 (2013.01); B65G 65/005 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for automatically performing sorting operations with respect to a plurality of items, the apparatus comprising:
an array of gripping elements; and
at least one processing component configured to:
obtain image data corresponding with the plurality of items;
identify, from the image data, one or more characteristics of the plurality of items;
determine, based at least in part on the one or more characteristics, an ordered sequence corresponding with the plurality of items, wherein the ordered sequence comprises one or more target parameters for actuating one or more gripping elements of the array of gripping elements; and
generate a control indication to cause the one or more gripping elements to collect and sequentially deposit at least two or more items of the plurality of items based at least in part on the ordered sequence, wherein the ordered sequence comprises a set of instructions to pause the deposit of at least one item of the at least two or more items for at least a predetermined time duration based on the one or more characteristics of the at least two or more items.