US 12,252,357 B1
Systems, apparatus and methods for sorting dunnage
Peter D. Yohe, Bloomsburg, PA (US); Benjamin M. Kuznicki, Bloomsburg, PA (US); Travis J. Potter, Berwick, PA (US); Michael J. Perron, Mifflinburg, PA (US); and Joshua J. Gordon, Unityville, PA (US)
Assigned to DYCO, Inc., Bloomsburg, PA (US)
Filed by DYCO, INC., Bloomsburg, PA (US)
Filed on Oct. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/492,270.
Int. Cl. B65G 61/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 61/00 (2013.01) [B65G 2203/0208 (2013.01); B65G 2203/041 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for sorting dunnage of a depalletized loaded pallet, comprising:
a programmable robot including an arm for transferring a dunnage from a stacked dunnage of different types to a collection area, the programmable robot includes a rotatable head having a first gripper assembly for engaging with a first type of dunnage, a second gripper assembly for engaging with a second type of dunnage, and a third gripper assembly for engaging with a third type of dunnage,
wherein the first gripper assembly, the second gripper assembly and the third gripper assembly are independently operated and configured to engage the respective dunnage based on the type of dunnage,
wherein the rotatable head is configured to rotate in a first rotated position that supports the first gripper assembly to engage with the first type of dunnage,
wherein the rotatable head is configured to rotate in a second rotated position that supports the second gripper assembly to engage with the second type of dunnage, and
wherein the rotatable head is configured to rotate in a third rotated position that supports the third gripper assembly to engage with the third type of dunnage; and
a sensor for determining the type of dunnage, wherein the sensor is configured to determine that the dunnage is:
a slip sheet in response to the sensor detecting a constant light intensity,
a top frame in response to the sensor detecting a substantial drop of light intensity deviation near an end of the dunnage, or
a pallet in response to the sensor detecting substantial multiple drops of light intensity of the dunnage.