US 12,269,683 B2
Automated systems and devices for loading and unloading
Ryan M. Luckay, Vienna, VA (US)
Assigned to United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Mar. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/189,003.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/984,598, filed on Mar. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0276800 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01)
CPC B65G 1/0492 (2013.01) [B65G 1/1371 (2013.01); B65G 1/1373 (2013.01); G05D 1/0274 (2013.01); G06Q 10/087 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for processing containers of items, the system comprising:
one or more automated robots, the automated robots comprising:
a housing sized to allow the one or more automated robots to be positioned underneath a container of items;
a drive portion connected to a bottom portion of the housing;
a lift mechanism connected to a top portion of the housing and configured to contact an underside of the container of items;
one or more sensors, the sensors configured to identify a location of the one or more automated robots within a facility; and
a scanner configured to read a container identifier on a container;
a base station located in the facility and associated with the one or more automated robots, the base station comprising:
one or more charging stations for charging the one or more automated robots;
one or more processors configured to communicate with and instruct the one or more automated robots; and
wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
before arrival of a vehicle at a dock of the facility, receive, from a vehicle-based system on the vehicle, a vehicle identifier of the vehicle and the container identifier for the container, the container being located on the vehicle and intended for unloading at the facility;
determine an intended location for the container;
instruct one or more of the automated robots to move to a location of the container on the vehicle;
instruct the one or more of the automated robots to scan, via the scanner, a code located on the container;
receive the scanned code located on the container;
compare the receive scanned code with the container identifier received before arrival of the vehicle at the dock; and
when the scanned code matches the container identifier, instruct the one or more of the automated robots to transport the container to the determined intended location for the container.