The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 31, 2024
Filed:
Mar. 29, 2024
Material Handling Systems, Inc., Mt. Washington, KY (US);
Michael Thomas Fleming, Waxhaw, NC (US);
Robertus Arnoldus Adrianus Schmit, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
FORTNA Systems, Inc., Mt. Washington, KY;
Abstract
A system for loading and transporting parcels includes: a sorter including a plurality of chutes for offloading parcels from the sorter; a plurality of totes; a plurality of self-driving vehicles ('SDVs') configured to transport the plurality of totes between a loading area, an unloading area, and a queue area; and a control subsystem. The loading area includes a plurality of zones, with each zone corresponding to one or more chutes of the sorter. The control subsystem includes a controller, which is operably connected to the SDVs, and which selectively communicates instructions to dispatch SDVs to transport and replace totes in the loading area as they become filled to the predetermined capacity. A method for loading and transporting parcels in a sorting facility including a loading area, an unloading area, and a queue area is also disclosed.