Robert T Hsiung

US Patent:

51726394, Dec 22, 1992

Filed:

Mar 26, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/675487

Inventors:

Richard M. Wiesman - Wayland MA
Edward E. Fischer - Acton MA
Richard R. Fontana - Lexington MA
Bruce B. Gamble - Wellesley MA
Robert T. Hsiung - Brookline MA
Steven J. Kozminski - Rutland MA

Assignee:

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B61B 1310

US Classification:

1041382

Abstract:

A cornering pipe traveler includes a tractor having a pair of carriages, a leading carriage and a trailing carriage, each carriage including a clamping device for positively engaging the inner surface of the pipe, and structure for propelling the carriage along the pipe; interconnected between the pair of carriages there is a device for exerting a curling force between the two carriages for mechanically compelling the lead carriage to curl and enter a turn in the pipe; also included is structure for aligning the lead carriage so that the curling force compels the pipe traveler to enter a selected turn to be made.

US Patent:

20220177225, Jun 9, 2022

Filed:

Feb 22, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/652012

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Robert HSIUNG - Cambridge MA, US
Kirill K. PANKRATOV - Acton MA, US
Robert Sullivan - Wilmington MA, US
Larry M. Sweet - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

B65G 1/04

Abstract:

An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous transport vehicle, a transfer deck that defines a transport surface for the vehicle, at least one reciprocating lift, a first and second pickface interface station connected to the deck and spaced apart from each other, each station forming a pickface transfer interfacing between the vehicle on the deck and the lift at each station so that a pickface is transferred between the lift and the vehicle at each station, wherein the vehicle is configured to pick a first pickface at the first station, traverse the deck and buffer the first pickface, or at least a portion thereof, at the second station so that the second station has multiple pickfaces buffered on a common support in an order sequence of pickfaces according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed case pickfaces.

US Patent:

20210292092, Sep 23, 2021

Filed:

Mar 17, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/204107

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Juergen D. CONRAD - York PA, US
Robert HSIUNG - Cambridge MA, US
William JOHNSON, JR. - Wilmington MA, US
Edward A. MACDONALD - MACDONALD MA, US
Larry M. SWEET - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

B65G 1/137
B65G 1/04
B66F 9/06

Abstract:

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment, a lift includes at least one load handling device configured so as to reciprocate along a lift axis, the load handling device including a frame forming a payload section with a payload support surface having a common elevation configured to hold one or more pickfaces at the common elevation of the payload support surface, at least one transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, and a drive section connected to the load handling device and being configured to move the load handling device along the lift axis, wherein the one or more pickfaces carried in unison by the payload support surface of the at least one load handling device, define an order sequence of pickfaces on the at least one load handling device according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed cases.

US Patent:

20210147146, May 20, 2021

Filed:

Dec 1, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/108265

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Robert Hsiung - Cambridge MA, US
Kirill K. Pankratov - Acton MA, US
Robert Sullivan - Wilmington MA, US
Larry M. Sweet - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

B65G 1/04

Abstract:

An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous transport vehicle, a transfer deck that defines a transport surface for the vehicle, at least one reciprocating lift, a first and second pickface interface station connected to the deck and spaced apart from each other, each station forming a pickface transfer interfacing between the vehicle on the deck and the lift at each station so that a pickface is transferred between the lift and the vehicle at each station, wherein the vehicle is configured to pick a first pickface at the first station, traverse the deck and buffer the first pickface, or at least a portion thereof, at the second station so that the second station has multiple pickfaces buffered on a common support in an order sequence of pickfaces according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed case pickfaces.

US Patent:

20210073721, Mar 11, 2021

Filed:

Nov 17, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/950383

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Juergen D. CONRAD - York PA, US
Robert HSIUNG - Cambridge MA, US
Larry M. SWEET - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

G06Q 10/08
B65G 1/04
B65G 1/06

Abstract:

A product order fulfillment system includes multiple decks arrayed at different levels and defining multilevel decks, at least one autonomous transport vehicle on each of the decks, and configured for holding and transporting a pickface on each deck, at least one lift, traversing and connecting more than one level of the decks, and arranged for lifting and lowering the pickface from the decks, and at least one pickface transfer station on each deck interfacing between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift to effect transfer of the pickface between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift, the at least one lift defines a fulfillment stream of mixed case pickfaces outbound from the multilevel decks to a load fill, at least one stream of the fulfillment stream has an ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces wherein the ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces is based on another fulfilment stream.

US Patent:

20200143317, May 7, 2020

Filed:

Dec 18, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/718918

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Juergen D. CONRAD - York PA, US
Robert HSIUNG - Cambridge MA, US
Larry M. SWEET - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

G06Q 10/08
B65G 1/06
B65G 1/04

Abstract:

A product order fulfillment system includes multiple decks arrayed at different levels and defining multilevel decks, at least one autonomous transport vehicle on each of the decks, and configured for holding and transporting a pickface on each deck, at least one lift, traversing and connecting more than one level of the decks, and arranged for lifting and lowering the pickface from the decks, and at least one pickface transfer station on each deck interfacing between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift to effect transfer of the pickface between the transport vehicle and the at least one lift, the at least one lift defines a fulfillment stream of mixed case pickfaces outbound from the multilevel decks to a load fill, at least one stream of the fulfillment stream has an ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces wherein the ordered sequence of streaming pickfaces is based on another fulfilment stream.

US Patent:

20190256289, Aug 22, 2019

Filed:

Feb 25, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/284930

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Juergen D. CONRAD - York PA, US
Robert HSIUNG - Cambridge MA, US
William JOHNSON, Jr. - Wilmington MA, US
Edward A. MACDONALD - Somerville MA, US
Larry M. SWEET - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

B65G 1/137
B65G 1/04

Abstract:

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment, a lift includes at least one load handling device configured so as to reciprocate along a lift axis, the load handling device including a frame forming a payload section with a payload support surface having a common elevation configured to hold one or more pickfaces at the common elevation of the payload support surface, at least one transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, and a drive section connected to the load handling device and being configured to move the load handling device along the lift axis, wherein the one or more pickfaces carried in unison by the payload support surface of the at least one load handling device, define an order sequence of pickfaces on the at least one load handling device according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed cases.

US Patent:

20190202635, Jul 4, 2019

Filed:

Dec 17, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/222283

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Robert HSIUNG - Cambridge MA, US
Kirill K. PANKRATOV - Acton MA, US
Robert SULLIVAN - Wilmington MA, US
Larry M. SWEET - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

B65G 1/04

Abstract:

An automated storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous transport vehicle, a transfer deck that defines a transport surface for the vehicle, at least one reciprocating lift, a first and second pickface interface station connected to the deck and spaced apart from each other, each station forming a pickface transfer interfacing between the vehicle on the deck and the lift at each station so that a pickface is transferred between the lift and the vehicle at each station, wherein the vehicle is configured to pick a first pickface at the first station, traverse the deck and buffer the first pickface, or at least a portion thereof, at the second station so that the second station has multiple pickfaces buffered on a common support in an order sequence of pickfaces according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed case pickfaces.