公开(公告)号：US10807798B1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-20

申请号：US15799847

申请日：2017-10-31

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： William Scott Kalm ,  Benjamin Douglas Garcia ,  Vahideh Kamranzadeh ,  Dinesh Mahadevan ,  Seshachalamgupta Motamarri ,  Tyson Wittrock

IPC: B65G1/06

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage module has first to fourth conveyor segments that define a conveying loop. The module translates storage totes around the conveying loop using, at least in part, first and second actuator assemblies. The first actuator assembly has a first actuator and a first crossbar connected to the first actuator. The first actuator assembly moves the first crossbar in a first direction such that the first crossbar engages and pushes totes along the first conveyor segment in the first direction. The second actuator assembly has a second actuator and a second crossbar connected to the second actuator. The second actuator assembly moves the second crossbar in a second direction, opposite the first direction, such that the second crossbar engages and pushes totes along the second segment in the second direction. The third and fourth segments transfer totes between the first and second segments.

公开(公告)号：US10759611B1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-01

申请号：US16450523

申请日：2019-06-24

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： William Scott Kalm

IPC: B65G47/252 ,  B65G47/24

Abstract: An orienting apparatus configured to reorient an inventory item supplied to a packaging machine includes an inlet, an outlet having an aspect ratio less than one, a translation device, a vertically oriented guide, and an orienting guide. The translation guide drives the inventory item from the inlet towards the outlet. The vertically oriented guide is positioned between a first lateral side of the inlet and a first lateral side of the outlet. The orienting guide is positioned between a second lateral side of the inlet and a second lateral side the outlet. The vertically oriented guide and the orienting guide define a channel through which the inventory item is conveyed. The orienting guide interfaces with the inventory item to progressively reorient the inventory item as the inventory item is conveyed through the channel.

公开(公告)号：US12122620B1

公开(公告)日：2024-10-22

申请号：US17479787

申请日：2021-09-20

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： William Scott Kalm ,  Sean O Maylone

IPC: B65G67/08 ,  B65G1/133 ,  B65G1/137 ,  B65G15/44 ,  B65G43/08 ,  B65G47/82 ,  B65G47/84

CPC classification number: B65G67/08 ,  B65G1/133 ,  B65G1/1375 ,  B65G15/44 ,  B65G43/08 ,  B65G47/82 ,  B65G47/841

Abstract: An item delivery system can include a conveyor. The conveyor can be positioned in a delivery vehicle, for example. The conveyor can include a conveyance surface for receiving items and dividers. While remaining coupled with the conveyance surface, the dividers can move between a storage configuration and an operating configuration. In the operating configuration, the dividers can be positioned between the items. The conveyor can move the items to a position for removal. The removal position may correspond to an area accessible from an operator area of the delivery vehicle, for example.

公开(公告)号：US12110181B1

公开(公告)日：2024-10-08

申请号：US17398721

申请日：2021-08-10

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： William Scott Kalm ,  Matthew Roy Gardner

IPC: B65G1/127 ,  B65G35/06 ,  B65G35/08 ,  B60P3/00 ,  B65G1/04

CPC classification number: B65G1/127 ,  B65G35/06 ,  B65G35/08 ,  B60P3/007 ,  B65G1/0478 ,  B65G1/0485

Abstract: An item retrieval system can include a support defining a continuous pathway having an upper level, a lower level, and an end portion connecting the upper and lower portions. An advancement mechanism can move a carrier having a container advanced along the continuous pathway between the upper and lower levels.

公开(公告)号：US11661274B1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-30

申请号：US17098604

申请日：2020-11-16

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Kushal Patel ,  William Scott Kalm

IPC: B65G1/04 ,  B25J15/00 ,  B65G1/137 ,  B25J13/08 ,  B25J9/00

CPC classification number: B65G1/0435 ,  B25J9/0096 ,  B25J13/08 ,  B25J15/0014 ,  B25J15/0019 ,  B65G1/1373

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for container transporters and related item manipulation devices. In one embodiment, an example item manipulation device may include a support platform, and a conveyance surface attached to the support platform and configured to convey a container at least a portion of a distance from a first side of the support platform to a second side of the support platform, where the conveyance surface defines at least a portion of a container passage through which a container can be conveyed. The item manipulation device may include a manipulator comprising a first arm disposed along a longitudinal axis of the item manipulation device and a second arm disposed along the longitudinal axis of the item manipulation device, where the manipulator is engageable with the container to move the container at least partially onto the conveyance surface.

公开(公告)号：US11649848B1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-16

申请号：US17499148

申请日：2021-10-12

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： William Scott Kalm ,  Bob Samac ,  Tait Stephen Carroll

IPC: F16B47/00

CPC classification number: F16B47/00

Abstract: A suction cup can include a body and a skirt connected to a periphery of the body. The body can include an engagement surface with an aperture. A friction material can be positioned on the engagement surface for engagement with a container. A channel can extend along the engagement surface between the aperture and a periphery of the body.

公开(公告)号：US11312571B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-26

申请号：US16478415

申请日：2018-01-16

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Benjamin Douglas Garcia ,  William Scott Kalm ,  Vahideh Kamranzadeh ,  Dinesh Mahadevan ,  Seshachalamgupta Motamarri ,  Tyson Wittrock

IPC: G06F7/00 ,  B65G1/137 ,  B65G35/06 ,  B65G1/127 ,  B65G1/02

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage module has a first conveyor segment, a second conveyor segments offset from the first segment along a vertical direction, a first vertical lift at a first end of the module, and a second vertical lift at a second end of the module, which together define a movement path that is elongate along a longitudinal direction between the first and second ends. The storage module can translate inventory storage containers around the movement path until a desired one of the inventory storage containers is presented at one of the first end and the second end. In another embodiment, a plurality of instances of the storage module are arranged in a vertical stack of independently controllable storage modules.

公开(公告)号：US11281172B1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-22

申请号：US16444502

申请日：2019-06-18

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： William Scott Kalm ,  Peter A. Grant

IPC: G05B19/042

Abstract: An inventory handling apparatus for transferring inventory items from an inventory bin onto a conveyer includes a rotatable member with a conveyance assembly mounted inside. The conveyance assembly receives an inventory bin into a conveyance channel sized to restrain the inventory bin during inversion of the inventory bin. The inverted inventory bin is moved onto a conveyor and the inventory bin lifted thereby leaving the inventory items on the conveyor.

公开(公告)号：US11130242B1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-28

申请号：US16751084

申请日：2020-01-23

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： William Scott Kalm ,  Kushal Patel

IPC: B25J15/00 ,  B25J19/02 ,  B25J15/06 ,  B65G41/00 ,  B65G1/04

Abstract: A container transport can receive and move a container between positions along a container passage defined by the container transport. The container transport can include a manipulation device for engaging with the container and moving the container onto a conveyance surface of the container transport. The conveyance surface can convey the container along the container passage, and the manipulation device can move the container off of the conveyance surface.

公开(公告)号：US10919747B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-16

申请号：US16253868

申请日：2019-01-22

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： William Scott Kalm ,  Peter A. Grant

IPC: B66F9/07 ,  B65G1/04

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory conveyance system has at least one longitudinal track that is elongate along a longitudinal direction. The system has at least one transverse track that extends from the at least one longitudinal track along a transverse direction that is angularly offset from the longitudinal direction. The transverse track can ride along the at least one longitudinal track along the longitudinal direction. The system has at least one inventory transfer vehicle that is coupled to the transverse track such that the transfer vehicle can ride along the at least one transverse track along the transverse direction. The at least one inventory transfer vehicle has a body, and at least one end effector supported by the body. The at least one end effector can removably couple to an inventory storage container.