公开(公告)号：US10913603B1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-09

申请号：US16037424

申请日：2018-07-17

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： William Scott Kalm ,  Vahideh Kamranzadeh

IPC: B65G1/06 ,  B65G1/137 ,  B65G1/12 ,  B65G37/00 ,  B65G69/24 ,  B65G1/02 ,  B65G1/133 ,  B65G1/04 ,  G05B19/418 ,  B65G69/26

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage module has a plurality of conveyor segments that define a movement path that has a closed shape, and at least one actuator that can move inventory storage containers along the movement path. Each actuator has a roller having a cylindrical body that has a first end, a second end that are offset from the first end along a central axis, and a cylindrical outer surface that extends from the first end to the second end. Each actuator has a helical track disposed around the cylindrical outer surface in a helical pattern. Further, each actuator has at least one track follower that can ride along the helical track when the roller is rotated about the central axis so as to move the inventory storage containers along an axial direction that is substantially parallel to the central axis.

公开(公告)号：US20200338597A1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-29

申请号：US16398006

申请日：2019-04-29

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： William Scott Kalm ,  Joshua David Landry ,  Brian Stuart Hoffman ,  Peter A. Grant ,  Dinesh Mahadevan

IPC: B07C3/08 ,  B65G47/14 ,  B65G1/04 ,  B65G1/06 ,  B65G65/42 ,  B65G21/18 ,  B65G33/02 ,  G06Q10/08

Abstract: A sortation system uses short conveyors or transporter units on a lift to move products or packages to totes in a storage rack. The lift may be a carousel. Automated components remove the totes from the rack and place them on outfeed conveyors. The system to remove the totes can include a transfer vehicle. The sortation system may be modular.

公开(公告)号：US20200231419A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-23

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.

公开(公告)号：US20190127159A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-02

申请号：US15797562

申请日：2017-10-30

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

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

IPC: B65G69/24

CPC classification number: B65G69/24 ,  B65G1/133 ,  B65G1/137 ,  G06Q10/087

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage module has a first conveyor segment, a second conveyor segment spaced below the first conveyor segment, a first vertical lift disposed at a first end of the module, and a second vertical lift disposed at a second end of the module. The first and second lifts each transfer inventory carriers between the first and second conveyor segments. The first conveyor segment, the second conveyor segment, the first vertical lift, and the second vertical lift together define a conveying loop in a vertical plane, and the storage module translates inventory carriers around the conveying loop until a desired one of the inventory carriers is presented at one of the first and second module ends. An inventory item can be retrieved from, or stowed in, the desired one of the inventory carriers at the one of the first and second module ends.

公开(公告)号：US10196208B1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-05

申请号：US15721280

申请日：2017-09-29

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

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

IPC: B65G1/04 ,  B65G1/06 ,  B65G47/90 ,  B65G1/137

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage module has first to fourth conveyor segments that define a closed conveying loop in a horizontal plane. The storage module can translate inventory carriers around the closed loop until a desired one of the inventory carriers is presented at one end of the module. The first conveyor segment translates inventory carriers along a first longitudinal direction. The second conveyor segment is offset from the first segment along a first lateral direction and translates inventory carriers along a second longitudinal direction, opposite the first longitudinal direction. The third conveyor segment translates inventory carriers from the first conveyor to the second segment along a first lateral direction at a second end of the module. The fourth conveyor segment translates inventory carriers from the second segment to the first segment along a second lateral direction, opposite the first lateral direction, at a first end of the module.