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：US20190023489A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-24

申请号：US15656552

申请日：2017-07-21

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Dinesh Mahadevan ,  Martin Peter Aalund ,  Jon Stuart Battles ,  Jon David DeFant ,  Benjamin Douglas Garcia ,  Vahideh Kamranzadeh ,  George T. Davies ,  Steven Eric Nuetzman

IPC: B65G1/133 ,  B65G1/04

CPC classification number: B65G1/133 ,  B25J5/02 ,  B25J9/0027 ,  B25J9/0093 ,  B25J9/023 ,  B25J9/041 ,  B25J9/045 ,  B25J9/06 ,  B25J9/1612 ,  B25J9/1623 ,  B25J9/1697 ,  B65G1/0485

Abstract: In one embodiment, an storage module has first and second guide rails that are spaced from one another along a lateral direction. Each guiderail has an upper track and a lower track spaced from one another along a vertical direction, and first and second connecting tracks that connect the upper track to the lower track at first and second ends, respectively. A plurality of inventory carriers that are supported between the guiderails and are arranged end-to-end along the upper and lower tracks. A drivetrain drives the carriers to translate along the upper and lower tracks at a first speed, and drives the carriers to translate along the connecting tracks at a second speed, faster than the first speed. Increasing the speed of the carriers at the connecting tracks can prevent the carriers from colliding with one another when transitioning between the upper track and the lower track.

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：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.

公开(公告)号：US20190023491A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-24

申请号：US15656738

申请日：2017-07-21

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Dinesh Mahadevan ,  Martin Peter Aalund ,  Jon Stuart Battles ,  Jon David DeFant ,  Benjamin Douglas Garcia ,  Vahideh Kamranzadeh ,  George T. Davies ,  Steven Eric Nuetzman

IPC: B65G1/133 ,  B65G1/04

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage system has a vertical stack of storage modules that extend from a first stack end to a second stack end, and are stacked on top of one another. Each storage module defines a path that forms a loop in a vertical plane, and each storage module has a plurality of inventory carriers that translate around the loop. The vertical stack has a first end section that extends from the first stack end towards the second stack end, and that includes a first end of each loop of the stack. The vertical stack also has a second end section that extends from the second stack end towards the first stack end, and that includes a second end of each loop of the stack. The sections can be transported separately by a truck or container and then coupled together at the destination.

公开(公告)号：US20190023490A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-24

申请号：US15656642

申请日：2017-07-21

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Dinesh Mahadevan ,  Martin Peter Aalund ,  Jon Stuart Battles ,  Jon David DeFant ,  Benjamin Douglas Garcia ,  Vahideh Kamranzadeh ,  George T. Davies ,  Steven Eric Nuetzman

IPC: B65G1/133 ,  B65G1/04

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage module has first and second guiderails that are spaced from one another along a lateral direction. Each guiderail has an upper track and a lower track, and first and second connecting tracks that connect the upper track to the lower track at first and second ends of the storage module, respectively. The module has a plurality of inventory carriers that are supported between the first and second guiderails, are arranged end-to-end along the upper and lower tracks along a longitudinal direction, and are elongate along the lateral direction. The module can also have a plurality of storage containers carried by each inventory carrier in a side-by-side relation along the lateral direction, where the plurality of storage containers carry a plurality of inventory items.