Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Christine Leonore Fuller

Mark John Glusker

Mark Greggory Edstrom

Ketan A Rasal

Gregory Turner Witmer

Nicholas Jenkins Morozovsky

Amruta Velapure

Matthew Aaron Frost

Curt Salisbury

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for end of arm tools having conveyance surfaces and related item manipulation devices. In one embodiment, an example item manipulation device may include a first conveyor assembly having a first conveyance surface configured to actuate in a first direction, a second conveyor assembly having a second conveyance surface that opposes the first conveyance surface, the second conveyance surface configured to actuate in the first direction, where the item manipulation device may grasp an item between the first conveyor assembly and the second conveyor assembly, and a controller configured to cause the item to be grasped between the first conveyor assembly and the second conveyor assembly, and actuate the first conveyor assembly and the second conveyor assembly to unload the item from the item manipulation device.

End of arm tools having conveyance surfaces

An autonomous mobile device (AMD) includes a telescoping mast with sensors on top that are connected to a cable running through the mast. An inner section of the mast includes a bobbin that secures cables. The bobbin has a shaft and features that guide cables to helically wind around the shaft. The bobbin reduces stress on the cable as the mast moves. The mast is lifted by a rack that includes a portion with teeth and a portion without. The portion with teeth is driven by a motor. The portion without teeth connects the rack to a spool. The toothless section reduces stress on the toothed portion of the rack as it spools or unspools. The AMD includes a hinge to tilt a display. To securely position the hinge on a shaft, the shaft is spun after assembly so that a push nut cuts a retention groove in the shaft.

Autonomous mobile device with extensible mast

An autonomous mobile device has a main body and an extensible mast to raise and lower a payload, such as a camera, relative to the main body. The mast may comprise a set of telescoping sections, with each section comprising two or more pieces that are joined during assembly. A motor moves a flexible rack between a first spool and the mast to raise or lower the mast. For example, during extension a motor-driven pinion engages teeth on the flexible rack, pulling the rack from the first spool and pushing up the mast. A cable stored on a second spool may be extended and retracted with the flexible rack. The cable transfers one or more of data or power between the main body and the payload. A sensor may be used to detect features on the flexible rack to provide data about how far the flexible rack has been extended.

Extensible mast for an autonomous mobile device

An autonomous mobile device with an extensible mast to raise and lower a payload, such as a camera, relative to a main body. The mast comprises a set of telescoping sections. A motor moves a flexible rack between a first spool and the mast to raise or lower the mast. For example, during extension a motor-driven pinion engages teeth on the flexible rack, pulling the rack from the first spool and pushing up the mast. A cable stored on a second spool may be extended and retracted with the flexible rack. The cable transfers one or more of data or power between the main body and the payload. A mechanism provides for sequenced deployment of the mast, with the innermost section moving first. While raising the mast, the mechanism engages between adjacent telescoping sections, locking them in place. While lowering the mast, the mechanism selectively releases section by section.

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Christine Leonore Fuller