Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Daniel Lowther

Kaushal Bharatkumar Mehta

Jessica Fitzgerald

Suzanne Clark Ward

Prasad V Rao

William Patrick Apps

Jon P Hassell

Philip Andrew King

Jaemi Cheri Tiangco Bermudez

Ashwini Kotraiah Davangere

Jainil Nilesh Desai

Sriram Radhakrishnan

Eric Edmond Swensen

Damien Duffy

Tom Rattini

Spencer Cates

Kevin Wolcott

Axel Sommer

Dennis Williams

Lifan Zhang

Joshua D Urban

Derick Foster

Systems and methods are disclosed for foldable containers with improved dumping features. In one embodiment, an example foldable container may include a first container wall, a second container wall coupled to the first container wall at a first joint, the second container wall configured to rotate outwards in a first direction with respect to the first container wall, and a third container wall coupled to the first container wall at a second joint, the third container wall oriented perpendicular to the first container wall. Example foldable containers may include a number of wheels and smooth side panels, where a first cross-sectional area of the foldable container at a lower portion of the foldable container is greater than a second cross-sectional area of the foldable container at an upper portion of the foldable container.

Foldable containers with improved dumping features

Modular transfer units are configured to transport bins or other storage units of standard shapes and sizes between locations. The modular transfer units may be loaded with bins or other storage units having items disposed therein at origins of the items, or at locations where the items are stored, such as fulfillment centers. The modular transfer units may then be mounted to one or more vehicles, such as trailers or rail cars, and transported to another location, where the modular transfer units may be removed from the vehicle, or transferred to another vehicle. The bins or other storage units may be loaded with items that are intended for delivery to a common location. After a bin or storage unit has been unloaded from a modular transfer unit, one or more other bins or storage units may be loaded thereon.

Modular transfer units for delivering items

Modular containers are formed in a collapsible fashion by flexible or rigid bodies and panels. A size of a modular container may be selected by inflating the modular container to a desired pressure or volume, coupling two or more bodies of the modular containers together, or mating the bodies of the modular containers to common bases or surfaces. The modular containers may be accessed via one or more openings in vertical or horizontal surfaces of such modular containers in order to load items into such modular containers or to unload the items therefrom. The modular containers may be assembled or collapsed manually or automatically, and transported to one or more locations separately or in stacks.

Collapsible containers

Mobile modules including a number of bins or other storage units may be formed in a modular manner, from various sub-modules. The mobile modules may be loaded with items by a sortation system or by associates. A bin within a mobile module may be selected and assigned to an order for a plurality of items, and each of the items included in the order may be deposited into the selected bin. After a sufficient number of bins within the mobile module have been filled with ordered items, the mobile module may be loaded into or onto a delivery vehicle and transported to a location from which the ordered items may be delivered to a customer, e.g., by an autonomous mobile robot or by an associate.

Mobile modules for delivering items

A retention system for a pallet can include retention elements that pivot around pivoting assemblies at one or more edges of the pallet. A retention rail can adopt a stowed position against or within the pallet, can lock in an upright position at a side of the pallet, or an open position extending away from the pallet, providing clear access for loading or unloading in the open position. Further retention features can be combined with the retention rails, including integrated retention straps and strap receiving elements.

Pallet with retention apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Washington Crossing, PA, United States of America

Daniel Lowther