Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Jon David DeFant

Jon Stuart Battles

Martin Peter Aalund

Benjamin Douglas Garcia

Vahideh Kamranzadeh

Dinesh Mahadevan

George Davies

Steven Eric Nuetzman

Justin Stone

Tyler B Rodgers

Roland J Menassa

William Scott Kalm

Timothy Alan Talda

Maxim P Hoffman

Larry Joe Robb

Seshachalamgupta Motamarri

Akshay Rajendra Tilekar

Jose Luis De La Rosa

Tyson Wittrock

Stephanie Tomasetta

Joshua Martin Middleton

Duncan Pratt

Chen Ge

Arvin Asokan

Joshua Scott Owens

Jeread Sines

Molly Nawalinski

Fernando Zumbado

Vahida Kamranzadeh

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for detection of overfilled containers in sortation systems. In one embodiment, an example container capacity detection system for use with an item sortation machine may include a first sensor positioned to detect a remaining capacity of a first container in the item sortation system, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine, using the first sensor, that the remaining capacity of the first container is less than or equal to a first threshold, and to send a signal.

Detection of overfilled containers in sortation systems

A guard assembly can be positionable in an installed position between a first roller and a second roller of a roller conveyor system. The guard assembly can include a first frame having a first contour shaped for receiving at least a portion of the first roller. The guard assembly can further include a second frame having a second contour shaped for receiving at least a portion of the second roller. The guard assembly can also include a biaser between the first frame and the second frame so as to urge the first frame toward the first roller and the second frame toward the second roller in the installed position.

Roller conveyor system guards

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for flexible container chutes for sortation systems. In one embodiment, an example system may include a first extendable arm, a second extendable arm, a first flexible container removably coupled to the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm, and a second flexible container removably coupled to the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm. The system may include a chute assembly having a first ramp, a first separator coupled to a first end of the first ramp, a second ramp, and a second separator coupled to a second end of the second ramp. The first ramp and the second ramp may be vertically aligned, and the first flexible container may receive items via the first ramp, and the second flexible container may receive items via the second ramp.

Flexible container chutes for sortation systems

A valve for use within a vacuum cup of a vacuum gripping system is described. In one example, a vacuum cup includes a bellows and a valve assembly seated within an inner chamber of the bellows. The valve assembly includes a body disk seated within the inner chamber, a control disk seated toward a suction cup end of the bellows, a spring positioned between the body disk and the control disk, and a control stem extending through the central valve aperture of the body disk, through the spring, and secured to the control disk. When the control stem is seated within the central valve aperture, the valve assembly restricts fluid suction to within the inner chamber. When the valve control stem is unseated from the central valve aperture, the valve assembly conveys fluid suction to the suction cup end of the bellows.

Bellows valve for vacuum systems

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for container chutes for sortation systems. In one embodiment, an example system may include a frame and a chute assembly coupled to the frame, where the chute assembly is configured to pivot from a first position to a second position with respect to the frame. The chute assembly may include a first planar ramp, a first support on a first side of the first planar ramp, and a second support on a second side of the first planar ramp. The chute assembly may include a first pneumatic lift component coupled to the first support and to the frame, and a second pneumatic lift component coupled to the second support and to the frame. The chute assembly may be held in the second position when the first pneumatic lift component and the second pneumatic lift component are in a compressed configuration.

Container chutes for sortation systems

A gripping tool includes at least one linear guide coupled to a mount and extending along a central axis oriented along a first direction. At least one carriage coupled to the linear guide is translatable relative to the mount along the first direction. A first plurality of arms are rotatably coupled to the mount. A second plurality of arms are rotatably coupled to the carriage. The tool includes bodies carrying suction cups. Each body: defines an axis, is rotatably connected to at least one of each of the first and second pluralities of arms, and combines with the respective at least one of the first plurality of arms, the at least one of the second plurality of arms, and the at least one carriage to define a linkage allowing the body to move relative to the mount along the first and a perpendicular radial direction while the central and body axes remain parallel.

Gripping tool having adjustable gripping area, and related methods

A multi-zone end effector assembly is described in the present disclosure. As a non-limiting example, the multi-zone end effector assembly comprises a manifold that comprises a first interior chamber and a second interior chamber. A first port connects to the first interior chamber, and a second port connects to the second interior chamber. A first compression cup region can be connected to the first interior chamber. The first compression cup region is in air connection with the first port. The first compression cup region is configured to be independently activated in order to create a first vacuum zone. A second compression cup region is connected to the second interior chamber. The second compression region cup is in air connection with the second port. The second compression cup region is configured to be independently activated in order to create a second vacuum zone.

Multi-zone end effector

In one embodiment, an inventory storage module has a pair of upper tracks and a pair of lower tracks that are connected to one another so as to define a closed movement path in a vertical plane. The module has a plurality of carriers arranged end-to-end along the upper and lower tracks. Each carrier is elongate along a direction that extends between a pair of the upper or lower tracks so as to carry a set of the storage containers that are arranged side-by-side. Each carrier has first and second first wheel assemblies that couple the carrier to the pairs of upper tracks and lower tracks when supported by the pairs of upper tracks and lower tracks, respectively. The storage module can move the inventory carriers around the movement path until a desired one of the inventory carriers is presented at one of the first and second ends.

Storage module having inventory carriers that are elongate along a lateral direction to carry a plurality of storage containers

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.

Storage module configured to accelerate transition of inventory carriers between upper and lower tracks

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.

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.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Jon David DeFant