Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Kaushal Bharatkumar Mehta

Daniel Lowther

Jessica Fitzgerald

Suzanne Clark Ward

Ashwini Kotraiah Davangere

Jainil Nilesh Desai

Prasad V Rao

Eric Edmond Swensen

William Patrick Apps

Jon P Hassell

Rajeev Dwivedi

Dragan Pajevic

Travis James Englert

Philip Andrew King

Stephen T Campbell

Tim Martin

Jaemi Cheri Tiangco Bermudez

James Stewart Otten

Spencer Cates

Dhavalkumar Shah

Larissa Del Toro Sanchez

Andrew Loyd Robinson

Dean Christopher Blanchard

Vishnu Priya Ramineni

Ameya Abhyankar

Damien Duffy

Tom Rattini

Kevin Wolcott

Sydney Ogawa Garcia

Joshua D Urban

Derick Foster

Systems and methods are disclosed for unloading containers of various container types. In one embodiment, an example container unloading system may include a container support platform configured to rotate a container from an upright position to an angled position, a centering guide configured to guide the container onto the container support platform, a hydraulic device configured to actuate the container support platform, and a controller configured to determine presence of the container on the container support platform, and cause the container support platform to rotate the container via actuation of the side-mounted hydraulic device.

Container unloading systems for various container types

Systems and methods are disclosed for foldable containers with improved mobility. In one embodiment, an example foldable container may include a first container wall having a frame and a panel coupled to the frame, a second container wall coupled to the first container wall, the second container wall configured to rotate outwards with respect to the first container wall, a third container wall coupled to the first container wall, and a fourth container wall. The fourth container wall may include a first portion coupled to the second container wall, where the first portion rotates with respect to the second container wall, and a second portion coupled to the third container wall. The foldable container may include a latch configured to secure the first portion to the second portion, where the latch has a handle and a spring that biases that handle towards a front of the foldable container.

Foldable containers with improved mobility

Systems and methods to provide environment control to individual containers of a storage system may include a distribution network including one or more sources, distribution lines, valves, sensors, and storage positions. The distribution network may be operated to provide air flow having desired environment attributes to individual storage positions that include supply and/or return lines and associated valves. Insulated containers having input and/or output lines and associated valves may couple to the distribution network upon placement at the storage positions, thereby providing air flow with desired environment attributes to individual insulated containers and associated items. Further, non-insulated containers may also be placed at the storage positions of the storage system without connecting to the distribution network.

Storage systems and methods having container-based environment control

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

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for multi-path sorting systems that facilitate package sorting for delivery and near-real time changes to sortation for rerouting of the packages. The package sorting system may include conventional conveyor systems that deliver packages to multi-path conveyors (e.g., multi-path conveyor belts) that may cause the package to be moved in multiple directions to ultimately deposit a package onto an output conveyor system for delivery to a downstream location (e.g., packaging station, sorting station, etc.). The input conveyors may include a sensor for determining information about the package (e.g., destination address, order information, etc.) which may be used to determine the optimal downstream route for the package, which may be adjusted as conditions change.

Systems and methods for multi-path package sortation

Systems and methods are disclosed for foldable containers for manual and robotic use. In one embodiment, an example foldable container may include a first container wall, a second container wall configured to rotate outwards in a first direction with respect to the first container wall, and a bottom container platform configured to rotate outwards in a second direction with respect to the first container wall. The bottom container platform may include an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the second container wall when the foldable container is in an unfolded position, where the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. Some embodiments may include a number of wheels. The foldable container may be configured to be transported using (i) the plurality of wheels via manual pushing, and (ii) robotic manipulation to lift and move the foldable container.

Foldable containers for manual and robotic use

A collapsible container includes rigid sidewalls and end walls that are hinged together and a rigid bottom wall that is hinged to one of the sidewalls. A short leg on an end of each of the sidewalls gives the sidewall a L-shape (when viewed from above). Hinges formed on distal ends of the legs enable the bottom wall to fold against an inboard surface of one of the sidewalls, and enable one of the end walls to lie flat to conserve volume for shipping multiple containers in the collapsed configuration.

Collapsible container

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

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Kaushal Bharatkumar Mehta