Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Rajeev Dwivedi

Ganesh Krishnamoorthy

Vivek S Narayanan

Mohit Malik

Michael Alan Bray

Shahid Azad

Kaushal Bharatkumar Mehta

Kevin W Keck

Max Alfonso Bruccoleri

Raja Santosh Akella

Ameya Abhyankar

Nikhil Madan Yardi

Parth Kamlesh Champaneri

Systems and methods are disclosed for systems and methods for container shuttle calibration. An example method for calibration of a shuttle coupled to a permanent magnet may include positioning the shuttle on a calibration table, energizing an electromagnet coupled to the calibration table, and determining a detected edge of the permanent magnet. Some methods may include determining a first location to position a connector of the shuttle along an X-axis based at least in part on the detected edge and a mechanical template coupled to the calibration table, and securing the connector in the first location.

Systems and methods for container shuttle calibration

Systems and methods are disclosed for wireless powering and control of conveyors on shuttles. An example system may include a track, and a shuttle configured to move along the track, the shuttle having a conveyor, and a first induction coil. The system may include a second induction coil disposed at a first location along the track, where the second induction coil is configured to interact with the first induction coil to power the conveyor. The shuttle may not have an onboard power source coupled to the conveyor.

Wireless powering and control of conveyors on shuttles

Systems and methods are disclosed for removal and replacement of container shuttles from rail tracks. An example system for a shuttle coupled to a permanent magnet may include a track comprising a first rail segment and a second rail segment. The system may include an electromagnet disposed along the track, where the permanent magnet is separated from the electromagnet by a first vertical distance when the shuttle is coupled to the track. The system may include a first ramp comprising a first angled portion and a first flat portion, and a second ramp comprising a second angled portion and a second flat portion, the ramps configured to be removably coupled to the track. A vertical distance between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet may be equal to or greater than the first vertical distance as the shuttle moves upwards along the ramps.

Removal and replacement of container shuttles from rail tracks

Systems and methods are disclosed for automated self-calibration and maintenance for container shuttles. An example system for automated repairs may include a track, a shuttle coupled to a permanent magnet, the shuttle configured to move along the track, and an electromagnet disposed along the track, where the shuttle is propelled via interaction between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet. The system may include a maintenance area accessible via the track, and a set of robotic manipulators disposed about the maintenance area, the set of robotic manipulators configured to perform automated maintenance actions on the shuttle. The system may include a first controller configured to determine that the shuttle is in need of maintenance, and automatically direct the shuttle to the maintenance area.

Automated self-calibration and maintenance for container shuttles

Systems and methods are disclosed for container dumpers having controlled unloading. In one embodiment, an example container unloading system may include a container support mechanism configured to secure a container, where the container has items inside, and a first conveyor configured to rotate from a first position to a second position. The first conveyor may be disposed in a vertical orientation adjacent to a sidewall of the container in the first position, and the first conveyor may be disposed in a non-vertical orientation adjacent to the sidewall of the container in the second position. The system may include a controller configured to cause the container support mechanism to rotate the container from a vertical orientation to a rotated orientation, and cause the first conveyor to be actuated, such that the items are conveyed out of the container by the first conveyor.

Container dumpers having controlled unloading

Systems and methods are disclosed for elevators for material handling shuttles. In one embodiment, an example system configured to change elevation of a shuttle may include an elevator track disposed between a loading zone and an unloading zone, and a platform coupled to the elevator track and configured to move between the loading zone and the unloading zone. The platform may be configured to engage with a lower surface of the shuttle at the loading zone. The platform may be configured to lift the shuttle off a first set of rails at the loading zone, and to position the shuttle onto a second set of rails at the unloading zone.

Elevators for material handling shuttles

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for flexible rail switching components for container shuttles. In one embodiment, an example system for a shuttle may include an elongated spring steel plate, a first rail track component coupled to the elongated spring steel plate, a second rail track component coupled to the elongated spring steel plate and disposed adjacent to the first rail track component, and a third rail track component coupled to the elongated spring steel plate and disposed adjacent to the second rail track component. The elongated spring steel plate may be configured to be actuated from a first position to a second position. A distance between the first rail track component and the second rail track component when the elongated spring steel plate is in the second position may be less than when the elongated spring steel plate is in the first position.

Flexible rail switching components for container shuttles

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, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for helical container conveyance. In one embodiment, an example container conveyance system may include a set of rails having a first rail and a second rail, the set of rails configured to guide a container from an upright position at a first point along the set of rails to an inverted position at a second point along the set of rails. The system may include a drive mechanism configured to propel the container along the set of rails, and a conveyor disposed under a portion of the set of rails corresponding to the second point.

Helical container conveyance systems

Systems and methods are disclosed for container shuttles having omnidirectional wheels. In one embodiment, an example system for shuttle transportation may include a first linear synchronous motor arranged in a first orientation, a second linear synchronous motor arranged in a second orientation that is offset with respect to the first linear synchronous motor, and a shuttle having a permanent magnet and a plurality of omnidirectional wheels. The shuttle may be configured to be propelled in a first direction via the first linear synchronous motor and the permanent magnet, and to be propelled in a second direction via the second linear synchronous motor and the permanent magnet.

Container shuttles having omnidirectional wheels

Systems and methods are disclosed for contactless powering and control of conveyors on shuttles. An example system may include a track, a first transmitter disposed at a first location along the track, the first transmitter configured to transmit power and data wirelessly, and a shuttle configured to move along the track. The shuttle may include a conveyor, and a first receiver configured to wirelessly receive the power and the data from the first transmitter, where the power is used to power the conveyor. The shuttle may not have an onboard power source coupled to the conveyor.

Contactless powering and control of conveyors on shuttles

Systems and methods are disclosed for transition components for gaps in shuttle rails. An example system configured to transport items may include a shuttle configured to support an item, where the shuttle includes a first wheel. The first wheel may have a first side surface, a second side surface, and a middle portion that together form a v-groove. The system may include a first rail configured to engage the first side surface and the second side surface, a second rail configured to engage the first side surface and the second side surface, where the second rail is separated from the first rail, and a first transition block coupled to the first rail. The first transition block may be configured to transfer a load of the shuttle from the first side surface and the second side surface to the middle portion of the wheel.

Transition components for gaps in shuttle rails

Systems and methods are disclosed for interconnected sortation systems with multiple inputs and destinations. In one embodiment, an example system may include a first sortation system, a second sortation system, a first induction station to induct items into the system, and a second induction station to induct items into the system. The system may include a track configured to connect the first sortation system to both the first induction station and the second induction station, and to connect the second sortation system to both the first induction station and the second induction station. The system may include a number of shuttles configured to move along the track.

Interconnected sortation systems with multiple inputs and destinations

Systems and methods are disclosed for shuttle turning systems having linear synchronous motors. In one embodiment, an example system for shuttle transportation may include a first linear synchronous motor arranged in a first orientation, a second linear synchronous motor arranged in a second orientation that is transverse to the first orientation, and a shuttle. The shuttle may have a first permanent magnet coupled to the shuttle and a second permanent magnet coupled to the shuttle, where the first permanent magnet is arranged parallel to the first orientation and the second permanent magnet is arranged parallel to the second orientation. The shuttle may be configured to be propelled in a first direction via the first linear synchronous motor and the first permanent magnet, and to be propelled in a second direction via the second linear synchronous motor and the second linear synchronous motor.

Systems and methods to perform perpendicular changes in container shuttle direction

A conveyance device can include a conveyance surface and a conveyance constraint. The conveyance surface can receive a container and advance the container along the conveyance pathway. The conveyance constraint can be positioned across the conveyance pathway and include an opening. The conveyance constraint can block containers having a width or height larger than the respective width or height of the opening.

Growing community of inventors

Sammamish, WA, United States of America

Rajeev Dwivedi