Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Steven Klehr

Gregory Karl Lisso

Sean O Maylone

Samuel Christopher Uhlman

Vignesh Kumar Sivasamy

Laura Rubin

Scott Douglas King

Disclosed are various embodiments for robotic item sortation and optimization along the vertical axis in a conveyor-based system. A robotic system may be mounted above or adjacent to a conveyor system that moves items along a conveyor belt or similar device. Once an item is laterally diverted from the conveyor system, the robotic system may collect the item at a respective holding station and move the item along a vertical axis for placement in one of a plurality of vertically-configured item handling devices.

Robotic item sortation and optimization along the vertical axis

Disclosed are various embodiments for using air pressure to increase or decrease the force of static friction between an item and the surface of a conveyance system. The conveyance system can include a track and a conveyor segment affixed to the track. The conveyor segment can include an air permeable surface on which an item can be placed. Mounted underneath the air permeable surface is an air displacement device.

Air pressure assisted conveyance system

Growing community of inventors

Maple Valley, WA, United States of America

Steven Klehr