The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 10, 2021
Filed:
Sep. 25, 2019
Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US);
Victoria Eddy, Woburn, MA (US);
Brandon William Porter, Yarrow Point, WA (US);
Stephen T. Campbell, Waban, MA (US);
Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
Hybrid sortation systems and methods may include a floor having a plurality of transfer locations, a plurality of container drive units or pods that may be positioned at respective transfer locations to receive packages, and a plurality of overdrive units that may travel over and sort packages to respective transfer locations. The overdrive units may be configured to travel over container drive units or pods, such that operations or movements of container drive units or pods may be substantially decoupled or independent from operations or movements of overdrive units. In this manner, sort density and throughput of such hybrid sortation systems may be increased, while also reducing congestion associated with operations or movements of robotic drive units.