Cylindrical sortation systems and methods
US10086998B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 2017 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G1/1373
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Sortation systems and methods are described, in which the sortation systems may include a cylindrical sortation tower. The cylindrical sortation tower may include a plurality of sortation levels, and each of the sortation levels may include a plurality of sortation positions arranged around a periphery of the level. Each sortation position may include a sortation container. The cylindrical sortation tower may also include one or more horizontal tracks and vertical tracks, and each of the sortation levels may further include a circumferential track. Shuttles may traverse the horizontal, vertical, and circumferential tracks to transport items to desired sortation containers. Further, robotic arms may remove completed sortation containers from and add empty sortation containers to the cylindrical sortation tower.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.