System having a carousel of buckets configured to induct inventory items into packaging
US10301121B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 2017 |
| Grant date | May 28, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G2814/0332
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In one embodiment, a system has a carousel that has a guiderail that forms a loop that has a loading position and an unloading position. The carousel also has a plurality of buckets, each having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end includes at least one bottom wall that is moveable between (i) a transporting configuration where the at least one bottom wall substantially closes the lower end of the bucket and (ii) a discharge configuration where the at least one bottom wall is moved so as to define an opening in the lower end of the bucket. The buckets are supported by the guiderail such that the buckets can be driven from the loading position towards the unloading position in the transporting configuration. The buckets can be transitioned to the discharge configuration so as to unload inventory items at the unloading position into a packaging material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.