Storage module having inventory carriers that are elongate along a lateral direction to carry a plurality of storage containers

US10737881B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Dinesh Mahadevan · Lynnwood, US
• Martin Peter Aalund · Seattle, US
• Jon Stuart Battles · North Bend, US
• Jon David DeFant · Seattle, US
• Benjamin Douglas Garcia · Seattle, US
• Vahideh Kamranzadeh · Seattle, US
• George T. Davies · Brigham City, US
• Steven Eric Nuetzman · Syracuse, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 6, 2019
• Grant date: Aug 11, 2020
• Expiry date: Feb 6, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G1/0485
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In one embodiment, an inventory storage module has a pair of upper tracks and a pair of lower tracks that are connected to one another so as to define a closed movement path in a vertical plane. The module has a plurality of carriers arranged end-to-end along the upper and lower tracks. Each carrier is elongate along a direction that extends between a pair of the upper or lower tracks so as to carry a set of the storage containers that are arranged side-by-side. Each carrier has first and second first wheel assemblies that couple the carrier to the pairs of upper tracks and lower tracks when supported by the pairs of upper tracks and lower tracks, respectively. The storage module can move the inventory carriers around the movement path until a desired one of the inventory carriers is presented at one of the first and second ends.