Automatic rotary inserting machine

US11584593B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Jon Stuart Battles · North Bend, US
• William Scott Kalm · Seattle, US
• Kent Belden Meiswinkel · Seattle, US
• Kevin Senh Ly · Seattle, US
• Dinesh Mahadevan · Lynnwood, US
• Peter A. Grant · Seattle, US
• Bob Samac · Cle Elum, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 26, 2020
• Grant date: Feb 21, 2023
• Expiry date: Mar 11, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G2201/0288
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A loading system (e.g., in a warehouse or other item-fulfillment environment) can include a rotary hub that supports one or more chambers. In a first orientation of the rotary hub, one of the chambers may be in a first position aligned for item receipt (e.g., through an open top of the chamber by feeding from a conveyor belt or other feeding system). The rotary hub can rotate to a second orientation in which the chamber is in a second position aligned for item discharge (e.g., through an open end of the chamber and into a receiving zone of a packaging machine or other system).