Item consolidator

US12420311B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Emanuel Moshouris · Seattle, US
• Ennio Claretti · Somerville, US
• Emily Dunne · Seattle, US
• Andrew Stubbs · Somerville, US
• Don Frank Ruffatto · Renton, US
• Rachel Lynn Muhlbauer · Seattle, US
• Nikhil Bole · Seattle, US
• Mike Hector · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 24, 2022
• Grant date: Sep 23, 2025
• Expiry date: May 30, 2044

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G2203/0208
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Item consolidation tools are described. In one example, an item consolidator includes first and second bay doors, a door displacement system, and a controller. The door displacement system includes first and second drive systems secured to the undersides of the first and second bay doors. The drive systems provide angular and a lateral degrees of freedom, to move the first and second bay doors. The controller is configured to direct the door displacement system to form a bay door vertex between leading edges of the bay doors. Items can be placed on the doors and will rest at the vertex between the doors. The controller can also determine drop locations for the items. The controller can then direct the door displacement system to reposition the bay door vertex based on the drop locations and drop the items by opening or retracting the doors.