IP Library Granted Patent US 10,040,642
Granted Patent B2
US 10,040,642 · App. 15/631,457 · Granted Aug 7, 2018

Multiple speed conveyor storage system

Inventor: Christopher Albert Gorski (Gettysburg, PA)
Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
B65G47/71B65G43/00B65G47/04B65G47/682B65G1/00B65G2203/0216B65G2203/041B65G2203/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,040,642
App. No.
15/631,457
Granted
Aug 7, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for a multiple speed, multiple conveyor storage system for items in a materials handling facility such as a fulfillment center. In one embodiment, the item storage system includes a first conveyor configured to operate at one speed, a second conveyor configured to operate at a different speed, and a transfer device configured to transfer items between the conveyors. The conveyors are each configured to store items in motion in a circuit arrangement.

Claims (63)

1. A method, comprising:

scanning, by at least one computing device, an identifier of an item being deposited in an item storage system;

determining, by the at least one computing device, a priority associated with the item;

selecting, by the at least one computing device, one of a plurality of conveyors in the item storage system for storage of the item based at least in part on the priority, wherein each of the plurality of conveyors is configured to store a plurality of items in motion in a circuit arrangement, at least two of the plurality of conveyors are configured to operate at different speeds, and at least two of the plurality of conveyors are arranged concentrically with respect to one another; and

initiating, by the at least one computing device, a transfer of the item to the one of the plurality of conveyors.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the at least one computing device, a utilization of the one of the plurality of conveyors; and

wherein the one of the plurality of conveyors is selected further based at least in part on the utilization.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

scanning, by the at least one computing device, an identifier of another item being deposited in the item storage system;

determining, by the at least one computing device, a priority associated with the other item; and

initiating, by the at least one computing device, another transfer of the item to another one of the plurality of conveyors based at least in part on the priority of the other item in order to accommodate the other item on the one of the plurality of the conveyors.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one computing device, a request to retrieve the item from the item storage system;

selecting, by the at least one computing device, one of a plurality of exit points based at least in part on a location associated with the request; and

causing, by the at least one computing device, the item to exit the one of the plurality of conveyors at the one of the plurality of exit points.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the at least one computing device, an updated priority associated with the item;

selecting, by the at least one computing device, another one of the plurality of conveyors based at least in part on the updated priority; and

initiating, by the at least one computing device, a transfer of the item from the one of the plurality of conveyors to the other one of the plurality of conveyors.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of conveyors are vertically stacked over at least a portion of one another.

7. An item storage system, comprising:

a first conveyor;

a second conveyor, wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor each store a plurality of items in motion in a circuit arrangement, and the first conveyor and the second conveyor are arranged concentrically with respect to one another;

a transfer device configured to transfer items to the first conveyor or the second conveyor; and

at least one computing device configured to perform a method comprising:

scanning, by at least one computing device, an identifier of an item being deposited in the item storage system;

determining, by the at least one computing device, a priority associated with the item;

selecting, by the at least one computing device, one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor based at least in part on the priority; and

initiating, by the at least one computing device, a transfer of the item to the selected one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor using the transfer device.

8. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor operate at different speeds.

9. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the transfer device comprises an elevator.

10. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the transfer device comprises at least one of a ramp-based conveyor, slide, or chute.

11. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the first conveyor utilizes a belt to move the plurality of items in the circuit arrangement.

12. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the first conveyor utilizes a plurality of rollers to move the plurality of items in the circuit arrangement.

13. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to perform the method further comprising:

determining, by the at least one computing device, a utilization of the one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor; and

wherein the one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor is selected further based at least in part on the utilization.

14. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to perform the method further comprising:

scanning, by the at least one computing device, an identifier of another item being deposited in the item storage system;

determining, by the at least one computing device, a priority associated with the other item; and

initiating, by the at least one computing device, another transfer of the item to another one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor based at least in part on the priority of the other item in order to accommodate the other item on the one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor.

15. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to perform the method further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one computing device, a request to retrieve the item from the item storage system;

selecting, by the at least one computing device, one of a plurality of exit points based at least in part on a location associated with the request; and

causing, by the at least one computing device, the item to exit the one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor at the one of the plurality of exit points.

16. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to perform the method further comprising:

determining, by the at least one computing device, an updated priority associated with the item;

selecting, by the at least one computing device, another one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor based at least in part on the updated priority; and

initiating, by the at least one computing device, a transfer of the item from the one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor to the other one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor.

17. An item storage system, comprising:

a first conveyor operating at a first speed;

a second conveyor arranged concentrically with the first conveyor and operating at a second speed that is greater than the first speed, wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor each store a plurality of items in motion in a circuit arrangement;

a transfer device configured to transfer items between the first conveyor and the second conveyor; and

at least one computing device configured to perform a method comprising:

determining, by the at least one computing device, a priority associated with an item stored on the first conveyor;

initiating, by the at least one computing device, a transfer of the item from the first conveyor to the second conveyor via the transfer device in response to the priority meeting a minimum threshold.

18. The item storage system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to perform the method further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one computing device, a request to retrieve the item from the item storage system;

identifying, by the at least one computing device, one of a plurality of exit points for the second conveyor based at least in part on a location of a user associated with the request; and

causing, by the at least one computing device, the item to exit the item storage system via the one of the plurality of exit points.

19. The item storage system of claim 17 , wherein the priority is determined based at least in part on whether the item is an inbound item or an outbound item.

20. The item storage system of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first speed or the second speed is adjustable.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2017
From: GORSKI, CHRISTOPHER ALBERT
To: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 042902/0560 →
Continuity (2)
Division 14860660 · Sep 21, 2015
Related Publication 20170283185A1 · Oct 5, 2017