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US 10,246,257 B1Granted
Rotating storage systems
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJon Stuart Battles, Martin Peter Aalund, John Elias Darrow, Timothy Alan Talda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for managing item storage using rotating platforms. In some examples, an item can be loaded on to a material conveyance device. The item then can be unloaded from the material conveyance device to a rotating platform. The rotating platform can include a sloped surface. Sensor data that identifies the item can be received. A robotic manipulator can be used to manipulate the item based at least in part on the sensor data.
Claims19
A system comprising:
- a conical platform defining a center axis, and comprising:
- a sloped, annular upper surface;
- an inner circumferential edge;
- an outer circumferential edge spaced radially outward from the inner circumferential edge;
- and
- a side wall extending upward from the sloped, annular upper surface along the outer circumferential edge, the conical platform being supported on a frame for rotation about the center axis;
- a material conveyance device disposed adjacent to the conical platform and configured to move items between a loading location and the sloped, annular upper surface;
- a robotic manipulator disposed adjacent to the conical platform and configured to manipulate the items disposed on the sloped, annular upper surface;
- a sensor disposed adjacent to the conical platform and configured to sense the items disposed on the sloped, annular upper surface;
- and
- a computer system in communication with at least the material conveyance device, the robotic manipulator, and the sensor, and configured to:
- receive sensor data from the sensor, the sensor data identifying an item disposed on the sloped, annular upper surface, the item moved to the sloped, annular upper surface by the material conveyance device;
- determine an item position on the sloped, annular upper surface based at least in part on the sensor data, the item position corresponding to the item;
- and
- instruct the robotic manipulator to remove the item from the sloped, annular upper surface at the item position.
12 more elements
A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- causing, by a computing device, loading of an item on to a material conveyance device;
- causing, by the computing device, removal of the item from the material conveyance device to an upper surface of a rotating platform, the rotating platform disposed proximate to the material conveyance device, the upper surface comprising a sloped, annular surface;
- receiving, by the computing device, sensor data from a sensor configured to sense items disposed on the upper surface, the sensor data at least identifying a position of the item with respect to the rotating platform;
- and
- causing, by the computing device, manipulation of the item based at least in part on the sensor data.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a support frame;
- a conical platform supported by the support frame and defining a center axis, the conical platform comprising:
- an annular upper surface extending about the center axis;
- a side wall extending around an outer circumferential edge of the conical platform;
- and
- a drive configured to rotate the conical platform about the center axis;
- a sensor configured to sense items disposed on the annular upper surface;
- and
- a computer system in communication with the sensor, and configured to:
- receive sensor data from the sensor, the sensor data identifying an item disposed on the annular upper surface;
- and
- determine an item position on the annular upper surface based at least in part on the sensor data, the item position corresponding to the item.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.