# US 10,246,275 B1 · Container stacking configurations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,275 B1 - Document ID: US10246275B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/975,154 - Filed: 2018-05-09 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-20 - Assignees: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Sebastian Lehmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246275B1 ## CPC - B65G 57/03: from above - B65B 59/001: {Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged} - B65B 59/003: {Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material} - B65G 47/905: {Control arrangements} - B65G 57/02: by adding to the top of the stack - B65G 57/22: in layers each of predetermined arrangement - B65G 61/00: Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for - G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management - B07C 5/38: Collecting or arranging articles in groups - B65B 5/04: Packaging single articles - B65B 5/06: Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles - B65B 2210/04: Customised on demand packaging by determining a specific characteristic, e.g. shape or height, of articles or material to be packaged and selecting, creating or adapting a packaging accordingly, e.g. making a carton starting from web material - B65G 47/90: Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) ## Abstract The disclosure describes, in part, a system and method for improving the stacking of containers on or in a transportation unit. In some implementations, a stacking configuration may be planned that identifies containers and a position for those containers in the stacking configuration. The stacking configuration may be planned based on dimension values of the containers such that when stacked the stacking configuration remains stable. In addition, to improve the efficiency at which containers may be stacked, the disclosure describes that containers and/or the picking of items for those containers may be sequenced so that the containers, when packed and routed, arrive in a manner that allows efficient stacking. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer implemented method, comprising: under control of a computing system configured with executable instructions, identifying a container to be stacked; determining a desired position of the container in a stacking configuration; and projecting, using a projection device, an indicator associated with the container at the desired position in the stacking configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indicator associated with the container comprises at least one identifier included on at least one surface of the container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the at least one identifier included on the at least one surface of the container comprises at least one of a packing slip or a bar code at a location within the at least one surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indicator associated with the container comprises at least one of a representation of the container or an image of the container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein the representation of the container comprises a three-dimensional representation of the container at the desired position that is projected using a plurality of projection devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: under control of the computing system configured with executable instructions, presenting, using a display, the indicator associated with the container at the desired position in the stacking configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer implemented method of claim 6, wherein the indicator associated with the container that is presented using the display comprises a top-down, two-dimensional representation of the container at the desired position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The computer implemented method of claim 6, wherein the indicator associated with the container that is presented using the display is visually distinguished from representations of stacked containers in the stacking configuration by at least one of highlighting or flashing the indicator associated with the container at the desired position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the representations of the stacked containers at a first level in the stacking configuration that are presented using the display are visually distinguished from the representations of the stacked containers at a second level in the stacking configuration. ### Claim 10 A system for providing stacking instructions, comprising: a projection device; a display; and a computing system configured with executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computing system to at least: identify a container to be stacked; determine a desired position of the container in a stacking configuration; and at least one of: project, using the projection device, an indicator associated with the container at the desired position in the stacking configuration; or present, using the display, the indicator associated with the container at the desired position in the stacking configuration.