US 10,614,415 B1Granted

Smart shelves

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsJeremy Samuel De Bonet, Nicholas Charles McMahon, Jacob Alex Siegel

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Interposer assemblies may be inserted between a traditional shelf and traditional supports for the shelf. Each of the interposer assemblies may be configured to generate signals corresponding to changes in loading on the traditional shelf, and information regarding the changes may be determined to identify items placed onto or removed from the traditional shelf, and locations at which the items were placed or from which the items were removed. The interposer assemblies may include one or more load cells, such as strain-gage load cells, and analog signals generated by the load cells may be processed to determine a mass of an item placed on the shelf or removed therefrom. The item, and a location corresponding to the item, may be determined based on the mass and according to standard equilibrium procedures.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A storage system comprising:

a first interposer comprising:
a first unit connector comprising a first extension and a first cantilever arm, wherein the first extension comprises a first opening on a front face of the first unit connector;
a first support connector comprising a second extension, wherein the second extension comprises a first protrusion on a rear face of the first support connector;
and
a first load cell disposed between the first unit connector and the first support connector, wherein the first cantilever arm is in contact with the first load cell;
a second interposer comprising:
a second unit connector comprising a third extension and a second cantilever arm, wherein the third extension comprises a second opening on a front face of the second unit connector;
a second support connector comprising a fourth extension, wherein the fourth extension comprises a second protrusion on a rear face of the second support connector;
and
a second load cell disposed between the second unit connector and the second support connector, wherein the second cantilever arm is in contact with the second load cell;
a shelf support comprising:
a first plurality of openings on a front face of the shelf support;
and
a second plurality of openings on the front face of the shelf support,
wherein the first protrusion of the first interposer is releasably inserted into one of the first plurality of openings, and
wherein the second protrusion of the second interposer is releasably inserted into one of the second plurality of openings;
and
a shelf comprising:
a loading surface;
a third protrusion;
and
a fourth protrusion,
wherein the third protrusion is releasably inserted into the first opening;
wherein the fourth protrusion is releasably inserted into the second opening, and
wherein each of the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion is compatible with each of the first opening, the second opening, each of the first plurality of openings and each of the second plurality of openings.

22 more elements

A system comprising:

a shelving unit comprising:
a first interposer assembly comprising a first frame having at least a first protrusion on at least one face of the first frame and at least a first load cell;
a second interposer assembly comprising a second frame having at least a second protrusion on at least one face of the second frame and at least a second load cell;
a first shelf support comprising a first opening on a first face of the first shelf support, wherein the first protrusion of the first interposer assembly is releasably inserted into the first opening;
a second shelf support comprising a fourth opening on a first face of the second shelf support, wherein the second protrusion of the second interposer assembly is releasably inserted into the second opening;
a shelf comprising a loading surface, wherein the shelf is supported by at least the first interposer assembly and the second interposer assembly;
and
a computer system in communication with at least the first interposer assembly and the second interposer assembly,
wherein the computer system is programmed with instructions for performing a method comprising:
receiving, from the first load cell, a first load signal at a first time;
receiving, from the second load cell, a second load signal at the first time;
receiving, from the first load cell, a third load signal at a second time;
receiving, from the second load cell, a fourth load signal at the second time;
determining a first difference between the first load signal and the third load signal;
determining a second difference between the second load signal and the fourth load signal;
identifying an item based at least in part on the first difference and the second difference;
and
updating an inventory record to indicate that one of the item was placed on the loading surface or removed from the loading surface at the second time.

15 more elements

A shelving system comprising:

a first structural support having at least a first opening and a second opening on a first face;
a second structural support having at least a third opening and a fourth opening on a second face;
a top panel;
a back panel;
a shelf having a loading surface, a front edge, a back edge, a left edge and a right edge,
wherein the back edge is adjacent the back panel;
a first interposer assembly releasably mounted to the first structural support, wherein the first interposer assembly comprises a first loading surface, a first load cell, a second load cell, a first protrusion and a second protrusion, wherein the first protrusion is releasably inserted into the first opening of the first structural support and wherein the second protrusion is releasably inserted into the second opening of the first structural support;
and
a second interposer assembly releasably mounted to the first structural support, wherein the second interposer assembly comprises a second loading surface, a third load cell, a fourth load cell, a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion, wherein the third protrusion is releasably inserted into the third opening of the second structural support and wherein the fourth protrusion is releasably inserted into the fourth opening of the second structural support,
wherein a first portion of the shelf adjacent the left edge rests on the first loading surface of the first interposer, and
wherein a second portion of the shelf adjacent the right edge rests on the second loading surface of the second interposer.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/179,750Filed 2 Nov 2018 · continuation
Priority: 28 Dec 2015
Granted: 7 Apr 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

G06Q 10/087
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…
A47B 57/34
Consisting of grooved or notched ledges, uprights or side walls: the grooved or notched parts being the side walls or uprights themselves
A47B 57/406
Consisting of hooks coacting with openings: hooks attached to uprights
A47B 96/028
Cantilever shelves: characterised by support bracket location means, e.g. fixing means between support bracket and shelf