Lift-actuated bottom tote dispenser
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRaashid Mohammed, Majid Abdul, Eric C. Flagel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments herein describe a tote dispenser that removes the bottom tote from as stack of totes which is then ejected by a conveyor belt. In one embodiment, the tote dispenser includes a first pair of support members which support all but the bottom tote in the stack, while a second pair of support members applies a force that removes the bottom tote from the stack. The first and second pairs of support members can be disengaged so that the stack of totes can be realigned relative to the support members so that the next tote at the bottom of the stack can be removed.
Claims17
A tote dispenser comprising:
- a conveyor belt;
- a first pair of support members configured to selectively engage with a first tote that is second from the bottom in a stack of totes;
- a second pair of support members configured to selectively engage with a second tote that is at the bottom of the stack;
- a lift configured to, when the first and second pairs of support members are respectively engaged with the first tote and the second tote:
- lower the conveyor belt and the second pair of support members to separate the second tote from the stack while the first pair of support members supports the remaining totes in the stack;
- wherein the conveyor belt is configured to eject the second tote from the tote dispenser once separated from the remaining totes in the stack;
- telescoping rods attached to the second pair of support members;
- collars through which the telescoping rods extend, wherein the collars connect the telescoping rods to the first pair of support members;
- and
- swivels connected to the collars and the first pair of support members, wherein the swivels are configured to rotate to disengage the first and second pairs of support members from the stack of totes in parallel.
A tote dispenser comprising:
- a conveyor belt;
- a first support member configured to selectively engage with a first tote that is second from the bottom in a stack of totes;
- a second support member configured to selectively engage with a second tote that is at the bottom of the stack;
- a lift configured to, when the first and second support members are respectively engaged with the first tote and the second tote:
- separate the second tote from the stack by applying a first force to the first tote using the first support member and a second force to the second tote using the second support member,
- wherein the conveyor belt is configured to eject the second tote from the tote dispenser once separated from the remaining totes in the stack;
- and
- a catch attached to the conveyor belt, wherein the catch is configured to selectively connect with the second support member in order to lower the second support member when separating the second tote from the stack.
A method, comprising:
- engaging a first support member with a first tote that is second from the bottom in a stack of totes;
- engaging a second support member with a second tote that is at the bottom of the stack;
- increasing a separation distance between the first and second support members, thereby separating the second tote from the stack;
- applying, when increasing the separation distance between the first and second support members, a biasing force to the second support member, wherein the biasing force is in a direction opposite to a direction the second tote moves;
- and
- ejecting the second tote from a tote dispenser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.