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US 10,902,880 B2Granted
Moveable motor and cover for mobile drive unit turntable
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDragan Pajevic, Gabriel Hebert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile drive unit includes a turntable and a turntable motor that is located outside of the footprint of the turntable. The motor moves up and down with the turntable such that a motor cover moves up and down with the turntable.
Claims20
A mobile drive unit comprising:
- a mobile drive unit cover having a first cutout portion and a second cutout portion;
- a horizontally oriented turntable mounted in the mobile drive unit, the turntable being adapted for rotation relative to the mobile drive unit cover and adapted for vertical movement through the first cutout portion of the mobile drive unit cover;
- a motor for rotating the turntable;
- a motor cover that houses the motor, the motor cover being adapted to move vertically with the horizontally oriented turntable through the second cutout portion in the mobile drive unit cover.
1 more element
A turntable and cover assembly for a mobile drive unit, the assembly comprising:
- a mobile drive unit cover;
- a horizontally oriented turntable mounted in the mobile drive unit, the turntable being adapted for rotation relative to the mobile drive unit cover and adapted for extending through the mobile drive unit cover;
- a motor for rotating the turntable;
- a motor cover that houses the motor, the motor cover being located in a cut-out in the mobile drive unit cover and adapted to for extending through the mobile drive unit cover;
- wherein turntable, the motor, and the motor cover are adapted to be raised and lowered together relative to the mobile drive unit cover.
2 more elements
A method of operating a mobile drive unit, the mobile drive unit comprising a turntable, a motor configured to actuate the turntable, and a motor cover configured to house the motor, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning a mobile drive unit underneath a pod while the turntable of the mobile drive unit is in a down position;
- (b) raising the turntable, the motor, and the motor cover such that the turntable engages an underside of the pod;
- and
- (c) rotating the turntable while the pod is engaged with the turntable to rotate the pod.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.