Automated singulation system
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsLongyu Zhao, Tri Minh Quach, Xujie Wang, Bryan Beard, John Swinford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated system for singulating items is provided. The automated system includes a singulation apparatus. The singulation apparatus includes multiple conveyor modules and a vertical frame structure. Each of the multiple conveyor modules has an identical physical structure. The vertical frame structure provides multiple horizontal mounting locations, each at a different height along the vertical frame structure. Each of the conveyor modules is mounted to a different one of the multiple horizontal mounting locations.
Claims20
A singulation apparatus having a spiral configuration, comprising:
- a vertical frame structure comprising a plurality of vertical frame members that provide a first plurality of horizontal mounting locations within a first height range and a second plurality of horizontal mounting locations within a second height range above the first height range, wherein the second plurality of horizontal mounting locations directly overlap the first plurality of horizontal mounting locations;
- a first plurality of conveyor modules, each mounted to a different one of the first plurality of horizontal mounting locations;
- and
- a second plurality of conveyor modules, each mounted to a different one of the second plurality of horizontal mounting locations, wherein each of the first plurality of conveyor modules and the second plurality of conveyor modules has an identical physical structure.
An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of conveyor modules, wherein each conveyor module has an identical physical structure;
- and
- a vertical frame structure comprising a plurality of vertical frame members that provide a plurality of horizontal mounting locations, wherein each of the plurality of horizontal mounting locations is offset vertically from another one of the plurality of horizontal mounting locations, and each conveyor module is mounted to a different one of the plurality of horizontal mounting locations.
A singulation system, comprising:
- a singulation apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of conveyor modules, wherein each conveyor module has an identical physical structure;
- and
- a vertical frame structure comprising a plurality of vertical frame members that provide a plurality of horizontal mounting locations, wherein each of the plurality of horizontal mounting locations is offset vertically from another one of the plurality of horizontal mounting locations, and each of the plurality of conveyor modules is mounted to a different one of the plurality of horizontal mounting locations;
- a feeder belt terminating at a first conveyor module of the plurality of conveyor modules and configured to transfer items onto the first conveyor module;
- and
- an exit belt starting at a second conveyor module of the plurality of conveyor modules and configured to receive items from the second conveyor module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.