# US 11,027,871 B2 · Movable loading support platform within a container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,871 B2 - Document ID: US11027871B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/265,632 - Filed: 2019-02-01 - Published: 2019-05-30 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-29 - Assignees: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Samuel Gardner Garrett; Martin Peter Aalund; Vinay Balan; Michael Barrett Hill; David Bruce McCalib, Jr.; Timothy Alan Talda; Toby Ge Xu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027871B2 ## CPC - B65B 57/12: and operating to control, or stop, the feed of wrapping materials, containers, or packages - B65B 5/10: Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles - B65B 5/108: {Article support means temporarily arranged in the container} - B65B 35/10: Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles - B65B 35/24: by endless belts or chains {(B65B35/205 takes precedence)} - B65B 43/54: Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation - B65B 69/0058: {Solid contents} - 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) ## Abstract The apparatus includes a moveable support platform within the container to reduce a distance that items fall into the container when stowed. The support platform is lowered by a movement mechanism as items are placed into the container. The movement mechanism may be a bladder filled with air, a biasing device, a pneumatic device, or a mechanical device. The moveable support may form a bottom portion of the container during transport of the container. In some instances, the movement mechanism may lift items out of the container to empty the container at a destination. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automated container packing system comprising: a container to be filled with at least one item, the container having an opening to enable depositing of the at least one item into the container; an item conveyer configured to move the at least one item for deposit into the container, the item conveyer having a conveyance height that is above the opening of the container; a bladder situated within the container, the bladder configured to be inflated to a first size to reduce a distance that the at least one item falls from the item conveyer when the at least one item is deposited into the container; and an air supply controller configured to inflate the bladder to a first size and to cause the bladder to deflate to a second size that has a lower height than a height of the first size after the at least one item is deposited into the container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automated container packing system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a bladder movement mechanism, the bladder movement mechanism configured to extract the bladder from the container following deflation of the bladder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automated container packing system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an optical sensor in communication with the air supply controller, the optical sensor aimed across a plane defined by the opening of the container, the air supply controller causing the bladder to deflate in response to detection of a signal from the optical sensor that indicates that the plane is intersected by the at least one item. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automated container packing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the air supply controller includes: an exhaust valve to cause the bladder to deflate to the second size, and a pressurized air supply configured to inflate the bladder to the first size. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The automated container packing system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a support platform movable within the container by the bladder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The automated container packing system as recited in claim 4, wherein the container includes a container valve coupler in fluid connection with the bladder, the container valve coupler configured to mate with an air supply valve coupler that is in fluid connection with the pressurized air supply regulated by the air supply controller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automated container packing system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a sensor in electrical communication an exhaust valve used to deflate the bladder, the sensor directed across a plane defined by the opening of the container, the exhaust valve configured to open to deflate the bladder in response to detection of a signal from the sensor that indicates that the at least one item intersects with the plane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The automated container packing system of claim 1, wherein the bladder is located proximate to a bottom side of the container opposite the opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The automated container packing system of claim 1, wherein the bladder has a volumetric shape that causes the at least one item to be emptied in a predetermined direction when the bladder is inflated to fill the volume of the container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The automated container packing system of claim 1, wherein the bladder is formed at least partially of an elastic material.