# US 11,027,922 B1 · Buffer carts with articulating floors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,922 B1 - Document ID: US11027922B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/431,244 - Filed: 2019-06-04 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-04 - Assignees: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Khalid Kayal; Raashid Mohammed; Jay Dugat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027922B1 ## CPC - B65G 1/1375: {the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck} - B65G 47/44: Arrangements or applications of hoppers or chutes - B07C 5/36: Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution {(sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02)} - B65G 1/0492: {with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles} - B65G 1/07: the upper article of a pile being always presented at the same predetermined level - B65G 1/1378: {the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas} - B65G 2201/0285: Postal items, e.g. letters, parcels - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) ## Abstract Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for buffer carts having articulating floors. In one embodiment, an example cart may include a front wall, and a first floor portion coupled to the front wall. The first floor portion may include a slot along a lateral side of the first floor portion. The cart may include a second floor portion, where the second floor portion is coupled to the first floor portion. The cart may include a scissor mechanism coupled to the second floor portion, and a drive system coupled to the scissor mechanism and configured to drive the scissor mechanism in a vertical direction, wherein movement of the scissor mechanism includes relative motion between the first floor portion and the second floor portion via the slot. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A buffer cart comprising: a front wall; an access door configured to slide vertically with respect to the front wall; a first floor portion coupled to the front wall, the first floor portion comprising a slot formed along a lateral side of the first floor portion, wherein the first floor portion is configured to pivot with respect to the front wall; a second floor portion coupled to the first floor portion, the second floor portion configured to slide along the slot of the first floor portion, wherein the first floor portion and the second floor portion together form an angled ramp for packages that are associated with a pallet; a scissor mechanism coupled to the second floor portion and configured to move the second floor portion from a first vertical position to a second vertical position; and a hydraulic drive system configured to drive the scissor mechanism; wherein the hydraulic drive system is configured to drive the scissor mechanism downwards as packages are placed into the buffer cart, and upwards as packages are removed from the buffer cart. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The buffer cart of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic drive system is configured to move from a first lateral position in which the second floor portion is in the first vertical position to a second lateral position in which the second floor portion is in the second vertical position; and wherein the second floor portion is in a first location along the slot when the second floor portion is in the first vertical position, and is in a second location along the slot when the second floor portion is in the second vertical position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The buffer cart of claim 1, further comprising: a first photo sensor configured to detect a first fullness level of the buffer cart; and a second photo sensor configured to detect a second fullness level of the buffer cart; wherein the drive system is configured to position the scissor mechanism at the first vertical position responsive to a first signal from the first photo sensor, and at the second vertical position responsive to a second signal from the second photo sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The buffer cart of claim 1, wherein positioning of the first floor portion and the second floor portion causes packages in the buffer cart to be positioned within a preset distance of the access door as packages are removed from the buffer cart. ### Claim 5 A cart comprising: a front wall; a first floor portion coupled to the front wall, the first floor portion comprising a slot along a lateral side of the first floor portion; a second floor portion, wherein the second floor portion is coupled to the first floor portion; a scissor mechanism coupled to the second floor portion; and a drive system coupled to the scissor mechanism and configured to drive the scissor mechanism in a vertical direction, wherein movement of the scissor mechanism includes relative motion between the first floor portion and the second floor portion via the slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cart of claim 5, wherein the drive system is configured to drive the scissor mechanism downwards as packages are placed into the cart, and upwards as packages are removed from the cart. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The cart of claim 5, wherein an angle between the first floor portion and the second floor portion changes as the drive system drives the scissor mechanism. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The cart of claim 5, wherein the first floor portion is configured to pivot about the front wall as the drive system drives the scissor mechanism. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The cart of claim 5, wherein the scissor mechanism comprises: a first member having a first end that is coupled to the second floor portion and configured to move along the slot; a second member coupled to the drive system; and a third member coupled to a second end of the second member and configured to support a middle portion of the second floor portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The cart of claim 5, further comprising: a first sensor configured to detect a first fullness level of the cart; and a second sensor configured to detect a second fullness level of the cart; wherein the drive system is configured to position the scissor mechanism at a first preset position responsive to a first signal from the first sensor, and at a second preset position responsive to a second signal from the second sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The cart of claim 5, wherein the first floor portion is configured to move vertically along the front wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The cart of claim 5, wherein the drive system comprises at least one of: a hydraulic drive system, a pneumatic drive system, or a mechanical drive system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The cart of claim 5, further comprising: an access door, wherein the access door is configured to slide vertically with respect to the front wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The cart of claim 5, further comprising: a clear access door coupled to the front wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) The cart of claim 5, further comprising: a scanner configured to read machine-readable labels on packages; a set of lights configured to indicate a fullness level of the cart; and a set of controls configured to manually adjust positioning of the scissor mechanism. ### Claim 16 A cart comprising: a first floor surface; a second floor surface coupled to the first floor surface and configured to form a variable angle with respect to the first floor surface; a scissor mechanism configured to move the second floor surface in a vertical direction; and a drive system to drive the scissor mechanism. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cart of claim 16, further comprising: a front wall; a clear access door configured to slide with respect to the front wall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The cart of claim 16, wherein the drive system is configured to drive the scissor mechanism downwards as packages are placed into the cart, and upwards as packages are removed from the cart. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The cart of claim 16, wherein an angle between the first floor portion and the second floor portion changes as the drive system drives the scissor mechanism. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The cart of claim 16, further comprising: a first sensor configured to detect a first fullness level of the cart; and a second sensor configured to detect a second fullness level of the cart; wherein the drive system is configured to position the scissor mechanism at a first position responsive to a first signal from the first sensor, and at a second position responsive to a second signal from the second sensor.