US 11,299,348 B1Granted

Container depalletizing systems and methods

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsAbhinav Bhardwaj, Tolga Kol, Matteo Camelin, Stefano La Rovere

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Abstract

Container depalletization systems and methods may include various example depalletizing stations including a frame and a plurality of fork assemblies. For example, the frame may receive a stack of containers, and the plurality of fork assemblies may engage, lift, lower, and release layers of containers from the stack of containers to downstream stations or processes. In addition, the example depalletizing stations may include transfer elevator assemblies that may receive layers of containers from the plurality of fork assemblies and transfer the layers of containers to downstream stations or processes. Further, the example depalletizing stations may include movable frames that may move between a first position, at which layers of containers may be engaged and lifted by the plurality of fork assemblies, and a second position, at which layers of containers may be lowered and released by the plurality of fork assemblies and transferred to downstream stations or processes.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A container depalletizing station, comprising:

a frame configured to receive a stack of containers on a pallet;
a plurality of fork assemblies movably coupled to the frame, each of the plurality of fork assemblies configured to move vertically relative to the frame, and each of the plurality of fork assemblies configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position;
wherein the plurality of fork assemblies includes a first set of fork assemblies and a second set of fork assemblies that are vertically stacked relative to each other, individual ones of the first set and the second set configured to concurrently lift individual layers of containers of the stack of containers;
and
wherein the first set of fork assemblies and the second set of fork assemblies respectively include at least one fork positioned on opposite sides of the frame to thereby concurrently lift respective individual layers of containers;
a transfer elevator positioned underneath the stack of containers and configured to move vertically relative to the frame;
and
a controller configured to at least:
instruct the plurality of fork assemblies to move to respective extended positions to engage respective containers of the stack of containers;
instruct the plurality of fork assemblies to lift respective containers of the stack of containers to respective vertical positions relative to the frame;
instruct the transfer elevator to transfer the pallet to a pallet stacking station;
instruct the transfer elevator to move vertically relative to the frame to a position supporting a lowest layer of containers of the stack of containers;
instruct at least some of the plurality of fork assemblies to move to respective retracted positions to release respective containers of the lowest layer of containers of the stack of containers;
and
instruct the transfer elevator to transfer respective containers of the lowest layer of containers to a downstream conveyor.

12 more elements

A system, comprising:

a frame configured to receive a stack of containers;
a plurality of fork assemblies movably coupled to the frame, each of the plurality of fork assemblies configured to move vertically relative to the frame, and each of the plurality of fork assemblies configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position;
wherein each of the plurality of fork assemblies is configured to move to respective extended positions to engage and lift respective containers of the stack of containers;
wherein the plurality of fork assemblies includes at least two sets of fork assemblies that are vertically stacked relative to each other, individual ones of the at least two sets of fork assemblies configured to concurrently lift individual layers of containers of the stack of containers;
and
wherein each of the at least two sets of fork assemblies includes at least one fork positioned on opposite sides of the frame to thereby concurrently lift respective individual layers of containers.

3 more elements

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

instructing, by a controller, each of a plurality of fork assemblies to move to respective extended positions to engage respective containers of a stack of containers, wherein each of the plurality of fork assemblies are movably coupled to a frame that receives the stack of containers;
and
instructing, by the controller, each of the plurality of fork assemblies to lift respective containers of the stack of containers to respective vertical positions relative to the frame;
wherein the frame and the plurality of fork assemblies comprise a system;
wherein the frame is configured to receive the stack of containers;
wherein the plurality of fork assemblies are movably coupled to the frame, each of the plurality of fork assemblies configured to move vertically relative to the frame, and each of the plurality of fork assemblies configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position;
wherein each of the plurality of fork assemblies is configured to move to respective extended positions to engage and lift respective containers of the stack of containers;
wherein the plurality of fork assemblies includes at least two sets of fork assemblies that are vertically stacked relative to each other, individual ones of the at least two sets of fork assemblies configured to concurrently lift individual layers of containers of the stack of containers;
and
wherein each of the at least two sets of fork assemblies includes at least one fork positioned on opposite sides of the frame to thereby concurrently lift respective individual layers of containers.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.