Wireless powering and control of conveyors on shuttles
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsVivek S. Narayanan, Ganesh Krishnamoorthy, Michael Alan Bray, Rajeev Dwivedi, Mohit Malik, Shahid Azad
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for wireless powering and control of conveyors on shuttles. An example system may include a track, and a shuttle configured to move along the track, the shuttle having a conveyor, and a first induction coil. The system may include a second induction coil disposed at a first location along the track, where the second induction coil is configured to interact with the first induction coil to power the conveyor. The shuttle may not have an onboard power source coupled to the conveyor.
Claims19
A system comprising:
- a set of rails that form a track;
- a shuttle configured to transport individual items from a pickup location to a delivery location using the set of rails, the shuttle comprising:
- a bidirectional conveyor;
- a first induction coil;
- and
- a data receiver module configured to receive command data indicative of a direction to actuate the conveyor;
- a second induction coil disposed at a first location along the track, wherein the second induction coil is configured to interact with the first induction coil to power the conveyor and the data receiver module;
- a first data transmitter module disposed along the track adjacent to the second induction coil, the first data transmitter module configured to transmit the command data;
- a third induction coil disposed at a second location along the track, wherein the third induction coil is configured to interact with the first induction coil to power the conveyor and the data receiver module;
- and
- a second data transmitter module disposed along the track adjacent to the third induction coil, the second data transmitter module configured to transmit the command data;
- wherein the shuttle does not comprise an onboard power source coupled to the conveyor, and wherein the conveyor is inoperable along the track between the first location and the second location due to a lack of power.
A system configured to transport items, the system comprising:
- a track;
- a first data transmitter module disposed along the track, the first data transmitter module configured to transmit command data;
- a shuttle configured to move along the track, the shuttle comprising:
- a conveyor;
- a data receiver module to receive the command data;
- and
- a first induction coil;
- and
- a second induction coil disposed at a first location along the track, wherein the second induction coil is configured to interact with the first induction coil to power the conveyor;
- wherein the shuttle does not comprise an onboard power source coupled to the conveyor, and wherein the conveyor is inoperable along the track between the first location and a second location due to a lack of power.
An item delivery system comprising:
- a track;
- a first data transmitter module disposed along the track, the first data transmitter module configured to transmit command data;
- a shuttle configured to move along the track, the shuttle comprising:
- a conveyor;
- a data receiver module to receive the command data;
- and
- a first induction coil;
- a second induction coil disposed at a first location along the track, wherein the second induction coil is configured to interact with the first induction coil to power the conveyor;
- and
- a third induction coil disposed at a second location along the track, wherein the third induction coil is configured to interact with the first induction coil to power the conveyor;
- wherein the conveyor is inoperable along the track between the first location and the second location due to a lack of power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.