Deployable conveyor mat assembly
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKaran Arora, Thomas Murphy, Peter Fischer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly includes a frame and a conveyor mat configured to transition between a retracted state in which the conveyor mat is disposed within a footprint of the frame, and a deployed state in which the conveyor mat is disposed at least partially disposed outside the footprint of the frame. The conveyor mat has a plurality of linkages, a plurality of rollers, a plurality of supports, and a plurality of axles. Individual axles couple to individual linkages of the plurality of linkages, individual rollers of the plurality of rollers, and individual supports of the plurality of supports together. A tensioning system is configured to control the conveyor mat transitioning between the retracted state and the deployed state.
Claims20
A conveyor mat assembly, comprising:
- a frame including a first end and a second end;
- a first handle coupled to the frame;
- a conveyor mat configured to transition between a retracted state in which the conveyor mat resides between the first end and the second end of the frame, and a deployed state in which the conveyor mat at least partially extends beyond the second end of the frame, the conveyor mat including:
- axles disposed along a length of the conveyor mat,
- linkages coupled to the axles along the length of the conveyor mat and across a width of the conveyor mat,
- supports coupled to the axles along the length of the conveyor mat and across the width of the conveyor mat, and
- rollers coupled to the axles along the length of the conveyor mat and across the width of the conveyor mat, the rollers providing a rolling surface for items being transported via the conveyor mat in the deployed state;
- torsional springs disposed about the axles and operably coupled to at least a portion of the supports, the torsional springs imparting a force to transition the conveyor mat to the deployed state;
- and
- a tensioning mechanism coupled to the frame proximate to the first end, the tensioning mechanism including:
- a second handle,
- a spool rotatably engaged with the second handle,
- a cord at least partially wound about the spool and coupled to the conveyor mat, and
- a locking mechanism configured to engage with the cord to control transitioning of the conveyor mat between the retracted state and the deployed state.
An assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a conveyor mat configured to transition between a retracted state in which the conveyor mat is disposed within a footprint of the frame, and a deployed state in which the conveyor mat is disposed at least partially outside the footprint of the frame, the conveyor mat including:
- a plurality of linkages,
- a plurality of rollers,
- a plurality of supports, and
- a plurality of axles, wherein individual axles of the plurality of axles couple to individual linkages of the plurality of linkages, individual rollers of the plurality of rollers, and individual supports of the plurality of supports such that the plurality of linkages, the plurality of rollers, and the plurality of supports are coupled together;
- and
- a tensioning system configured to control the conveyor mat transitioning between the retracted state and the deployed state.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a frame including a first end and a second end;
- a conveyor mat including a proximal end coupled to the frame and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end, the conveyor mat being configured to transition between a retracted state in which the distal end of the conveyor mat is located between the first end and a second end, and a deployed state in which distal end of the conveyor mat extends beyond the second end of the frame;
- and
- a tensioning system including:
- a handle,
- a spool,
- a cord at least partially wound about the spool and coupled to the conveyor mat, proximate to the distal end, and
- a locking mechanism configured to disengage with the cord to permit the conveyor mat transitioning to the deployed state, and engage with the cord to prevent the conveyor mat transitioning to the deployed state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.