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US 12,110,181 B1Granted
Item retrieval system
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Scott Kalm, Matthew Roy Gardner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An item retrieval system can include a support defining a continuous pathway having an upper level, a lower level, and an end portion connecting the upper and lower portions. An advancement mechanism can move a carrier having a container advanced along the continuous pathway between the upper and lower levels.
Claims19
An item retrieval system positionable in a trailer, the item retrieval system comprising:
- a carrier comprising one or more receiving areas for receiving an item container;
- a support defining a continuous pathway configured to support the carrier, the continuous pathway comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, and a curved end portion coupling the upper and lower portions;
- and
- an advancement mechanism coupled with the support and comprising a rotatable disk and an extendable arm coupled with the rotatable disk, the rotatable disk comprising one or more notches and configured to rotate to cause both engagement of the extendable arm with a first portion of the carrier and receipt of a second portion of the carrier by at least one notch of the one or more notches to advance the carrier along the continuous pathway to move the carrier between the upper and lower portions.
1 more element
An item retrieval system, comprising:
- a support defining a continuous pathway comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, and a curved end portion coupling the upper and lower portions;
- and
- an advancement mechanism comprising a rotatable disk and an extendable arm coupled with the rotatable disk, the rotatable disk comprising one or more notches and configured to rotate to cause both engagement of a distal end of the extendable arm with a first portion of a carrier and receipt of a second portion of the carrier by at least one notch of the one or more notches, the second portion of the carrier positioned in a container receiving area of the continuous pathway for receiving an inventory container containing inventory items, the extendable arm configured to advance the carrier along the continuous pathway to move the carrier between the upper and lower portions.
A method comprising:
- rotating an advancement mechanism to a first position, the advancement mechanism positioned relative to a guide forming a movement path for a carrier positioned on the guide, the carrier comprising containers having inventory items;
- extending, in response to the rotating of the advancement mechanism to the first position, an arm of the advancement mechanism to be positioned for engagement with the carrier, the advancement mechanism comprising a disk and the arm coupled with the disk;
- engaging the arm with a first portion of the carrier while receiving a second portion of the carrier in a notch of the disk;
- and
- with the arm engaged with the first portion of the carrier, rotating the advancement mechanism to a second position, the notch supporting the second portion of the carrier and the rotating of the arm causing the carrier to advance along the movement path.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.