US 12,134,112 B2Granted

Systems and methods for lifting and descending payload shuttles with high throughput and a reduced footprint

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorFilippo Navarria

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Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for shuttle lift systems to facilitate simultaneous movement of multiple shuttles across a multi-level storage structure that stores packages. The shuttle lift system may include the multi-level storage structure and a tower lift system at each end of the multi-level storage structure. One tower lift system may raise shuttles to a level of the multi-level storage structure. The other tower lift system may lower shuttles to a level of the multi-level storage structure and/or to a delivery area. The tower lift system may include cables (e.g., tethers) that are supported by a bottom portion and an upper portion of the tower lift system. Shelves may be attached to the cables on either side of the tower lift system and may receive and move shuttles up/down the tower lift system. The tower lift system may have high shuttle throughput and a reduced footprint.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a support structure having an upper portion and a lower portion;
a first drive shaft positioned on a lower portion of the support structure;
a second drive shaft positioned on the lower portion of the support structure and offset from the first drive shaft;
a first tether loop and a second tether loop each rotationally connected to the first drive shaft and configured to extend between the first drive shaft and the upper portion of the support structure;
a first outer drive shaft positioned on the lower portion of the support structure and configured to house a portion first drive shaft, the first outer drive shaft and the first drive shaft configured to rotate independently;
a transfer tether loop configured to transfer rotational motion from the second drive shaft to the first outer drive shaft;
a third tether loop and a fourth tether loop each rotationally connected to the first outer drive shaft and configured to extend between the first outer drive shaft and the upper portion of the support structure;
a first shelf coupled to the first tether loop and the second tether loop and configured to receive a first shuttle;
a second shelf coupled to the third tether loop and the fourth tether loop and configured to receive a second shuttle;
a first motor configured to rotate the first drive shaft to cause the first tether loop and the second tether loop to rotate to move the first shelf along the tower structure;
and
a second motor configured to rotate the second drive shaft to cause the third tether loop and the fourth tether loop to rotate to move the second shelf along the tower structure independent of the first shelf.

9 more elements

A system comprising:

a support structure having an upper portion and a lower portion;
a first drive shaft positioned on a lower portion of the support structure;
a second drive shaft positioned on the upper portion of the support structure;
a first tether loop rotationally connected to the first drive shaft and configured to extend between the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft;
a second tether loop rotationally connected to the second drive shaft and configured to extend between the second drive shaft and the first drive shaft;
a first shelf coupled to the first tether loop, configured to receive a first shuttle;
and
a second shelf coupled to the second tether loop and configured to receive a second shuttle;
wherein the first drive shaft is configured to move the first tether loop to move the first shelf along an inside and an outside of the support structure;
and
wherein the second drive shaft is configured to move the second tether loop to move the second shelf along the support structure independent of the first shelf.

8 more elements

A method comprising:

determining, by a controller, instructions to retrieve a first shuttle from a multi-level storage structure, the shuttle positioned on an initial level of the multi-level storage structure;
determining a first shelf of a tower lift system adjacent to the multi-level storage structure is in closest proximity to the initial level;
determining a path along the tower lift system between the first shelf and the initial level is obstructed by a second shelf;
causing a first drive shaft to rotate to move the second shelf, the first drive shaft positioned on an upper portion of the tower lift system and rotationally connected to a first tether loop that extends between the first drive shaft and a second drive shaft positioned on a lower portion of the tower lift system, the first tether loop connected to the second shelf;
causing the second drive shaft to rotate to move the first shelf to align with the initial level of the multi-level storage structure, the second drive shaft rotationally connected to a second tether loop connected to the first shelf and extending between the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft, the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft adapted to rotate independently;
and
causing the shuttle to move from the initial level to the first shelf.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.