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US 2026/0054942 A1Published application
Buffer wall systems with multiple conveyor shelves and associated methods of use
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsCarl Nicklos, Bruce Johnson, Alexander M Frenkel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Buffer wall systems and methods may comprise a plurality of shelves with associated buffer conveyors, and a gantry system with one or more powered conveyors. The gantry system may align the powered conveyors with individual buffer conveyors for item storage or retrieval. In addition, power transmission mechanisms of the powered conveyors may be actuated to engage and provide power to the buffer conveyors in order to cause transfer of items therebetween.
Claims20
A buffer wall system, comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of passive buffer conveyors arranged as shelves within the frame;
- a gantry system configured to move among the plurality of passive buffer conveyors;
- a gantry infeed conveyor and a gantry outfeed conveyor associated with the gantry system, the gantry infeed conveyor and the gantry outfeed conveyor configured to selectively engage with and transfer power to individual passive buffer conveyors of the plurality of passive buffer conveyors via respective power transmission mechanisms;
- and
- a controller configured to at least:
- instruct movement of the gantry system to align one of the gantry infeed conveyor or the gantry outfeed conveyor with a selected passive buffer conveyor;
- cause engagement, via a respective power transmission mechanism, between the one of the gantry infeed conveyor or the gantry outfeed conveyor and the selected passive buffer conveyor;
- and
- cause transfer of an item between the one of the gantry infeed conveyor or the gantry outfeed conveyor and the selected passive buffer conveyor.
7 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a buffer conveyor;
- and
- at least one powered conveyor configured to selectively transfer power to the buffer conveyor via a power transmission mechanism that moves between an engaged configuration and a retracted configuration.
A method, comprising:
- determining, by a controller, to transfer an item between at least one powered conveyor and a buffer conveyor;
- causing, by the controller, actuation of a power transmission mechanism of the at least one powered conveyor from a retracted configuration to an engaged configuration to transfer power from the at least one powered conveyor to the buffer conveyor;
- and
- causing, by the controller via the power transmission mechanism, transfer of the item between the at least one powered conveyor and the buffer conveyor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.