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US 9,704,126 B1Granted
Inventory handling by anisotropically adhesive gripping
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorParris S. Wellman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Robotic inventory handlers can include two or more gripping elements connected with a lifting assembly. The gripping elements can be subjected to outward lateral force when in contact with inventory items such that the anisotropically adhesive surface engages an inventory item with an adhesive force. Inventory systems can employ robotic inventory handlers as described to lift and displace inventory items using the adhesive force.
Claims20
An inventory management system for manipulating inventory in a facility, the inventory management system comprising:
- a robotic inventory handler comprising:
- a first gripping element configured to grip an inventory item in response to the first gripping element being loaded in shear;
- a second gripping element configured to grip the inventory item in response to the second gripping element being loaded in shear;
- and
- a lifting assembly to which the first and second gripping elements are mounted, the lifting assembly being configured to:
- generate a first shear force for application to the inventory item by the first gripping element, the first shear force being oriented to load the first gripping element in shear;
- generate a second shear force for application to the inventory item by the second gripping element, the second shear force being oriented to load the second gripping element in shear, the first and second shear forces being directed away from each other so as to induce surface tension in the inventory item;
- and
- move the inventory item via the first and second gripping elements gripping the inventory item;
- and
- an inventory management component including at least one processor and tangible non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the robotic inventory handler to:
- bring the first and second gripping elements into contact with the inventory item;
- generate the first and second shear forces to cause the first and second gripping elements to grip the inventory item;
- and
- move the inventory item via the first and second gripping elements gripping the inventory item.
12 more elements
A robotic inventory handler comprising:
- a first gripping element configured to grip an inventory item in response to the first gripping element being loaded in shear;
- a second gripping element configured to grip the inventory item in response to the second gripping element being loaded in shear;
- and
- a lifting assembly to which the first and second gripping elements are mounted, the lifting assembly being configured to:
- generate a first shear force for application to the inventory item by the first gripping element, the first shear force being oriented to load the first gripping element in shear;
- generate a second shear force for application to the inventory item by the second gripping element, the second shear force being oriented to load the second gripping element in shear, the first and second shear forces being oriented away from a center of the inventory item;
- and
- move the inventory item via the first and second gripping elements gripping the inventory item.
5 more elements
A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- receiving, at an inventory management component, a request to move an inventory item;
- causing a robotic inventory handler to engage the inventory item with first and second gripping elements, the first gripping element being configured to grip the inventory item in response to the first gripping element being loaded in shear, and the second gripping element being configured to grip the inventory item in response to the second gripping element being loaded in shear;
- causing the robotic inventory handler to interact with the inventory item to load the first and second gripping elements in shear and away from each other to cause the first and second gripping elements to grip the inventory item;
- and
- causing the robotic inventory holder to move the inventory item while maintaining loading of the first and second gripping elements in shear.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.