Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Methods and apparatus for stacking receptacles in materials handling facilities
- Patent Title (中): 在物料搬运设施中堆放容器的方法和装置
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Application No.: US13335453Application Date: 2011-12-22
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Publication No.: US09014844B2Publication Date: 2015-04-21
- Inventor: Jackie W. Casey , Zachary Shane Morgan
- Applicant: Jackie W. Casey , Zachary Shane Morgan
- Applicant Address: US NV Reno
- Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US NV Reno
- Agency: Meyertons, Hood, Kivlin, Kowert & Goetzel, P.C.
- Agent Robert C. Kowert
- Main IPC: G06F7/00
- IPC: G06F7/00 ; B65D21/04 ; B65G57/30 ; B65G1/137

Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for stacking receptacles in materials handling facilities. An automated receptacle stacker may be integrated into a materials handling system to receive empty receptacles from upstream stations via an input conveyance mechanism, add the receptacles to a stack in a stack hopper, detect when the stack is complete, and output the stack onto an output conveyance mechanism. The output conveyance mechanism may convey the stack to a palletization station, and the stacker may begin another stack. This process may continue to build and output stacks of empty receptacles. In some implementations the receptacles may be stackable only when oriented correctly; in these implementations, orientation of the receptacles may be detected prior to stacking and incorrectly oriented receptacles may be either rotated to the correct orientation or diverted to a second receptacle stacker.
Public/Granted literature
- US20130166062A1 Methods And Apparatus For Stacking Receptacles In Materials Handling Facilities Public/Granted day:2013-06-27
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