Multiple speed conveyor storage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10040642-B2
Application number	US-201715631457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2017
Priority date	Sep 21, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for a multiple speed, multiple conveyor storage system for items in a materials handling facility such as a fulfillment center. In one embodiment, the item storage system includes a first conveyor configured to operate at one speed, a second conveyor configured to operate at a different speed, and a transfer device configured to transfer items between the conveyors. The conveyors are each configured to store items in motion in a circuit arrangement.

First claim

Therefore, the following is claimed:

1. A method, comprising:
scanning, by at least one computing device, an identifier of an item being deposited in an item storage system;
determining, by the at least one computing device, a priority associated with the item;
selecting, by the at least one computing device, one of a plurality of conveyors in the item storage system for storage of the item based at least in part on the priority, wherein each of the plurality of conveyors is configured to store a plurality of items in motion in a circuit arrangement, at least two of the plurality of conveyors are configured to operate at different speeds, and at least two of the plurality of conveyors are arranged concentrically with respect to one another; and
initiating, by the at least one computing device, a transfer of the item to the one of the plurality of conveyors.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the at least one computing device, a utilization of the one of the plurality of conveyors; and
wherein the one of the plurality of conveyors is selected further based at least in part on the utilization.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
scanning, by the at least one computing device, an identifier of another item being deposited in the item storage system;
determining, by the at least one computing device, a priority associated with the other item; and
initiating, by the at least one computing device, another transfer of the item to another one of the plurality of conveyors based at least in part on the priority of the other item in order to accommodate the other item on the one of the plurality of the conveyors.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the at least one computing device, a request to retrieve the item from the item storage system;
selecting, by the at least one computing device, one of a plurality of exit points based at least in part on a location associated with the request; and
causing, by the at least one computing device, the item to exit the one of the plurality of conveyors at the one of the plurality of exit points.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the at least one computing device, an updated priority associated with the item;
selecting, by the at least one computing device, another one of the plurality of conveyors based at least in part on the updated priority; and
initiating, by the at least one computing device, a transfer of the item from the one of the plurality of conveyors to the other one of the plurality of conveyors.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of conveyors are vertically stacked over at least a portion of one another.

7. An item storage system, comprising:
a first conveyor;
a second conveyor, wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor each store a plurality of items in motion in a circuit arrangement, and the first conveyor and the second conveyor are arranged concentrically with respect to one another;
a transfer device configured to transfer items to the first conveyor or the second conveyor; and
at least one computing device configured to perform a method comprising:
scanning, by at least one computing device, an identifier of an item being deposited in the item storage system;
determining, by the at least one computing device, a priority associated with the item;
selecting, by the at least one computing device, one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor based at least in part on the priority; and
initiating, by the at least one computing device, a transfer of the item to the selected one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor using the transfer device.

8. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor operate at different speeds.

9. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the transfer device comprises an elevator.

10. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the transfer device comprises at least one of a ramp-based conveyor, slide, or chute.

11. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the first conveyor utilizes a belt to move the plurality of items in the circuit arrangement.

12. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the first conveyor utilizes a plurality of rollers to move the plurality of items in the circuit arrangement.

13. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to perform the method further comprising:
determining, by the at least one computing device, a utilization of the one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor; and
wherein the one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor is selected further based at least in part on the utilization.

14. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to perform the method further comprising:
scanning, by the at least one computing device, an identifier of another item being deposited in the item storage system;
determining, by the at least one computing device, a priority associated with the other item; and
initiating, by the at least one computing device, another transfer of the item to another one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor based at least in part on the priority of the other item in order to accommodate the other item on the one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor.

15. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to perform the method further comprising:
receiving, by the at least one computing device, a request to retrieve the item from the item storage system;
selecting, by the at least one computing device, one of a plurality of exit points based at least in part on a location associated with the request; and
causing, by the at least one computing device, the item to exit the one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor at the one of the plurality of exit points.

16. The item storage system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to perform the method further comprising:
determining, by the at least one computing device, an updated priority associated with the item;
selecting, by the at least one computing device, another one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor based at least in part on the updated priority; and
initiating, by the at least one computing device, a transfer of the item from the one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor to the other one of the first conveyor or the second conveyor.

17. An item storage system, comprising:
a first conveyor operating at a first speed;
a second conveyor arranged concentrically with the first conveyor and operating at a second speed that is greater than the first speed, wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor each store a plurality of items in motion in a circuit arrangement;
a transfer device configured to transfer items between the first conveyor and the second conveyor; and
at least one computing device configured to perform a method comprising:
determining, by the at least one computing device, a priority associated with an item stored on the first conveyor;
initiating, by the at least one computing device, a transfer of the item from the first conveyor to the second conveyor via the transfer device in response to the priority meeting a minimum threshold.

18. The item storage system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to perform the method further comprising:
receiving, by the at least one

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Gorski Christopher Albert

Classifications

• B65G1/00

  Storing articles, individually or in orderly arrangement, in warehouses or magazines (conveyor combinations in warehouses, magazines or workshops B65G37/00; stacking of articles B65G57/00; removing articles from stacks B65G59/00; loading machines B65G65/02) · CPC title

• B65G47/04

  for feeding articles · CPC title

• B65G2209/02

  Batch order forming, e.g. several batches simultaneously · CPC title

• B65G1/1378

  the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas · CPC title

• B65G2203/041

  Camera · CPC title