Modular storage system having segments that couple to one another to define closed loop tracks that move inventory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10287097-B2
Application number	US-201715656738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2017
Priority date	Jul 21, 2017
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

In one embodiment, an inventory storage system has a vertical stack of storage modules that extend from a first stack end to a second stack end, and are stacked on top of one another. Each storage module defines a path that forms a loop in a vertical plane, and each storage module has a plurality of inventory carriers that translate around the loop. The vertical stack has a first end section that extends from the first stack end towards the second stack end, and that includes a first end of each loop of the stack. The vertical stack also has a second end section that extends from the second stack end towards the first stack end, and that includes a second end of each loop of the stack. The sections can be transported separately by a truck or container and then coupled together at the destination.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A storage system configured to store inventory items, the storage system comprising:
a vertical stack of storage modules having a first stack end and a second stack end that are spaced from one another along a longitudinal direction, the storage modules being stacked on top of one another along a vertical direction, each storage module having a pair of guiderails spaced from one another along a lateral direction, each guiderail having an upper track, a lower track, and first and second connecting tracks that connect the upper and lower tracks to one another at the first and second stack ends, respectively, and each storage module having a plurality of inventory carriers that translate around a respective pair of the guiderails, the vertical stack having:
a first end section that extends from the first stack end towards the second stack end, the first end section including the first connecting track of each storage module, a first upper track section of each upper track that extends from the first connecting track, and a first lower track section of each lower track that extends from the first connecting track; and
a second end section that extends from the second stack end towards the first stack end, the second end section including the second connecting track of each storage module, a second upper track section of each upper track that extends from the second connecting track, and a second lower track section of each lower track that extends from the second connecting track,
wherein the first and second end sections are coupleable to one another such that each first upper track section is coupled to a corresponding one of the second upper track sections and each first lower track section is coupled to a corresponding one of the second lower track sections, and wherein the first and second end sections are individually sized to be transported in a truck or intermodal storage container.

2. The storage system of claim 1 , comprising an intermediate section that extends between the first and second stack ends, the intermediate section including an intermediate upper track section of each upper track and an intermediate lower track section of each lower track, wherein the intermediate section is coupleable to both the first and second end sections such that each intermediate upper track section couples corresponding first and second upper track sections to one another and each intermediate lower track section couples corresponding first and second lower track sections to one another.

3. The storage system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of couplers configured to couple the first and second end sections to one another.

4. An inventory storage system, comprising:
a vertical stack of storage modules having a first stack end and a second stack end that are spaced from one another along a longitudinal direction, the storage modules being stacked on top of one another along a vertical direction, each storage module defining a path that forms a loop in a plane that extends in the longitudinal and vertical directions, and each storage module having a plurality of inventory carriers that translate around the loop, the vertical stack having:
a first end section that extends from the first stack end towards the second stack end, and terminates before the second stack end, such that the first end section includes a first end of each loop of the vertical stack; and
a second end section that extends from the second stack end towards the first stack end, and terminates before the first stack end, such that the second end section includes a second end of each loop of the vertical stack, wherein the first and second end sections are coupleable to one another.

5. The inventory storage system of claim 4 , comprising an intermediate section that includes an intermediate portion of each loop, wherein a first end of the intermediate section is coupleable to the first end section and a second end of the intermediate section is coupleable to the second end section so as to couple the first end section to the second end section.

6. The inventory storage system of claim 5 , wherein the intermediate section is devoid of a drivetrain that drives the inventory carriers.

7. The inventory storage system of claim 6 , wherein the first and second ends of each loop includes a first drivetrain configured to drive inventory carriers around the loop.

8. The inventory storage system of claim 4 , comprising a plurality of couplers configured to couple the first and second end sections to one another.

9. The inventory storage system of claim 4 , wherein each loop is elongate along the longitudinal direction.

10. The inventory storage system of claim 4 , wherein each storage module has a pair of guiderails spaced from one another along a lateral direction, each guiderail having an upper track, a lower track, and first and second connecting tracks that connect the upper and lower tracks to one another at the first and second stack ends, respectively.

11. The inventory storage system of claim 10 , wherein each storage module comprises at least one drivetrain configured to drive inventory carriers to translate along a respective one of the upper tracks and a respective one of the lower tracks at a first speed, and configured to drive the inventory carriers to translate along respective ones of the first and second connecting tracks at a second speed, faster than the first speed, when the inventory carriers transition between the respective upper and lower tracks.

12. The inventory storage system of claim 11 , wherein each drivetrain comprises a lower-speed pulley or gear system configured to drive the inventory carriers along respective ones of the upper and lower tracks at the first speed, and comprises a higher-speed pulley or gear system configured to drive the inventory carriers along at least a respective one of the first and second connecting tracks at the second speed.

13. The inventory storage system of claim 10 , wherein:
the first end section includes the first connecting track of each storage module, a first upper track section of each upper track that extends from the first connecting track, and a first lower track section of each lower track that extends from the first connecting track; and
the second end section includes the second connecting track of each storage module, a second upper track section of each upper track that extends from the second connecting track, and a second lower track section of each lower track that extends from the second connecting track,
wherein the first and second end sections are coupleable to one another such that each first upper track section is coupled to a corresponding one of the second upper track sections and each first lower track section is coupled to a corresponding one of the second lower track sections.

14. The inventory storage system of claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second end sections are individually sized to be transported in a truck or intermodal storage container.

15. The inventory storage system of claim 4 , wherein each inventory carrier is elongate along the lateral direction such that each inventory carrier is configured to carry a plurality of storage containers that are arranged side-by-side along the lateral direction.

16. The inventory storage system of claim 15 , comprising a plurality of storage containers, each supported by an inventory carrier such that at least one of the inventory carriers supports a plurality of the storage containers arranged side-by-side along the lateral direction.

17. The inventory storage system

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Mahadevan Dinesh
• Aalund Martin Peter
• Battles Jon Stuart
• Defant Jon David
• Garcia Benjamin Douglas
• Kamranzadeh Vahideh
• Davies George T
• Nuetzman Steven Eric

Classifications

• B65G1/133 Primary

  the circuit being confined in a horizontal plane · CPC title

• B65G1/0485

  Check-in, check-out devices · CPC title