Storage totes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10669069-B2
Application number	US-201715695756-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2017
Priority date	Dec 11, 2015
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

This application describes fabric storage totes, as well as techniques for use of fabric totes in an infrastructure that uses mechanical systems to transport the fabric totes and/or access inventory items in the fabric totes. The fabric totes may include a fabric base and side walls, with a hardened material support structure. Additionally, the fabric totes may include two handles made of a substantially hard material. The fabric totes may be accessed and transported, manually and/or mechanically, via interaction with the handles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
adjusting a tote with a first handle coupled to a first side portion via a first connector and a second handle coupled to a second side portion via a second connector:
from a neutral position, in which the first handle and the second handle are at a first distance from one another and the first side portion is substantially parallel to the second side portion,
to an open position, in which the first handle and the second handle are at a second distance from one another that is greater than the first distance,
wherein the first connector comprises a first curved portion that extends inward from a first inboard surface of the first handle to a first substantially straight portion that couples to the first side portion, and wherein the second connector comprises a second curved portion that extends inward from a second inboard surface of the second handle to a second substantially straight portion that couples to the second side portion;

placing one or more inventory items in the tote;
adjusting the first handle and the second handle to the neutral position, such that the first side portion and the second side portion are substantially parallel;
inserting the tote in a compartment of a plurality of compartments inside of an inventory pod by sliding the first handle along a first rail coupled to a first side of the compartment and the second handle along a second rail coupled to a second side of the compartment, wherein the second side opposes the first side; and
transporting the inventory pod with the tote inserted in the compartment within the inventory pod.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
removing the tote from the compartment;
adjusting the first handle and the second handle to a closed position by decreasing a distance between the first handle and the second handle until the first handle and the second handle are proximate to one another;
causing an arm of an unmanned aerial vehicle to be coupled to the first handle and the second handle; and
transporting the tote via the unmanned aerial vehicle.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
removing the tote from the compartment;
placing the first handle onto a first cable of a conveyor system;
placing the second handle onto a second cable of the conveyor system; and
transporting, via the conveyor system, the tote to a location in a facility.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the transporting the tote to the location further comprises:
moving the first handle along the first cable via a first set of rollers; and
moving the second handle along the second cable via a second set of rollers;
wherein the first cable and the second cable are configured to diverge from the first distance in which the tote is in the neutral position to the second distance in which the tote is in the open position at the location to facilitate access to the one or more inventory items.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 , further comprising:
driving a first set of rollers coupled to the first handle with a first electric motor; and
driving a second set of rollers coupled to the second handle with a second electric motor,
wherein the first set of rollers and the second set of rollers are configured to facilitate a movement of the first handle along the first cable and the second handle along the second cable.

6. The method as recited in claim 3 , further comprising:
delivering, via at least one of the first cable or the second cable, power to at least one of the first handle or the second handle,
wherein the power delivered via the at least one of the first cable or the second cable facilitates movement of the tote along the conveyor system.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein transporting the inventory pod further comprises:
situating a mobile drive unit under a base of the inventory pod, the base comprising four legs that are in contact with a surface;
engaging a lift mechanism of the mobile drive unit until the four legs of the inventory pod are no longer in contact with the surface;
causing the mobile drive unit to move the inventory pod to a location within a facility; and
disengaging the lift mechanism of the mobile drive until the four legs of the inventory pod are in contact with the surface at the location.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an order for an inventory item of the one or more inventory items;
identifying the tote housing the inventory item;
removing, via an extractor, the tote from the compartment;
identifying the inventory item in the tote; and
removing, via a robotic arm, the inventory item from the tote.

9. A method comprising:
adjusting a tote with a first handle coupled to a first side portion via a first connector and a second handle coupled to a second side portion via a second connector:
from a neutral position, in which the first handle and the second handle are at a first distance from one another and the first side portion is substantially parallel to the second side portion,
to an open position, in which the first handle and the second handle are at a second distance from one another that is greater than the first distance;

placing one or more inventory items in the tote;
adjusting the first handle and the second handle to the neutral position, such that the first side portion and the second side portion are substantially parallel;
placing the first handle onto a first cable of a conveyor system;
placing the second handle onto a second cable of the conveyor system; and
transporting, via the conveyor system, the tote to a location in a facility.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein:
the first connector comprises a first curved portion that extends inward from a first inboard surface of the first handle to a first substantially straight portion that couples to the first side portion; and
the second connector comprises a second curved portion that extends inward from a second inboard surface of the second handle to a second substantially straight portion that couples to the second side portion.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the transporting the tote to the location further comprises:
moving the first handle along the first cable via a first set of rollers; and
moving the second handle along the second cable via a second set of rollers;
wherein the first cable and the second cable are configured to diverge from the first distance in which the tote is in the neutral position to the second distance in which the tote is in the open position at the location to facilitate access to the one or more inventory items.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising:
driving a first set of rollers coupled to the first handle with a first electric motor; and
driving a second set of rollers coupled to the second handle with a second electric motor,
wherein the first set of rollers and the second set of rollers are configured to facilitate a movement of the first handle along the first cable and the second handle along the second cable.

13. A method comprising:
adjusting a tote with a first handle coupled to a first side portion via a first connector and a second handle coupled to a second side portion via a second connector:
placing one or more inventory items in the tote;
adjusting the first handle and the second handle to a neutral position, such that the first side portion and the second side portion are substantially parallel;
inserting the tote in a compartment of a plurality of compartments inside of an inventory pod by sliding the first handle along

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Tubilla Kuri Fernando

Classifications

• Y02P90/28

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B65D25/282 Primary

  provided on a local area near to or at the upper edge or rim · CPC title

• B65D11/10

  of polygonal cross-section and all parts being permanently connected to each other (B65D11/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D11/26

  Local reinforcements, e.g. adjacent to closures · CPC title

• B65D25/20

  External fittings (of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44) · CPC title