Dedicated network delivery systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9505559-B1
Application number	US-201414274930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 12, 2014
Priority date	May 12, 2014
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

A dedicated network delivery system may avoid congestion experienced by traditional transportation networks and enable the delivery of objects from an origin to a destination using one or subterranean or aboveground elements. The network delivery system may be specifically configured to transport a particular type of object, such as an item, or a parcel or container having one or more items therein, in both vertical and horizontal directions along one or more of such elements, and in one or more item carriers such as carts, bags or boxes. The elements may be driven by or along one or more conveyors or rails, and may comprise one or more pressure-controlled carriers within a vacuum environment or among any type of fluid, including liquids or gases. A path between the origin and destination may be defined based on any factor, including travel time or cost, and any actual or predicted congestion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a hub associated with a fulfillment center;
at least one node associated with a customer;
a plurality of subterranean conveyors configured to transport at least one item, wherein a first conveyor extends along a first axis at least in part between the hub and a first junction, wherein a second conveyor extends along a second axis at least in part between the first junction and the at least one node;
a first diverter at the first junction, wherein the first diverter is aligned to transfer items from a surface of the first conveyor to a surface of the second conveyor or from the surface of the second conveyor to the surface of the first conveyor; and
a control system comprising at least one computer device, the control system configured to at least:
receive information regarding an order for the at least one item from the customer over a communications network;
determine that the at least one item is available at the fulfillment center; and
upon determining that the at least one item is available at the fulfillment center,
cause the at least one item to be placed onto the surface of the first conveyor at the hub;
cause the at least one item to be transported from the hub to the first junction via at least the first conveyor;
cause the at least one item to be transferred from the surface of the first conveyor to the surface of the second conveyor by the first diverter at the first junction; and
cause the at least one item to be transported from the first junction to the at least one node via at least the second conveyor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to at least:
identify information regarding a plurality of paths extending between the hub and the at least one node;
select an optimal path of the plurality of paths for transporting the at least one item from the hub to the at least one node based at least in part on the information, wherein the optimal path includes the first conveyor, the first junction and the second conveyor; and
cause the at least one item to be transported from the hub to the at least one node by way of the first conveyor, the first junction and the second conveyor along the optimal path.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the information regarding the plurality of paths comprises at least one of:
predicted travel times associated with each of the paths; or
predicted travel costs associated with each of the paths.

4. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein at least a portion of the first conveyor is provided at a first vertical elevation,
wherein the second conveyor is provided at a second vertical elevation,
wherein the first diverter comprises a conveying elevator provided between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, and
wherein the conveying elevator is configured to transfer the at least one item from the first conveyor at the first vertical elevation to the second conveyor at the second vertical elevation.

5. A system comprising:
at least one powered mover system comprising a plurality of segments and at least one diversion system, wherein at least one of the plurality of segments extends between a first station and a second station, wherein the at least one diversion system is configured to transfer objects between at least two of the plurality of segments, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of segments is subterranean; and
a control system comprising at least one computer device, the control system in communication with the at least one powered mover system,
wherein the at least one powered mover system is configured to transport an object from the first station to the second station on the at least one of the plurality of segments, and
wherein the control system is configured to at least:
receive information regarding a request for the object from a customer over a network;
select an origin of the object based at least in part on the request, wherein the first station is associated with the origin;
identify a destination for the object designated by the customer based at least in part on the request, wherein the second station is associated with the destination;
cause the object to be placed onto a surface of a first segment at the first station; and
provide at least one instruction to the at least one powered mover system, wherein the at least one instruction causes the at least one powered mover system to at least:
transport the object from the first station to at least one junction on the surface of the first segment;
transfer, by the at least one diversion system, the object from the surface of the first segment to a surface of a second segment; and
transport the object from the at least one junction to the second station on the surface of the second segment.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first segment comprises a conveyor system having at least one conveyor belt, and
wherein the object is caused to be placed onto a surface of the at least one conveyor belt at the first station; and
wherein the object is transported from the first station to the at least one junction on the surface of the at least one conveyor belt.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second segment comprises a rail system having at least one powered rail car,
wherein the object is transferred from the surface of the at least one conveyor belt to a surface of the at least one powered rail car at the at least one junction by the at least one diversion system, and
wherein the object is transported from the at least one junction to the second station on the surface of the at least one powered rail car.

8. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
at least one extension associated with the second station,
wherein the at least one instruction further causes the at least one powered mover system to at least:
transfer, by the at least one diversion system, the object from the surface of the second segment to the at least one extension.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of segments is configured to transport the object in at least two directions.

10. The system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of segments define at least one loop extending between the first station and the second station.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of segments define two concentric loops extending between the first station and the second station.

12. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one diversion system comprises a conveying elevator configured to transfer the object from the surface of the first segment at a first depth to the surface of the second segment at a second depth.

13. The system of claim 5 ,
wherein the first station is associated with a fulfillment center, and
wherein the second station is associated with one of a single-family dwelling, an apartment building, an office building, a locker storage facility, a rail station or an airport.

14. The system of claim 5 ,
wherein the first station is associated with a merchant, and
wherein the second station is associated with a customer.

15. The system of claim 5 , wherein the control system is further configured to at least:
identify a plurality of origins of the object, wherein each of the origins is associated with a fulfillment center having access to the object, and wherein the selected origin of the object is one of the plurality of origins for the object; and
predict, for each of the plurality of origins, a level of traffic congestion between each of the plurality of origins and the destination for the object designated by the customer,
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Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Cai Xiaoshan

Classifications

• B65G43/00 Primary

  Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting · CPC title

• B65G47/50 Primary

  according to destination signals stored in separate systems · CPC title

• B65G47/506

  the system comprising a shift-register · CPC title

• G06Q10/083

  Shipping · CPC title

• B65G47/57

  for articles · CPC title