Methods and apparatus for controlling movement of receptacles
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B60L-013/03
G06F-007/06
G05B-019/042
B65D-025/20
B65G-054/02
출원번호
US-0605042
(2017-05-25)
등록번호
US-10197981
(2019-02-05)
발명자
/ 주소
Jochim, Jayson Michael
Aalund, Martin Peter
Battles, Jon Stuart
Raines, Jr., Paul Roy
Yan, Yan
출원인 / 주소
Amazon Technologies, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Patterson + Sheridan, LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
22
초록▼
Methods and apparatus for controlling the movement of portable receptacles within a materials handling facility are described. The materials handling facility utilizes at least one linear induction motor (LIM) to move the portable receptacles having conductive elements from a first location to a sec
Methods and apparatus for controlling the movement of portable receptacles within a materials handling facility are described. The materials handling facility utilizes at least one linear induction motor (LIM) to move the portable receptacles having conductive elements from a first location to a second location within the facility. The LIMs may be configured such that most, if not all, of the movement of the receptacles is controlled by the application of energy from the LIMs to the conductive elements of the receptacles. This energy may cause the receptacles to move from one LIM to another LIM, where each LIM in sequence can apply force to the receptacle to pass it to the next LIM in the sequence. In some implementations, the portable receptacles are configured such that at least a base portion of the receptacle includes a conductive element to interact with the LIMs, while maintaining an overall light-weight configuration.
대표청구항▼
1. A materials handling system, comprising: a track comprising a receptacle receiving surface;a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles comprising a conductive element;a plurality of linear induction motors (“LIMs”) disposed along the track; anda control module conf
1. A materials handling system, comprising: a track comprising a receptacle receiving surface;a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles comprising a conductive element;a plurality of linear induction motors (“LIMs”) disposed along the track; anda control module configured to control force produced by each LIM of the plurality of LIMs on the conductive element of each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles, wherein each LIM of the plurality of LIMs is individually selectable by the control module such that the control module is operable to individually control the force produced by each LIM. 2. The materials handling system of claim 1, wherein each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles is capable of receiving at least one item to be stored therein as the receptacle is moved along the track from the first position to the second position. 3. The materials handling system of claim 1, wherein the conductive element is at least one of: a conductive plate located on each receptacle;a conductive substrate located on each receptacle; ora conductive material impregnated into at least one surface of each receptacle. 4. The materials handling system of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to: control force produced by the single LIM on the conductive element of each receptacle such that the single LIM produces enough force to propel at least two receptacles of the plurality of receptacles along the track. 5. The materials handling system of claim 1, wherein each LIM of the plurality of LIMs is configured to control a corresponding receptacle that is passing by that LIM such that each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles is individually controlled by a LIM of the plurality of LIMs. 6. The materials handling system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of sensors configured to monitor at least one of: a location of the plurality of receptacles; orthe at least one item received in each of the plurality of receptacles. 7. The materials handling system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LIMs comprise: a first group of LIMs configured to move receptacles in a first direction along the track; anda second group of LIMs configured to move receptacles in a second direction along the track. 8. The materials handling system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the LIMs in the second group of LIMs is operable to cause electromagnetic force to be applied to receptacles passing thereby to change a direction of movement of the receptacles from the first direction to substantially the second direction. 9. The materials handling system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of sensors configured to monitor a location of the plurality of receptacles, wherein the control module is configured to control the force produced by a first LIM, of the plurality of LIMs, on a first receptacle based on the sensed location of the receptacle. 10. A method for controlling a materials handling system, the method comprising: instructing, by a control module, placement of a receptacle on a receiving surface of a track, the receptacle being configured to receive at least one item and comprising a conductive element that is positioned proximate to the receiving surface; andinstructing, by the control module, operation of at least some of a plurality of linear induction motors (“LIMs”) disposed along the track according to a sequence that causes the receptacle to move in a first direction along the receiving surface via electromagnetic coupling between at least some of the plurality of LIMs and the conductive element of the receptacle passing thereby, wherein each LIM of the plurality of LIMs is individually selectable by the control module such that the control module is operable to individually control the force produced by each LIM on the plurality of receptacles. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein instructing operation of at least some of the plurality of LIMs further comprises: applying an alternating current (“AC”) signal to a selected LIM of the plurality of LIMs to generate a magnetic field B configured to couple with the conductive element of the receptacle passing thereby to induce a current I in the conductive element. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the applied AC signal is a pulse width modulated (“PWM”) signal. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein applying the PWM signal causes eddy currents to be created in the conductive element of the receptacle which interact with the electromagnetic field to create a force that propels the receptacle to move in the first direction. 14. The method of claim 10, further comprising: sensing, by at least one sensor, at least one of: a location of the receptacle within the materials handling system or the item received in the receptacle. 15. The method of claim 10, further comprising: diverting, by at least one of the plurality of LIMs, the receptacle from the first direction to a second direction. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein diverting comprises: applying a first pulse width modulated (“PWM”) signal to a selected LIM of the plurality of LIMs to generate an electromagnetic field configured to couple with the conductive element of the receptacle to cause the receptacle passing thereby to move in the second direction. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: applying a second pulse width modulated (“PWM”) signal to a selected LIM aligned along the second direction, wherein the second PWM signal generates an electromagnetic field configured to couple with the conductive element of the receptacle to cause the receptacle passing thereby to continue to move along the second direction. 18. A receptacle, comprising: at least one side wall comprising a non-conductive material; anda base comprising the non-conductive material, wherein: at least one of the side wall or the base comprises at least one conductive element configured to interact with a linear induction motor (“LIM”) when the receptacle is proximate the LIM, wherein the at least one conductive element is impregnated into the non-conductive material; andthe at least one side wall and the base of the receptacle define a cavity configured to receive at least one item. 19. The receptacle of claim 18, wherein: the at least one conductive element is impregnated into the non-conductive material of base. 20. The receptacle of claim 18, wherein: the at least one side wall comprises first, second, third, and fourth side walls;the first and the second side walls are substantially parallel to one another and the third and fourth side walls are substantially parallel to one another such that the first and second side walls are substantially perpendicular to the third and fourth side walls; andthe base is substantially planar and oriented such that it is substantially perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth side walls. 21. The receptacle of claim 18, wherein: the at least one conductive element comprises a plurality of conductive strips interposed in the non-conductive material. 22. The receptacle of claim 18, wherein: the at least one conductive element comprises at least one of copper, iron, aluminum, or silver. 23. The receptacle of claim 18, wherein the base further comprises an RFID tag configured to be read by an RFID reader to track a position of the receptacle within a materials handling system.
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