US 11,666,944 B1
Detection of overfilled containers in sortation systems
Jose Luis De La Rosa, Seattle, WA (US); Larry Joe Robb, Miramar Beach, FL (US); Maxim P. Hoffman, Bothell, WA (US); Joshua Martin Middleton, Seattle, WA (US); Stephanie Tomasetta, Seattle, WA (US); Roland J. Menassa, Renton, WA (US); Justin Stone, Frisco, TX (US); Molly Nawalinski, Seattle, WA (US); Fernando Zumbado, Seattle, WA (US); Duncan Pratt, Issaquah, WA (US); and Jon David DeFant, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on May 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/886,055.
Int. Cl. B07C 3/00 (2006.01); G01F 23/28 (2006.01)
CPC B07C 3/008 (2013.01) [G01F 23/28 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
an item sortation system comprising:
a first container configured to receive items via a first chute;
a second container configured to receive items via a second chute; and
a third container configured to receive items via a third chute, wherein the first container, the second container, and the third container are arranged in a column; and
a container capacity detection system removably coupled to the item sortation system, the container capacity detection system comprising:
a first sensor positioned to detect a remaining capacity of the first container of the item sortation system;
a second sensor positioned to detect a remaining capacity of the second container of the item sortation system;
a third sensor positioned to detect a remaining capacity of the third container of the item sortation system;
a first light indicator configured to emit light having a first color;
a second light indicator configured to emit light having a second color;
a third light indicator configured to emit light having a third color; and
a controller configured to:
determine, using the first sensor, that the remaining capacity of the first container is less than or equal to a first threshold;
cause the first light indicator to emit light;
determine that the remaining capacity of the first container is less than or equal to a second threshold;
cause the second light indicator to emit light;
determine that the remaining capacity of the first container is less than or equal to a third threshold; and
cause the third light indicator to emit light.