US 12,187,551 B1
Seamless disengagement of shuttles powered by electromagnets
Sudhakar Teegavarapu, Hopkinton, MA (US); Ganesh Krishnamoorthy, Seattle, WA (US); Erika Regan Storvick, Lakewood, CO (US); and Stephan Pochon, Carlsbad, CA (US)
Assigned to Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Mar. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/186,561.
Int. Cl. B65G 54/02 (2006.01); B65G 15/42 (2006.01); B65G 23/08 (2006.01); B65G 43/00 (2006.01); H02K 41/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 54/02 (2013.01) [B65G 15/42 (2013.01); B65G 23/08 (2013.01); B65G 43/00 (2013.01); B65G 2811/0673 (2013.01); H02K 41/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a track having a central axis, the track comprising a first rail segment on a first side of the central axis and a second rail segment on a second side of the central axis;
a shuttle configured to transport one or more items using the track, the shuttle comprising:
a permanent magnet;
a first bar disposed at a first end of the shuttle; and
a second bar disposed at a second end of the shuttle;
a set of electromagnets disposed along the central axis of the track, wherein the set of electromagnets interact with the permanent magnet to propel the shuttle, the set of electromagnets comprising a first electromagnet disposed at a first location along the track, and a second electromagnet disposed at a second location along the track, wherein the first location and the second location are separated by a third location along the track; and
a shuttle movement system configured to actively move the shuttle from the first location to the second location, wherein the shuttle movement system is disposed at the third location along the track, the shuttle movement system comprising:
a frame coupled to the track;
a first belt disposed along the first side of the track;
a second belt disposed along the second side of the track; and
a motor configured to drive the first belt and the second belt;
wherein the first belt and the second belt are configured to engage the first bar and the second bar of the shuttle; and
wherein the shuttle movement system is configured to move the shuttle from the first location along the track to the second location along the track.