US 11,884,493 B1
Container shuttles having omnidirectional wheels
Rajeev Dwivedi, Sammamish, WA (US); Vivek S. Narayanan, Franklin, TN (US); Ganesh Krishnamoorthy, Seattle, WA (US); Mohit Malik, Seattle, WA (US); and Michael Alan Bray, Elkhorn, NE (US)
Assigned to Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/532,736.
Int. Cl. H02K 41/03 (2006.01); B65G 54/02 (2006.01); B65G 35/06 (2006.01); B65G 47/53 (2006.01); B65G 47/71 (2006.01); B65G 47/64 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 35/06 (2013.01) [B65G 47/53 (2013.01); B65G 47/642 (2013.01); B65G 47/71 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0235 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a first linear synchronous motor arranged in a first orientation, the first linear synchronous motor having a first width;
a second linear synchronous motor arranged in a second orientation; and
a shuttle configured to transport containers and individual items from a first location to a second location, the shuttle comprising:
a shuttle comprising a permanent magnet coupled to the shuttle, wherein the permanent magnet has a second width that is greater than the first width of the first linear synchronous motor, such that the permanent magnet can interact with the first linear synchronous motor and the second linear synchronous motor for propulsion; and
a plurality of omnidirectional wheels;
wherein the shuttle is configured to be propelled in a first direction via the first linear synchronous motor and the permanent magnet, and to be propelled in a second direction via the second linear synchronous motor and the permanent magnet.