US 12,246,934 B1
Automated container stacking stations
Dragan Pajevic, Arlington, MA (US); Tim Martin, Casco, ME (US); Kevin John Trenholme, Stow, MA (US); and Stephen E. McDonnell, Aurora, CO (US)
Assigned to Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Sep. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/470,769.
Int. Cl. B65G 57/20 (2006.01); B65G 60/00 (2006.01); B65G 61/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 57/20 (2013.01) [B65G 60/00 (2013.01); B65G 61/00 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0235 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0233 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A container stacking system comprising:
a housing having a first side and a second side;
a wheel alignment component configured to extend from an interior portion of the housing;
a lifting component configured to lift a first container from a first position to a second position, and to lower the first container from the second position to a third position, such that the first container is stacked on a second container, wherein the system is further configured to unstack the first container and the second container via the lifting component, wherein the wheel alignment component is configured to orient a caster wheel of the first container;
a container centering component comprising a first container engagement member and a second container engagement member, the container centering component configured to align the first container in a predetermined position, wherein the first container engagement member is disposed on the first side, and the second container engagement member is disposed on the second side, and wherein the first container engagement member and the second container engagement member comprise L-shaped configurations to provide a hard stop for containers entering the system;
a first retractable door on the first side of the housing; and
a second retractable door on the second side of the housing, wherein the first container and the second container enter the system on the first side of the housing and exit the system on the second side of the housing.