US 11,939,156 B1
Flexible container pods for use with robotic systems
William Scott Kalm, Seattle, WA (US); and Kevin Senh Ly, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Aug. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/984,754.
Int. Cl. B65G 1/02 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B65D 90/00 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B66F 9/06 (2006.01); G05B 19/418 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/02 (2013.01) [B25J 9/1679 (2013.01); B25J 15/0019 (2013.01); B65D 90/0073 (2013.01); B65G 1/0492 (2013.01); B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B65G 1/137 (2013.01); B66F 9/063 (2013.01); G05B 19/41895 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A container transportation system comprising:
a container carrying assembly comprising:
a center plate comprising an array of apertures;
a first overhead member coupled to an upper end of the center plate;
a second overhead member coupled to the upper end of the center plate;
a base coupled to the center plate, the base comprising a set of tubular members and a set of aluminum legs;
a first fabric net extending from the first overhead member to the base;
a second fabric net extending from the second overhead member to the base and spaced apart from the first fabric net;
a first shelf member coupled to the first fabric net, wherein the first shelf member comprises a flared end and an unflared end, and wherein the first shelf member is a horizontal shelf member that flares downward in a vertical direction; and
a second shelf member coupled to the second fabric net and spaced apart from the first shelf member, wherein a container can be removably positioned between the first fabric net and the second fabric net and on top of the first shelf member and the second shelf member, wherein the second shelf member comprises a flared end and an unflared end, and wherein the second shelf member is a horizontal shelf member that flares downward in a vertical direction;
a robotic manipulator configured to insert and remove the container from the container carrying assembly; and
an autonomous robot configured to transport the container carrying assembly from a first location to a second location.
 
5. A container carrying assembly comprising:
a center plate comprising a plurality of apertures;
a first member coupled to an upper end of the center plate;
a second member coupled to the upper end of the center plate;
a base coupled to the center plate;
a first net extending from the first member to the base;
a second net extending from the second member to the base and spaced apart from the first net;
a first shelf member coupled to the first net, wherein the first shelf member comprises a flared end and an unflared end, and wherein the first shelf member is a horizontal shelf member that flares downward in a vertical direction; and
a second shelf member coupled to the second net and spaced apart from the first shelf member, wherein the second shelf member comprises a flared end and an unflared end, and wherein the second shelf member is a horizontal shelf member that flares downward in a vertical direction;
wherein a container can be removably positioned between the first net and the second net and on top of the first shelf member and the second shelf member.
 
16. A container carrying assembly comprising:
a center plate comprising a plurality of apertures;
a first member coupled to an upper end of the center plate;
a second member coupled to the upper end of the center plate;
a base coupled to the center plate;
a first aluminum slat extending from the first member to the base;
a second aluminum slat extending from the second member to the base and spaced apart from the first aluminum slat;
a first shelf member coupled to the first aluminum slat, wherein the first shelf member comprises a flared end and an unflared end, and wherein the first shelf member is a horizontal shelf member that flares downward in a vertical direction; and
a second shelf member coupled to the second aluminum slat and spaced apart from the first shelf member, wherein the second shelf member comprises a flared end and an unflared end, and wherein the second shelf member is a horizontal shelf member that flares downward in a vertical direction;
wherein a container can be removably positioned between the first aluminum slat and the second aluminum slat and on top of the first shelf member and the second shelf member.