	US 12,479,626 B1
	Robot assisted direct-to-pack sortation systems
Mainak Sengupta, Natick, MA (US); and CJ Sturges, Nashville, TN (US)
Assigned to Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/852,843.
Int. Cl. B65D 19/02 (2006.01); B65D 19/10 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B66F 9/06 (2006.01)

CPC B65D 19/02 (2013.01) [B65D 19/10 (2013.01); B65G 1/0492 (2013.01); B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B65G 1/1378 (2013.01); B66F 9/063 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A system to sort bulky items, the system comprising:

a first container comprising fencing along three walls, an open fourth wall, and a platform having slots;

an autonomous robot comprising forks configured to engage the slots on the platform of the first container, wherein the autonomous robot is configured to raise and transport the first container; and

a controller configured to:

determine that the first container is empty;

cause the autonomous robot to transport the first container to a pick docking station;

cause the autonomous robot to retrieve a second container from an induct station, wherein the second container is full;

cause the autonomous robot to transport the second container to a buffer area;

cause the autonomous robot to transport the second container to a packing station;

determine that the first container is full;

cause the autonomous robot to retrieve a third container from the buffer area, wherein the third container is empty;

cause the autonomous robot to transport the third container to the pick docking station; and

cause the autonomous robot to transport the first container to the buffer area.

5. An autonomous robot comprising:

memory comprising computer-executable instructions; and

one or more computer processors configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine that a first container is empty;

transport the first container to a pick docking station;

retrieve a second container from an induct station, wherein the second container is full;

transport the second container to a buffer area;

determine that the first container is full; and

transport the first container to the buffer area.

14. A method for transporting bulky items by an autonomous robot, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, that a first container is empty;

transporting the first container to a pick docking station;

retrieving a second container from an induct station, wherein the second container is full;

transporting the second container to a buffer area;

determining, by the controller, that the first container is full; and

transporting the first container to the buffer area.