System and method for unloading items

• US 8,444,369 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Watt, William James, Bragg, Timothy, Stubbs, Andrew, Verminski, Matthew D., Dugan, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDAWITZ, JOSHUA I
• Application Number:
  US12/609,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20110103924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 414/331.01, 414/331.06, 414/331.08, 414/331.09, 414/373, 414/374, 414/389, 414/400, 414/809, 414/812, 414/814
• US Class Current: 414/809
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 37/02 Flow-sheets for conveyor combinations in warehouses, magazines or workshops
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 49/00 Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/00 Loading or unloading of vehicles B65G67/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/26 using rakes or scrapers

Abstract

A method for unloading inventory items includes storing an inventory item on an inventory holder and moving the inventory holder toward an unloading station with a mobile drive unit. Additionally, the method includes moving the inventory holder past a barrier of the unloading station. The method further includes preventing the inventory item from moving past the barrier as the mobile drive unit moves the inventory holder past the barrier.

Claims

1. A method for unloading inventory items, comprising:

storing an inventory item on an inventory holder;

moving the inventory holder toward an unloading station with a mobile drive unit;

moving the inventory holder past a barrier of the unloading station; and

as the mobile drive unit moves the inventory holder past the barrier, preventing the inventory item from moving past the barrier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein preventing the inventory item from moving past the barrier comprises:

dislodging the inventory item from the inventory holder as the mobile drive unit moves past the barrier; and

receiving the inventory item on a deposit surface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the inventory item on the deposit surface comprises receiving the inventory item on a deposit surface located below the barrier.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the inventory item on the deposit surface comprises receiving the inventory item on a conveyor.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the inventory item on a deposit surface comprises receiving the inventory item on a portion of wrapping paper.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the inventory item on a deposit surface comprises receiving the inventory item in a trash receptacle.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the inventory item on a deposit surface comprises receiving the inventory item on a scale.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

storing an inventory item on an inventory holder comprises storing a plurality of inventory items of a plurality of item types on an inventory holder; and

preventing the inventory item from moving past the barrier comprises preventing one or more inventory items of a first item type from moving past the barrier and allowing one or more inventory items of a second item type to move past the barrier.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the inventory holder comprises:

a first platform operable to store the inventory item;

a second platform operable to couple to the mobile drive unit; and

one or more supports coupling the first platform to the second platform.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of a deposit surface passes between the first platform and the second platform as the mobile drive unit moves the inventory holder past the barrier.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more supports comprise at least one detachable support, and further comprising detaching the detachable support from one of the first platform and the second platform while the portion of the deposit surface passes between the first platform and the second platform.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising returning the detachable support to an original position after the detachable support moves past the portion of the deposit surface.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the inventory holder toward the unloading station with the mobile drive unit comprises:

moving the mobile drive unit to the inventory holder;

docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder; and

moving the mobile drive unit to the unloading station after the mobile drive unit docks with the inventory holder.