Container stacking configurations

• US 9,315,344 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2012
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lehmann, Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumbess, Yolanda
• Application Number:
  US13/553,878
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/38 Collecting or arranging articles in groups
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 2210/04 Customised on demand packaging by determining a specific characteristic, e.g. shape or height, of articles or material to be packaged and selecting, creating or adapting a packaging accordingly, e.g. making a carton starting from web material
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/04 Packaging single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/06 Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/001 Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/003 Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/90 Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/905 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/02 by adding to the top of the stack
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/03 from above
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/22 in layers each of predetermined arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 61/00 Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

The disclosure describes, in part, a system and method for improving the stacking of containers on or in a transportation unit. In some implementations, a stacking configuration may be planned that identifies containers and a position for those containers in the stacking configuration. The stacking configuration may be planned based on dimension values of the containers such that when stacked the stacking configuration remains stable. In addition, to improve the efficiency at which containers may be stacked, the disclosure describes that containers and/or the picking of items for those containers may be sequenced so that the containers, when packed and routed, arrive in a manner that allows efficient stacking.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions for planning a stacking configuration for a transportation unit, the executable instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to at least:

identify, using a projection device, a container to be stacked on the transportation unit, wherein the container is identified by the projection device visually identifying or highlighting the container for a stacking agent;

plan a position in the stacking configuration for the container;

provide instructions for placement of the container on the transportation unit according to the planned position in the stacking configuration; and

confirm a placement of the container on the transportation unit corresponds with the planned position of the container in the stacking configuration for the transportation unit.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the executable instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least:

notify the stacking agent if the placement of the container is not confirmed; and

provide instructions to the stacking agent to correct the placement of the container.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the container is identified as it arrives at a stack station associated with the transportation unit.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions for placement of the container include instructions to place the container in a temporary holding zone.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions for placement of the container include instructions to place the container at the planned position in the stacking configuration.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions for placement of the container are provided to the stacking agent using at least one of a display, a projection device or an audio output device.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the executable instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least:

route the container to the transportation unit.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the container is placed in a temporary holding zone as it is routed to the transportation unit.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the transportation unit is a truck.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the projection device is at least one of a projector, a light emitting diode, or a laser.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, the executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to provide instructions for placement of the container, further cause the processor to at least:

project at a location on the transportation unit an identifier to indicate to the stacking agent the planned position for the container.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the identifier is a representation of a physical identifier located at a position on the container.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the identifier is a virtual three-dimensional representation of the container at a desired position on the transportation unit.

14. A computer implemented method, comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,

identifying, using a projection device, a container, wherein the container is identified by the projection device visually identifying or highlighting the container for a stacking agent;

presenting instructions for stacking the container on a transportation unit according to a stacking configuration, wherein the instructions include a top-down two-dimensional view of the stacking configuration; and

confirming if the container was stacked on the transportation unit according to the stacking configuration.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

if it is determined that the container was not stacked according to the stacking configuration, notifying a stacking agent.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein confirming if the container was stacked on the transportation unit according to the stacking configuration, includes:

computing a weight added to the stacking configuration;

determining that the weight matches the weight of the container; and

determining a stacking quadrant into which the container was stacked.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein confirming if the container was stacked on the transportation unit according to the stacking configuration, includes:

capturing an image of at least a portion of the stacking configuration, including the container;

determining from the captured image a position of the container; and

confirming that the determined position of the container corresponds with a planned position of the container in the stacking configuration.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein the top-down two-dimensional view includes a representation of a top-level stacked container that is visually distinguished from representations of lower-level stacked containers.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein presenting instructions for stacking the container, further includes:

presenting a position of the container, wherein the presentation of the position of the container is visually distinguished from the top-down two-dimensional view of the stacking configuration.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 19, wherein the presentation of the position of the container is visually distinguished by at least one of highlighting or visually flashing a presentation of the position of the container.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein presenting instructions for stacking includes:

providing text-based instructions for stacking the container on the transportation unit according to the stacking configuration.