Dynamically-sized containers for inventory system

• US 9,639,824 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brazeau, Jeremiah David
• Primary Examiner(s): Zare, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Danzig, Reva R
• Application Number:
  US14/579,775
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 220 426, 220 428, 220 431, 220558, 224275, 700 97, 703 1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0204 and joined together by interconnecting formations forming part of the container, e.g. dove-tail, snap connections, hook elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0208 by bonding, adhesive, hook and loop-type fastener or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Containers for an inventory system can be formed from a set of container segments bounded by container partitions. The container segments can be coupled end to end to one another and include receiving features for receiving partitions therein. A segment can separate from an adjacent segment in response to receiving a partition in a receiving feature at an end of one of the segments, or in response to interaction with decoupler distinct from the partition. Containers of differing lengths can be provided by using partitions to bound different numbers of interconnected segments.

Claims

1. A container system, comprising:

a plurality of container partitions comprising bottom, left, and right outer edges;

a plurality of container segments, each comprising;

a trough-shaped body having bottom, left, and right sidewalls;

a front edge of the bottom, left, and right sidewalls, the front edge comprising a front coupling mechanism;

a rear edge of the bottom, left, and right sidewalls, the rear edge comprising a rear coupling mechanism configured to releasably attach the front coupling mechanism of an adjacent container segment;

a first receiving feature positioned adjacent to the front edge and configured to receive at least a portion of the bottom, left, or right outer edges of a first container partition of the plurality of container partitions, such that the first container partition when received in the first receiving feature extends along the bottom, left, and right sidewalls adjacent to or at the front edge; and

a second receiving feature positioned adjacent to the rear edge and configured to receive at least a portion of the bottom, left or right outer edges of a second container partition such that the second container partition when received in the second receiving feature extends along the bottom, left, and right sidewalls adjacent to or at the rear edge;

wherein one or more container segments and two or more container partitions can be assembled to form a plurality of independently movable containers of different sizes, each container comprising (i) one container segment of the plurality of container segments or two or more container segments of the plurality of container segments coupled via respective front and rear coupling mechanisms, (ii) a first container partition of the plurality of container partitions received in a first receiving feature at a first end of the container, and (iii) a second container partition of the plurality of container partitions received in a second receiving feature at a second opposite end of the container.

2. The container system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front coupling mechanism or the rear coupling mechanism comprises at least a part of a hook and loop fastener.

3. The container system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the container partitions comprises a flange disposed so as to block access to hooks or loops of the hook and loop fastener when said container partition is received in one of the first receiving feature or the second receiving feature.

4. The container system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the container partitions comprises hooks or loops arranged to couple with hooks or loops of the hook and loop fastener when said container partition is received in one of the first receiving feature or the second receiving feature of a container segment so as to prevent the hooks or loops of the hook and loop fastener from releasably attaching the container segment to an adjacent container segment.

5. The container system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front coupling mechanism or the rear coupling mechanism comprises at least a part of a set of magnets arranged so that opposite polarities are aligned to cause a coupling attraction force.

6. The container system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the container partitions is configured to move one or more of the magnets of the set of magnets so that the opposite polarities are out of alignment to reduce or eliminate the coupling attraction force when said container partition is received in one of the first receiving feature or the second receiving feature.

7. The container system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the container partitions includes one or more magnets configured to alter a magnetic field to reduce or eliminate the coupling attraction force when said container partition is received in one of the first receiving feature or the second receiving feature.

8. The container system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front coupling mechanism or the rear coupling mechanism comprises at least a part of a latch and a latch receiving structure.

9. The container system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the container partitions is configured to bias the latch out of the latch receiving structure when said container partition is received in one of the first receiving feature or the second receiving feature.

10. The container system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the container partitions is configured to block the latch from being received by the latch receiving structure when said container partition is received in one of the first receiving feature or the second receiving feature.

11. The container system of claim 10, wherein said one of the first receiving feature or the second receiving feature comprises said latch receiving structure.

12. The container system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of container segments and the plurality of container partitions are configurable to form a plurality of containers that each i) is configured for receiving one or more inventory items, and ii) comprises a series of one or more interconnected container segments of the plurality of container segments, a leading container partition of the plurality of container partitions positioned so as to bound a leading end of the series, and a trailing container partition of the plurality of container partitions positioned so as to bound a trailing, opposite end of the series;

and

wherein the container system further comprises a management module comprising one or more processors and a memory having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the management module to at least;

receive information about a particular inventory item or set of inventory items to be placed in a container;

determine a container length to accommodate the particular inventory item or set of inventory items;

determine a combination of container segments that provide at least the determined container length when interconnected in series;

instruct that a container be formed with the determined combination of container segments interconnected in series and bounded at a leading end by a leading container partition and at a trailing end by a trailing container partition; and

instruct that the particular inventory item or set of inventory items be placed in the formed container.

13. The container system of claim 12, wherein at least one end of each container segment includes at least a portion of a coupling mechanism for attaching to at least one other end of an adjacent container segment.

14. The container system of claim 13, wherein each coupling mechanism comprises at least one of a hook and loop fastener, a pair of magnets, or a latch and latch-receiving structure.

15. The container system of claim 13, wherein the management module is further configured to select a type of coupling mechanism for interconnecting the combination of container segments in series based on one or more characteristics of the particular inventory item or set of inventory items to be placed in the formed container.

16. The container system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of container segments includes a first subset of container segments having a first width or height and a second subset of container segments having a second, different width or height, wherein the management module is further configured to:

determine a container width or height to accommodate the particular inventory item or set of inventory items; and

instruct, based on the determined container width or height, that the container be formed of container segments from the first subset or from the second subset.

17. A container comprising:

a plurality of segments, each segment comprising a trough having a front edge, a rear edge, and left and right sidewalls extending between the front edge and the rear edge;

a plurality of couplers connecting the plurality of segments, each of the couplers connecting a pair of adjacent segments and having a first component at or adjacent the rear edge of one segment of the pair and a second component at or adjacent the front edge of the other segment of the pair, each of the couplers configured to decouple upon interaction with a decoupler so as to cause the first and second components to decouple from one another and cause the pair of adjacent segments to disconnect from one another;

a plurality of receiving structures, each segment of the plurality of segments comprising a front receiving structure at or adjacent to the front edge and a rear receiving structure at or adjacent to the rear edge;

a first partition received in a front receiving structure of a segment at a first end of the plurality of segments; and

a second partition received in a rear receiving structure of a segment at a second, opposite end of the plurality of segments.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein at least one decoupler comprises a partition received in a receiving structure of one of the segments of a pair of adjacent segments coupled by a coupler.

19. The container of claim 17, wherein at least one decoupler comprises a structure distinct from a partition received in a receiving structure of one of the segments of a pair of adjacent segments coupled by a coupler.

20. The container of claim 17, wherein the container is configured for subdivision into additional containers by receipt of additional partitions into adjacent receiving structures of a pair of adjacent segments separated by interaction of a decoupler with a coupler.