Patents by Inventor Joseph W. Durham
Joseph W. Durham has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11053075Abstract: An inventory system can include a workspace in which is defined different areas and different stations at which tasks can be performed. A receipt receptacle received from a shipping vehicle can be moved to a rack without separating items from the receipt vehicle. A mobile drive unit can move the rack to an area on the workspace depending on information known about the items. Items from the receipt receptacle can be removed from the receipt receptacle and placed in inventory holders for movement or storage or in other receptacles for performance of other tasks such as order processing.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, John Joseph Enright, Joseph W. Durham, Michael Harrison Decker, Jonathan Harris Schechter, Peter R. Wurman, Eryk Brian Nice
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Patent number: 10395152Abstract: A transfer rack on one floor of an inventory system can receive multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on a different floor of the inventory system. A vertical lift can move the transfer rack carrying the multiple containers from the one floor to the different floor. On the different floor, the multiple containers may be swapped for different multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on the one floor. The vertical lift may return the transfer rack carrying the different multiple containers to the one floor.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph W. Durham, Scott Dresser, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Steven Augustine Wilson
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Publication number: 20190233212Abstract: An inventory system can include a workspace in which is defined different areas and different stations at which tasks can be performed. A receipt receptacle received from a shipping vehicle can be moved to a rack without separating items from the receipt vehicle. A mobile drive unit can move the rack to an area on the workspace depending on information known about the items. Items from the receipt receptacle can be removed from the receipt receptacle and placed in inventory holders for movement or storage or in other receptacles for performance of other tasks such as order processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, John Joseph Enright, Joseph W. Durham, Michael Harrison Decker, Jonathan Harris Schechter, Peter R. Wurman, Eryk Brian Nice
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Patent number: 10259650Abstract: An inventory system can include multiple floors. The system can assign operations involving inventory items to a floor based on information about the floor, other floors, the operations, and/or the inventory items. In one example, the system may assign an order to be assembled on a floor based on the floor containing items for the order. Items may be moved to the floor from other floors to complete the order. In another example, a receipt receptacle received from a shipping vehicle can be moved to a rack without separating inventory items from the receipt vehicle. A mobile drive unit can move the rack to a floor based on information known about the inventory items matching criteria about the floor.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, John Joseph Enright, Joseph W. Durham, Michael Harrison Decker, Jonathan Harris Schechter, Peter R. Wurman, Eryk Brian Nice
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Patent number: 10029851Abstract: Item information such as an identity or arrangement of a selected inventory item of an inventory system can be determined. A classification of the selected inventory item can be obtained based at least in part on the item information. The selected inventory item can be routed based at least in part on the classification of the selected inventory item. For example, the selected inventory item may be routed for manual handling if the classification of the selected inventory item indicates that the selected inventory item is designated for an operation to be performed relative to the selected inventory item by a human operator. Alternatively, the selected inventory item may be routed for automated handling if the classification of the selected inventory item indicates that the selected inventory item is designated for an operation to be performed relative to the selected inventory item by a robotic manipulator.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph W. Durham, Scott Dresser, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Steven Augustine Wilson
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Publication number: 20180082162Abstract: A transfer rack on one floor of an inventory system can receive multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on a different floor of the inventory system. A vertical lift can move the transfer rack carrying the multiple containers from the one floor to the different floor. On the different floor, the multiple containers may be swapped for different multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on the one floor. The vertical lift may return the transfer rack carrying the different multiple containers to the one floor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Joseph W. Durham, Scott Dresser, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Steven Augustine Wilson
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Publication number: 20180072499Abstract: An inventory system can include multiple floors. The system can assign operations involving inventory items to a floor based on information about the floor, other floors, the operations, and/or the inventory items. In one example, the system may assign an order to be assembled on a floor based on the floor containing items for the order. Items may be moved to the floor from other floors to complete the order. In another example, a receipt receptacle received from a shipping vehicle can be moved to a rack without separating inventory items from the receipt vehicle. A mobile drive unit can move the rack to a floor based on information known about the inventory items matching criteria about the floor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, John Joseph Enright, Joseph W. Durham, Michael Harrison Decker, Jonathan Harris Schechter, Peter R. Wurman, Eryk Brian Nice
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Patent number: 9809384Abstract: An inventory system can include multiple floors. The system can assign operations involving inventory items to a floor based on information about the floor, other floors, the operations, and/or the inventory items. In one example, the system may assign an order to be assembled on a floor based on the floor containing items for the order. Items may be moved to the floor from other floors to complete the order. In another example, a receipt receptacle received from a shipping vehicle can be moved to a rack without separating inventory items from the receipt vehicle. A mobile drive unit can move the rack to a floor based on information known about the inventory items matching criteria about the floor.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, John Joseph Enright, Joseph W. Durham, Michael Harrison Decker, Jonathan Harris Schechter, Peter R. Wurman, Eryk Brian Nice
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Patent number: 9792577Abstract: A system includes a inventory pier and a mobile drive unit. The inventory pier includes a first side and a second side. The first side includes defined areas at which inventory holders are designated to be stationed. The inventory pier is operable to receive inventory items from at least one of the inventory holders at least one of the defined areas. The mobile drive unit is operable to transport an order holder along the second side of the inventory pier, wherein the order holder is operable to receive an inventory item from the inventory pier at a location along the second side of the inventory pier.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael C. Mountz, Peter R. Wurman, Steven A. Wilson, Caroline F. Mallary, Zhouzhou Peng, Joseph W. Durham
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Patent number: 9694976Abstract: Inventory holders in an inventory system can be moved among differing storage positions. The moves can be performed by mobile drive units not otherwise transporting inventory holders directly to or from inventory stations. A free mobile drive unit can move an inventory holder not likely to be useful soon at any nearby station from a storage position near the station to a position farther away from the station. A mobile drive unit can move an inventory holder likely to be useful soon from a storage position farther away from one or more stations to a storage position nearby one or more stations.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2016Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Jeremiah David Brazeau, Pardeep Singh Farwaha, Ryan Alexander Holt, Joseph W. Durham, John Joseph Enright, Alex Glazkov, Jared Brian Holcomb
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Patent number: 9663295Abstract: Inventory holders in an inventory system can be moved among differing storage positions. The moves can be performed by mobile drive units not otherwise transporting inventory holders directly to or from inventory stations. A free mobile drive unit can move an inventory holder not likely to be useful soon at any nearby station from a storage position near the station to a position farther away from the station. A mobile drive unit can move an inventory holder likely to be useful soon from a storage position farther away from one or more stations to a storage position nearby one or more stations.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2016Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Jeremiah David Brazeau, Pardeep Singh Farwaha, Ryan Alexander Holt, Joseph W. Durham, John Joseph Enright, Alex Glazkov, Jared Brian Holcomb
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Patent number: 9475639Abstract: An inventory system can receive a receipt receptacle from a shipping vehicle. The receipt receptacle can be moved to a case shuttle without separating or sorting inventory items in the receipt receptacle. A mobile drive unit can move the case shuttle to a receiving station, where the receipt receptacle can be removed and where the inventory items can be stowed in a pickable inventory holder. A mobile drive unit can move the pickable inventory holder to an order-compiling station, where inventory items can be picked from the inventory holder into order receptacles. A mobile drive unit can move an order shuttle carrying order receptacles with completed orders to a shipping station, where the completed order receptacles can be transferred to a shipping vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, Jonathan Harris Schechter, John Joseph Enright, Joseph W. Durham, Ibolya Horvath, Eryk Brian Nice, Michael Harrison Decker, Peter R. Wurman, Robert Raymond Ambrogi, Timothy Aaron Bragg
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Patent number: 9452883Abstract: Inventory holders in an inventory system can be moved among differing storage positions. The moves can be performed by mobile drive units not otherwise transporting inventory holders directly to or from inventory stations. A free mobile drive unit can move an inventory holder not likely to be useful soon at any nearby station from a storage position near the station to a position farther away from the station. A mobile drive unit can move an inventory holder likely to be useful soon from a storage position farther away from one or more stations to a storage position nearby one or more stations.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Jeremiah David Brazeau, Pardeep Singh Farwaha, Ryan Alexander Holt, Joseph W. Durham, John Joseph Enright, Alex Glazkov, Jared Brian Holcomb
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Publication number: 20160145045Abstract: An inventory system can include multiple floors. The system can assign operations involving inventory items to a floor based on information about the floor, other floors, the operations, and/or the inventory items. In one example, the system may assign an order to be assembled on a floor based on the floor containing items for the order. Items may be moved to the floor from other floors to complete the order. In another example, a receipt receptacle received from a shipping vehicle can be moved to a rack without separating inventory items from the receipt vehicle. A mobile drive unit can move the rack to a floor based on information known about the inventory items matching criteria about the floor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, John Joseph Enright, Joseph W. Durham, Michael Harrison Decker, Jonathan Harris Schechter, Peter R. Wurman, Eryk Brian Nice
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Publication number: 20160145044Abstract: An inventory system can receive a receipt receptacle from a shipping vehicle. The receipt receptacle can be moved to a case shuttle without separating or sorting inventory items in the receipt receptacle. A mobile drive unit can move the case shuttle to a receiving station, where the receipt receptacle can be removed and where the inventory items can be stowed in a pickable inventory holder. A mobile drive unit can move the pickable inventory holder to an order-compiling station, where inventory items can be picked from the inventory holder into order receptacles. A mobile drive unit can move an order shuttle carrying order receptacles with completed orders to a shipping station, where the completed order receptacles can be transferred to a shipping vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, Jonathan Harris Schechter, John Joseph Enright, Joseph W. Durham, Ibolya Horvath, Eryk Brian Nice, Michael Harrison Decker, Peter R. Wurman, Robert Raymond Ambrogi, Timothy Aaron Bragg
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Patent number: 9009072Abstract: A system includes an inventory pier, a mobile drive unit, and a management module. The inventory pier includes a defined area arranged to station an inventory holder. The inventory holder stores an inventory item. The mobile drive unit is operable to transport an order holder. The management module is operable to calculate a metric associated with demand for the inventory item. Based at least in part upon the metric, the management module is operable to select, from a plurality of inventory holders, the inventory holder storing the inventory item to be stationed at the defined area of the inventory pier. The management module is further operable to receive an order for the inventory item and instruct the mobile drive unit to transport the order holder to the inventory pier. The order holder is operable to receive the inventory item from the inventory holder proximate to the defined area.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael C. Mountz, Peter R. Wurman, Steven A. Wilson, Caroline F. Mallary, Zhouzhou Peng, Joseph W. Durham
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Publication number: 20140100999Abstract: A method for fulfilling orders at an inventory pier includes receiving orders. The orders are examined to identify an inventory item stored by an inventory holder stationed at an inventory pier. A first order is grouped with a second order based at least in part upon determining that the first order and the second order include requests for the inventory item. A first container associated with the first order and a second container associated with the second order are arranged on an order holder at an induction station. The first container and the second container are operable to receive the inventory item. The mobile drive unit is instructed to transport the order holder from the induction station to the inventory pier. The order holder receives the inventory item from the inventory pier at a location opposite to the inventory holder.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2012Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael C. Mountz, Peter R. Wurman, Steven A. Wilson, Caroline F. Mallary, Zhouzhou Peng, Joseph W. Durham