Patents by Inventor Paul Roy Raines
Paul Roy Raines 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: 11851218Abstract: A material handling apparatus for reorienting and transferring inventory items to a packaging device includes a support member and a packaging conveyor. The support member receives an inventory item and reorients the item to a rejection orientation or a packaging orientation. The item is moved onto the packaging conveyor in the packaging orientation and is transported to the packaging device.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Brian Stuart Hoffman, David L. Alspaugh, Paul Roy Raines, Timothy Alan Talda, Garett Ochs, Steven Todd Johnson, Seshachalamgupta Motamarri
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Patent number: 11577870Abstract: A film tensioning and steering system can be configured to extract a film from a film source. One or more film characteristics can require that the film tensioning and steering system be isolated from the film source so that a film tension can be maintained within the film tensioning and steering system. A first drive roller pair and a second drive roller pair can be configured to secure the film and enable a dampening roller to maintain the film tension between the first drive roller pair and the second drive roller pair. Additionally, the dampening roller can store an amount of the film as a film buffer. Accordingly, the film tensioning and steering system can maintain the film tension such that a steering system can align the film before the first drive roller pair provides the film at a proper alignment to a downstream system.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Paul Roy Raines, Timothy Alan Talda, Eric K. Wyman, Bruno Laffertt Zbinden
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Patent number: 11485533Abstract: A system and method that causes at least one item to be placed within a portion of an elastic film positioned across a top surface of a container, the portion including a center portion in which the at least one item is placed. Air may be extracted from the container to create a vacuum within the cavity and to expand the center portion to create a void in the center portion within the cavity. Air may flow into the container to release the vacuum and contract the center portion of the elastic film as the void is decreased and eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Brian Stuart Hoffman, Eric K. Wyman, Paul Roy Raines
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Patent number: 10773839Abstract: A method of preparing a packaging laminate includes conveying a mesh of paper material having perforations against a rigid edge causing, at substantially each perforation, a mesh portion at the leading side to have an average elevation lower than that of a mesh portion on the trailing side of the perforation. The method includes expanding the perforations into cells separated from one another by legs interconnected by nodes defined in the mesh Top and bottom surfaces of the legs and nodes are reoriented from an initial orientation substantially parallel with a direction of conveyance of the mesh to an expanded orientation oblique to the direction of conveyance, such that, in the expanded orientation, the top surfaces of the nodes are substantially parallel with each other. The method includes attaching an outer liner to at least some of the bottom surfaces so as to form the packaging laminate.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Alan Talda, Brian Hoffman, Paul Roy Raines, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190308825Abstract: An apparatus for unloading packages (103) from a container (106), the apparatus comprising: a conveyor system (109); a supporting frame (209) mounted on the conveyor system, the supporting frame being substantially perpendicular to a length of the conveyor system; and an end effector assembly (112) coupled to the supporting frame and being moveable about a horizontal axis relative to the supporting frame, the end effector assembly comprising: a manifold plate (203) extending along a vertical plane that is generally parallel to the supporting frame; a gripping component (115) coupled to and extending outwardly from the manifold plate along the horizontal axis relative to the supporting frame, the gripping component being configured to engage with one or more of the packages stacked in the container; and one or more sensors (303), the one or more sensors being configured to determine a distance between the end effector assembly and the packages.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2017Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Chen Ge, Martin Peter Aalund, Samuel Gardner Garrett, Paul Roy Raines, JR., Akhil Ranka, Sonia Thosar, Toby Ge Xu
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Patent number: 10301121Abstract: In one embodiment, a system has a carousel that has a guiderail that forms a loop that has a loading position and an unloading position. The carousel also has a plurality of buckets, each having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end includes at least one bottom wall that is moveable between (i) a transporting configuration where the at least one bottom wall substantially closes the lower end of the bucket and (ii) a discharge configuration where the at least one bottom wall is moved so as to define an opening in the lower end of the bucket. The buckets are supported by the guiderail such that the buckets can be driven from the loading position towards the unloading position in the transporting configuration. The buckets can be transitioned to the discharge configuration so as to unload inventory items at the unloading position into a packaging material.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2017Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Brian Hoffman, Martin Peter Aalund, David Alspaugh, Samuel Gardner Garrett, Paul Roy Raines, Jr., Timothy Alan Talda, Akshay Tilekar, Stephanie Tomasetta, Eric Wyman, Toby Ge Xu
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Patent number: 10296870Abstract: A packaging system employs a cartridge having moveable walls such that the cartridge discharges or inducts one or more items into a cavity of a package, such as a film that is sealed into a pouch or mailer. A bottom wall of the cartridge is retracted relative to an end panel of the cartridge during the induction process.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Brian Hoffman, Martin Peter Aalund, David Alspaugh, Samuel Gardner Garrett, Paul Roy Raines, Jr., Timothy Alan Talda, Akshay Tilekar, Stephanie Tomasetta, Eric Wyman, Toby Ge Xu
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Patent number: 10197981Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the movement of portable receptacles within a materials handling facility are described. The materials handling facility utilizes at least one linear induction motor (LIM) to move the portable receptacles having conductive elements from a first location to a second location within the facility. The LIMs may be configured such that most, if not all, of the movement of the receptacles is controlled by the application of energy from the LIMs to the conductive elements of the receptacles. This energy may cause the receptacles to move from one LIM to another LIM, where each LIM in sequence can apply force to the receptacle to pass it to the next LIM in the sequence. In some implementations, the portable receptacles are configured such that at least a base portion of the receptacle includes a conductive element to interact with the LIMs, while maintaining an overall light-weight configuration.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jayson Michael Jochim, Martin Peter Aalund, Jon Stuart Battles, Paul Roy Raines, Jr., Yan Yan
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Patent number: 10099867Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an automated package unloading system. An automated package unloading system can include an end effector supported by a supporting frame which is mounted to a conveyor system. The end effector and/or the conveyor can be configured to move into and out of a container containing stacked packages. The end effector can be configured to attach to the packages and pull the packages from their original position. The end effector can further be configured to release the packages onto the underlying conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Chen Ge, Martin Peter Aalund, Samuel Gardner Garrett, Paul Roy Raines, Jr., Akhil Ranka, Sonia Thosar, Toby Ge Xu
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Publication number: 20180134501Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an automated package unloading system. An automated package unloading system can include an end effector supported by a supporting frame which is mounted to a conveyor system. The end effector and/or the conveyor can be configured to move into and out of a container containing stacked packages. The end effector can be configured to attach to the packages and pull the packages from their original position. The end effector can further be configured to release the packages onto the underlying conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Chen Ge, Martin Peter Aalund, Samuel Gardner Garrett, Paul Roy Raines, JR., Akhil Ranka, Sonia Thosar, Toby Ge Xu
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Patent number: 9696706Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the movement of portable receptacles within a materials handling facility are described. The materials handling facility utilizes at least one linear induction motor (LIM) to move the portable receptacles having conductive elements from a first location to a second location within the facility. The LIMs may be configured such that most, if not all, of the movement of the receptacles is controlled by the application of energy from the LIMs to the conductive elements of the receptacles. This energy may cause the receptacles to move from one LIM to another LIM, where each LIM in sequence can apply force to the receptacle to pass it to the next LIM in the sequence. In some implementations, the portable receptacles are configured such that at least a base portion of the receptacle includes a conductive element to interact with the LIMs, while maintaining an overall light-weight configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Jayson Michael Jochim, Martin Peter Aalund, Jon Stuart Battles, Paul Roy Raines, Jr., Yan Yan
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Patent number: 9600798Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for an automated materials handling facility. The automated materials handling facility uses a series of automated devices, such as automated guidance vehicles, mobile drive units, robotic arms, automated sorters, etc., to facilitate item receive, stow, pick, shipping and other aspects of materials handling. The automated devices are controlled by a materials handling control system that sends instructions to the various devices to coordinate operation of those devices and to coordinate flow of items through the materials handling system.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jon Stuart Battles, Jayson Michael Jochim, Martin Peter Aalund, Ned Lecky, Samuel Gardner Garrett, Paul Roy Raines, Jr., Kaushik Mani, Yan Yan, David Henry Clark, John Tan
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Publication number: 20170043953Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for an automated materials handling facility. The automated materials handling facility uses a series of automated devices, such as automated guidance vehicles, mobile drive units, robotic arms, automated sorters, etc., to facilitate item receive, stow, pick, shipping and other aspects of materials handling. The automated devices are controlled by a materials handling control system that sends instructions to the various devices to coordinate operation of those devices and to coordinate flow of items through the materials handling system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Jon Stuart Battles, Jayson Michael Jochim, Martin Peter Aalund, Ned Lecky, Samuel Gardner Garrett, Paul Roy Raines, JR., Kaushik Mani, Yan Yan, David Henry Clark, John Tan
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Patent number: 9540190Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the movement of portable receptacles within a materials handling facility are described. The materials handling facility utilizes at least one linear induction motor (LIM) to move the portable receptacles having conductive elements from a first location to a second location within the facility. The LIMs may be configured such that most, if not all, of the movement of the receptacles is controlled by the application of energy from the LIMs to the conductive elements of the receptacles. This energy may cause the receptacles to move from one LIM to another LIM, where each LIM in sequence can apply force to the receptacle to pass it to the next LIM in the sequence. In some implementations, the portable receptacles are configured such that at least a base portion of the receptacle includes a conductive element to interact with the LIMs, while maintaining an overall light-weight configuration.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Jayson Michael Jochim, Martin Peter Aalund, Jon Stuart Battles, Paul Roy Raines, Jr., Yan Yan
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Publication number: 20160297626Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the movement of portable receptacles within a materials handling facility are described. The materials handling facility utilizes at least one linear induction motor (LIM) to move the portable receptacles having conductive elements from a first location to a second location within the facility. The LIMs may be configured such that most, if not all, of the movement of the receptacles is controlled by the application of energy from the LIMs to the conductive elements of the receptacles. This energy may cause the receptacles to move from one LIM to another LIM, where each LIM in sequence can apply force to the receptacle to pass it to the next LIM in the sequence. In some implementations, the portable receptacles are configured such that at least a base portion of the receptacle includes a conductive element to interact with the LIMs, while maintaining an overall light-weight configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2015Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Jayson Michael Jochim, Martin Peter Aalund, Jon Stuart Battles, Paul Roy Raines, JR., Yan Yan