Abstract: An item delivery system can include a conveyor. The conveyor can be positioned in a delivery vehicle, for example. The conveyor can include a conveyance surface for receiving items and dividers. While remaining coupled with the conveyance surface, the dividers can move between a storage configuration and an operating configuration. In the operating configuration, the dividers can be positioned between the items. The conveyor can move the items to a position for removal. The removal position may correspond to an area accessible from an operator area of the delivery vehicle, for example.

Abstract: An item retrieval system can include a support defining a continuous pathway having an upper level, a lower level, and an end portion connecting the upper and lower portions. An advancement mechanism can move a carrier having a container advanced along the continuous pathway between the upper and lower levels.

Abstract: An item delivery system can include a carrier positioned on a rail. The rail can be positioned in a delivery vehicle, for example. The carrier can include rigid or semi-rigid sidewall and dividers to form item slots. The item slots can receive one or more items. The carrier can be positioned on the rail and moved around the rail by an advancement device. The advancement device can engage with a portion of the carrier to move the carrier. The carrier can be moved to a position for removal of items from the carrier. The removal position may correspond to an area accessible from an operator area of the delivery vehicle, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for flexible container pods for use with robotic systems. In one embodiment, an example flexible container pod may include a center plate having a plurality of apertures, a first member coupled to an upper end of the center plate, a second member coupled to the upper end of the center plate, and a base coupled to the center plate. The flexible container pod may include a first net extending from the first member to the base, a second net extending from the second member to the base, a first shelf member coupled to the first net, and a second shelf member coupled to the second net. A container can be removably positioned on the first shelf member and the second shelf member.

Abstract: An inventory management system includes an inventory holder and sensors. The sensors measure distances to locations on the inventory holder. The measurements are used to determine pitch, roll, and yaw of the inventory holder. The pitch, roll, and yaw are used to determine a location of an inventory cubicle in the inventory holder.

Abstract: A packaging sizer can receive and segment packaging into two or more segments. The packaging sizer can receive the packaging on a conveyance surface and convey the packaging to a position for segmenting. A segmenting assembly can segment the packaging to form two or more segments. The resulting segments can be directed in different directions for different purposes. For example, one or more of the segments can be removed from the packaging sizer and one or more segments can be moved to a position for manipulation by a packaging manipulator.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage system has at least one storage module and a fire suppression system. The storage module has upper and lower conveyor segments that are configured to move storage containers along a longitudinal direction, and first and second connecting conveyor segments that are disposed at the first and second module ends, respectively. Each connecting segment connects the upper and lower conveyor segments to one another such that the upper and lower conveyor segments and the first and second connecting conveyor segments together define a movement path having a closed shape. The storage module defines a gap between storage containers supported by the upper and lower conveyor segments. The fire suppression system has at least one spray nozzle that is laterally adjacent to the gap and that is configured to spray a liquid extinguishant into the gap and onto storage containers supported by the lower conveyor segment.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for container transporters and related item manipulation devices. In one embodiment, an example item manipulation device may include a support platform, and a conveyance surface attached to the support platform and configured to convey a container at least a portion of a distance from a first side of the support platform to a second side of the support platform, where the conveyance surface defines at least a portion of a container passage through which a container can be conveyed. The item manipulation device may include a manipulator comprising a first arm disposed along a longitudinal axis of the item manipulation device and a second arm disposed along the longitudinal axis of the item manipulation device, where the manipulator is engageable with the container to move the container at least partially onto the conveyance surface.

Abstract: A suction cup can include a body and a skirt connected to a periphery of the body. The body can include an engagement surface with an aperture. A friction material can be positioned on the engagement surface for engagement with a container. A channel can extend along the engagement surface between the aperture and a periphery of the body.

Abstract: A loading system (e.g., in a warehouse or other item-fulfillment environment) can include a rotary hub that supports one or more chambers. In a first orientation of the rotary hub, one of the chambers may be in a first position aligned for item receipt (e.g., through an open top of the chamber by feeding from a conveyor belt or other feeding system). The rotary hub can rotate to a second orientation in which the chamber is in a second position aligned for item discharge (e.g., through an open end of the chamber and into a receiving zone of a packaging machine or other system).

Abstract: An insertion system (e.g., in a warehouse or other item-fulfillment environment) can include a chassis. A bottom conveying surface, a first side conveying surface, and a second side conveying surface may be fastened to the chassis respectively along the chassis's bottom face, first lateral face, and second lateral face. A chamber may be bounded by the conveying surfaces and by a rear wall defined at least in part by the front face of the chassis. A linear actuator coupled with the chassis may move the chassis from a home position and toward an extended position to advance the bottom conveying surface, the first side conveying surface, and the second side conveying surface along with the rear wall of the chamber to decrease a size of the chamber and advance contents of the chamber in a depth direction toward a receiving zone.

Abstract: A system for moving items in a facility may be described herein. The system may instruct components of the system to move the items at different speeds or velocities based on an item's fragility rating. A fragility rating may indicate an amount of force that an item withstands prior to damaging the item. A fragility rating for an item may be determined based on known fragility ratings of items with similar item metrics.

Abstract: A suction cup can include a body and a skirt connected to a periphery of the body. The body can have an elliptical cross-section with a major axis that is longer than a minor axis. The body can include an aperture extending from a proximal side to a distal side. A stem can be positioned within the primary aperture. The stem can include an air conduit that can allow air to flow from the proximal side of the body.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage module has a plurality of conveyor segments that define a movement path that is elongate along a longitudinal direction from a first end of the storage to a second end of the module. The module has a plurality of container carriers that are supported by the conveyor segments. Each container carrier supports at least one inventory storage container that supports at least one inventory item therein. The storage module can transfer the container carriers around the movement path until a desired one of the container carriers is presented at one of the first and second module ends. In another embodiment, a plurality of instances of the storage module are arranged in a vertical stack of independently controllable storage modules.

Abstract: An item packaging system can position and prepare a package for receiving one or more items. The package can be received by the system in a storage orientation and stored in a storage container. A picking assembly can be positioned above the storage container in a picking orientation and pick and rotate the package to a loading orientation. A gripper can grip the package in the loading orientation and transport the package to a loading station for loading the one or more items into the interior of the shipping receptacle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage module has a first conveyor segment, a second conveyor segments offset from the first segment along a vertical direction, a first vertical lift at a first end of the module, and a second vertical lift at a second end of the module, which together define a movement path that is elongate along a longitudinal direction between the first and second ends. The storage module can translate inventory storage containers around the movement path until a desired one of the inventory storage containers is presented at one of the first end and the second end. In another embodiment, a plurality of instances of the storage module are arranged in a vertical stack of independently controllable storage modules.

Abstract: An inventory handling apparatus for transferring inventory items from an inventory bin onto a conveyer includes a rotatable member with a conveyance assembly mounted inside. The conveyance assembly receives an inventory bin into a conveyance channel sized to restrain the inventory bin during inversion of the inventory bin. The inverted inventory bin is moved onto a conveyor and the inventory bin lifted thereby leaving the inventory items on the conveyor.

Abstract: Techniques and safety devices are described for extinguishing fires within an inventory management system. A plurality of fire extinguishing devices for a plurality of containers in an inventory management system is monitored. Upon determining that a fire condition is occurring within the inventory management system, a positional information data store is queried to determine a current position of a first container within the inventory management system. Two or more containers within the inventory management system that are in close proximity to the first container are identified and one or more wireless signals are transmitted to two or more fire extinguishing devices of the plurality of fire extinguishing devices that are contained within the two or more containers, to activate the two or more first extinguishing devices. The plurality of containers is scanned using an infrared scanning device to determine whether all fire conditions within the inventory management system are extinguished.

Abstract: A container transport can receive and move a container between positions along a container passage defined by the container transport. The container transport can include a manipulation device for engaging with the container and moving the container onto a conveyance surface of the container transport. The conveyance surface can convey the container along the container passage, and the manipulation device can move the container off of the conveyance surface.

Abstract: A sortation system uses short conveyors or transporter units on a lift to move products or packages to totes in a storage rack. The lift may be a carousel. Automated components remove the totes from the rack and place them on outfeed conveyors. The system to remove the totes can include a transfer vehicle. The sortation system may be modular.