Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-24
2004-02-17
Tran, Khoi H. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S242000, C700S243000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06694217
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the general field of storage and delivery of ordered items. More particularly, the invention pertains to an efficient automated system of storage locker bins for storing and facilitating the self-service retrieval of an article.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Internet has provided tremendous opportunities for the sales of products in the retail business. Consumers can easily go online using a computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), or even a cellular phone, and readily access a plethora of web sites that offer a wide range of products. Notwithstanding the fact that online businesses can offer lower prices to consumers because of lower overhead costs, consumers and retailers can be disadvantaged by the cost associated with shipping and handling. For example, the effective cost of ordering a bottle of shampoo and a toothbrush which might cost $4.00 could be $9.00 due to the cost of shipping and handling. As a result of the added cost of shipping and handling, it is currently impractical to order low cost items unless the cost of shipping and handling can be significantly reduced. Even for higher priced items, the shipping and handling costs associated with each order can be tolerable for an occasional purchase, but are prohibitive when added up across the frequency of purchase a consumer normally makes.
In order to reduce the cost of shipping and handling, more efficient methods and systems of delivery are required. In current delivery methods and systems, ordered items may be picked at a retailer's fulfillment site in batches, but each order is handled in a singular manner. A recipient of a product may place an order to a retailer. The retailer accepts the order, packages the ordered item and then ships the package along with other packages via a package delivery service. Once the package delivery service picks up the package from the retailer, the package is usually taken to an initial distribution center where it is sorted according to the destination address of the recipient. It will then be shipped by air, land or sea to one or more distribution centers where it is resorted every time. Once the package reaches the distribution center that services the recipient locale, the package will be transported on a delivery truck, along with other packages to be delivered in that local area, to the customer-specified address of each package on the delivery truck, until the delivery truck reaches the customer-specified address of the recipient's package for final delivery.
Inherent in these delivery and handling processes are numerous inefficiencies that in the end, result in increased cost. Firstly, the packages of ordered items are packed inefficiently for the entire distance that they are transported. This is due to the nature of trying to pack items of different shapes and sizes into a box or container that is large enough to hold all the items, with added packing materials to prevent the differently shaped items from damaging each other during transport. Secondly, packages are moved from cargo-carrying vehicles and package sorting facilities a numerous amount of times as packages are distributed. The packages are moved from a delivery vehicle to a facility and vice-versa. At each point that a package changes hands when being routed through a package shipper's distribution network, it is resorted and grouped with other packages to fit onto the next cargo-carrying vehicle. This translates to an increased shipping and handling cost. Thirdly, each package delivered to its final distribution center has to be carried on an individual basis to the recipient's delivery address. The packages are delivered to recipient addresses on smaller cargo-carrying vehicles and can only be delivered during reasonably acceptable business hours. If the recipient is not available at the time of the attempted delivery, a package may either be left outside of a recipient's home where it is susceptible to theft, mischief, or weather damage, or it may remain undelivered until a further delivery attempt is made. The shipping cost is further compounded in instances where several attempts have to be made to finalize the delivery.
Analysts have predicted that the buying habits of mainstream consumers will change, in the near future, to one that is heavily dependent on the Internet. In addition to the inefficiencies described above, if and when this growth occurs, the current delivery methods and infrastructure will be vastly inadequate to accommodate this growth.
Given these inefficiencies, there exists a need to achieve more efficient methods and systems for delivering packages. The invention discloses a storage system for storing delivered articles. The system can include a storage machine unit with storage locker bins, which randomly store a delivered article destined for a recipient. The random storage of a delivered article means that the storage locker bins are not predetermined, such as in a mailbox system where a particular mailbox belongs to a specified individual. With the present invention, a delivered article can be placed into any available storage locker bin. The system can include means for loading the delivered article into any randomly chosen storage locker bin that has a capacity to accommodate the delivered article. Furthermore, an association can be made between an identifier of the article (article identifier) and an identifier of the storage locker bin (storage locker bin identifier).
The storage machine unit can include storage locker bins that are moveable about an axis, thereby providing access to a storage locker bin while loading articles that have been delivered (delivered articles). The storage machine unit can have bin doors that correspond to the storage locker bins, and the doors can remain unlocked while the moveable storage locker bins revolve about an axis during loading. The storage locker bins can be positioned so that they move vertically about the axis. The means for loading the delivered article can further include an optical reader, for example a scanner, for recognizing the article identifier and the storage locker bin identifier.
During retrieval of the delivered article by a recipient, the storage locker bins can be moved about the axis so as to provide access to a particular storage locker bin. The storage locker bins can be vertically moveable about the axis. The storage machine unit can include a set of bin doors, which correspond to the moveable storage locker bins to provide access to any of the moveable storage locker bins when the storage locker bins are moved adjacent to the set of bin doors. The set of bin doors can be stationary with respect to the movement of the moveable storage locker bins. Hence, movement of the storage locker bins is independent of the set of bin doors. Access can be provided when the moveable storage locker bins are moved to a position behind the stationary set of bin doors. The system can further have a bin door sensor that can detect closure of a bin door of the set of bin doors, prior to permitting movement of the moveable storage locker bins during the retrieval. Hence, if a bin door is open during the retrieval, then the storage locker bins can be prohibited from moving about the axis. This ensures that other storage locker bins cannot be accessed through the open storage locker bin door while the moveable storage locker bins are moving during retrieval. Some of the storage locker bins within the storage system can be stationary storage locker bins located at a fixed position within the storage machine unit.
The storage system can further have means to enable self-service retrieval of the delivered article by the recipient. The self-service retrieval means can further include means for determining which moveable storage locker bin corresponds to a code entered by the recipient, wherein the code can identify and locate which moveable storage locker bin contains an article destined for the recipient. The code can be o
Akerman & Senterfitt
Breakthrough Logistics Corporation
Tran Khoi H.
LandOfFree
Automated system for efficient article storage and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Automated system for efficient article storage and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Automated system for efficient article storage and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3295985