Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-02
2004-04-27
Tran, Khoi H (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S242000, C700S214000, C700S225000, C414S270000, C414S273000, C414S331040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06728597
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a storage system for storing and preferably delivering and/or receiving items to be distributed, such as mail items. The present invention further relates to methods for receiving and delivering items to/from the system, and to a method for optimising the time used during a delivery procedure. In particular, the present invention relates to a storage system in which the space available may be utilised in an optimal manner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Systems for automatic check-in of postal items are known, e.g. from WO 00/08612 or from WO 92/17861. These references are mainly concerned with the check-in procedure, and, thus, do not address the problem of storing the items in a suitable manner. Also, they are not concerned with delivering items to customers.
WO 94/07776 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,545 disclose various storage systems in which the space allocated to an item is dependent from the size of the item.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a storage system being capable of receiving and delivering items from/to a user in an automatic manner. In the present context, the user is also referred to as “operator”. It is a further object of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a storage system in which items may be stored in such a way that the space available is utilised in an optimal manner while ensuring that sufficient space is allocated to each item.
It is an even further object of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a storage system which provides the possibility of positioning the items to be stored in a flexible manner.
It is an even further object of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a method for receiving an item at a storage system and positioning the item in the storage system in such a way that the space available in the storage system is utilised in an optimal manner, while ensuring that sufficient space is allocated to the item.
It is an even further object of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a method for delivering an item from a storage system.
It is an even further object of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a method of optimising the time used when delivering items from a storage system.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a storage system for storing items to be distributed, the storage system comprising
a platform for supporting items,
a storage arrangement for storing items to be distributed,
a sensor system for determining the size of an item being received and for producing a corresponding output,
a control system, also referred to as control means, for controlling the operation of the storage system, and
a transport system for moving an item between the platform and the storage arrangement,
wherein the control system is adapted to allocate a position in the storage arrangement for an item being received based on the output produced by the sensor system, in such a way that sufficient space is allocated to the item, and wherein the transport system is operated in accordance with said allocation, so that the item is moved to the allocated position.
The storage arrangement may comprise a carousel of racks being suitable for accommodating the items.
A payment unit for receiving payment from an operator of the storage system may be provided, whereby the payment unit may be operatively connected to the control system, the control system being adapted to process an item in response to a predetermined signal from the payment unit. The predetermined signal which may be generated in the payment unit may for example comprise information indicating that an item may be released and delivered to the operator. The signal may alternatively comprise information indicating that appropriate postage for an item, such as a postal package, has been paid.
The system may be used for receiving, delivering and/or storing items to be distributed. Thus, the platform may be for receiving/delivering items. The storage arrangement is preferably flexible in the sense that items may be rearranged within the storage system, so that an item may be moved from an initial first position in the storage system to a second position. The sensor system preferably comprises means for determining the size of an item being received and for producing a corresponding output. The transport system preferably comprises means for moving an item between the receiving/delivery platform and the storage arrangement. The control means is preferably adapted to allocate a position in the storage arrangement for an item being received based on the output produced by the determining means, in such a way that sufficient space is allocated to the item, and in such a way that the total space available in the storage arrangement is utilised in an optimal manner in the sense that the waste space above, under or next to the item in question is minimized.
In the present context, the size of the item may for example be a height, a width or a volume which may be detected by appropriate optical or other means. In preferred embodiments, the size is a height of an item.
The receiving/delivery platform is preferably a substantially horizontal platform being suitable for carrying an item being received or delivered. It may be provided with a movable front panel, such as a door or a hatch, in order to prevent persons from gaining access to the system when items are not being received and/or delivered to/from the system. The receiving/delivery system may also be provided with a weighing device for weighing an item being received by the system, e.g. in order to determine the amount of postage needed for the item, in case the item is a mail item, such as a parcel or a letter. Furthermore, the receiving/delivery platform may comprise moving means for moving an item after it has been received from or before it is delivered to a user. Such moving means may, thus, be used for positioning an item to be delivered on the platform, and/or it may be used for removing an item which has been received away from the platform for further processing.
The items to be distributed are preferably mail items, such as parcels and/or letters. Alternatively or additionally, they may be any kind of goods being distributed, e.g. remote purchases, such as mail order, items purchased via the Internet, e.g. books, clothes, video films, tickets for, e.g. theatres, sport events or concerts, etc., and/or it may be return goods which need to be returned to the originator, e.g. library books to be returned to the library, leased video films to be returned to the retailer, items being returned to the vendor for service and/or repair, etc.
The storage arrangement is an arrangement which is suitable for storing the items from they are received by the system from one user until they are delivered to another user. The storage arrangement should be designed in such a way that each item being stored may be allocated sufficient space. On the other hand, the total space available should be utilised in an optimal manner. Hence, the storage arrangement is flexible in the sense that for each item the allocated space is sufficient, but not excessive. Thus, a small item is allocated a small amount of space, and a larger item is allocated a larger amount of space. The available positions of the flexible storage system should not be predefined. Thereby it is always ensured that the correct amount of space may be allocated regardless of the size of the item being received.
The storage arrangement may comprise a carousel of racks being suitable for accommodating the items. In this case the means for moving an item between the receiving/delivery platform and the storage arrangement may comprise means for turning the carousel. Thus, when an item is received, the carousel may be turned in such a way that the section comprising the allocated position is placed near the receiving/delivery platform in order to facilitate, or eve
Didriksen Jan
Simon David
Crisplant A/S
Tran Khoi H
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