System for the storage and retrieval of parcels
AssigneeUnited Parcel Service of America, Inc.
InventorsJulio Gil, Julian Leland Bell, Youngjun Choi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic storage and retrieval system is provided that is usable to sort, store and retrieve parcels for delivery. The system provides a multi-layered rail system allowing a high-density storage system for parcels. In some aspects, the parcels may be sorted between parcel containers in different layers, and in some aspects parcel containers may be transferred between layers, allowing individual parcels to be logically sorted and placed within a parcel container according to a delivery destination. Once at a delivery destination, the system may be used to load an unmanned delivery device, such as a robot, with a parcel container associated with the delivery destination.
Claims27
A system for storage and retrieval of parcels, the system comprising:
- a storage vessel defining an internal volume having a first side, a second side spaced apart from the first side, a front portion extending between the first side and the second side and a rear portion spaced from the front portion and extending between the first side and the second side;
- a first set of rails defining a first parcel container route within the internal volume;
- and
- a plurality of first parcel containers movably coupled to the first set of rails, each of the plurality of first parcel containers having at least a first parcel container first side and a first parcel container second side, an at least partially open first parcel container top extending between the first parcel container first side and the first parcel container second side, and at least one first parcel container open bottom face opposite the at least partially open first parcel container top and extending between the first parcel container first side and the first parcel container second side, and a plurality of first parcel container dividers adjustable to define a plurality of adjustable first parcel container compartments between the first parcel container first side and the first parcel container second side, each of the plurality of first parcel containers further having moveable first parcel container panels that selectively move, via a motor to cover a portion of the at least one first parcel container open bottom face to retain a selected at least one parcel or expose the portion of the at least one first parcel container open bottom face to release the selected at least one parcel.
A system for the storage and retrieval of parcels, the system comprising:
- a storage vessel defining an internal volume having a first side, a second side spaced apart from the first side, a front portion extending between the first side and the second side and a rear portion spaced from the front portion and extending between the first side and the second side;
- a multi-layered rail system, wherein each layer of the multi-layered rail system comprises a set of rails defining a parcel container route within the internal volume;
- a motor;
- a plurality of parcel containers movably coupled to a rail frame on a layer of the multi-layered rail system, each of the plurality of parcel containers having at least a parcel container first side and a parcel container second side, an at least partially open parcel container top extending between the parcel container first side and the parcel container second side, and at least one parcel container open bottom face opposite the at least partially open parcel container top and extending between the parcel container first side and the parcel container second side, and a plurality of dividers adjustable to define a plurality of adjustable compartments between the parcel container first side and the parcel container second side, each of the plurality of parcel containers further having panels that are selectively movable by the motor to cover a portion of the at least one parcel container open bottom face to retain at least one parcel or expose the portion of the at least one parcel container open bottom face to release the at least one parcel;
- and
- a lift coupled within the internal volume and configured to receive a selected parcel container from one layer of the multi-layered rail system and to deliver the selected parcel container to another layer of the multi-layered rail system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.