Simplified sort induction process and apparatus
AssigneeSiemens Industry, Inc.
InventorsJames Moody Pippin, Uwe Neitzel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A parcel processing system and method. The system includes an automated unloading apparatus, a singulation apparatus, a scan apparatus, and a sorting system. The automated unloading apparatus is configured to unload parcels from a trailer substantially without human intervention. The singulation apparatus is configured to singulate parcels unloaded by the automated unloading apparatus. The scan apparatus is configured to read from the parcels identifying information relating to the parcels. The sorting system is configured to sort the parcels according to the information read from the parcels by the scan apparatus.
Claims17
A parcel processing system, comprising:
- an automated unloading apparatus, configured to unload parcels from a trailer substantially without human intervention;
- a single layer apparatus configured to reduce parcels unloaded by the automated unloading apparatus to a single layer;
- a singulation apparatus, configured to singulate parcels unloaded by the automated unloading apparatus, wherein the singulation apparatus is configured to singulate parcels reduced to the single layer by the single layer apparatus such that parcels are presented to succeeding apparatuses in single file;
- a scan apparatus, configured to read from the parcels identifying information relating to the parcels;
- and
- a sorting system, configured to sort the parcels according to the information read from the parcels by the scan apparatus.
A parcel processing system, comprising:
- a data processing system;
- an automated unloading apparatus, configured to unload parcels from a trailer substantially without human intervention;
- a single layer apparatus configured to reduce parcels unloaded by the automated unloading apparatus to a single layer;
- a singulation apparatus, configured to singulate parcels unloaded by the automated unloading apparatus, wherein the singulation apparatus is configured to singulate parcels reduced to the single layer by the single layer apparatus such that parcels are presented to succeeding apparatuses in single file;
- a scan apparatus, configured to read from the parcels identifying information relating to the parcels and send the information to the data processing system;
- and
- a sorting system, configured to sort the parcels according to information received from the data processing system.
A method of processing parcels, the method comprising:
- unloading a trailer with an automated unloading apparatus, substantially without human intervention;
- reducing parcels unloaded by the automated unloading apparatus to a single layer;
- singulating parcels unloaded by the automated unloading apparatus, wherein singulating parcels comprises singulating parcels that have been reduced to the single layer;
- scanning the parcels to read identifying information relating to the parcels;
- sending the information read from the parcels to a data processing system;
- and
- sorting the parcels according to information received from the data processing system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.