CN114537248A

CN114537248A - Method for storing postal parcels

Info

Publication number: CN114537248A
Application number: CN202111317829.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 托马斯·格哈德斯; 拉尔夫·欣特泽恩; 丹尼尔·曼尼兹; 尼科尔·赞德伯根; 雷纳·苏谢克; 阿尔贝托·吉雷利康索拉罗
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2020-11-11
Filing date: 2021-11-09
Publication date: 2022-05-27
Also published as: DE102020214160A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for storing postal parcels (8) in a storage area (10a, 10b, 10c) made of flexible material for the postal parcels (8), comprising the following steps: (S100) tensioning the storage areas (10a, 10b, 10c) when loading postal packages (8), and (S200) relaxing the storage areas (10a, 10b, 10c) when transporting.

Description

Method for storing postal parcels

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method for storing postal parcels.

Background

The postal packages are sorted individually one after the other and, for example, loaded into a delivery vehicle, whereupon the postal packages may be unloaded again at the destination. Sorting postal parcels is very complicated, wherein sorting postal parcels that have dropped during travel can be eliminated. It is therefore time consuming to search for individual postal packages during the unloading process.

Document DE 102016106456 a1 discloses a delivery vehicle with a transport device for conveying postal packages to and from a receiving device, and document DE 102015110567 a1 discloses a shelf system with an adjustment device for a delivery vehicle.

It is therefore desirable to find a way of improving in a simple manner the storage of postal packages at various destinations and in particular the unloading of postal packages at various destinations.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is achieved by a method for storing postal parcels in a storage area for postal parcels made of flexible material, having the following steps:

when loading postal parcels, tensioning the storage area, and

when transported, the storage area is relaxed.

By flexible material is meant a material that deforms under its own weight. For example, the flexible material may be a sheet of textile fabric (e.g., cotton). For reinforcement and/or reinforcement, a corresponding strip of reinforcing material may additionally be incorporated.

By tensioning the storage area, a flat storage area may be provided, which simplifies loading. After relaxation, the storage area deforms under the weight of the postal package placed thereon and/or under its own weight. The postal package is therefore stable under its own weight and is now located in a sort of trough formed by the material which now hangs down. Postal parcels stored in several levels are tilted and thus further stabilized, with a respective storage area assigned to each level.

For tensioning and relaxing the storage area, a tensioning device can be used, which can be driven manually or by means of an electric drive.

The storage of postal parcels at various destinations and in particular the unloading of postal parcels at various destinations can thus be improved in a simple manner.

According to one embodiment, in a further step, the storage area is brought into a further tensioning state when the postal packages are unloaded. Thus creating a flat storage area for easy unloading. The tensioning device can be used again for this purpose.

According to another embodiment, the storage area is oriented differently in a tensioned state for loading postal packages and in another state for unloading. It is thus possible to provide storage areas with different inclinations, which further simplifies loading or unloading.

According to another embodiment, the storage area is oriented horizontally in a tensioned state for loading postal parcels and is oriented with an inclination towards the loading and unloading area in another state for unloading. This first achieves that the postal packages just loaded (i.e. those just placed on the storage area) remain in their position and do not automatically move to a place which is not reached by the people in the loading and unloading area. Moreover, the inclination towards the loading and unloading area means that it is easier to move the postal packages towards the loading and unloading area. This further simplifies loading and unloading.

According to another embodiment, in a further step the storage area is oriented in a further unused tensioned state with an upward slope directed to the loading and unloading area.

In other words, the storage area may be brought into a non-use position or a parking position in order to increase the clear height below the storage area. This further facilitates loading and unloading.

The invention further relates to a transport device for storing postal parcels and to a land-based vehicle having at least one such transport device.

Drawings

The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. The attached drawings show that:

fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a transport device according to the invention for storing postal packages in a loading space of a land-based vehicle during a loading process;

FIG. 2 shows the transport device of FIG. 1 in a schematic view during transport;

FIG. 3 shows the transport device of FIG. 1 in a schematic view during unloading;

fig. 4 shows the transport device of fig. 1 again in a schematic view during unloading;

FIG. 5 shows schematically a first arrangement of a plurality of the transport devices shown in FIG. 1 in a loading space of a land-based vehicle;

FIG. 6 shows in a schematic view another arrangement of a plurality of the transport devices shown in FIG. 1 in a loading space of a land-based vehicle;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a side view of the land-based vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates another side view of the land-based vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

fig. 9 shows a method sequence for operating the transport device shown in fig. 1 to 8 in a schematic representation.

Detailed Description

Reference is first made to fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a land-based vehicle 2, which in the present exemplary embodiment may be configured as a truck or also as a trailer.

A truck (HGV) here comprises a motor vehicle belonging to the group of utility vehicles for transporting goods. Trucks may also be operated with trailers; such a combination is called a tractor-trailer unit, wherein a truck is also called a tractor unit in such a combination. A trailer means a vehicle for transporting goods but without a separate drive.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the land-based vehicle 2 is configured as a delivery vehicle, i.e. the land-based vehicle 2 is used to transport goods, in this case in the form of postal packages 8, to their respective destinations for delivery there to the respective recipients.

For this purpose, the land-based vehicle 2 has a loading space 4, in which the postal packages 8 are temporarily stored for transport. For example, the driver can load and unload via the loading and unloading area 12 provided on the side in the present exemplary embodiment.

Unloading individual postal packages 8 at their respective delivery locations requires finding the corresponding postal package 8, wherein vibrations and other forces acting on the postal packages 8 during travel of the land-based vehicle 2 disturb the previous sequence (e.g., in the order of the delivery locations to be serviced). Accordingly, a time-consuming search of the respective postal package 8 at the respective delivery location is required.

In order to simplify the unloading, in particular in the loading space 4, a transport device 6 for storing postal packages 8 is provided.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the transport device 6 comprises three

storage areas

10a, 10b, 10c, which three

storage areas

10a, 10b, 10c are arranged one above the other and extend over the entire width of the land-based vehicle 2. Alternative arrangements and designs of the

storage areas

10a, 10b, 10c of the transport device 6 will be explained in more detail below.

Each storage area 8 is made of a flexible material. The loading area 8 is thus made of a material that deforms under its own weight. In the present exemplary embodiment, the flexible material is made of a sheet-like textile fabric (e.g., cotton). In order to reinforce and/or reinforce the storage region 8, a corresponding strip of reinforcing material may additionally be incorporated.

Fig. 1 shows that the loading process of the loading space 4 has just been completed, i.e. all

storage areas

10a, 10b, 10c have been filled with postal packages 8.

Each

storage area

10a, 10b, 10c made of flexible material is in a tensioned state for loading postal packages 8, i.e. the tensioned state counteracts any sagging of the

storage areas

10a, 10b, 10c under their own weight and/or under the weight of the postal packages 8, for example, clipping on the sides.

Reference is now also made to fig. 2.

Immediately before the delivery journey is initiated, each

storage area

10a, 10b, 10c enters a relaxed state. For this purpose, for example, the transverse clamping loosening causes the

storage areas

10a, 10b, 10c to sag under their own weight and/or under the weight of the postal packages 8.

The postal packages 8 are thus stabilized by their own weight and are now placed in the form of troughs formed by the drop-

down storage areas

10a, 10b, 10 c. Furthermore, the postal packages 8 are inclined and therefore further stable, since they are stored in several levels.

The tensioning device may be used to tension and relax the

respective storage areas

10a, 10b, 10c, and may be driven manually or by an electrically powered drive.

Reference is now also made to fig. 3.

At the first delivery location, the intermediate loading area 10b and the top loading area 10c are in this case brought again into another tensioning state in order to unload the postal package 8. Furthermore, the

loading areas

10a, 10b, 10c are oriented differently.

In the scenario shown in fig. 3, the intermediate loading area 10b is lowered (arrow a) so that it has an inclination directed towards the loading and unloading area 12. In other words, the intermediate loading area 10b has a downward descending slope directed towards the loading and unloading area 12, so that due to their own weight, the postal packages 8 automatically slide towards the loading and unloading area 12 or such movement is supported by gravity.

Furthermore, in the scenario shown in fig. 3, the top loading area 10c is raised (arrow B) so that the top loading area 10c also has an inclination with respect to the loading and unloading area 12. In other words, the top loading area 10c has an upward slope directed towards the loading and unloading area 12. The net height increase relative to intermediate load area 10b thus makes it easier for postal packages 8 to be removed.

For lowering and raising the

respective loading area

10a, 10b, 10c, a further lowering and raising device can be used, which can also be driven manually or by means of an electric drive.

It should be noted that in the present exemplary embodiment, the

respective loading area

10a, 10b, 10c is lowered or raised on the side facing the loading and unloading area 12, but remains stationary on the side facing away from the loading and unloading area 12.

Reference is now also made to fig. 4.

At another delivery location near the end of the delivery trip, postal packages 8 on bottom load area 10a are provided for unloading.

For this purpose, first the bottom loading area 10a is brought into another tensioning state and then lowered (arrow a) so that the bottom loading area 10a has an inclination towards the loading and unloading area 12. In other words, the bottom loading area 10a now has a descending slope directed towards the loading and unloading area 12, so that the postal packages 8 can slide towards the loading and unloading area 12 purely under their own weight, or such movement is supported by gravity.

Furthermore, in the scenario shown in fig. 4, the intermediate loading area 10B and the top loading area 10c are raised (arrow B) so that they are each oriented with an inclination with respect to the loading and unloading area 12. In other words, the intermediate loading area 10b and the top loading area 10c have an upward slope directed towards the loading and unloading area 12. This increases the clear height relative to the intermediate loading area 10b so that postal packages 8 may be more easily removed.

Reference is now also made to fig. 5.

Fig. 5 illustrates the loading space 6 of the land-based vehicle 2 in a top view. In the present exemplary embodiment, four transport devices 6 can be seen, each transport device 6 extending over the entire width of the land based vehicle 2. In the present exemplary embodiment four transport devices 6 are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and face the same transverse loading and unloading area 12.

Reference is now also made to fig. 6.

Fig. 6 likewise shows the loading space 6 of the land-based vehicle 2 in a top view. In the present exemplary embodiment, five transport devices 6 can be seen, wherein a set of three transport devices 6 and a set of two transport devices 6 are separated from one another by a central aisle 14. The central aisle 14 forms a loading and unloading area 12, with five transport devices 6 facing the loading and unloading area 12.

Reference is now also made to fig. 7.

Fig. 7 shows a side view of the land based vehicle 2. In the present exemplary embodiment, each of the four transport devices 6 shown in fig. 5 has a dispensing door 16, the dispensing door 16 being configured as a hinged flap or as a roller shutter. In addition, each door 16 may be individually closed and opened, such as by a key-operated lock.

Furthermore, a step 18 is provided, which step 18 in the present exemplary embodiment extends over the entire width of the loading and unloading area 12 and can be extended or retracted automatically or manually, for example in synchronism with the opening of the door 16.

Reference is now also made to fig. 8.

Fig. 8 shows another side view of the land based vehicle 2. In the present exemplary embodiment, a single door 16 is assigned to each of the four transport devices 6 shown in fig. 5, and may be configured as a hinged flap.

Reference is now likewise made to fig. 9 in order to explain the method sequence for operating the transport device 6 shown in fig. 1 to 8.

In a first step S100, the

loading areas

10a, 10b, 10c are tensioned when the postal packages 8 are loaded.

In a further step S200, the

loading areas

10a, 10b, 10c are relaxed during transport.

In a further step S300, the

loading areas

10a, 10b, 10c enter a further tensioning state during unloading. The

loading areas

10a, 10b, 10c may be oriented differently in the tensioned state for loading postal packages 8 and in another state for unloading. For example,

loading areas

10a, 10b, 10c are oriented horizontally in a tensioned state for loading postal packages 8 and are oriented with an inclination towards loading and unloading area 12 in another state for unloading.

In a further step S400, the

loading regions

10a, 10b, 10c are oriented in a further, unused tensioning state with an upward slope directed to the loading and unloading region 12.

Unlike the present exemplary embodiment, the order of steps may also be different. Furthermore, several steps may also be performed simultaneously or at the same time. Further, unlike the present exemplary embodiment, a separate step may be skipped or omitted.

The storage of postal packages 8 and in particular the unloading of postal packages 8 at various destinations can thus be improved in a simple manner.

List of reference numerals

2 land-based vehicle

4 load space

6 conveying device

8 postal parcel

10a storage area

10b storage area

10c storage area

12 loading and unloading area

14 center aisle

16 door

18 pedal

Arrow A

Arrow B

S100 step

S200 step

S300 step

S400 step

Claims

1. A method of storing postal packages (8) with a storage area (10a, 10b, 10c) for said postal packages (8) made of flexible material, said method having the following steps:

(S100) tensioning said storage areas (10a, 10b, 10c) while loading said postal packages (8), and

(S200) relaxing the storage areas (10a, 10b, 10c) during transportation.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein in a further step (S300), upon unloading of the postal package (8), the storage area (10a, 10b, 10c) enters a further tensioning state.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein said storage areas (10a, 10b, 10c) are oriented differently in a tensioned state for loading said postal packages (8) and in another state for unloading.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein said storage area (10a, 10b, 10c) is oriented horizontally in said tensioned state for loading said postal packages (8) and is oriented with an inclination towards a loading and unloading area (12) in said further state for unloading.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein in a further step (S400) the storage area (10a, 10b, 10c) is oriented in a further, unused tensioning state with an upward slope directed towards the loading and unloading area (12).

6. A transport device (6) for storing postal packages (8) with a storage area for the postal packages, made of flexible material, wherein the storage area (10a, 10b, 10c) is brought into a tensioned state when loading the postal packages (8) and into a relaxed state when transporting.

7. A transport device (6) according to claim 6, wherein the storage area (10a, 10b, 10c) enters another state of tension when unloading the postal packages (8).

8. Transport device (6) according to claim 7, wherein the storage areas (10a, 10b, 10c) are oriented differently in the tensioned state for loading the postal packages (8) and in another state for unloading.

9. Transport device (6) according to claim 8, wherein said storage area (10a, 10b, 10c) is oriented horizontally in said tensioned state for loading said postal packages (8) and is oriented with an inclination towards a loading and unloading area (12) in said further state for unloading.

10. A transport device (6) according to claim 9, wherein the storage area (10a, 10b, 10c) is oriented in an unused, further tensioned state with an upward slope directed to the loading and unloading area (12).

11. A land based vehicle (2) having at least one transportation device (6) according to any of claims 6 to 10.