EP0760786A1

EP0760786A1 - Management method for goods support elements such as pallets and a support element therefor

Info

Publication number: EP0760786A1
Application number: EP94918898A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bertrand Martin
Original assignee: ESOR Sarl
Current assignee: ESOR Sarl
Priority date: 1993-06-09
Filing date: 1994-06-09
Publication date: 1997-03-12
Also published as: FR2706422B1; WO1994029179A1; FR2706422A1; AU7001894A

Abstract

A method is disclosed for managing goods support elements, pallets in particular, transported in an area from a storage centre to a destination, and a goods support element enabling said method to be implemented. The method utilizes electronic memory means (chips) on each of the support elements and involves passing instructions (a1) from a management centre (1) to one of the storage centres (3) selected from a number of storage centres spread over the area for delivery (a2) of support elements to an identified user (5) for collection (b1) of information concerning (b2) the subsequent desstination (7) of the support elements delivered, and for identifying (c1) and recovering (c2) from said destination (7) the support elements supplied from the storage center (3), making use of mobile short range radio means for reading the electronic chip, and collecting (d) support element recovery information from the management center (1) periodically, using data transmission means.

Description

METHOD FOR MANAGING A PARK OF GOODS SUPPORTS,

SUCH AS PALLETS, AND SUPPORT FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION.

The invention is in the field of storage and transport of goods, and it relates to a method for managing a fleet of supports, in particular pallets, for the storage and transport of goods, as well as a support for the implementation of such a method.

The supports, pallets in particular, for the storage and transport of goods, are intended to circulate from one place of delivery to another according to a complex distribution circuit, from a place of production to a place of final distribution for example. Such media are usually grouped into a fleet, either belonging to the producer, or made available to him under a rental contract.

A general problem to be resolved lies in the fact that the supports are commonly diverted from the use for which they are originally intended, in order to "disappear" at any of the stages of said distribution circuit, said disappearance possibly being definitive, or result from immobilization of supports in one or other of the different delivery points, for a use which would be specific to them. Another important aspect concerning the storage media and transport of goods, lies in the time elapsed between the time when the owner of the media makes them available to the tenant, and the time when they are recovered after their use, said time allowing not only to determine the cost of renting the support, but also to assess the operation of the distribution network. Another problem to be resolved therefore lies in determining the said elapsed time for each of the supports making up a fleet.

To the knowledge of the applicant, no willingness has yet been expressed to propose a rigorously reliable method and means for ensuring management efficient common packaging and transport of goods supports, said supports being intended to circulate in a territory following a complex distribution circuit; it will be noted that the fact that said supports are intended to be dispersed over a territory makes it difficult to control their location.

Electronic means for recording and reading information from a distance are also known, comprising a small integrated circuit, known as a "chip", associated with an antenna, cooperating with means, placed at a distance, capable of transmitting and to receive information by radio frequencies of low frequencies. Such means have been used to equip production means for their automation; reference may in particular be made to patent EP 0492212 (SCHLAFHORST), US 4843640 (JUENGEL) and DE 3706114 (MOLIHS).

The general aim of the invention is to strictly solve the aforementioned problem and to propose a method for managing a fleet of goods carriers, intended to circulate and be dispersed over a territory, the said method making it possible to continuously know the location and / or the destination of any medium in said park; another object of the invention is to provide a packaging and transport support for goods equipped with means for implementing such a method.

The present invention will be described in relation to the figures of the appended plates, in which: FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a preferred method of the invention,

Fig.2 is a perspective representation of a pallet of the invention, Fig.3 to 5 are different respective views of the central stud of a pallet of the type of that shown in Fig.2, illustrating a first example for producing a pallet of the invention, FIG. 6 is a top view of the middle zone of a pallet of the type of that shown on Fig.2, illustrating a second embodiment of a palette of the invention.

The inventive approach of the applicant consisted, contrary to the usual practice in the field, to identify, using electronic memory means, each of the goods carriers making up a fleet, the said memory means using an electronic chip. incorporated in the support, said chip being not only readable, for the identification of the support in any place of said territory and at any time, thanks in particular to mobile means of remote reading, but also advantageously writable to be momentarily characterized by its destination and / or information specific to the goods it carries. The method of the invention, for managing a fleet of supports, such as pallets and / or containers, for storing and transporting goods, said supports being intended to circulate on a territory between a storage center and a destination located in any place in said territory is mainly characterized in that, using memory means 4 of electronic type equipping each of the supports, it consists of: a.- ordering al from a management center 1, to at least one of the storage centers 3 of a plurality of centers distributed over the said territory, the delivery a2 of the media in its possession to at least one identified user 5, b.- to be collected, from the center of management 1, of information concerning b_2 at least the subsequent destination 7 of each of the said supports delivered, c- to locate cl and to recover ç2 in said destination 7 the said supports delivered, from the storage center 3 of said plurality closest to the destination 7, by means of mobile radio reading at a short distance from the electronic chip 4, by means of which means can be recognized any of the media delivered, whatever its place of recovery. d.- to collect d from the management center 1, from each of the storage centers 3, the information concerning the location and recovery, and / or possibly the non-recovery, of the media delivered, this operation being carried out judiciously periodically and thanks to telematic means using computer means associated with a telecommunications network.

According to another aspect of the invention, aiming to make available to the user 5 information relating to the goods which he sends to said subsequent destination 7 thanks to the supports delivered, the user 5 proceeds, prior to delivery b2 in the said destination 7 of the supports, in the recording of information, by means of mobile wireless and / or fixed means of recording information remotely, concerning the said goods, in particular a production serial number or even the date of circulation of the goods, but also the nature, type, etc. The user 5 is then advantageously informed by the management center 1 of the recovery of the supports by the storage centers 3, and therefore , the likely consumption of its products for example.

It follows from these provisions, on the one hand that a pragmatic analysis of the distribution chain of the goods can be carried out, and on the other hand that any batch of goods can be quickly located in any point of the territory.

We understand by subsequent destination 7 the place where the media delivered must be recovered.

It will also be noted that the storage centers 3 may have one or more storage warehouses for the supports, so as to "cover" the extent of the territory as best as possible.

Preferably, delivery vouchers BL and return vouchers BR are exchanged between the storage centers 3 and respectively the delivery locations 5 and recovery locations 7, and / or between user 5 and said destination 7, to attest to the validity of the information exchanged by telematic means.

According to the invention, a merchandise support for the implementation of a method of the invention is mainly characterized in that it incorporates at least one electronic chip 4 of the type intended for writing and reading 'remote information. It follows from these provisions that, in a rigorously reliable manner, the support can be identified whatever its temporary holder and its location in the said territory, the information entered not risking or being altered by the various environments successively surrounding the support, neither to be withdrawn or modified, unlike for example information carriers of the "barcode" type, nor to be falsified, the electronic chip 4 being of the type made inviolable. As a result, a fleet of storage and transport media can, rigorously and reliably, be managed by computer means, advantageously associated with telematic means of the "radio" type or of the type implementing a network. telecommunications associated with a server center, said telematic means comprising mobile means so that any of the supports composing said park can receive and deliver information at each stage of its wanderings and in any point of the territory. FIG. 2 illustrates a pallet of the invention, generally consisting of a platform 10 raised above the ground by means of a set of skids 6 comprising a central stud 2. It will be understood that the conformation of the pallet shown is a standardized conformation and is only preferred, and that, according to the method of the invention, the electronic chip can be incorporated into any storage and transport medium for goods; for example, equivalent to using a transport pallet, the method of the invention can be implemented with containers suitable for storing liquid foodstuffs, or with any other type of common support for packaging and transporting goods. In FIGS. 2 to 5, which illustrates a first example of a palette of the invention, the electronic chip 4 is supported by a rigid card 16 which is inserted in a slot 18 formed in the central stud 2, zone of the pallet least exposed to shocks, then embedded in flexible synthetic material 20 filling the slot 18, the latter being blind and emerging on the face 22 intended to be covered by the platform 10, so that the electronic chip 4 or protected from dirt and moisture. In FIG. 6, which illustrates a second example of a pallet of the invention, the electronic chip 4 is of cylindrical conformation and is supported by a tablet, 3 cm in diameter and 2 cm in height for example, the said tablet being housed inside the platform 10 of the pallet along the median axis 24 of the latter.

It will be noted that, for the two examples shown, the electronic chip 4 is held on the pallet so that its reading face is generally included in a plane orthogonal to the platform and concurrent with any of the lateral planes 12 and 14 of the pallet, so that each of the stacked pallets of a plurality can be read along any of the side faces 12 and 14 of the pallets. However, the example illustrated in FIG. 6 is preferred, due to the fact that the registration of the chip 4 can be carried out from the bottom and / or the top of the pallet when it is loaded with goods at the exit of 'a production line.

Claims

1.- A method of managing a fleet of goods carriers, such as transport pallets, intended to circulate on a territory between a storage center (3) and a destination (7), characterized: in that, putting in works memory means (4), called "chip", of type ¹ electronic equipping each of the supports, it consists: a.- to order (al) from a management center (1), at least l '' one of the storage centers (3) of a plurality of centers distributed over the said territory, the delivery (a2) of the media in its possession to at least one identified user (5), b.- to collect (bl, to from the management center (1), information relating to (b2) at least the subsequent destination (7) of each of the said supports delivered, c- to locate (cl and to recover (ç2_) at said destination (7) the supports delivered, from one of the storage centers (3) of said plurality, thanks to mobile means of short-range wireless reading nce of the electronic chip (4), which allow the identification in any place of the territory, of any of the supports delivered d.- to be collected (d) from the management center, from each of the storage, information concerning the location and recovery of the media delivered, this operation being carried out periodically using telematic means;

2.- Method according to claim 1, characterized: in that it comprises the step consisting, before sending (b2_) of the supports in said destination (7), to write on the electronic chip (4) information concerning the goods supported, and the final step (e) of informing the user of the recovery of the supports by the storage centers (3);

3.- Support of goods for the implementation of a method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized: in that it incorporates at least one electronic chip (4) of the type intended for registration and remote reading of information;

4.- goods support according to claim 3, of the type of support, said pallet, composed of a platform (10) raised by means of a set of pads (6) comprising a central stud (2), characterized : in that the electronic chip (4) is supported by a rigid card (16) which is inserted into a slot (18) formed in the central stud (2), then embedded in flexible synthetic material (20) filling the slot (18), the latter being blind and opening onto the face (22) intended to be covered by the platform (10);

4. Goods support according to claim 3, characterized: in that the electronic chip (4) is of cylindrical conformation, and is supported by a pad housed vertically inside the support substantially along its median axis (24), so that the electronic chip (4) can be read according to any one of the lateral faces (12,14) of the support, and can be written according to any one of the bottom and top faces of the support.