EP2810220B1 - Système de transport et procédé d'association de données à un article qui est transporté par le système de transport - Google Patents

Système de transport et procédé d'association de données à un article qui est transporté par le système de transport Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2810220B1
EP2810220B1 EP13744016.0A EP13744016A EP2810220B1 EP 2810220 B1 EP2810220 B1 EP 2810220B1 EP 13744016 A EP13744016 A EP 13744016A EP 2810220 B1 EP2810220 B1 EP 2810220B1
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Prior art keywords
zone
item
data
storage memory
control card
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EP13744016.0A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP2810220A4 (fr
EP2810220A1 (fr
Inventor
Darin Lee DANELSKI
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Matthews International Corp
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Matthews International Corp
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C3/10—Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination
    • B07C3/12—Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination using electric or electronic detecting means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C2301/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C2301/0091—Creating a signature of fingerprint based on graphic appearance of the mail piece, e.g. to avoid barcode printing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to conveying systems and methods, and in particular to conveying systems and methods of associating data to items being transported by the conveying system.
  • Conveying systems are conventionally used in a number of applications, such as packaging systems, order fulfillment systems, manufacturing systems, shipping sortation systems, and returns processing systems.
  • Some of these conveying systems use centralized multi-horsepower AC motors to drive shafts, belts or chains that in turn move banks of rollers to transport items throughout the conveying system.
  • Others are based on rollers with internal DC "micro-horsepower" motors that drive a localized segment of rollers.
  • the latter systems include brushless DC roller conveying systems.
  • a brushless DC roller conveying system is built around several components and features, including drive rollers with self-contained brushless DC motors, intelligent local controllers and networking between the controllers based on bidirectional communication protocols.
  • One methodology for controlling brushless DC roller conveying systems uses the local controllers to control local functions in each zone of the conveying system but uses a centralized controller to track "items" (such as corrugated boxes, plastic totes, or pallets) as they are transported throughout the conveying system. This tracking occurs by using the centralized controllers to uniquely identify items at decision points in the conveyor system. These decision points include, for example, diverts, transfers, merges, order picking zones, weighing, sortation, and printing.
  • the conveyor systems use bar codes, usually printed on adhesive labels that may be adhered to the items.
  • a permanent bar code label is assigned to the item(s) contained within the tote.
  • the bar code ID associated with the permanent label is re-used or re-assigned as the tote contents are changed.
  • bar code scanners are positioned at decision points to read the bar codes.
  • the bar code information is electronically sent to the centralized controller, and that centralized controller determines what needs to be done with the item or what data for that item is required at that bar code scan location.
  • This methodology has a few negative aspects. Firstly, bar code scanning and related equipment capable of reading bar codes on moving items is expensive and can represent a large percentage of the cost of a typical automated conveyor system. Secondly, the bar code scanners must be tied electronically to the central control system, resulting in extensive and expensive data communication networks and associated cabling. Thirdly, information required at decision points is stored in a central database, and thus access to that database in a timely manner can become challenging on large automated conveyor systems, as the central controller must service all decision points simultaneously.
  • the bar codes used in automated conveyor systems are one-dimensional bar codes that uniquely identify the item.
  • the one dimensional bar codes do not contain any additional data about the item. Instead, the data that is needed to determine the functions to be performed by the conveying system is stored remotely in a database associated with the centralized controller. This data can be a route the item must take on the conveyor system, order data, sort point, return point, etc.
  • two-dimensional bar codes has allowed some of this additional data to be passed along with the item, but the data within the bar code cannot be updated.
  • These two-dimensional bar codes can simplify some sortation systems by including data about a predefined route of a specific item within the automated conveyor system. However, the data on the two-dimensional bar code cannot be updated.
  • DE4000603 discloses a method of temporarily storing letters, envelopes, etc. in an automatic reading system that involves feeding objects to an optical scanner and processing the resulting signals to identify characters on the objects. Defined parameters are measured and characteristic patterns selected and stored for the individual objects. The objects are then fed to a temporary store from which they are retrieved at a defined time. The parameters are again measured and compared with the stored values to enable identification.
  • DE19947259 relates to the sorting of parcels in several sort passes.
  • further elements which are characteristic of the parcels are established during a first sort pass and memorised together with the distribution codes established during the reading process.
  • the characteristic elements are simply measured and compared with the stored features.
  • Matching parcels are assigned corresponding distribution codes.
  • a special conveyance system with defined sequences guarantees that only n parcels have to be compared at a time, n representing maximum multiple delivery rate.
  • FR2881663 discloses a postal mail processing method in which an image of each item is formed in the first sorting pass in order to automatically recognize the address of the item and to direct the item to a sorting outlet.
  • DE102006051777 relates to a device for identifying transmissions having a memory for storing transmission information of a transmission and of characteristic image features the transmission and with a control unit for assigning the broadcast information to re-recorded image features.
  • the control unit be provided for the assignment by means of one with the item associated identification codes.
  • WO03/007256 discloses an automatic checkout system, usable for application in for instance a supermarket, wherein purchases on a conveyer belt provided with a weighing sensor are guided past barcode reading means, and wherein the identification on the basis of this barcode is checked by weighing the weight of an article and comparing this weigh to a weight stored in a memory.
  • US2012/0022684 discloses a method for automatically depositing objects for transport, including a phase of user storing transport data in a storage element, the data relating to: the user associated with the object; the total number of objects declared by the user; the destination, the route and the time of the transport; a depositing phase, including: a user applying a first electromagnetic identification tag onto an object to be transported; placing, by the user, the object to be transported on a conveyance device; reading an identification data, by first reading device, from the first electromagnetic identification tag, storing identification data read in the storage element in association with previously stored transport data; a phase of conveying the object for transport; the depositing phase including a measurement of the weight and/or dimensions of the object and/or storing, in the storage element, of the weight and/or the dimensions in association with the transport data.
  • US2010/0223781 discloses an electronic component mounting system constituted by interconnecting a plurality of mounting apparatuses in which a board ID code attached by digital data to the board is read in a board supply apparatus located in the uppermost stream and transmitted to the mounting apparatuses on the downstream side via communication means.
  • a board ID code attached by digital data to the board is read in a board supply apparatus located in the uppermost stream and transmitted to the mounting apparatuses on the downstream side via communication means.
  • mounting nonrequirement board code data defective board code, read error code, dummy board code, etc.
  • the present invention provides a method and system in accordance with the appended claims.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an example, not forming part of the claimed invention, of a conveying system and method of associating data to an item 1 being transported by the conveying system, wherein a one-dimensional bar code 2 is affixed to the item 1.
  • the conveying system includes a first zone 10 and a second zone 20.
  • Each zone includes a conveyor section 11, 21 that transports the item 1, a driver 12, 22 that drives the conveyor section 11, 21, a data tag reader 13, 23 (in this case, a bar code reader) that reads the data encoded in the one-dimensional bar code 2 and a local controller 14, 24.
  • the first zone 10 further includes a scale 16 and the second zone 20 further includes a label printer 27.
  • the conveying system further includes a centralized controller 40 and a centralized database 41.
  • the item 1 having a one-dimensional bar code 2 is received into zone 10, wherein the data tag reader 13 reads the one-dimensional bar code 2 and sends the data associated with the one-dimensional bar code 2 to the local controller 14, which sends the data to the centralized controller 40.
  • the centralized controller 40 retrieves an expected weight of the item 1 from database 41 and sends the expected weight data to local controller 14.
  • the scale 16 weighs the item 1 and sends the data associated with the actual weight of the item to the controller 14, which compares the weight from scale 16 with the expected weight received from the centralized controller 40.
  • the local controller 14 determines that the actual weight is not the same the expected weight, within a prescribed tolerance, then the local controller 14 will divert the item 1 to another zone (not shown). Otherwise, local controller 14 queries local controller 24 to determine if the second zone 20 can accept the item 1 currently occupying the first zone 10. If the second zone 20 is clear (has no item), the second zone 20 will control driver 22 to turn on conveyer section 21, and the second zone 20 will notify the first zone 10 that the second zone 20 can accept the item 1. Upon receiving the notification from the second zone 20, the first zone 10 will control driver 12 to turn on convey section 11, causing the item 1 to be transported into the second zone 20. Meanwhile, the data associated with the weight sensed by scale 16 is sent to the centralized controller 40 and stored in database 41.
  • the data tag reader 23 reads the one-dimensional bar code 2 and sends the bar code data associated with the one- dimensional bar code 2 to the local controller 24, which then sends the data to the centralized controller 40. After accessing the database 41 to retrieve the weight data associated with the one-dimensional bar code, the centralized controller will then send the weight data to the local controller 24, which then instructs the label printer 27 to print an appropriate shipping label 28 based on the item weight.
  • a problem of the system and method of FIG. 1 is the nature of the one-dimensional bar code 2 that merely includes a single number or code that represents the item 1 but does not include actual data, such as estimated weight, related to the item 1. Another problem is the static nature of the one-dimensional bar code 2 that does not allow the weight data to be passed from the first zone 10 to the second zone 20 along with the item 1.
  • two-dimensional bar codes can allow for some of the actual data, such as estimated weight, to be included in the bar code, but does not allow for updating of the actual data included in the bar code.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an example, not forming part of the claimed invention, of a conveying system and method of associating data to an item 1 being transported by the conveying system, wherein a RFID tag 3 is affixed to the item 1.
  • the conveying system includes a first zone 10 and a second zone 20.
  • Each zone includes a conveyor section 11, 21 that transports the item 1, a driver 12, 22 that drives the conveyor section 11, 21, a data tag reader 13, 23 (in this case, an RFID reader) that reads the data encoded in the RFID tag 3 and a local controller 14, 24.
  • the first zone 10 further includes a scale 16 and the second zone 20 further includes a label printer 27.
  • the item 1 having a RFID tag 3 is received into zone 10, wherein the data tag reader 13 reads the RFID tag 3 and sends the data associated with the RFID tag 3 to the local controller 14. If the data includes expected weight data, then it is not necessary to access a centralized controller to retrieve an expected weight of the item 1. Meanwhile, the scale 16 weighs the item 1 and sends the data associated with the actual weight of the item to the local controller 14, which compares the weight from scale 16 with the expected weight. If the local controller 14 determines that the actual weight is not the same the expected weight, within a prescribed tolerance, then the local controller 14 will divert the item 1 to another zone (not shown).
  • local controller 14 queries local controller 24 to determine if the second zone 20 can accept the item 1 currently occupying the first zone 10. If the second zone 20 is clear (has no item), the second zone 20 will control driver 22 to turn on conveyer section 21, and the second zone 20 will notify the first zone 10 that the second zone 20 can accept the item 1. Upon receiving the notification from the second zone 20, the first zone 10 will control driver 12 to turn on convey section 11, causing the item 1 to be transported into the second zone 20. Meanwhile, the data associated with the actual weight sensed by scale 16 is written onto the RFID tag 3. After the item is transported to the second zone 20, the data tag reader 23 reads the RFID tag 3 and sends the data associated with the RFID tag 3 to the local controller 24. After retrieving the actual weight data from the RFID tag 3, the local controller 24 will then instructs the label printer 27 to print an appropriate shipping label 28 based on the item weight.
  • the benefit of the system and method of FIG. 2 is that the RFID tags allow the data to move with the item and also be updated with new data created after the RFID tag was assigned to the item.
  • RFID tags are expensive and not an option for applications where items are inexpensive or where the item is shipped and not returned.
  • This problem can be overcome to some extent by attaching the RFID tags to reusable totes, where the RFID tag is assigned to the item(s) contained within the tote, and the RFID tag is reused or reassigned as the tote contents are changed.
  • RFID are write limited, meaning they can only be written on a limited number of times before they fail to operate reliably.
  • RFID data tag readers are needed at each decision point in the conveying process.
  • the speed at which RFID tags can be accessed while an item is moving is limited, with is especially a problem when large amounts of data are being read.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates an example, not forming part of the claimed invention, of a conveying system and method of associating data to an item being transported by the conveying system, wherein a storage memory is associated with each zone of the conveying system.
  • the conveying system includes a first zone 10 and a second zone 20.
  • Each zone includes a conveyor section 11, 21 that transports the item 1, a driver 12, 22 that drives the conveyor section 11, 21, a data tag reader 13, 23 (in this case, a bar code reader) that reads the data encoded in a one-dimensional bar code 2 associated with the item 1, a local controller 14, 24 and a storage memory 15, 25.
  • the first zone 10 further includes a scale 16 and the second zone 20 further includes a label printer 27.
  • the conveying system further includes a centralized controller 40 and a centralized database 41.
  • the item 1 having a one-dimensional bar code 2 is received into zone 10, wherein the data tag reader 13 reads the one-dimensional bar code 2 and sends the data associated with the one-dimensional bar code 2 to the local controller 14, which sends the bar code data to the centralized controller 40.
  • the centralized controller 40 retrieves an expected weight of the item 1 from database 41 and sends the expected weight data to local controller 14.
  • the scale 16 weighs the item 1 and sends the data associated with the actual weight of the item to the controller 14, which compares the weight from scale 16 with the expected weight received from the centralized controller 40.
  • the local controller 14 determines that the actual weight is not the same the expected weight, within a prescribed tolerance, then the local controller 14 will divert the item 1 to another zone (not shown). Otherwise, local controller 14 queries local controller 24 to determine if the second zone 20 can accept the item 1 currently occupying the first zone 10. If the second zone 20 is clear (has no item), the second zone 20 will control driver 22 to turn on conveyer section 21, and the second zone 20 will notify the first zone 10 that the second zone 20 can accept the item 1. Upon receiving the notification from the second zone 20, the local controller 14 of the first zone 10 will control driver 12 to turn on conveyor section 11, causing the item 1 to be transported into the second zone 20.
  • the data from the one-dimensional bar code 2 and the weight data from the scale 16 that was stored in the storage memory 15 of the first zone 10 is transferred to storage memory 25 of the second zone 20.
  • the local controller 24 instructs the label printer 27 to print an appropriate shipping label 28 based on the item weight.
  • data is allowed to move with the item and also be updated with new data created after the one-dimensional bar code was assigned to the item. Also, a data tag reader at each decision point in the conveying process can be avoided, and the time needed for reading physical data tags, such as bar codes or RFID tags, can be avoided and the time needed for accessing the centralized controller 40 can be avoided.
  • the item is encoded with a one-dimensional bar code that merely includes a single number or code that represents the item but does not include actual data, such as estimated weight, related to the item.
  • the one-dimensional bar code was chosen for FIG. 3 to show that the benefits of using the two-dimensional bar code or RFID data tag could be achieved by the system and method of FIG. 3 even using the one-dimensional bar code.
  • any data tags could be used, including one-dimensional bar codes, two- dimensional bar codes and RFID data tags.
  • the data tag is affixed to the item.
  • the data tag could be affixed to a container holding the item or be integrated with the container holding the item, or otherwise associated with the item.
  • the first zone includes a scale and the second zone includes a label printer.
  • These functions of the first zone and second zone were chosen for illustrating benefits for the system and method, which could apply to any number of circumstances that benefit from allowing data to move through the conveying system with the item, such as at decision points in the conveying system, which may include diverts, transfers, merges, order picking zones, weighing, sortation, and printing.
  • the conveying system may use rollers with internal DC "micro-horsepower" motors that drive a localized segment of rollers, including brushless DC roller conveying systems.
  • the brushless DC roller conveying system may include drive rollers with self- contained brushless DC motors, intelligent local controllers and networking between the local controllers based on bidirectional communication protocols. These types of conveyor systems may segment long runs of conveyor into zones that hold a single item in a "Zone". Each zone may have its own powered/motorized roller and can be started and stopped independently of the other zones on the system.
  • the local controller in addition to driving the brush-less motor, also may also have the capability of communicating with external control components through digital I/O (Inputs and Outputs). These devices include but are not limited to photo eye sensors, limit switches, operator interfaces, solenoid valves, motor contactors, etc.
  • Each controller may also contain a microprocessor and storage memory. Compared to using a rewritable RFID tag, storage memory may have much more storage capacity, and does not exist as a physical device that travels with the item, and instead acts a virtual data tag that travels with the item. Also, since the data tag is virtual, there is no cost for the tag itself or the reader/writer devices that are conventionally required throughout conveying systems to read and write RFID tags. Also, since the data is transferred electronically, there are no speed issues relative to the transfer of the data.
  • the conveyer system may include a motor driven roller conveyor line, which is basically a series of individual conveyors (zones) connected end to end to create longer lengths of conveyor. Each section of conveyor may contain its own drive roller which is coupled to the other rollers in that zone.
  • each local controller communicates with the controller(s) adjacent to it to move an item from one zone to another.
  • the storage memory may reside on a zone controller card of each local controller.
  • a shipping manifest system generally takes a completed customer order in a box or tote and weighs the item to determine if the item is the correct weight and then either diverts the box to a reject lane or continues on and prints a shipping label specific to that order.
  • a box enters Zone 1.
  • a bar code scanner reads a bar code on the item and identifies it as Item 12345.
  • Item 12345 ID is sent to the central database (Host) to indicate to the Host that the item is being processed and has entered the system.
  • Zone 1 queries Zone 2 to determine if Zone 2 can accept the item currently occupying Zone 1. If Zone 2 is clear and has no Item, Zone 2 will turn on and notify Zone 1 it is clear. Zone 1 then turns its motor on and drives the Item into Zone 2. As the item is being transferred from Zone 1 to Zone 2, a bar code scanner at Zone 2 reads the identifying bar code on the item.
  • Zone 2 is equipped with a scale function. Zone 2 weighs the item and then sends the weight of the item to the Host. Zone 2 then queries Zone 3 to see if it is available to accept the item currently in Zone 2. Zone 3 turns on and indicates to Zone 2 that it is free to accept an item. Zone 2 powers up and transfers the item to Zone 3. As the item is being transferred from Zone 2 to Zone 3, a bar code scanner at Zone 3 reads the identifying bar code on the item. The bar code ID is then sent to the Host to determine if the items actual weight gathered in Zone 2 is the same as the expected weight stored in the central database on the Host. The Host compares the expected weight with the actual weight.
  • Zone 3 If the Host determines that the actual weight is not the same as the expected weight, within a prescribed tolerance, it will tell Zone 3 to divert the item to Zone 6, a reject conveyor for orders that may have picking errors. To accomplish this divert, Zone 3 queries Zone 6 to see if it is available to accept the item. If Zone 6 has no item, it will notify Zone 3 that it is available while turning on its drive motor. Zone 3 then transfers the item to Zone 6.
  • Zone 3 If the actual weight matches the expected weight, the Host tells Zone 3 to transfer the item to Zone 4 in the same manner that the transfers occurred in the previous descriptions. Zone 4 then attempts to transfer the item to Zone 5 in the same manner.
  • a bar code seamier at Zone 5 reads the identifying bar code on the item.
  • the label printer at that zone needs to print a shipping label for that order.
  • the bar code ID for the Item is sent to the Host, which retrieves the required information from its central database to create the shipping label.
  • the Host then sends the label information to the label printer and notifies the conveyor when the label is ready to print.
  • Zone 5 then powers up its rollers to transport the item past the label printer.
  • This methodology requires central processing at each decision and many bar code scanners, one for each control point.
  • a box enters Zone 1.
  • a bar code scanner reads a bar code on the item and identifies it as Item 12345.
  • Item 12345 ID is sent to the central database to retrieve specific information about the order (single database record). The information would typically include the customers address information required to print the label, the expected weight of the order, the desired shipping method (USPS,UPS, Fed-x, etc.), and possibly the detail of the SKUs and quantities that are in the order.
  • This data from the database, in its entirety, is sent to the storage memory on Zone l's control card.
  • Zone 1 queries Zone 2 to determine if Zone 2 can accept the item currently occupying Zone 1. If Zone 2 is clear and has no Item, Zone 2 will turn on and notify Zone 1 it is clear. Zone 1 then turns its motor on and drives the Item into Zone 2. As the item is being transferred from Zone 1 to Zone 2, Zone 1 send the entire data record it is storing in its storage memory to Zone 2 and clears its own storage memory.
  • Zone 2 is equipped with a scale function. Zone 2 weighs the item and then writes the weight to the storage memory in the appropriate field. Zone 2 then queries Zone 3 to see if it is available to accept the item currently in Zone 2.
  • Zone 3 turns on and indicates to Zone 2 that it is free to accept an item.
  • Zone 2 powers up and transfers the item to Zone 3 and sends the data associated with the item, including the actual weight, to Zone 3.
  • Zone 3 then compares the expected weight with the actual weight using the data record in its storage memory. If Zone 3 determines that he actual weight is not the same as the expected weight, within a prescribed tolerance, Zone 3 will divert the item to Zone 6, a reject conveyor for orders that may have picking errors. To accomplish this divert, Zone 3 queries Zone 6 to see it is available to accept the item. If Zone 6 has no item, it will notify Zone 3 that it is available while turning on its drive motor. Zone 3 then sends Zone 6 the data associated with the item while it transfers the item to Zone 6.
  • Zone 3 attempts to transfer the item to Zone 4 in the same manner that the transfers occurred in the previous descriptions.
  • Zone 4 then attempts to transfer the item to Zone 5 in the same manner.
  • the label printer at that zone needs to print a shipping label for that order. Since all of the data required to ship the item exists directly in the Zone 5 storage memory, the control card for that zone simply prints the label directly and marks the order shipped. The completed order information including the shipping tracking number, weight, time shipped, etc. is then sent back to the main controller database.
  • Another benefit of this invention is that there is no need for the central controller (Host) to react quickly to decisions required by the conveyor system, as each controller makes its own decisions locally and requires no real-time data from the Host.
  • Systems configured like the first example rely on timely responses from the Host to requests. When the Host receives several reque4sts from throughout the system simultaneously, system throughput can suffer because items may be held up waiting for responses from the Host.
  • control card for each Zone also has serial data communication capability, wiring and associated costs related to connecting bar code scanners, scales, printers, etc. to the system is greatly reduced. Instead of having to cable these "data" devices to a remote Host, each of these data devices is wired directly to the local Zone controller.

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Claims (5)

  1. Procédé d'association de données à un article qui est transporté par un système de transport, le procédé comprenant les étapes :
    de réception d'un article (401) dans une première zone (402) d'un système de transport ;
    de réception de données associées à l'article (401) et de stockage des données dans la mémoire de stockage d'une première carte de commande associée à la première zone (402) par :
    la lecture de données d'identification d'article à partir d'un code-barres associé à l'article (401) à l'aide d'un lecteur de code-barres associé à la première zone (402) ;
    l'envoi des données d'identification d'article du code-barres à la base de données centrale ;
    la réception, en provenance de la base de données centrale, d'une entrée de base de données comportant les données associées à l'article (401), dans lequel les données associées à l'article (401) comportent des données de poids attendu associées à l'article (401) ; et
    l'enregistrement de données reçues dans la mémoire de stockage sur la première carte de commande ;
    de transport de l'article (401) dans une deuxième zone (403) du système de transport, dans lequel le transport de l'article dans la deuxième zone (403) comprend :
    l'interrogation, par la première zone (402), de la deuxième zone (403) pour déterminer si la deuxième zone (403) peut accepter l'article (401),
    si la deuxième zone (403) est libre, l'activation de la deuxième zone (403) et la notification, par la deuxième zone (403), à la première zone (402) que la deuxième zone (403) est libre, et
    l'activation d'un transporteur de la première zone (402) en réponse à la deuxième zone (403) notifiant la première zone (402) que la deuxième zone (403) est libre et peut ainsi accepter l'article (401) ;
    le transfert des données stockées dans la mémoire de stockage de la première carte de commande dans la mémoire de stockage d'une deuxième carte de commande associée à la deuxième zone (403) ;
    la détection du poids réel de l'article à l'aide d'une balance associée à la deuxième zone (403), et le stockage du poids réel de l'article (401) dans la mémoire de stockage de la deuxième carte de commande ;
    le transport de l'article (401) dans une troisième zone (404) du système de transport, dans lequel le transport de l'article (401) dans la troisième zone (404) comprend :
    l'interrogation, par la deuxième zone (403), de la troisième zone (404) pour déterminer si la troisième zone (404) peut accepter l'article (401),
    si la troisième zone (404) peut accepter l'article (401), l'activation de la troisième zone (404) et la notification, par la troisième zone (404), à la deuxième zone (403) que la troisième zone (403) est dans la capacité d'accepter l'article (401), et
    la mise sous tension de la deuxième zone (403) en réponse à la troisième zone (404) notifiant la deuxième zone (403) que la troisième zone (404) est dans la capacité d'accepter l'article (401) ;
    le transfert des données stockées dans la mémoire de stockage de la deuxième carte de commande dans la mémoire de stockage d'une troisième carte de commande associée à la troisième zone (404) ;
    la comparaison, par la troisième zone (404), du poids attendu de l'article (401) stocké dans la mémoire de stockage de la troisième carte de commande avec le poids réel de l'article (401) stocké dans la mémoire de stockage de la troisième carte de commande et, si le poids réel correspond au poids attendu, le transfert de l'article (401) dans une quatrième zone (405) du système de transport, et
    le transport de l'article (401) de la quatrième zone (405) à une cinquième zone (406) du système de transport, dans lequel la quatrième zone (405) transfère également les données associées à la mémoire de stockage de la cinquième carte de commande permettant à une imprimante d'étiquettes (407) d'imprimer et d'appliquer une étiquette d'expédition associée à l'article (401).
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre le transport de l'article (401) dans une sixième zone (408) du système de transport si le poids réel ne correspond pas au poids attendu.
  3. Système de transport comprenant :
    une pluralité de zones, chacune comprenant :
    une section de transport qui transporte un article (401) ;
    un pilote qui entraîne la section de transport ;
    une mémoire de stockage qui stocke les données associées à l'article (401) ; et
    une carte de commande qui communique avec une carte de commande d'une zone adjacente, commande au pilote de transporter l'article (401) dans la zone adjacente, et commande à la mémoire de stockage de transférer les données stockées dans la mémoire de stockage de la zone adjacente ;
    dans lequel la pluralité de zones comporte une première zone (402), une deuxième zone (403) une troisième zone (404) et une quatrième zone (405) ;
    dans lequel la première zone (402) comporte un lecteur de code-barres qui lit des données d'identification d'article à partir d'un code-barres associé à l'article (401), dans lequel les données d'identification d'article lues à partir du code-barres sont envoyées à une base de données centrale, et dans lequel une entrée de base de données comportant des données de poids attendu de l'article (401) est reçue en provenance de la base de données centrale et stockée dans une mémoire de stockage d'une première carte de commande associée à la première zone (402) ;
    dans lequel la deuxième zone (403) comporte une balance pour détecter le poids réel de l'article, dans lequel le poids réel de l'article détecté par la balance est envoyé à la base de données centrale ;
    dans lequel une première carte de commande de la première zone (402) est configurée pour commander le pilote de la première zone (402) pour transporter l'article (401) dans la deuxième zone (403),
    dans lequel le transport de l'article (401) dans la deuxième zone (403) comprend :
    l'interrogation, par la première zone (402), de la deuxième zone (403) pour déterminer si la deuxième zone (403) peut accepter l'article (401),
    si la deuxième zone (403) est libre, l'activation de la deuxième zone (403) et la notification, par la deuxième zone (403), à la première zone (402) que la deuxième zone (403) est libre, et
    l'activation d'un transporteur de la première zone (402) en réponse à la deuxième zone (403) notifiant la première zone (402) que la deuxième zone (403) est libre et peut ainsi accepter l'article (401) ;
    le transfert des données stockées dans la mémoire de stockage de la première carte de commande dans la mémoire de stockage d'une deuxième carte de commande associée à la deuxième zone (403) ;
    dans lequel une carte de commande de la deuxième zone (403) est configurée pour commander le pilote de la deuxième zone (403) pour transporter l'article (401) dans la troisième zone (404),
    dans lequel le transport de l'article (401) dans la troisième zone (404) comprend :
    l'interrogation, par la deuxième zone (403), de la troisième zone (404) pour déterminer si la troisième zone (404) peut accepter l'article (401),
    si la troisième zone (404) peut accepter l'article (401), l'activation de la troisième zone (404) et la notification, par la troisième zone (404), à la deuxième zone (403) que la troisième zone (404) est dans la capacité d'accepter l'article (401), et
    la mise sous tension de la deuxième zone (403) en réponse à la troisième zone (404) notifiant la deuxième zone (403) que la troisième zone (404) est dans la capacité d'accepter l'article (401) ;
    le transfert des données stockées dans la mémoire de stockage de la deuxième carte de commande dans la mémoire de stockage d'une troisième carte de commande associée à la troisième zone (404) ;
    dans lequel la troisième zone (404) compare le poids attendu de l'article (401) stocké dans la mémoire de stockage de la troisième carte de commande au poids réel de l'article (401) stocké dans la mémoire de stockage de la troisième carte de commande et, si le poids réel correspond au poids attendu, transfère l'article (401) vers la quatrième zone (405) du système de transport, et
    le transport de l'article (401) de la quatrième zone (405) à la cinquième zone (406) du système de transport ; dans lequel la quatrième zone (405) transfère également les données associées à la mémoire de stockage de la cinquième carte de commande permettant à une imprimante d'étiquettes (407) d'imprimer et d'appliquer une étiquette d'expédition associée à l'article (401).
  4. Système de transport selon la revendication 3, dans lequel l'une de la pluralité de zones comporte un processeur qui traite un article sur la base des données stockées dans la mémoire de stockage.
  5. Système de transport selon la revendication 3, dans lequel si le poids réel ne correspond pas au poids attendu, la troisième zone (404) transfère l'article (401) dans une sixième zone (408) du système de transport.
EP13744016.0A 2012-02-05 2013-02-01 Système de transport et procédé d'association de données à un article qui est transporté par le système de transport Active EP2810220B1 (fr)

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HK1202953A1 (en) 2015-10-09
JP2018039674A (ja) 2018-03-15
CN104471590B (zh) 2017-06-09
JP6795747B2 (ja) 2020-12-02
JP2015506325A (ja) 2015-03-02
CN104471590A (zh) 2015-03-25
CA2863814C (fr) 2021-04-27
EP2810220A4 (fr) 2015-09-16
WO2013116652A1 (fr) 2013-08-08
CA2863814A1 (fr) 2013-08-08
JP6230072B2 (ja) 2017-11-15
HK1245188A1 (zh) 2018-08-24
CN107252786A (zh) 2017-10-17
EP2810220A1 (fr) 2014-12-10

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