EP4279187A1

EP4279187A1 - Method and system for sorting parcels

Info

Publication number: EP4279187A1
Application number: EP22173595.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sebastian Sickmann; Patryk Towalski; Sven Grunwald; Dinesh Kumar Nandhakumaar; Marcel Reckmann
Original assignee: Beumer Group GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Beumer Group GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2022-05-16
Filing date: 2022-05-16
Publication date: 2023-11-22

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system for sorting parcels in a parcel sorting system from a sortation system, which may comprise conveyer belts, into chutes. Further, the invention relates to monitoring the filling degree and the filling rates of the chutes, and to send out a warning, if a chute is filling up, and if no operators are assigned to the chute, which is filling up, to assign operators to the chute, before it is filling up, avoiding stop of discharging parcels to a chute.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and a system for sorting parcels into chutes in a parcel sorting system, and monitoring the filling degree and the filling rates of the chutes to assign operators to a chute before it is filling up.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sortation systems transporting parcels on sorters and sorting the parcels into dedicated chutes are widely used for sorting parcel, packages, articles, baggage and different kind of items. Such systems may be used for sorting parcels and letters at a postal centre, for sorting baggage at an airport, and for packages and parcels in a warehouse to be sorted and directed to a van for transport to shops or customers etc.
Companies operating sorting and distribution centres struggle getting the maximum performance out of the sorting system. This fact is not always related to the system itself, but to the indirect processes around it. Parcels are sorted into dedicated chutes. Operators on the shop floor are responsible to unload the items from the end of the chute - e.g. into trailer, vans, or roller cages. It often happens that the chutes are filled up with parcels, and that there is no operator assigned to it, to perform the unloading process. In that case, it may happen that a chute runs full, and that no further parcels heading to it can be discharged onto the chute. This increases the number of recirculating items on the sorter, and the system performance decreases.
Hence, an improved method and system for sorting parcels would be advantageous, and in particular a more efficient and/or reliable method for assigning operators to a chute for emptying the chute would be advantageous.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for sorting parcels in a parcel sorting system by determining the filling degree and/or the filling rate for a chute and determining whether operators are removing parcels from the chute.
It is a further object of the present invention to assign operators proactively to a chute when the chute is filling up.
It is a further object of the present invention to ensure a high degree of utilization of the capacity of the parcel sorting system.
It is a further object of the present invention to utilize workforce more efficiently and balance worker capacities according to the actual chute utilization.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the prior a rt.
In particular, it may be seen as an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system that solves the above mentioned problems of the prior art with sorting parcels avoiding a chute is filling up and is running full.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the above described object and several other objects are intended to be obtained in a first aspect of the invention by providing a method of sorting parcels in a parcel sorting system, the parcel sorting system comprises a sortation system and a plurality of chutes, the method is comprising the steps:

entering the parcels to the sortation system,
designating each parcel to a designated chute of the plurality of chutes,
transporting each parcel on the sortation system to the chute the parcel is designated to, and
discharging each parcel from the sortation system onto the chute, which the parcel is designated to;

determining one, or more, filling parameters, the filling parameters comprises one, or more, of the following parameters:
- the filling degree of parcels on the chute,
- the filling rate of parcels being discharged to the chute,
- the unloading rate of parcels being unloaded from the chute, and/or
- the number of operators at the chute,
determining whether there is a filling event, indicating that more operators are required at the chute, based on one, or more, of the filling parameters, and
if a filling event is determined, then the method further is comprising the step:
1. i. submitting a warning to a user interface that more operators are required at the chute.

In a parcel sorting system, parcels are entering a sortation system, and the parcels are transported to a chute. The sortation system may comprise conveyer belts, cross belt sorters, line sorters, automatic guide vehicles, robots and other devices supporting sorting of parcels.
The term parcel is used in this application, but the term parcel is also in this document considered to also cover packages, articles, baggage, items and any other piece of goods, which may be transported in a sortation system.
The parcel sorting system comprises a control system. Information from sensors are transmitted to the control system, and the control system has access to data for the parcels handled by the parcel sorting system and is controlling transporting the parcels to the designated chute and discharging the parcels to the designated chute. The control system also determines filling parameters for the chute; the filling parameter may be the filling degree, the filling rate, the unloading rate and/or the number of operators at the chute. From the filling parameters the status of each chute is determined and the control system relays the status to user interfaces and submits warnings if required. When a chute is filling up and there is no operator at the chute or not a sufficient number of operators at the chute, the control system submits a warning to a user interface.
There usually are a plurality of chutes, and each parcel is designated to a chute. A parcel is designated to a chute depending on the destination of the parcel. Each parcel is discharged from the sortation system, for instance from a conveyer belt, onto the chute the parcel is designated to. The parcel sorting system is sorting the parcels by transporting each parcel to the chute it is designated to, and discharge the parcel to the chute.
From the chute, the parcels are then unloaded to a receiver, which may for instance be a van, a trailer or a roller cage. The parcels are being sorted, so the parcels are transported to the chute, they are designated to, and unloaded to the receiver they are meant for. For instance the parcels are sorted, so all parcels going to a specific destination, are sorted to a chute, which is unloaded to a van going to the specific destination. The destination may be a specific shop, post office, customer or, in an airport, an airplane or a baggage claim area.
However, on a chute there is limited space for parcels, therefore a chute may be filling up, if parcels continuously are discharged to the chute, but is not subsequently unloaded from the chute to a receiver. If there is no space left to discharge parcels to the chute the parcels are designated to, the parcels stays on the conveyer belt and the parcels may be discharged on a reserve chute, or the parcels remains in the chute for further circulations.
Further, as the capacity of the sortation system often may be utilized close to its maximum, recirculating parcels, which could not be discharged to the designated chute, takes up a place on the conveyer belt, so other parcels may not be able to enter the conveyer belt and will be delayed, reducing the capacity of the sorting system.
There may be a detection of that the chute is full, for instance by a light beam crossing the chute not far from the sorter, if the light beam is broken, then discharge of parcels to the chute is not allowed. This is the system maximum disallowing discharge of parcels to the chute, regardless of the filling degree and the filling rate.
The method of this invention has the advantage that it prevents that the chutes are filled up to the system maximum, so it is avoided that parcels are recirculated and block the system.
From the filling parameters, it is determined whether a filling event occurs at a chute. A filling event is occurring, when one, or more, filling parameters are indicating that a chute is in the risk of filling up, and therefore more operators are required at a chute to prevent the chute from filling up and, in worst case, reach a system maximum.
If a filling event occurs, then a warning is submitted that the system is filling up and that more operators are required at the chute to be unloading the chute. The warning is preferable submitted some time before the chute is full, so an operator, or more operators, may be assigned to unload the chute, before the chute is full.
It is essential for the performance of the parcel sorting system that parcels are unloaded from the designated chute, before the chute is full, so that parcels from the conveyer belt always can be discharged to the chute, which the parcel is designated to.
Therefore, the method monitors the filling degree and/or the filling rate of each chute. Cameras, photocells, and/or other tracking devices may be tracking the parcels, and may be used to determine the filling degree and/or the filling rate of each chute. A fill level tracking system may be part of the parcel sorting system. The fill level tracking system may use the cameras and other tracking devices, to determine relevant parameters like size, volume, weight, type of parcel etc. for determining the filling degree and/or filling rate. Alternatively, an image of a chute can be used to determine how large a part of the chute is covered by parcels and thereby determine the filling degree, or the weight of parcels on the chute is used to determine the filling degree and/or the filling rate, or the volume of the parcels on the chute is used to determine the filling degree and/or the filling rate. The filling rate may be determined from changes in the filling rate over time.
The filling degree may be the current filling degree or a predicted filling degree. The current filling degree is the filling degree detected in the current moment. The predicted filling degree is an expected future filling degree.
The filling rate may be the current filling rate or a predicted filling rate. The current filling rate is the filling rate detected in the current moment. The predicted filling rate is an expected future filling rate.
If a chute is filling up, or it can be predicted that the chute soon, e.g. within a few minutes, may be filling up, a warning is submitted and action must be taken.
When it is detected that a chute is filling up, a warning is submitted that the chute is filling up and more operators are required at the chute. The warning may be submitted to a user interface. The warning may be shown on a display, on a computer screen, or on a display of a portable unit, like a smart phone or a smart watch, but the warning may also be a vibration signal, an audio signal or a light signal. Any device for submitting a warning may be used. Often it is combined, so an audio signal is emitted and at the same time, a status or a warning is displayed.
The parcel sorting system detects, whether a chute is filling up, and whether there are operators at the chute, unloading parcels form the chute. If there is no operator, or not sufficient operators, at the chute, and the chute is filling up, a message or a status update may be submitted to a user interface, so that operators may be assigned to the chute to unload parcels from the chute.
A person-detecting sensor may detect whether there are operators at a chute. The detecting sensor may be a motion sensor, an infrared sensor, a camera, a photocell, a sensor mat, a vision sensor, an audio sensor, a heat sensor etc. Alternatively, information may be stored in a database, whether an operator is assigned to a chute.
When there is an operator at the chute, it may be assumed the operator is unloading the chute, however, the exact unloading may also be realized by a camera, a sensor identifying the movement of the operator, or e.g. vision technology could identify if the parcels are being unloaded from the chute. The sensors on the chute may detect how many parcels are unloaded, and when the parcels are unloaded as part of a fill level tracking system, which determines the filling degree and may be predicting future filling degrees.
The unloading rate of parcels being unloaded form the chute may be determined. The unloading rate may be used to determine a predicted filling degree at the chute at a future time. Detecting the unloading rate may comprise recognizing the parcels and using stored information about size, volume, weight and/or type of the parcels to determine the unloading rate.
In an embodiment, it may be detected, whether the filling rate of a chute is still increasing even though there is an operator at the chute. In that case, additional operators may be assigned to the chute.
A chute may be a chute or any kind of area into which a parcel may be discharged from a sortation system.
The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, advantageous for obtaining a high degree of utilization of the capacity of the parcel sorting system by ensuring that parcels are unloaded from a chute before the chute is filled up.
According to an embodiment, when a filling event is determined, the method is further comprising the step:

ii. alerting an operator to go to the chute, or alerting a supervisor or a senior worker to assign an operator to the chute.

If it is determined that there are not any operators, or not sufficient operators, unloading the chute, and the chute is filling up, an operator may be assigned to the chute. The operator, being assigned to a chute, may be verbally alerted by a supervisor or a senior operator, or the operator may by alerted by receiving a message on a mobile phone or another portable communication device. Alternatively, the operator may be alerted by receiving a message or a warning transmitted by the parcel sorting system, or an associated system working with the parcel sorting system, to the portable device carried by the operator or a device communicating with the operator.
When an alert or a warning is transmitted, the alert or warning may be displayed on a screen or monitor. A supervisor or a senior worker monitors the screen, if an operator is needed at a chute, then the supervisor or the senior worker assigns an operator to the chute..
According to an embodiment, the operator is alerted by receiving a message on a communication device, which is communicating with the operator.
The communication device may be a monitor, a mobile phone, a smart watch or any kind of portable device, which may send a visual signal, an audio signal and/or a vibrational signal to the operator. Alternatively, the communication device may be screens, lamps or audio signals at the chute, distributing optical and/or acoustic signals to the operators.
The operator may carry a portable communication device. When the operator is needed to unload parcels from a chute, the operator receives a message on the communication device. The communication device may send out an audio signal or may start vibrating, so the operator understands there is a message for the operator, and the operator may then see a message on the communication devise about at which chute the operator is required.
According to an embodiment, a filling event is determined if

the filling degree of the chute is higher than a threshold value, and/or if the filling rate of the chute is higher than a maximum rate, and
there are no operators at the chute.

Preferable, one, or more, operators are assigned to unload the chute, before the filling degree of the chute is reaching the threshold value.
That the chute is filling up may be understood as the filling degree of the chute is higher than the predefined threshold value, or the filling rate of a chute is higher than a predefined maximum rate.
The threshold value or the maximum rate for a chute may be different from customer to customer, and may be different from time to time. For instance, the threshold value or the maximum rate may be lower at times, where there are less operators at work.
The threshold value and the maximum rate are configurable; they may be configurable by the customer for each chute individually. The threshold value and the maximum rate may also be automatically configured based on data in the system. The data may be the size, volume, weight and/or type of parcels designated to the chute, the time of day, the number of operators at work at a given time, the filling rate, the general utilisation of the system, the planned utilisation of the system, the average utilisation of the system. Further, data may be coming in from a customer about how many parcels are arriving and when, or about how many trucks are arriving and when. Also, data may be coming about the destination, where the arriving parcels are going to etc.
According to an embodiment, a filling event is determined if

the filling degree of the chute is higher than a threshold value, and
changes in the filling degree of parcels on the chute indicates that the filling degree is increasing.

If the filling degree of the chute is higher than the threshold value, and the filling degree is increasing from one determination of the filling degree to the next, then there are no operators or not sufficient operators at the chute, and more operators may be assigned to the chute, then a warning may be submitted.
However, if the filling degree of the chute is higher than the threshold value, but the filling degree is decreasing, then the rate of unloading parcels from the chute is higher than the rate of parcels being discharge to the chute, and therefore more operators at the chute is not required, and therefore no warning signal is submitted.
According to an embodiment, a filling event is determined if

the filling rate of parcels being discharged to the chute is higher than the unloading rate of parcels being unloaded from the chute.

Generally if the filling rate of parcels being discharged to the chute is higher than the unloading rate, then more parcels enters the chute than is removed from the chute, and then a warning may be submitted that more operators are required at the chute.
According to an embodiment, the method is further comprising the steps:

updating a status of the chute, the status comprising information whether the chute is filling up and whether there are, one or more, operators at the chute, and
relaying the status of the chute to a user interface.

The status for each chute is based on at least two status values, the first status value is whether either the filling degree is above the predefined threshold value or the filling rate is above the maximum rate, in that case the first parameter is "above" otherwise it is "under". The second status value is "1" if there are an operator, or more operators, at the chute, and "0" if there is no operator at the chute. If the first status value is "above" and the second status value is "0", then the chute is filling up and there are no operators at the chute, then the status is "send operator" and a warning is submitted. Different statuses are listed in fig. 5.
Further status value s may be included in determining the status. A third status value may be whether the filling degree is increasing or not. In addition, if the filling degree is increasing and there already is an operator at the chute, the status may be "send additional operator".
According to an embodiment, the filling degree of the chute is determined as the area of the chute covered by the parcels, the volume of the parcels on the chute and/or the weight of the parcels on the chute relative to the maximum area, volume and/or weight.
Sensors are installed at each chute to detect the filling degree. The sensors determine how big a part of the chutes surface area is covered by parcels.
Alternatively, the volume of the parcels on the chute is detected and the filling degree is determined as the total volume of the parcels relative to the maximum volume of parcels the chute can hold. A measuring device detects the dimensions of the parcels or the dimensions may be available for the parcels in a database in the parcel sorting system
Alternatively, the weight of the parcels on the chute is measured and the filling degree is determined as the total weight of the parcels on the chute, relative to an allowed maximum weight for parcels on the chute.
According to an embodiment, the parcel sorting system comprises information about parcels on the sortation system in route to a designated chute, and the method further comprises tracking the parcels, and predicting when the parcels will be discharged to the chute the parcels are designated to.
The sorting system comprises information about which chute a parcel is designated to. In addition, by predicting when a parcel will be discharged from the conveyer belt to the designated chute, future changes in the filling degree of the chute can be predicted. Live data from the sorter is used to predict when the chute is running full.
According to an embodiment, the filling parameters further comprises the predicted filling degree of the chute, where the predicted filling degree of the chute is determined as the area, the volume and/or the weight of the parcels on the chute at a predetermined time relative to the maximum area, volume and/or weight, and a filling event is determined if the predicted filling degree of the chute is higher than the threshold value.
A further filling parameter may be the predicted filling degree of the chute. The predicted filling degree of the chute is predicted at a predetermined time, and is determined as the current filling degree of the chute and the expected filling degree of the parcels being discharged to the chute before the predetermined time.
Live data is used to predict the filling degree of the chute. Each parcel is designated to a chute, and are monitored on the sortation system by sensors, therefore it can be predicted when a parcel will be discharged to the designated chute. Therefore, at a predetermined time, for instance 3 minutes into the future, it can be predicted how many parcels are discharged to a chute, the total area, the total volume and/or the total weight of these parcels may be determined and used to determine the filling degree of the chute at the predetermined time.
The filling degree may be a current filling degree or a predicted filling degree. The current filling degree is the actual filling degree determined for a chute. The predicted filling degree is a future filling degree, which is the sum of the current filling degree and an expected filling degree of the parcels discharged to the chute in the future before a predetermined time.
According to an embodiment, the predicted filling degree of the chute at a predetermined time is determined as the current filling degree of the chute and the expected filling degree of the parcels being discharged to the chute before the predetermined time.
The filling degree may be the percentage of the chute to be covered by parcels. The current filling degree is the actually filling degree of a chute at the current time. An arrival time for each parcel to a chute can be predicted, using information in the system, and of the current position of the parcel on the sortation system.
Therefore, the filling degree of a chute at a predetermined time may be predicted as the sum of the current filling degree and the expected filling degree of the parcels discharged to the chute before the predetermined time. The predetermined time may for instance be 3 minutes into the future. Information about the size, volume, weight and/or type of the arriving parcel may be used to determine the expected filling degree of the arriving parcels to determine the predicted filling degree.
If the chute is being unloaded, the filling degree may be determined as the current filling degree of the chute added to the expected filling degree of the parcels being discharged to the chute before the predetermined time, and subtracting the filling degree of the parcels unloaded from the chute before the predetermined time.
Be determining the current filling degree of a chute and by determining the parcels expected to arrive at the chute within a predetermined time, for instance within 3 minutes, which may be the filling rate multiplied by time, the predicted filling degree in 3 minutes from now can be determined assuming no parcels in the meantime is unloaded from the chute. If parcels are unloaded from the chute, the filling degree they represent, which may be the unloading rate multiplied by time, is subtracted from the predicted filling degree.
The predetermined time may be a time interval, where the filling degree is determined for every second, every thirty second, every minute, every 30 minutes into the future. It can then be determined, when it may be expected that the chute is filling up.
Also information about when trucks are arriving with parcels and the destination of these parcels, to predict filling degrees and filling rates further into the future. Historical data may also be used. For instance if there is knowledge or expectations about many parcels may arrive Monday morning, then additional operators can be called to work Monday morning.
According to an embodiment, the filling parameters further comprises the predicted filling rate of the chute, the predicted filling rate of the chute is determined as the filling rate at a predetermined time based on the prediction about when parcels will be discharged to the chute and or unloaded from the chute, and a filling event is determined if the predicted filling rate of the chute is higher than the maximum rate.
A further filling parameter may be the predicted filling rate of the chute. At a predetermined time, for instance 3 minutes into the future, the predicted filling rate of the chute may be predicted based on information about parcels in route to the chute. The information may include size, volume, weight and/or type of the parcels, and the predicted arrival times of the parcels to be discharge to the chute.
According to an embodiment, the filling rate of the chute is determined as the number of parcels, the volume of the parcels and/or the weight of the parcels being discharged to and/or unloaded from the chute over a predetermined period.
A filling rate can be determined for a chute by monitoring the arrival of parcels to the chute, and determine the number of parcels being discharged to the chute within a period. Then a filling rate, for instance parcels per minute, is determined. If the filling rate is higher than the maximum rate, then the chute is considered to be filling up, and if there is no operator at the chute, an operator is assigned to the chute for unloading the chute.
Further, the unloading rate for parcels being unloaded from the chute may be determined, and may be included in determining the filling rate, by being subtracted from the filling rate.
According to an embodiment, the predefined threshold value preferably is 70%, 75%, 80%, 85% or 90%.
If the filling degree of the chute is 80%, the chute is considered to be filling up, a warning is sent out, and if there is no operator at the chute, an operator may be assigned to the chute and alerted to go to the chute.
Alternatively, the threshold value for sending a warning may be 70%, 75%, 85% or 90% or any other suitable threshold value selected by the user.
The filling rate is defined as no of discharged parcels divided by time, e.g. 30 parcels / 3 minutes.
The threshold value and the maximum rate are configurable. A costumer using the system selects the threshold value or the maximum rate for a chute to be filled. In addition, different threshold values or maximum rates may be selected at different times.
The threshold value and the maximum rate may be configured automatically based on information in the system; the information may be the kind of parcels designated to the chute, the time of day, the number of operators at work at a given time etc.
The type and shape of parcels may also be considered. The parcels may be boxes of polybags. If the parcels are soft, then their form may change or adapt to the other parcels allowing more parcels on the chute, while if the parcels are boxes, they may not adapt, and there may be room for fewer parcels on the chute.
According to an embodiment, the operators are detected at the chute by a person-detecting sensor; the person-detecting sensor may be an infrared sensor, a camera, a photocell or a sensor mat.
There may also be tracking of operators elsewhere in the room or the building, to detect whether additional operators are available and may be alerted, or to identify operators nearby, which quickly may be alerted and repositioned to the chute.
Further, the sensor may, for instance if it is a camera, also be used to detect the parcels, which is being removed from the chute.
First, a person-detecting sensor may detect an operator close to the chute, and then by further analysis of the sensor data from the person-detecting sensor it may be detected whether the person actually are unloading parcels from the chute. Then further, an unloading rate may be detected for the parcels being unloaded from the chute by the operator. The unloading rate then may be used as a filling parameter.
Is it only detected that an operator is working at a chute, and then an unloading rate may be assigned based on expected unloading rate or historical unloading rates for an operator.
According to an embodiment, the method further is comprising the step: detecting whether there is a receiver at the chute; the receiver may be a trailer, a van, a roller cage or any other means receiving the parcels at the chute, if this is not the case a no receiver warning is submitted to the user interface.
If there is no receiver at a chute, then, obviously, an operator cannot unload the parcels. Therefore, to have an efficient system, it is essential that there is a receiver at the chute before the chute is running full. If there not is receiver, then a warning may be submitted to the user interface.
Further, there may be a door between the chute and the receiver. If the receiver is a van or a trailer, it may be placed outside a building, while the chute is placed inside the building, and therefore there may be a door between, which may be closed. Therefore, it is essential that the door be opened, before the chute is running full to be able to unload the parcels to the receiver. A warning is submitted if the door is closed.
In a second aspect, the invention relates to a parcel sorting system comprising a sortation system and a plurality of chutes, in the parcel sorting system

the parcels enters the sortation system,
each parcel is designated to a designated chute of the plurality of chutes
each parcel is transported by the parcel sorting system to the chute the parcel is designated to, and
each parcel is discharged from the sortation system onto the chute, which the parcel is designated to;
wherein, for at least one chute of the plurality of chutes, the parcel sorting system
determines one, or more, filling parameters, the filling parameters comprises one, or more, of the following parameters
- the filling degree of parcels on the chute,
- the filling rate of parcels being discharged to the chute,
- the unloading rate of parcels being unloaded from the chute, and/or
- the number of operators at the chute,
determines whether there is a filling event, indicating that more operators is required at the chute, based on one, or more, of the filling parameters, and
if a filling event is determined,
1. i. submits a warning to a user interface that more operators are required at the chute.

According to an embodiment, the parcel sorting system further comprises a control system controlling the parcel sorting system according to the second aspect of the invention.
In a third aspect, the invention relates to a control system to control a parcel sorting system, wherein the control system is arranged to perform the steps according to the method of the first aspect of the invention.
In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a computer program product being adapted to enable a computer system comprising at least one computer having data storage means in connection therewith to control an parcel sorting system according to the second aspect of the invention, such as a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of the first aspect of the invention.
This aspect of the invention is particularly, but not exclusively, advantageous in that the present invention may be accomplished by a computer program product enabling a computer system to carry out the operations of the system of the second aspect of the invention when down- or uploaded into the computer system. Such a computer program product may be provided on any kind of computer readable medium, or through a network.
The individual aspects of the present invention may each be combined with any of the other aspects. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the described embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The method and system according to the invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

Fig. 1 shows a parcel sorting system according to the invention.
Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the parcel sorting system.
Fig. 3 shows a user interface.
Fig. 4 shows a flow chart for the method.
Fig. 5 shows a flow chart for the detection of the status of a chute.
Fig. 6 shows the status depending on the first and second status values.
Fig. 7 shows a diagram illustration the filling degree of a chute.
Fig. 8 shows a diagram illustration the filling rate of a chute.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

Fig. 1 shows a parcel sorting system 1 comprising a sortation system 2 and a plurality of chutes 3. The parcel sorting system is controlled by a control system 40. Parcels 4 are transported by the sortation system 2 and are discharged to the chutes 3. Each parcel 4 is designated to be discharged onto a designated chute 3. Cameras 30 and/or other tracking devices are tracking the parcels 4 and are used to determine the filling degree, the filling rate and/or the unloading rate of each chute 3. Operators 5 are unloading the chutes 3 by moving the parcels 4 to a receiver 8, which may e.g. be a van, a trailer or a roller cage.
If it is detected that a chute 3 is filling up, a filling event is occurring, and there are no operator 5, or not sufficient operators, at the chute, a warning is sent to a user interface 20. A supervisor 28 may be monitoring the user interface. If a filling event is occurring, an alert may be sent to an operator 5, who may have a communication device 7 for receiving the alert. The alert requests the operator to go to the chute filling up and start unloading the chute 3. The supervisor 28 may send the alert to the operator, or the alert may be sent automatically by the control system 40.
Further, the warning may be displayed on information panels, e.g. monitors, and an audio system may play an audible warning signal.
If there is no receiver 8 at the chute 3, which is filling up, a "no receiver" warning is sent to the user interface 20, so the supervisor may request a receiver 8 to be moved to the chute 3 to be unloaded. Alternatively, the parcel sorting system request a receiver 8 to be moved to the chute 3.
Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the parcel sorting system 1 comprising a sortation system 2 and a plurality of chutes 3. A person-detecting sensor 6, e.g. a motion sensor or a camera, is detecting, whether there is sufficient operators 5 at the chute 3. The motion sensor is detecting the operator, and depending on the angle of detection and changes in the angle of detection, it may be detected that the operator is unloading the chute.
Photocells 31, 32 and/or cameras 30 above the chute, and/or motion sensors in the chute are monitoring the filling degree of the chute 3. Depending on the location of the photocells, the filling degree of the chute may be determined. The photocells 31 close to the sortation system may detect whether the chute is full and whether the system maximum is reached, so that no more parcels can be discharged to the chute. The photocells 32 may detect that the chute is half-full. But to get a precise filling degree of parcels and the current filling rate of parcels, cameras 30 above the chute is detecting the current filling degree and filling rate.
Signals from the cameras, photocells and other sensors are transmitted to the control system 40, which transmit the status to the user interface 20.
Fig. 3 shows a user interface 20. The user interface may be a stationary display connected to the control system 40. Alternatively, the user interface may be a smart phone or a smart watch, or another portable device. The status of each chute may be displayed with information about filling degree, filling rate, predicted filling degree and/or filling rate at a predetermined future time, whether there are operators at the chute, and any other relevant information.
On the user interface of fig. 3 is displayed, whether there is an operator at the chute shown with an ok sign 21, whether there is no operator at a chute, or whether an operator is needed at the chute, shown by a running man 22. The running man may be considered as the submitted warning. The filling degree is displayed 24, a filling rate indicator 25 is displayed, a door indicator 26 is displayed, showing whether there is a door closed between the chute and the receiver, which needs to be opened, and a receiver indicator 27 is displayed, showing whether there is a receiver at the chute.
Fig. 4 shows a flow chart for the method of the invention. The methods starts in 401. Then the method is entering parcels to the sortation system in step 402. In step 403, the method is designating each parcel to a designated chute of the plurality of chutes. Then, in step 404, each parcel is transported to the designated chute. In step 405, the method is discharging each parcel from the sortation system to the chute the parcel is designated to. In step 406, the method is determining filling parameters for at least one chute, and based on the filling parameters, the method in step 407 is determining, whether there is a filling event at the chute. A filling event is indicating that more operators are required at the chute, and if a filling event is determined, then in step 408, the method is submitting a warning that more operators are required at a chute. Then, in step 409, the method is alerting an operator to go to the chute, or alerting a supervisor or senior worked to assign an operator to the chute. The method is ending in 410. However, the method illustrated in this flow chart is constantly repeated.
Fig. 5 shows a flow chart for the detection of the status of a chute. The status comprises two status values, the first status value is whether the chute is filling up or is not filling up, and the second status value is whether operators are unloading the chute or not.
In this example, the filling parameters are the filling degree, the filling rate and the number of operators. A filling degree algorithm 501 determines the filling degree of the chute, and a filling rate algorithm 502 determines the filling rate. A check 503 is determining the first status value, if either the filling degree is higher than the predefined threshold value 504 or the filling rate is higher than a predefined maximum rate 505 the result 506 of the first status value is set to "above" indicating the chute is filling up. If neither of the two conditions are fulfilled the result of first status value is set to "under". An operator sensor algorithm 507 is determining whether an operator is unlading the chute. If this is the case, the second status value is set to "1", indicating an operator is unloading the chute; otherwise, the second status value is set to "0".
When the first status value and the second status value is determined the status is checked 508 and an output result 509 is determined.
The output result 509 is determined based on the rules 510. The rules are illustrated in fig. 6 and the rules are that if the first status value 620 is "above" and the second status value 621 is "0", indicating that the chute is filling up and that there is no operator, or not a sufficient number of operators, at the chute, then the status 622 is "send operator". If the first status value 620 is "above" and the second parameter 621 is "1", indicating that the chute is filling up, but an operator is present at the chute unloading the chute, the status 622 is "hold operator", meaning that the operator stays at the chute continuing unloading. If the first status value is "under" and the second status value is "0", indicating that the chute is not filling up and there are no operator, or not a sufficient number of operators, at the chute, the status is "no action needed". Finally, if the first status value is "under" and the second status value is "1", indicating the chute is not filling up, but there is an operator at the chute unloading the chute, then the status is "assign operator to critical chute". The critical chute being a chute, which is filling up, but no operator, or not a sufficient number of operators, unloading it.
When the status is "send operator" a warning is transmitted to send an operator to the chute.
Fig. 7 shows a diagram illustrating the filling degree of a chute. The diagram shows the current filling degree 701 at a time 0. The predicted filling degree 702 is illustrated as a curve, which is the sum of the current filling degree 701 and the expected filling degree 703 of parcels being discharged to the chute at a future time. At the time X, the predicted filling degree reaches the threshold value 704 and at this time X, the chute is considered to be filling up and an operator is required at the chute some time before time X. The predicted filling degree 702 may be determined by the parcel sorting system at predetermined times, for instance at the time X.
Fig. 8 shows a diagram illustrating the filling rate of a chute. The diagram shows the current filling rate 801 at a time 0. The predicted filling rate 802 is a future predicted filling rate based on data about incoming parcels. At the time Y, the predicted filling rate 802 is higher than the maximum filling rate 803 and it is expected the chute will be filling up, and therefore some time before the time Y an operator is required at the chute.
The invention can be implemented by means of hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. The invention or some of the features thereof can also be implemented as software running on one or more data processors and/or digital signal processors.
The individual elements of an embodiment of the invention may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way such as in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of separate functional units. The invention may be implemented in a single unit, or be both physically and functionally distributed between different units and processors.
Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is to be interpreted in the light of the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms "comprising" or "comprises" do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as "a" or "an" etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.

Claims

A method of sorting parcels in a parcel sorting system, the parcel sorting system (1) comprises a sortation system (2) and a plurality of chutes (3), the method is comprising the steps:
- entering the parcels (4) to the sortation system (2),

- designating each parcel (4) to a designated chute (3) of the plurality of chutes,

- transporting each parcel (4) on the sortation system (2) to the chute (3) the parcel is designated to, and

- discharging each parcel (4) from the sortation system (2) onto the chute (3), which the parcel is designated to;
wherein, the method further is comprising the following steps for at least one chute of the plurality of chutes:
- determining one, or more, filling parameters, the filling parameters comprises one, or more, of the following parameters:
• the filling degree of parcels (4) on the chute (3),

• the filling rate of parcels (4) being discharged to the chute (3),

• the unloading rate of parcels (4) being unloaded from the chute (3), and/or

• the number of operators (5) at the chute,

- determining whether there is a filling event, indicating that more operators are required at the chute, based on one, or more, of the filling parameters, and

- if a filling event is determined, then the method further is comprising the step:
i. submitting a warning to a user interface that more operators are required at the chute (3).
The method according to any of the claims 1, wherein, when a filling event is determined, the method is further comprising the step:
iii. alerting an operator (5) to go to the chute, or alerting a supervisor (28) or a senior worker to assign an operator to the chute.
The method according to claim 2, wherein the operator (5) is alerted by receiving a message on a communication device (7), which is communicating with the operator.
The method according to any of the claims 1-3, wherein a filling event is determined if
- the filling degree of the chute is higher than a threshold value, and/or if the filling rate of the chute is higher than a maximum rate, and

- there are no operators at the chute.
The method according to any of the claims 1-3, wherein a filling event is determined if
- the filling degree of the chute is higher than a threshold value, and

- changes in the filling degree of parcels (4) on the chute (3) indicates that the filling degree is increasing.
The method according to any of the claims 1-3, wherein a filling event is determined if
- the filling rate of parcels (4) being discharged to the chute (3) is higher than the unloading rate of parcels (4) being unloaded from the chute (3).
The method according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein the method is further comprising the steps:
- updating a status of the chute (3), the status comprising information whether the chute is filling up and whether there are, one or more, operators (5) at the chute, and

- relaying the status of the chute (3) to a user interface (20).
The method according to any of the claims 1-7, wherein the filling degree of the chute (3) is determined as the area of the chute covered by the parcels, the volume of the parcels on the chute (3) and/or the weight of the parcels (4) on the chute (3) relative to the maximum area, volume and/or weight.
The method according to any of the claims 1-8, wherein the parcel sorting system comprises information about parcels (4) on the sortation system (2) in route to a designated chute (3), and the method further comprises tracking the parcels, and predicting when the parcels (4) will be discharged to the chute (3) the parcels are designated to.
The method according to claim 9, wherein the filling parameters further comprises
• the predicted filling degree of the chute (3),
where the predicted filling degree of the chute is determined as the area, the volume and/or the weight of the parcels (4) on the chute at a predetermined time relative to the maximum area, volume and/or weight, and a filling event is determined if the predicted filling degree of the chute is higher than the threshold value.
The method according to any of the claims 9-10, wherein the predicted filling degree of the chute (3) at a predetermined time is determined as the current filling degree of the chute (3) and the expected filling degree of the parcels (4) being discharged to the chute before the predetermined time.
The method according to any of the claim 9, wherein the filling parameters further comprises
• the predicted filling rate of the chute (3),
the predicted filling rate of the chute is determined as the filling rate at a predetermined time based on the prediction about when parcels (4) will be discharged to the chute (3) and or unloaded from the chute, and a filling event is determined if the predicted filling rate of the chute is higher than the maximum rate.
The method according to any of the claims 1-12, wherein the filling rate of the chute (3) is determined as the number of parcels (4), the volume of the parcels (4) and/or the weight of the parcels (4) being discharged to and/or unloaded from the chute (3) over a predetermined period.
The method according to any of the claims 1-13, wherein the operators (5) are detected at the chute (3) by a person-detecting sensor (6); the person-detecting sensor may be an infrared sensor, a camera, a photocell or a sensor mat.
The method according to any of the claims 1-14, wherein the method further is comprising the step: detecting whether there is a receiver (8) at the chute (3); the receiver may be a trailer, a van, a roller cage or any other means receiving the parcels (4) at the chute (3), if this is not the case a no receiver warning is submitted to the user interface (20).
A control system to control a parcel sorting system, wherein the control system is arranged to perform the steps according to the method of any of claims 1-15.
A parcel sorting system comprising a sortation system and a plurality of chutes, in the parcel sorting system
- the parcels (4) enter the sortation system (2),

- each parcel (4) is designated to a designated chute (3) of the plurality of chutes,

- each parcel (4) is transported by the parcel sorting system (1) to the chute (3) the parcel is designated to, and

- each parcel (4) is discharged from the sortation system (2) onto the chute (3), which the parcel is designated to;
wherein, for at least one chute (3) of the plurality of chutes, the parcel sorting system (1)
- determines one, or more, filling parameters, the filling parameters comprises one, or more, of the following parameters
• the filling degree of parcels (4) on the chute (3),

• the filling rate of parcels (4) being discharged to the chute (3),

• the unloading rate of parcels (4) being unloaded from the chute (3), and/or

• the number of operators (5) at the chute,

- determines whether there is a filling event, indicating that more operators is required at the chute, based on one, or more, of the filling parameters, and

- if a filling event is determined,
i. submits a warning to a user interface (20) that more operators are required at the chute (3).
A parcel sorting system according to claim 17, where the parcel sorting system further comprises a control system (40) controlling the parcel sorting system (1), according to claim 16.
A computer program product comprising software code adapted to control a parcel sorting system when executed on a data processing system, the computer program product being adapted to perform the method of any of the claims 1-15.