GB2532181A - IPN carousel - Google Patents

Abstract

An automated collection point 1 comprising a carousel provided with a plurality of moveable shelves 2 mounted on a vertically oriented elliptical chain 3 driven by a motor, much like that of a paternoster. The shelves 2 have at least one thermally insulated compartment. In use, each compartment or shelf 2 is associated with an order number. The compartments are accessible at a carousel opening 7. An order number or a code therefore is entered at an input screen; the carousel moves the shelves 2 so that the compartment or shelf is presented at the carousel opening, wherein the opening 7 or compartment is provided with an automatically actuatable self-closing door.

Description

Automated Collection Point The invention relates to an automated collection point, in particular, but not exclusively for use with perishable goods such as food.

A significant proportion of consumer purchases are now made online and the purchased goods are collected at a later time. This is becoming an increasingly demanded option as many consumers cannot be certain when they can be at home to receive goods delivered by a delivery company and many heavy or bulky goods are not suitable to be delivered to a place of work if this is possible.

A further development of the collection service is the provision of automated collection points, which are banks of electronically controlled lockers (lockerbanks) in which goods are deposited by delivery service personnel for later collection by the consumer.

Automated collection points are known for example from W002/07021 and GB2471148. These documents disclose a typical automated collection point comprising an electronic controller, which is in communication with a remote data processor, a user interface including a keypad and a card or tag reader, and a block of secure lockers, each having an individual door. The controller locks and unlocks each locker door in response to data received via the interface. Lockerbank doors have traditionally been locked by means of two or more solenoid operated deadbolts, which are moved automatically to the locking position when sensors indicate that the door is fully closed. The bolts are set apart so as to lock the door at two or more spaced positions, which adds considerably to its security and rigidity in the closed position. The door is spring biased to the partially open (ajar) position so that it pops open when the bolts are retracted. In order for the door to be relocked, the user must first push it shut from the ajar position against the biasing force. By arranging a resilient seal along the doorjamb the locker door may be made weather tight; however, the effectiveness of the seal depends in part on the force applied to compress it, which in turn is limited to the force supplied by the user.

Particular problems arise with perishable goods, which require different handling to normal goods. For perishable goods such as food, where much of the produce requires refrigeration or is frozen, a delivery company, which may be a supermarket, requires expensive investment in special refrigerated delivery vans and must operate a sophisticated logistics system to ensure that the delivery costs are kept under control. The costs of the delivery are significant and many supermarket chains regard these as a loss leader. As a cheaper alternative, many shops offer a collection service where the consumer places the order and specifies when they will collect the order from the shop where the perishable shopping can be kept in an appropriate temperature controlled environment. The current arrangements still require staff intervention for the customer to obtain their goods.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide an automated collection point for perishable goods such as food.

According to the invention there is provided an automated collection point comprising a carousel provided with a plurality of moveable shelves, each shelf being mounted on a vertically oriented elliptical chain driven by a motor, the shelves receiving at least one thermally insulated compartment, wherein each compartment or shelf is associated with an order number, which compartments are accessible at a carousel opening, the automated collection point being provided with an input screen, such that when the order number is entered at the screen, the carousel moves the shelves so that the compartment or shelf is presented at the carousel opening, wherein the opening or compartment is provided with an automatically actuatable self-closing door.

Preferably, the carousel is provided with thermal insulating panels on its wall and ceiling. Preferably, the door self-closes a predetermined time after either the order is removed or an absence of motion through the opening is detected. Preferably, the carousel and input screen are housed in a thermally insulated housing or structure.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a carousel; Fig.2 shows schematically a front view of the carousel; Fig. 3 shows a deliver* driver process; Fig. 4 shows a customer collection process; Fig. 5 shows a plan view of an installation.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a carousel 1 comprising a plurality of moveable shelves 2 (of which only one is illustrated at the service hatch 7 for clarity purposes), each of which shelves is mounted on a vertically oriented elliptical chain 3. The elliptical chain 3 is driven by a motorised wheel 4 located at the lower end of the chain 3. The shelves 2 are attached to the chain by means of a mechanism which ensures that the shelves remains substantially horizontal through a complete motion of the chain thereby enabling the shelves to pass over the top and under the bottom of the chain without any goods stored on them moving. The carousel further comprising a supporting framework with cladding panels 6 and a service hatch 7 through which the goods can be accessed.

Figure 2 shows schematically a front view of the carousel 1 with the service hatch 7 in the open position showing the shelf 2 carrying a plurality of thermally insulated compartments 10.

The carousel will typically have a height of around 4m and be provided with around 17 to 20 shelves. The shelves will typically have a capacity of around 400kg and take at most 30 seconds to travel to the hatch position. The walls and ceiling of the carousel 1 are provided with insulation such as polyisocyanurate panels 8. Each shelf will be provided with a plurality of thermally insulated compartments 10. Generally approximately 60% of the compartments on any shelf will be for ambient temperature goods and 20% for each of chilled and frozen goods. Each compartment will have a hinged door with a hidden self-closing mechanism and magnetic contact to ensure full closure.

In use, once the required shelf has been brought to the opening 7, the door covering the opening will open. To make the system secure, the door can then only be accessed by the entering of a code or the scanning of a QR or Barcode. Photo cells are provided adjacent to the opening to monitor obstructions in the opening. If no activity is detected over a predetermined time after the opening of the door, it is assumed that the customer is inactive or has ceased to take the order and the door is closed. The position of the door is also monitored by means of a magnetic sensor, which in turn disables the movement of the carousel if the door is open. Movement of the carousel is also prevented if the photocells detect that there are goods blocking the opening.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary process for a worker loading the carousel. This could be a worker in a supermarket or a delivery driver depending on the installation location.

In a first step 301 the worker authenticates themselves on a touchscreen interface. The authentication will use typical logon features such as an ID and Password. In Step 302 the worker is presented with an option to search or remove orders so that unclaimed orders can be reclaimed from the carousel in step 303. If there is more than one unclaimed order, the system returns in step 304 to step 302. Once the unclaimed orders have been removed, the screen invites the worker to add orders in step 305. In step 306 the Order details are selected and entered or captured as required. In step 307 the grocery temperature storage options are selected. In step 308, the allocated carousel shelf moves to the product loading opening, which will typically be hatch 7 but which could be separate. In step 309, the groceries are loaded into the carousel. In step 310 the worker is asked if there are further orders to be loaded. In the affirmative, the process returns to step 305. In step 311 the worker logouts of the system.

Figure 4 shows an exemplary process for customer collection. In step 401 the customer authenticates themselves via a touchscreen interface using for example a QR code or Order No. If the system authenticates that the customer has an order awaiting collection in step 402 and if there is no Order displays an error message in step 403 and returned to the authentication screen 401. If the Order is authenticated, in step 404 the customer is asked to confirm their age and if this is appropriate the carousel will move so that the appropriate shelf is at the opening 7 in step 405. In step 406 the door opens and the carousel presents the goods to the customer so that these can be retrieved in step 408. The order number of the customer is then cancelled a predetermined time after the door is closed or absence of motion is detected, when the door self-closes, thereby enabling the customer to return to the order in case something was left behind.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of an installation showing the carousel in the installed position in a thermally insulated and weather proof structure 50 with a customer screen 51 accessible adjacent to the customer access area 7. Depending on the ambient conditions in the installation location the structure 50 may be provided with cooling equipment to ensure that the carousel contents remain cool at a temperature of between 4 and 10 C.

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1 An automated collection point comprising a carousel provided with a plurality of moveable shelves, each of which shelves is mounted on a vertically oriented elliptical chain driven by a motor, the shelves receiving at least one thermally insulated compartment wherein each compartment or shelf is associated with an order number, which compartments are accessible at a carousel opening, the automated collection point being provided with an input screen, such that when the order number or a code therefor is entered at the screen, the carousel moves the shelves so that the compartment or shelf is presented at the carousel opening, wherein the opening or compartment is provided with an automatically actuatable self-closing door.
2. 2. An automated collection point according to Claim I, wherein the carousel is provided with thermal insulating panels on its wall and ceiling.
3. 3. An automated collection point according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the door self-closes a predetermined time after either the order is removed or an absence of motion through the opening is detected.
4. 4. An automated collection point according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the carousel and input screen are housed in a thermally insulated housing or structure.
5. 5. An automated collection point substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.