WO2002075493A2 - Methode et dispositif de livraison et de stockage efficaces de paquets - Google Patents

Methode et dispositif de livraison et de stockage efficaces de paquets Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002075493A2
WO2002075493A2 PCT/US2002/007886 US0207886W WO02075493A2 WO 2002075493 A2 WO2002075493 A2 WO 2002075493A2 US 0207886 W US0207886 W US 0207886W WO 02075493 A2 WO02075493 A2 WO 02075493A2
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
package
destination
items
rdc
bulk
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/007886
Other languages
English (en)
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WO2002075493A3 (fr
Inventor
Gregg Bloom
Original Assignee
Gregg Bloom
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/810,903 external-priority patent/US6974928B2/en
Priority claimed from US09/864,797 external-priority patent/US20020178074A1/en
Application filed by Gregg Bloom filed Critical Gregg Bloom
Priority to EP02725174A priority Critical patent/EP1573422A4/fr
Priority to AU2002255757A priority patent/AU2002255757A1/en
Priority to CA002441053A priority patent/CA2441053A1/fr
Publication of WO2002075493A2 publication Critical patent/WO2002075493A2/fr
Publication of WO2002075493A3 publication Critical patent/WO2002075493A3/fr

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/10—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property
    • G07F17/12—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
    • G07F17/13—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned the containers being a postal pick-up locker
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Definitions

  • packages of ordered items are packed inefficiently for the entire distance that they are transported. This is due to the nature of trying to pack items of different shapes and sizes into a box or container that is large enough to hold all the items, with added packing materials to prevent the differently shaped items from damaging each other during transport.
  • packages are moved from cargo- carrying vehicles and packages sorting facilities a numerous amount of times as packages are distributed. The packages are moved from a delivery vehicle to a facility and vice- versa. At each point that a package changes hands when being routed through a package shipper's distribution network, it is resorted and grouped with other packages to fit onto the next cargo- carrying vehicle.
  • the step of randomly loading the bulk delivered package into the automated system of storage locker bins can include automatically triggering the dispatch of an electronic notification to the recipient of the bulk delivered package, the electronic notification having at least an identifier of the destination centralized pickup location.
  • Suitable electronic circuitry and software can be used to facilitate the triggering and dispatch functions.
  • the delivery method can further include retrieving the bulk delivered package by the recipient through self-service. Prior to retrieval, the package must be delivered and loaded into the storage bin.
  • the step of loading the bulk delivered package randomly into the automated system of configurable storage locker bins can include the step of loading the bulk delivered package into any unoccupied storage locker bin within the automated system of configurable storage locker bins, having dimensions that are large enough to accept the bulk delivered package.
  • the temperature within the bins of the automated system of storage locker bins can also be controlled by locating the bins in a temperature-controlled environment.
  • the delivering step can further include minimizing labor that is necessary for organizing bulk delivered packages into groups of bulk delivered packages for delivery to the selected location for which the packages are destined.
  • the minimizing step can include, organizing within an area of the destination RDC, the created bulk delivered packages into the groups of organized packages prior to moving the packages from the area of the destination RDC where the packages were created.
  • the minimizing step can further include, locating destination RDC locations in close proximity to local markets having greatest demand for items.
  • the local market can be a designated geographic area containing a plurality of destination centralized pickup locations.
  • destination RDC locations can be located within approximately 100 miles of local markets having greatest demand for items. It should be understood by one skilled in the art that other factors might dictate where the destination RDC is located.
  • the delivering step can further include reducing labor costs by organizing a majority of labor intensive tasks in RDC locations and a minority of labor intensive tasks in the destination centralized pickup locations.
  • the destination centralized pickup locations being substantially more numerous than the RDC locations.
  • the organized majority of labor intensive tasks can include any work that is necessary for accomplishing such tasks as sorting the items, shipping the items between multiple RDC locations, and creating packages for recipients from the items.
  • the organized minority of labor intensive tasks can include any work that is necessary for accomplishing such tasks as loading the created bulk delivered packages into the automated system of storage locker bins.
  • the method can further include adding temporarily, additional storage locker bins to the automated system of storage locker bins by locating additional storage locker bin units inside the destination centralized pickup location and/or outside the destination centralized pickup location, and connecting the additional storage locker bin units to a data network of the automated system of storage locker bins.
  • the data network infrastructure can either be wired or wireless.
  • the delivering step can further include enabling shipping fees to be tracked by a customer order.
  • the method for efficient delivery of packages can include enabling a quantity of storage locker bins to be reserved in aggregate for a quantity of bulk delivered packages prior to shipping the bulk delivered packages to the destination centralized pickup location and/or receiving the bulk delivered packages at the destination centralized pickup location.
  • FIG. 9B is a continuation of the exemplary data tables and data views of FIG. 9A.
  • CDC customer distribution center
  • LDDH local delivery distribution hub
  • a retailer can have one origination RDC 1170 for a particular shipper to which all shipments can be sent. However, if a retailer is located in a market, which is approximately half-way between two or more RDC s of a particular shipper (1170 and 1180- 2 for example), that retailer can send shipments for that shipper to more than one origination RDC. This can be done to minimize situations where cases are shipped to an origination
  • Each case label can have a readable description containing the following information: Case Id, RDC Id, SKU, a Product Description, and Quantity.
  • the RDC Id can be printed on the label in larger print to allow for easy identification without close inspection.
  • the Case Id can be printed on the label, for example, in a barcode format, in addition to regular text.
  • a character such as an "S" (for single-item case) can also be printed in large easily readable print, in a distinct area on a case label for a case having a Quantity of " 1 ".
  • Order Detail records 1202 having the current SKU and a Status such as "pick list - back order", to set Retailer Shipment Id to the current Retailer Shipment Id and Status to a value such as "retailer shipment - back order".
  • the program (312) can select and update Order Detail records 1202, having the current SKU and a Status such as "pick list - new”, to set Retailer Shipment Id to the current Retailer Shipment Id and Status to a value such as "retailer shipment - new”.
  • Each record 1214 can have the scanned Retailer Shipment Id, Employee Id, and Trailer Id values. Each record 1214 can also be created with a Status field value such as "received" and an ePD Shipper Id field that can be set to the value of the shipper operating the current origination RDC 1170.
  • the program (316) can search a Retailer table 1246 for the record having the ePD Retailer Id embedded in the
  • the program (318) can select the Order Detail records 1202 in a manner that can be similar to the way as the Retailer Shipment Program (312) did when it selected Order Detail records 1202 to associate them with a retailer shipment.
  • the team of workers can then proceed to another RDC shipping dock conveyor (22) to start a new RDC shipment for the same destination RDC (for example 1180-1).
  • separate teams could be working in parallel to create separate RDC shipments for one destination RDC (for example 1180-1) at the same time, instead of only having one team per destination RDC (for example 1180-1). Referring now to FIG. 1 A in addition to FIG. 2 and FIG.
  • the overflow section of the RDC conveyor (20) can be used to allow cases that are not picked by any of the teams to circle back around to the outbound section of the RDC sort conveyor (18) and pass by those teams again until they can be picked.
  • cases of items resulting from the RDC sorting step 1112 can then be shipped to other destination RDC's (such as RDC 1180-1, RDC 1180-2, RDC 1180-3 or RDC 1180-4) as shown in step 1114.
  • a cargo train arriving at a RDC's intermodal rail yard (25) may be one that is scheduled to pick-up outbound shipments going to another RDC 1180-1 (which can serve as a destination RDC in the rail yard (25) of RDC 1170, continuing with the illustrative example depicted in FIG. 1), one that is scheduled to deliver inbound shipments from another RDC
  • the Local Market Sort Program (326) can subtract the Local Market Case Inventory Quantity (representing the total quantity of an ePD Retailer Id-SKU combination which has already been picked for that local market) from the Local Market Order List Quantity (representing the total quantity of an ePD Retailer Id-SKU combination needed to fill the open orders for that local market) to determine the net quantity of that ePD Retailer Id-SKU combination still needed for that local market. If the Local Market Order List record 1220 does not have a related Local Market Case Inventory record 1222, the full quantity of the Local Market Order List record 1220 can be considered the net quantity needed.
  • a local market sort return marker for example, can be placed on top of the case and the case can be returned to the CDC sort conveyor (42).
  • the case can be picked from the conveyor (42), its label can be scanned, and it can be placed on the local market sort conveyor (24).
  • the local market sort return marker can be removed from the case, flipped up-side-down, and placed back on the CDC sort conveyor
  • the Local Market Sort Program (326) can update the Local Market Id value on the Case record 1208 of the scanned case to the value associated with the current CDC sort conveyor (42) and can sound, for example, a pick confirmation tone.
  • the worker can pick the case from the local market sort conveyor (24) and place it on the CDC sort conveyor (42).
  • the Local Market Sort program (326) can correct the error that existed in the Local Market Case Inventory data view 1222 by reducing the Quantity of that ePD Retailer Id-SKU combination for the local market to which it was being credited incorrectly.
  • the Local Market Sort program (326) can correctly update the Local Market Case Inventory data view 1222 for the local market of the current CDC sort conveyor (42) as the case is picked and placed on that conveyor (42).
  • the CDC sort step 1120 can then be performed at the destination RDC 1180-1.
  • the CDC sort step 1120 can be achieved in a manner similar to the local market sort step 1118. Both include methods for directing cases of items toward a CDC packing station (45) at which packages can be created from those cases.
  • the local market sort 1118 can be a higher level sort used to direct cases which have been designated for the current destination RDC 1180-1 to the CDC sort conveyor (42) of a particular local market to meet the ePD Retailer Id-SKU quantity levels needed to fill the orders bound for that local market.
  • a CDC Sort Program (328) of the ePD Delivery Application can read the Case table 1208 to find, for example, a RDC Id, a Local Market Id, a CDC Id, a SKU, and an ePD Retailer Id of the scanned Case Id.
  • the CDC Sort Program (328) can validate the RDC Id value in a similar manner as the Local Market Sort Program (326).
  • the CDC sort step 1120 can result in cases containing the item quantities needed to fill a CDC's 1190-1 or a LDDH's 1192-1 orders being on the CDC packing station conveyor (44) of that CDC 1190-1 or LDDH 1192-1.
  • refrigerated items, frozen items, and standard temperature items are not packaged together, because each type of item requires a different storage temperature.
  • refrigerated and/or frozen temperature items can be packed into packages by retailers at their fulfillment sites and delivered directly into CDC's 1190-1 by a shipper or the retailer. Because many retailers will either ship only items requiring cold temperature storage or items which can be stored at standard temperatures, many retailers can employ one order fulfillment method and can either ship item cases to the nearest origination RDC 1170 or ship customer packages directly to their destination CDC 1190-1. If a retailer ships both types of items, it can employ separate order fulfillment methods to ship each type of item.
  • the Package Creation Program (330) can direct the worker to use one of the large package bag holders on the packing station (45). If all of the SKU Sizes needed for the open orders of a Customer Id-Temperature Code combination for the current CDC Id are either small-sized or over-sized, the Package Creation Program (330) can direct the worker to use one of the small package bag holders when the case of one of those small- sized SKU's is scanned. Over-sized items are not packed into package bags with other items. The Package Creation Program (330) can freat them as separate single-item packages and can direct workers to apply package labels directly to them. In one aspect of the invention, when a case label is scanned by a worker at a packing station (45), the Package Creation Program
  • the worker can pick the case from the CDC packing station conveyor (44) and for example, place it on top of the packing station — on either the package sealing side (FIG. 5) or the package creation side (FIG. 4). The worker can look at the case label to determine if the case is a single-item case or a multi-item case.
  • the program (330) can also validate the quantity entered on the keypad (80) against the value in the Quantity field of the selected Order Detail record 1202 underlying the transaction. If the entered quantity does not match, the worker entered a different value and the program (330) can signal that an error has occurred, for example, by sounding an error tone and displaying a message indicating that the wrong quantity was entered. If the worker did not enter a quantity before scanning the barcode on the label plate (74), the program (330) can signal that an error has occurred, for example, by sounding an error tone and displaying the same error message as it does when the wrong quantity is entered.
  • the RDC Package Inspection Report can be printed on the packing document printer (77) of the packing station (45), upon which it is run, or other suitably configured printer, and it can be used to frack down the location of each package regardless of whether the package is still in the destination RDC 1180-1 or has left on its way to a CDC 1190- 1 or LDDH 1192- 1. If the report contains packages that have already left the destination RDC 1180-1 on delivery shipments, the RDC Package Inspection Report Program (334) can send data to the processing servers, whether remote or local, of the appropriate CDC's 1190-1 or LDDH's 1192-1 and can trigger a CDC Package Inspection Report Program (336) to run at those CDC's 1190-1 or LDDH's 1192-1.
  • the CDC Package Inspection Report Program (336) can print a paper report on a
  • Package Id can be deleted on the Order Detail record 1202.
  • Status can be set to a value such as "open” and Delivery Shipment Id can be deleted if it had a value on the Package record 1234.
  • the amount that was decremented from the Quantity on the Case record 1208, when the item was originally picked from the case, can be added back to the Quantity value on that Case record 1208.
  • the Status on the Case record 1208 can be reset to a value such as
  • a local market feed of a CDC package conveyor (47B) can be made up of different independent conveyor sections which can be moved in either direction or remain motionless, independently of each other. There can be local market feed conveyor sections (47B) in between each of the different CDC feed conveyors (47 A), and between the CDC feed conveyors (47A) and either a left side feed of a package conveyor (46A) or a right side feed of a package conveyor (46B).
  • Multiple delivery shipments can be organized into a full-trailer-load by moving the CDC feed conveyors of different CDC's and LDDH's (47 A) and the different sections of the local market feed conveyor (47B) in between those CDC feed conveyors (47 A) forward and or backward in a coordinated effort to align the different delivery shipments in close proximity of each other, in a desired sequence.
  • One delivery shipment label plate can be located on the back of the last cargo cage, at the trailing end of each delivery shipment. A small amount of space can be left between the different delivery shipments of a full-trailer-load, to ensure that they can be visibly seen as separate delivery shipments within the same full-trailer-load, and to allow access to the label on each delivery shipment label plate.
  • package diverting conveyor unit (208) for each local market shipping dock conveyor (48).
  • Package diverting conveyor units (208) can be attached to the outside edge of the outbound section of the package conveyor (46D) and can be locked into one of two positions by a locking pin (210).
  • the conveyor units (208) can be locked into the loading position to intercept and divert packages from the package conveyor (46D) to a local market shipping dock conveyor (48) or into the inactive position to remain out of the way as full-trailer-loads pass by on the outbound section of the package conveyor (46D).
  • the leading end of the package diverting conveyor unit (208) can sit over top of the package conveyor (46D) and its trailing end can sit over top of the local market shipping dock conveyor (48).
  • the unit When it is in the inactive position, the unit
  • a revolving master bin ⁇ Master Bin Id "02" of SBU Id "A01” ⁇ can be divided into three bins.
  • Bin Id "AO 1-02-0012” can encompass the left half of the master bin and can have a Bin Size of "2".
  • Bin Id "A01-02-0003" can encompass the third quarter of the master bin, just to the right of Bin Id "A01-02-0012", and can have a Bin Size of "1".
  • Bin Id "A01-02-0004" can encompass the right-most quarter of the master bin and can have a Bin Size of "1".
  • Configuration Codes of the three bins respectively can be as follows: “12", “3", "4".
  • a stationary master bin — Master Bin Id "SI” of SBU Id "A01” ⁇ can be configured as one bin, consisting of both master bin subsections.
  • Bin Id "A01-S1- 0056" can encompass the whole stationary bin, can have a Bin Size of "6”, and a Configuration Code of "56".
  • Master Bin Id's can be listed in ascending order, with stationary master bins preceding revolving master bins.
  • the SBU can have only one stationary master bin, which can contain only one CDP, but because other embodiments may feature more than one stationary master bin and/or may feature stationary master bins with more than one CDP, in this disclosure both stationary master bins and their CDP's will be referred to in a more general plural sense, rather than as one specific master bin or CDP.
  • each bin configuration adjustment can be listed separately.
  • the Master Bin Id can be listed more than once under its SBU Id.
  • the new Configuration Codes of the bins to be created within the master bin can be listed next to each Master Bin Id on the report, along with a barcode that can be used to trigger the database changes associated with the configuration action.
  • the parseable barcode of a consolidating bin configuration adjustment can contain, for example, a configuration type identifier, followed by the Configuration Code of the new bin resulting from the bin configuration adjustment, followed by the Bin Id of each bin within the master bin to be consolidated, in a barcode format.
  • the program (352) can parse the data in the barcode, use the configuration type identifier to determine that the configuration action is a consolidating one, and use the Bin Id's to select the Bin Inventory records 1300 of the bins being consolidated.
  • the program (352) can create one new Bin Inventory record 1300 from the selected Bin Inventory records 1300, before deleting the selected records 1300.
  • the power cable at the front-left comer of the front- left unit (143), can be plugged into an electrical power outlet, located for example, on the base of the CDC receiving dock conveyor extension (145), underneath its pivoting conveyor component. Since the CDC receiving dock conveyor extension (145) can be plugged into an electric power outlet of the CDC facility 1190-1, electric power can be supplied to each of the mobile putaway conveyor units (143) linked together by the power cables.
  • Another step in positioning conveyor units (143) to receive a delivery shipment can be locking their wheels to prevent the conveyor units (143) from moving, as cargo cages get loaded onto them.
  • Each mobile putaway conveyor unit (143) can have a wheel locking mechanism that can be set to either lock all of its wheels or allow them to move freely.
  • the Loading Program (356) can use the Employee Id on the scanned employee id card to select the ePD Shipper Id from the Employee table 1308.
  • the Loading Program (356) can read the SBU Id and a Bin Door Identifier, in the barcode on the scanned bin door label, and can use that SBU Id to search the SBU Settings table 1314 to determine which master bin is in the loading position.
  • the Loading Program (356) does not confirm the bulk delivered single-item package as being successfully loaded into a stationary bin until its stationary bin door (238) gets pushed closed to lock the stationary bin.
  • the program makes the updates to the Bin Inventory 1300 and Bin Reservation 1302 records and creates the new Notification Check record 1310 for the bulk delivered single-item package (in the same manner as described for updating/creating records when multi-item packages are loaded into revolving bins), it can display a message to prompt the worker to close the bin door, and it can check the state of a bin door sensor (of the bin in which the bulk delivered single-item package was loaded) to determine if the bin door has been closed.
  • the CDC Reverse Shipment Creation Program can create a new CDC reverse shipment by creating a new record on a CDC Reverse Shipment table 1274.
  • Shipment Creation Program can update, for example, the Item Return Header record 1266 or CDC Outbound Package record 1270 of the scanned item return package or CDC outbound package, to set its Status to a value such as "CDC reverse shipment" and its CDC Reverse Shipment Id field to the CDC Reverse Shipment Id of the current CDC reverse shipment being created.
  • the RDC Shipment Program (318) can create a new RDC Shipment record 1216 in the same way that it can create a new record when scanning a case of ordered items, except Destination RDC Id on the new RDC Shipment record 1216 can be set to the RDC Id value from the selected Item Return Header record 1266 or CDC Outbound Package record 1270 instead of from a selected Case record 1208.
  • Item return packages and CDC outbound packages that are labeled with the current RDC Id can be picked from the outbound section of the RDC sort conveyor (18) to the local market sort conveyor (24) by the same team of workers that is picking cases labeled with the current RDC Id from the outbound section of the RDC sort conveyor (18) to the local market sort conveyor (24).
  • One of the workers at a retailer's returns facility can initiate the Receive RDC Returns Shipment Program (313) of the retailer's instance of the ePD Shipping Application on a workstation, can scan their employee id card, and can then scan the RDC returns shipment label on a RDC returns shipment arriving at the returns facility to receive it from a shipper.
  • the Receive RDC Returns Shipment Program (313) can use the RDC Returns
  • the bulk delivered packages created at the retailer fulfillment site can be shipped to a RDC by the retailer or a shipper on a tractor-frailer or other cargo carrying fransport for further processing.
  • the receiving, inter-RDC shipping, and sorting processes described in the main embodiment can occur in this embodiment, except that the Package Creation Program (330) can create retailer-specific bulk delivered packages by grouping picked items into packages by CDC Id-Customer Id-Temperature Code-ePD Retailer Id combination, instead of by CDC Id-Customer Id-Temperature Code combination. If Temperature Code is not an active factor used to segregate items into bulk delivered packages for recipients, then CDC Id-Customer
  • Assigning a RDC Id to orders for a shipper operating only one RDC can also be simplified by having the programs, which assign a RDC Id to the different records that contain a RDC Id, default to the one RDC Id for that shipper.
  • the local market sort step of the ePD delivery process can be bypassed.
  • a RDC can contain only one CDC sort conveyor, which can be located adjacent to all the CDC packing station conveyors (44) in that RDC.
  • Further aspects of the invention can include different methods of data transfer that can be utilized to copy or move data between two databases.
  • Data records can be copied or moved from a table in one database to a table, having the same data structure (and in many situations the same name), in another database.
  • the two databases involved in a data transfer can be located on the same server or on a plurality of servers.
  • Different methods of data transfer can be employed within the ePD Delivery Process for transferring data from a table in a database on one server to a table in a database on another server.
  • the data transfer opportunities can include, but are not limited to the programs that copy or move data between the tables of the database on a retailer server and a RDC server, between two different RDC servers, or between a RDC server and a CDC server.
  • SBU's can have label(s) on their exterior with their SBU Id in barcode format, and scanning the label on a SBU (after having scanned an employee id card) can trigger the same actions that scanning an employee id card, with a scanner that is plugged into a SBU, does in the main embodiment - the Loading Program (356) can move the revolving bins to position the closest available bin in the loading position, unlock the SBU's bin doors, and associate the Employee Id that was previously scanned with any future loading actions performed on that SBU.
  • Those main actions can be in addition to the validation, table updates, and other actions that the Loading Program (356) can perform.
  • the worker can then scan package labels followed by bin door labels as the worker loads bulk delivered packages into that SBU.
  • the Loading Program (356) can function in the same way in response to the scans of a scanning device connected via a wireless network in this embodiment, as it would to the scans of a physically connected scanning device in the main embodiment.
  • the wireless aspect of this exemplary embodiment can allow a CDC worker to load bulk delivered packages into the bins of many SBU's without needing to plug and unplug a network connector in and out of the scanner port of each SBU.
  • an automated picking program determines that a case or package should be picked from a conveyor or redirected to another conveyor, based upon the data read from the optical reading device, it can initiate a mechanical device to pick or redirect the case or package from the conveyor.
  • automated programs and machinery can be used, for example, in place of workers to perform the part of the RDC sort in which cases bound for the current RDC can be picked from the outbound section of the RDC sort conveyor (18) to the local market sort conveyor (24).
  • Another example, in which automated programs and machinery can be used is to replace one or more workers that regulate the flow of cases from the RDC inbound conveyor (34) to the local market sort conveyor (24) by moving the case diverting section of the RDC inbound conveyor (38) at the right times.
  • the workers using the different programs may wear headsets or ear-bud headphone pieces to ensure that they can differentiate the audio messages intended for them from the ones created by other instances of the same program or other programs, which can be intended for other workers.
  • the Local Market Sort Program 326 can play a brief audio message to confirm that a reverse local market sort pick has been processed successfully, such as, "reverse pick confirmed”.
  • Bin Inventory table records 1300 can exist for every possible bin configuration. There can be an Active Status field on the Bin Inventory table 1300, which can be used to activate and deactivate each record by changing its value from a value such as "inactive” to a value such as “active” and vice versa.
  • Active Status field on the Bin Inventory table 1300, which can be used to activate and deactivate each record by changing its value from a value such as "inactive” to a value such as “active” and vice versa.
  • the Package Creation Program (330) can consider ordered items, which can be on RDC shipments heading for the destination RDC in which the . program (330) can mn, when determining when to close a bulk delivered package that can be in the process of being created.
  • the Package Creation Program (330) can consider ordered items, which can be on RDC shipments heading for the destination RDC in which the . program (330) can mn, when determining when to close a bulk delivered package that can be in the process of being created.
  • the Package Creation Program (330) can consider ordered items, which can be on RDC shipments heading for the destination RDC in which the . program (330) can mn, when determining when to close a bulk delivered package that can be in the process of being created.
  • the cargo cages can be linked together to form larger groups of bulk delivered packages that can be easily movable throughout a CDC, without the use of mobile putaway conveyor units (143).
  • RDC workers can empty the cargo cages and/or other suitable containers filled with the temperature-controlled bulk delivered packages onto the temperature-controlled local market sort conveyor.
  • RDC workers performing the temperature-controlled local market sort can pick temperature-controlled bulk delivered packages from the temperature-controlled local market sort conveyor and place them on the temperature-controlled CDC sort conveyors at which they can be stationed by reading the Local Market Id embedded in the CDC Id printed on the package label or scanning the barcode on the package label using a program similar to the Local Market Sort Program (326) that is able to process scanned Package Id barcodes and direct a worker to pick or ignore temperature-controlled bulk delivered packages for the local market of the temperature- controlled CDC conveyor at which that worker is stationed.

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  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne un procédé et un système efficaces de livraison de lots à leurs destinataires. Les articles commandés par des clients différents auprès de détaillants, fournisseurs ou fabricants différents peuvent être agencés au moyen d'identifiants communs et être expédiés en lots par les détaillants ou les fabricants à un centre de distribution régionale de départ. Ces articles peuvent être stockés dans ledit centre de distribution régionale de départ en fonction de l'emplacement de centres de distribution régionale d'arrivée qui peuvent servir de points de retrait centralisés pour les clients. Les articles commandés, qui peuvent être triés par le destinataire au point de retrait centralisé spécifié sur la commande du client, peuvent être emballés dans des paquets personnalisés au centre de distribution régionale d'arrivée. Ces paquets peuvent être transportés en lots jusqu'aux points de retrait centralisés où ils seront placés dans des casiers disponibles selon un système automatisé de casiers de stockage modulables. Pendant le chargement, il est possible d'associer un identifiant sur le casier à un identifiant sur le paquet livré en lot pour identification et récupération ultérieures en self-service. Un avis électronique de livraison peut être transmis automatiquement au destinataire par le système de stockage automatisé de casiers pour l'avertir que son paquet est arrivé.
PCT/US2002/007886 2001-03-16 2002-03-15 Methode et dispositif de livraison et de stockage efficaces de paquets WO2002075493A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02725174A EP1573422A4 (fr) 2001-03-16 2002-03-15 Methode et dispositif de livraison et de stockage efficaces de paquets
AU2002255757A AU2002255757A1 (en) 2001-03-16 2002-03-15 Method and apparatus for efficient package delivery and storage
CA002441053A CA2441053A1 (fr) 2001-03-16 2002-03-15 Methode et dispositif de livraison et de stockage efficaces de paquets

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/810,903 US6974928B2 (en) 2001-03-16 2001-03-16 Method and apparatus for efficient package delivery and storage
US09/810,903 2001-03-16
US09/864,797 2001-05-24
US09/864,797 US20020178074A1 (en) 2001-05-24 2001-05-24 Method and apparatus for efficient package delivery and storage

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WO2002075493A2 true WO2002075493A2 (fr) 2002-09-26
WO2002075493A3 WO2002075493A3 (fr) 2008-03-27

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AU (1) AU2002255757A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2441053A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2002075493A2 (fr)

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ITRM20120389A1 (it) * 2012-08-03 2014-02-04 Prc Consulting S P A Sistema di immagazzinamento geograficamente distribuito e relativo procedimento
CN108074356A (zh) * 2017-12-28 2018-05-25 厦门大学嘉庚学院 一种智能快递柜及其使用方法
CN110651281A (zh) * 2017-02-21 2020-01-03 塞巴希尔有限公司 安全的包裹递送
CN110876038A (zh) * 2018-09-03 2020-03-10 陆洪瑞 一种用于交易场所的可追溯视频监控系统及方法
CN111461630A (zh) * 2020-05-08 2020-07-28 上海东普信息科技有限公司 派送快递包裹的监控方法、装置、设备及存储介质
CN112465409A (zh) * 2020-12-31 2021-03-09 重庆运点点物流科技有限公司 一种集装箱运营调度推荐方法
WO2021144633A1 (fr) * 2020-01-16 2021-07-22 Coupang Corp. Systèmes et procédés de gestion électronique d'emballages traçables et réutilisables d'expédition

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US7444298B2 (en) 2001-08-28 2008-10-28 United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. Order and payment visibility process
WO2013090603A1 (fr) * 2011-12-16 2013-06-20 Cozad Thomas Michael Jr Systèmes et procédés de gestion d'informations de localisation de produits
CN111784240B (zh) * 2020-06-23 2021-07-16 北京京东振世信息技术有限公司 物品出库方法、装置、设备和存储介质

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Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITRM20120389A1 (it) * 2012-08-03 2014-02-04 Prc Consulting S P A Sistema di immagazzinamento geograficamente distribuito e relativo procedimento
CN110651281A (zh) * 2017-02-21 2020-01-03 塞巴希尔有限公司 安全的包裹递送
CN108074356A (zh) * 2017-12-28 2018-05-25 厦门大学嘉庚学院 一种智能快递柜及其使用方法
CN108074356B (zh) * 2017-12-28 2023-06-13 厦门大学嘉庚学院 一种智能快递柜及其使用方法
CN110876038A (zh) * 2018-09-03 2020-03-10 陆洪瑞 一种用于交易场所的可追溯视频监控系统及方法
WO2021144633A1 (fr) * 2020-01-16 2021-07-22 Coupang Corp. Systèmes et procédés de gestion électronique d'emballages traçables et réutilisables d'expédition
TWI818217B (zh) * 2020-01-16 2023-10-11 南韓商韓領有限公司 可再使用儲存追蹤及分配的電腦化系統及方法
CN111461630A (zh) * 2020-05-08 2020-07-28 上海东普信息科技有限公司 派送快递包裹的监控方法、装置、设备及存储介质
CN112465409A (zh) * 2020-12-31 2021-03-09 重庆运点点物流科技有限公司 一种集装箱运营调度推荐方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1573422A4 (fr) 2008-11-26
WO2002075493A3 (fr) 2008-03-27
AU2002255757A1 (en) 2002-10-03
EP1573422A2 (fr) 2005-09-14
AU2002255757A8 (en) 2008-05-08
CA2441053A1 (fr) 2002-09-26

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