WO2005095876A1 - Livraison et stockage de marchandises - Google Patents

Livraison et stockage de marchandises Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005095876A1
WO2005095876A1 PCT/GB2004/001412 GB2004001412W WO2005095876A1 WO 2005095876 A1 WO2005095876 A1 WO 2005095876A1 GB 2004001412 W GB2004001412 W GB 2004001412W WO 2005095876 A1 WO2005095876 A1 WO 2005095876A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
crate
container
temperature
wall
goods
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2004/001412
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Ian Robert Gravatt
Adrian Colin Tytherleigh
Original Assignee
Cucumber Limited
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
Application filed by Cucumber Limited filed Critical Cucumber Limited
Priority to PCT/GB2004/001412 priority Critical patent/WO2005095876A1/fr
Publication of WO2005095876A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005095876A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D15/00—Devices not covered by group F25D11/00 or F25D13/00, e.g. non-self-contained movable devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B17/00—Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type
    • F25B17/08—Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
    • F25D2317/063—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation with air guides
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
    • F25D2317/067—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by air ducts
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/804—Boxes

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the delivery and/or storage of goods, specifically, but not exclusively, to the delivery and/or storage of goods to or at a user-specified location.
  • goods can be delivered to a user-specified location, say a customer's home, office or other location, in response to an order being placed for such goods over the internet, using a phone or other 'remote' means. Further, it is also known that some vendors offer home delivery for goods ordered 'in store'.
  • a first aspect of the invention provides goods storage apparatus for the delivery of goods to a customer-specified location, the apparatus comprising a crate having an inlet and outlet for temperature-controlled fluid and a crate-receiving station comprising means for supplying temperature-controlled fluid to the inlet of the crate when located on the station, wherein the crate has located therein a container in which goods are locatable, at least one wall of the container being distant from an adjacent inner wall of the crate to allow the passage of temperature-controlled fluid between the container wall and the adjacent inner wall of the crate whereby the temperature of air within the container is controllable.
  • more than one (e.g. all) of the walls of the container is (are) distant from adjacent inner walls of the crate.
  • a more specific aspect of the invention provides goods storage apparatus for the delivery of goods to a customer-specified location, the apparatus comprising a crate having an inlet and outlet for temperature-controlled fluid and a crate-receiving station comprising means for supplying temperature-controlled fluid to the inlet of the crate when located on the station, wherein the crate has located therein a container in which goods are locatable, the container having at least one wall which is remote from an adjacent inner wall of the crate, and wherein, in use, temperature-controlled fluid delivered from the station through the inlet is able to contact and flow over at least a portion of the or each remote wall of the container, whereby the temperature of air within the container is controllable.
  • the inner wall or walls of the crate may comprise spigots, ribs or other spacer elements to retain the container in a spaced relationship from the adjacent inner wall or walls of the crate to allow temperature-controlled fluid to circulate around the wall or walls of the container between the or each wall and the inner wall or walls of the crate.
  • the container may comprise spigots, ribs or other spacer elements protruding therefrom to retain the container in a spaced relationship from the adjacent inner wall or walls of the crate to allow temperature-controlled fluid to circulate around the wall or walls of the container between the or each wall and the inner wall or walls of the crate.
  • the spacer elements may be separate from both container and crate, but being locatable therebetween to ensure that at least one wall of the container is maintained at a position remote from an adjacent inner wall of the crate.
  • the spacer elements may be fabricated as a mat of spigots.
  • the spacer elements will preferably be sized and configured to ensure that a minor portion of the surface of the container is in contact therewith, i.e. that the majority of the or each remote container wall surface is not in contact with associated spacer elements or does not have spacer elements protruding therefrom.
  • the crate has an intended top and an intended bottom wall, the inlet preferably being relatively nearer the intended top wall and the outlet being relatively nearer the intended bottom wall of the crate.
  • the container may be removeable from the crate.
  • the crate may comprise baffle means located on an inner wall thereof, preferably arranged to ensure that temperature-controlled fluid circulates between the wall of the crate and the adjacent inner wall of the container before exiting the crate.
  • Said baffle means preferably being arranged to prevent temperature-controlled fluid from passing directly from the inlet to the outlet, i.e. the shortest flow path between inlet and outlet for the temperature-controlled fluid is of a tortuous nature and passes the or at least one wall of the container.
  • a second aspect of the invention provides goods storage apparatus for the delivery of goods to a customer-specified location, the apparatus comprising a crate having an inlet and outlet for temperature-controlled fluid and heat exchange means located therein and a crate-receiving station comprising means for supplying temperature- controlled fluid to the inlet of the crate when located on the station, wherein said heat exchange means is interposed between the inlet and a goods-storage zone, temperature-controlled fluid delivered from the station via the inlet being able to impinge upon said heat exchange means whereby the temperature of air within the zone is controllable.
  • Said heat exchange means is shaped, sized or configured such that incoming temperature controlled fluid is prevented from contacting any goods retained within the goods storage zone.
  • goods storage apparatus for the delivery of goods to a customer-specified location, the apparatus comprising a crate having an inlet and outlet for temperature-controlled fluid and a crate-receiving station comprising means for supplying temperature-controlled fluid to the inlet of the crate when located on the station, wherein the crate has an intended top and an intended bottom wall, the inlet being relatively nearer the intended top wall and the outlet being relatively nearer the intended bottom wall thereof.
  • a fourth aspect of the invention provides a vehicle for the delivery of goods to a customer-specified location, the vehicle comprising a plurality of crate-receiving stations, each station comprising at least one port to supply temperature-controlled fluid to a crate and a corresponding port to accept circulated temperature-controlled fluid from the crate, wherein the station is substantially vertical and the supply port is located above the acceptance port.
  • a fifth aspect of the invention provides a docking station for crates, the docking station having at least one site at which a crate in which goods are locatable may be docked, the station comprising a temperature-controlled fluid outlet and a circulated fluid inlet and means to supply temperature-controlled fluid to a docked crate via the outlet, wherein, and with the station installed at a site-of-use, the outlet is located above the inlet.
  • a sixth aspect of the invention provides a crate for the storage of goods at a customer specified location, the crate having an inlet and an outlet for the supply and subsequent emission of temperature-controlled fluid and a closable container located therein in which goods are storable, at least one wall of the container being held remote from an adjacent inner wall of the crate, spreader means being located adjacent the inlet to direct incoming temperature-controlled air in different directions around and/or over the or each remote wail of the container.
  • a method of supplying and delivering goods to a customer-specified location comprising the steps of: • Placing ordered goods in a container; • Locating the container in a crate having an inlet and an outlet for temperature- controlled fluid, the container having at least one wall held distant from an inner wall of the crate; • Transporting the crate to the customer-defined location; and • Docking the crate on a crate-receiving station, the station having a temperature-controlled fluid supply port arranged to supply temperature- controlled fluid to the inlet and a temperature-controlled fluid acceptance port, arranged to accept fluid from the outlet; whereby temperature-controlled fluid is deliverable via the supply port to the inside of the crate to control the temperature of the goods placed in the container.
  • a yet further aspect of the invention provides a method of storing ordered goods at a customer-specified location, the method comprising providing ordered goods in a container located within a crate, at least one wall of the container being distant from an adjacent inner wall of the crate, locating the crate on a crate-receiving station situated at the customer-specified location and supplying temperature-controlled fluid from the station to the interior of the crate to circulate between the inner wall of the crate and said at least one wall of the container to control the temperature of the goods within the container.
  • the crate-receiving station is adapted to be able to receive a plurality of crates, the station preferably being able to supply each docked crate with temperature-controlled fluid at the same or at different temperatures.
  • the station is adapted to be able to receive four crates in, say, a vertical stack.
  • the station may be arranged to supply each docked crate with fluid at the same or different temperatures.
  • the station may be arranged to supply the bottom two crates with fluid at a first temperature and the upper two crates with fluid at a second temperature.
  • the crates and station may comprise cooperating parts arranged to allow certain crates only to dock at certain positions on the crate-receiving station.
  • the walls of the crate are preferably fabricated, at least in part, from an insulating material.
  • the thickness of the insulating material may be chosen to ensure that the temperature of fluid within the crate is kept to within certain limits. For example, a relatively thick-walled crate will ensure that the temperature rise experienced by cooled air circulating therein is less than that for a relatively thin-walled crate.
  • the term 'goods' is intended to signify groceries such as comestibles, cleaning products and like-sized objects and is not meant to signify larger items which may be delivered to the home (furniture and the like, for example).
  • the word 'controllable' when applied to the temperature of air within the container, is intended to mean that at least some influence upon the temperature is achievable. So, for example, by impinging cold (i.e. below ambient temperature) air upon the container, the temperature of the air within the container will be reduced to below the ambient temperature outside of the crate (which is the temperature to which the air within the container will equilibrate). Further, the word 'controllable' may have a narrower definition such that the temperature of the air within the container is held within certain limits. Like words, such as 'control' and 'controllability', will be similarly construed.
  • Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a crate according to the invention
  • Figure 2 shows the crate of Figure 1 with its lid removed
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view along a plane in the direction of line A-A of Figure 1
  • Figure 4 is a sectional view along a plane in the direction of line B-B of Figure 1
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of the crate of Figure 1 with the inner container removed;
  • Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5 with the baffle removed; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a crate-receiving station according to the invention; Figure 8 is a view of the flow path of fluid through the station of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of a station with docked crates.
  • a crate 1 having a base part 2 and a lid 3, the two being attached by a pair of hinges and/or catches 50 (see Figure 9).
  • the lid 3 has a pair of sockets 4 for engagement of locking lugs, as will be described below, the base part 2 having a pair of recesses 5 to allow locking lugs access to the sockets of a crate stacked therebelow.
  • a socket 5a Located between the recesses 5, is a socket 5a (see Figure 3) for engagement with a lower locking lug and located between sockets 4 is a recess 4a to allow a 'lower' locking lug to engage a crate 1 located immediately above (as will be described more fully below).
  • the hinges or catches are on the opposed side to the sockets 4, 5a and recesses 5, 4a, for reasons to be described below.
  • the base part 2 has an inlet 6 for temperature-controlled air and an outlet 7 for air circulated around the inside of the crate 1.
  • the base part 2 comprises a pair of recessed carrying handles 9 (best seen in Figure
  • Figure 2 shows the crate 1 with its lid 3 removed.
  • a container 10 which is located within the crate 1 is visible.
  • the container 10 comprises a base part 12 and a lid 13 and is held away from the inner walls of the crate 1 by lugs, spigots or other spacer members (not shown) to provide a gap 11 therebetween which extends around the entire periphery of the container 10.
  • the inlet 6 is in fluid communication with the air gap 11.
  • a baffle 14 extends from adjacent the outlet 7 to provide an outlet chamber 15 in fluid communication with both the outlet 7 and air gap 11.
  • the base part 2 and lid 3 of the crate 1 are both of double wall construction (inner walls 2a, 3a; outer walls 2b, 3b), the space therebetween conveniently being filled with thermally insulating material (not shown), such as expanded polystyrene, polyurethane or other (preferably closed cell) foam.
  • the base part 2 carries a gasket 20 along its upper edge which extends into a corresponding recess 21 formed in the lid 3 to prevent or inhibit a thermal bridge from forming between the inside and outside of the crate 1.
  • the gasket 20 could be retained in the recess 21 to abut the upper edge of the base part 2 when the two parts are attached.
  • Figure 5 shows the inside of the lower part 2 of the crate 1 with the baffle 14 in place.
  • Figure 6 shows the shape and form of the outlet chamber 15 with the baffle 14 removed for convenience.
  • the trumpet-shape of the outlet chamber 15 enables circulated air to be collected from the entire length of the crate 1 and funnelled toward the outlet port 7.
  • a crate-receiving station 40 secured to a wall W.
  • the station 40 has a small footprint so that it is as unobtrusive as possible when crates 1 are not docked.
  • the station 40 has four sites 41a - d at which a crate 1 may be docked, each having an upper pair of lugs 42 and a lower locking lug 43.
  • FIG. 8 shows the flow circuit of the station 40 for the sites 41a, b, c and d.
  • Each port is provided with a combination of blower (not shown) and thermoelectric cooling device (TEC) 46. Temperature-controlled air is circulated, by the blower, from the TEC 46 via conduits 47 to the supply ports 44.
  • TEC thermoelectric cooling device
  • Air which exits the crates 1 through outlets 7 is transferred back to the TEC 46 through conduits 48 via acceptance ports 45.
  • the TEC 46 is powered via a 12V power supply (not shown) connected to a power source at the customer-specified location (nominally inside the wall W).
  • Figure 9 shows three crates 1 docked at the crate-receiving station 40, with space for a fourth crate in the last site 41 d.
  • a customer orders goods from a store either remotely (e.g. using a telephone or secure link over the internet) or in-store.
  • the goods are picked and placed in a container 10 inside a crate 1 (the goods may be placed in a container 10 which is then placed in a crate 1 if the container 10 is not fixed inside the crate 1 ).
  • the crates 1 for a particular customer may be bar-coded or otherwise marked with indicia to indicate their desired site of delivery.
  • the crates are then loaded onto a vehicle which may be provided with a plurality of stations 40 for docking of the crates 1 during transit, or may have a refrigerator compartment into which all of the crates 1 are loaded.
  • a vehicle which may be provided with a plurality of stations 40 for docking of the crates 1 during transit, or may have a refrigerator compartment into which all of the crates 1 are loaded.
  • the vehicle is then driven to the desired delivery site and the deliverer takes the appropriate crates 1 from the vehicle and docks them at the stations 41a-d on the station 40, ensuring that the ports 44, 45 engage the inlet and outlet ports 6, 7 of the crates 1.
  • the locking lug 43 engages a corresponding recess 5a in the base of the crate 1 and the fixed lugs 42 engage recesses 4 formed in the crates 1 , thereby lockingly retaining the crates 1 on the station 40.
  • Chilled, cooled or warm air is then supplied from each TEC 46, via conduits 47, supply ports 44 and inlets 6 to the crates 1.
  • the supplied air engages the spreader 16 and circulates around the entire periphery of the container 10 in the air gap 11 to chill, cool or warm the walls of the container 10 and thereby the goods contained therein.
  • the walls of the container 10 act as a radiator or heat exchange surface, either extracting heat from the goods stored within the container 10 or supplying heat to the goods so-stored, as is appropriate.
  • the customer can then move the locking lugs 43 into their release position and then take the crates 1 and store the goods located within the containers 10, as appropriate.
  • the empty crates 1 (with containers 10) may be reattached to the station 40 for removal by a remover, either on a removal round or when the next delivery is made.
  • the location of goods placed within the container 1 is not critical. For example, if the container 10 were not present and an item were placed near the inlet 6, the other items located in the crate 1 would be shielded from the cold or warm air and therefore would not be cooled or heated effectively. Also, even if the goods are crammed into the container 10, the air will chill, cool of warm the goods (by contrast, goods crammed into a prior art crate not having an internal container may obstruct or prevent air from flowing around all of the goods). So the provision of the internal container 10 provides for a more effective and even cooling or heating of the goods contained therein. Also, the supply of air is reproducible in as much as supplied air always circulates around the same volume of air gap 11.
  • the uppermost crate 1 may be in a position where its uppermost surface is heated directly by the sun. If it is a hot day, and the crates 1 are delivered early and are not taken in until later, the heating by the sun of the exposed surfaces of the uppermost crate may be substantial. This effect can be somewhat mitigated by coating the crate 1 with radiation reflective materials, such as foil and the like, or by painting the crate 1 white (both or one of which may be done in the present invention). However, it has been found that by supplying the air to the top of the crate 1 the heating effect of the sun can be entirely negated or at least substantially mitigated. In prior art apparatus it is stated that the supply of air should be to the base of the crate so as to effect good circulation. It has been found that the heating effect of the sun can prevent goods stored in such crates from being maintained at their desired temperature.
  • one TEC 46 may supply chilled air (e.g. -20 to -15 °C) to one or more station 41a, b, one may provide cooled air (e.g. 1.5 to 4 ° C) to one or more station 41c,d and one may provide warm or heated air (e.g. 20 to 40 ° C).
  • Each station 41a to d may have an associated TEC 46, operable to deliver either chilled, cooled or warm air as required.
  • a crate 1 was located on a docking station 40 provided with a TEC 46 supplying cooled air at 1.5 ° C.
  • the external dimensions of the crate were 600 x 400 x 250 mm and an internal space of 530 x 330 x 180 mm, the walls being 35 mm thick and comprising expanded polyurethane located between plastics skins, the polyurethane being 32 mm thick.
  • the container 10 had external dimensions of 520 x 320 x 170 mm providing a 5mm air gap 11 around the entire periphery of the container 10 for the circulation of cooled air.
  • the TEC 46 supplied 400 ⁇ /min air at 1.5 ° C to the inlet 6 of the crate 1.
  • the crate was exposed to an ambient temperature of 35 ° C in direct sunlight (i.e. the crate was heated to a temperature significantly higher than ambient) and the maximum temperature of the air within the crate was measured as 5 ° C, with an output temperature of air delivered from the outlet 7 of 5 ° C.
  • the temperature of the air within the container 10 was controlled to be suitable to store goods which are found in the chiller cabinets at supermarkets.
  • a maximum temperature increase of 4 ° C was found when supplying chilled air at -16 ° C from a TEC 46 to a crate 1. Thereby proving that the temperature within a container 1 may be controlled to such an extent that frozen goods such as ice cream can be stored effectively.
  • the crates 1 and station 40 may have corresponding mating portions which correspond to the particular temperature of air to be supplied, the 'chilled' crates only being dockable at
  • the crates 1 are fabricated from a material which is not affected by changes in temperature and which is readily cleanable and disinfectable, suitable materials are plastics, most preferable are thermosetting plastics as these also have relatively low coefficients of thermal expansion, although thermoplastics materials may also be used.
  • the material from which the crate 1 is fabricated will be chosen to be able to withstand exposure to all weather conditions and ambient temperatures, typically -20 ° C to 50 ° C and to be able to resist detergents, bleach and boiling water (used for cleaning purposes).
  • the containers 10 may be fabricated from a material having a high thermal conductivity such as metal or a metal-doped plastics material, although non-doped plastics materials may also be used.
  • the container 10 may be removeable from the crate 1 or the base part 12 thereof may be permanently attached to the base part 2 of the crate 1. Whilst it is preferred that the container 10 is supported on spacer elements extending from the inner walls 2a, 3a of the crate 1 to hold the container 10 in place, as an alternative the container 10 may be suspended from the inner wall 3a of the lid 3 of the crate 1. Further, whilst it is preferred that the air gap 11 extends around the entire periphery of the container 10, it may extend around only part of the periphery thereof.
  • the spreader 16 need not be present on the container 10 or may be a different shape. As an alternative it may be mounted on an inner wall of the crate 1.
  • the station 40 will usually comprise means to occlude supply and acceptance ports 44, 45 when there is no crate 1 docked at a particular site 41a to d to prevent fouling of the port 44, 45.
  • the occlusion means may comprise a simple rubber flap which is moved aside when a crate 1 is docked or, for example, more sophisticated mechanical devices which actuate when the crate 1 is docked.
  • the cooling/heating device(s) 46 of the station 40 will preferably only be actuated when a crate 1 is docked.
  • the station 40 may be smaller or larger to be able to dock fewer or more crates 1.
  • the station 40 may be horizontal or may comprise a bank of docking sites in a, say, 2 x 2 or 3 x 4 array. It may be more convenient to provide a bank of docking stations in a vehicle to deliver the crates 1.
  • the station 40 may send an alarm signal to a customer when a crate 1 is docked or when the stations 41a to d are full.
  • the locking lugs 42 of the station 40 may be actuated by a simple mechanical device (e.g. turning a key which the customer and deliverer has a copy of) or by electronically actuated means, such as a key pad.
  • a simple mechanical device e.g. turning a key which the customer and deliverer has a copy of
  • electronically actuated means such as a key pad.
  • the station may have a reader which reads the tag or barcode when it is close proximity thereto and automatically actuates the locking lugs 42.
  • the tag or barcode may also indicate the nature of the goods located within the container 10 which can be read to ensure that the TEC 46 delivers chilled, cooled or warm air as appropriate to the crate 1.
  • the crates may be 'smart' crates which communicate with a base to indicate their location (i.e.
  • the communication may be via GSM or other wireless technology.
  • Smart crates will be of particular use to the retailer as he will be able to arrange collection of empty crates so as to minimise the total amount of crates required to satisfy just-in-time delivery requirements.
  • the crate 1 may comprise an internal partition, one side providing a goods-storage zone and the other side being presented to the inlet.
  • the temperature-controlled air will impinge upon the partition, which will act as a radiator or heat exchange surface.
  • the partition may have protuberances to increase the effective surface area thereof so as to increase the effectiveness of the heating or cooling of the goods.
  • a customer can order goods from more than one retailer, each retailer using standard crates 1 marked as appropriate.
  • the station 40 Whilst the above-description has concentrated on the delivery of groceries, other goods such as take-away meals may be delivered, the station 40 delivering warm air to keep the meals warm.
  • Heating and/or cooling devices may be used rather than a TEC.
  • Closed-loop devices may be used which circulate fluids other than air.
  • TECs are of particular utility because they can be readily configured to heat and cool at different temperatures.
  • Other insulating materials may be used such as polystyrene, rockwool and the like.
  • Other wall materials may be used.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil de stockage de marchandises pour la livraison d'un emplacement spécifié par un utilisateur. L'appareil comprend un cadre (1) possédant une entrée (6) et une sortie (7) pour des fluides thermo-commandés et une station de réception de cadres (40) comprenant des moyens (44, 46, 47) destinés à alimenter le fluide thermo-commandé dans l'entrée (6) du cadre (1) lorsqu'il est situé sur la station (40), ce cadre (1) contenant un conteneur (10) dans lequel des marchandises peuvent être placées, au moins une paroi du conteneur (10) étant distante d'une paroi interne adjacente du cadre (1) afin de permettre le passage du fluide thermo-commandé entre la paroi du conteneur et la paroi interne adjacente du cadre, la température de l'air à l'intérieur du conteneur (10) pouvant ainsi être commandée.
PCT/GB2004/001412 2004-04-01 2004-04-01 Livraison et stockage de marchandises WO2005095876A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/GB2004/001412 WO2005095876A1 (fr) 2004-04-01 2004-04-01 Livraison et stockage de marchandises

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/GB2004/001412 WO2005095876A1 (fr) 2004-04-01 2004-04-01 Livraison et stockage de marchandises

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005095876A1 true WO2005095876A1 (fr) 2005-10-13

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015075205A3 (fr) * 2013-11-21 2016-04-28 Ocado Innovation Limited Casier à compartiments multiples
WO2022060274A1 (fr) * 2020-09-16 2022-03-24 Flexibox Ab Système de livraison pour marchandises

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3545223A (en) * 1967-10-10 1970-12-08 Karl Yngve Elland Freezing plants and boxes therefor
FR2580061A1 (en) * 1985-04-09 1986-10-10 Armel Louis Improvements to refrigerators and freezers
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WO2022060274A1 (fr) * 2020-09-16 2022-03-24 Flexibox Ab Système de livraison pour marchandises

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