Method and apparatus for unloading a cargo container

• US 10,266,350 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2017
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Nicholaus A., Jones, Matthew A., Taylor, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumbess, Yolanda R
• Application Number:
  US15/398,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20170190521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/042 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/005 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/24 Unloading land vehicles

Abstract

The unpacked depth of a cargo container is automatically measured as the items are removed therefrom. Information regarding where the unpacked items are to be placed is automatically presented using an active display and determined as a function, at least in part, of the measured unpacked depth. By one approach the foregoing includes using received information that correlates particular items with corresponding packed locations within the cargo container.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing at an unloading area a cargo container having a plurality of separately-packed items contained therein and having a portal that provides access to the items packed in the cargo container;

providing at the unloading area an active display;

automatically measuring, as the items are removed from the cargo container, an unpacked depth of the cargo container from the portal;

automatically providing information on the active display regarding where the items are to be placed when unloaded from the cargo container as a function, at least in part, of the measured unpacked depth.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the unloading area comprises a loading dock.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the loading dock comprises a loading dock for a retail shopping facility.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the cargo container comprises a truck trailer.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the truck trailer has an internal packing depth of at least 50 feet.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the active display comprises at least one of a flat-screen display and a projected display.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically measuring the unpacked depth of the cargo container comprises using at least one of a light-based and a sound-based distance-measuring sensor.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically providing the information on the active display regarding where the items are to be placed when unloaded comprises providing information regarding specific locations of a retail shopping facility.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving information correlating particular ones of the items with corresponding packed locations within the cargo container.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an unloading area;

a cargo container disposed at the unloading area, the cargo container having a plurality of separately-packed items contained therein and having a portal that provides access to the items packed in the cargo container;

an active display disposed at the unloading area;

a distance-measuring sensor configured to automatically measure, as the items are removed from the cargo container, an unpacked depth of the cargo container from the portal;

a control circuit operably coupled to the distance-measuring sensor and the active display and configured to present information on the active display regarding where the items are to be placed when unloaded from the cargo container as a function, at least in part, of the measured unpacked depth.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the unloading area comprises a loading dock.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the loading dock comprises a loading dock for a retail shopping facility.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cargo container comprises a truck trailer.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the truck trailer has an internal packing depth of at least 50 feet.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the active display comprises at least one of a flat-screen display and a projected display.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the distance-measuring sensor comprises at least one of a light-based and a sound-based distance-measuring sensor.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the control circuit is configured to automatically provide the information on the active display regarding where the items are to be placed when unloaded by providing information regarding specific locations of a retail shopping facility.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

receive information correlating particular ones of the items with corresponding packed locations within the cargo container.