Automated system for efficient article storage and self-service retrieval

• US 20020177922A1
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Breakthrough Logistics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Breakthrough Logistics Corporation
• Inventors: Bloom, Gregg
• Granted Patent: US 6,694,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/58 the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

An automated system of storage locker bins to efficiently provide the storage and self-service retrieval of articles. The articles can be packages and the automated system of storage locker bins can be used effectively in a package delivery process in which packages are transported in bulk to a destination centralized pickup location for recipients. The automated system of storage locker bins can be utilized within the aforementioned delivery process to receive and store the bulk delivered packages as they can be loaded randomly into the automated system of storage locker bins, thereby reducing the time and effort required by the package shipper to deliver the packages. The automated system of storage locker bins can operate at a high level of efficiency with regard to space utilization to further reduce storage costs and ultimately reduce delivery costs by employing moving and stationary bins to allow recipients to retrieve packages stored at heights above the reach of those recipients and bins which are configurable in size to allow storage locker bins to be adjusted to sizes more closely approximating the size of the articles or packages to be loaded into them. The automated system of storage locker bins can further reduce the cost of the package delivery effort by employing a notification function to automatically notify recipients of the bulk delivered packages following their being loaded into the bins of the automated system and by enabling recipients to perform self-service retrieval of their articles or packages. The automated system of storage locker bins can enable self-service retrieval following an authentication of the recipient by providing recipients the location of the storage machine unit containing their package and a temporary access code to retrieve their package.

Claims

1. A storage system for storing delivered articles, comprising:

a storage machine unit having storage locker bins which randomly store a delivered article destined for a recipient, each of said storage locker bins having a storage locker bin identifier, each of the delivered articles having an article identifier; and

means for loading the delivered article into any randomly chosen storage locker bin having a capacity to accommodate the delivered article, said loading means associating said storage locker bin identifier with said article identifier.

2. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage machine unit comprises storage locker bins that are moveable about an axis to provide access to a storage locker bin during loading of the delivered articles.

3. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein said storage machine unit comprises bin doors corresponding to said storage locker bins, said doors remaining unlocked during movement of said moveable storage locker bins for said loading.

4. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein said storage locker bins are vertically moveable about said axis.

5. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said means for loading the delivered article further comprises, an optical reader for recognizing said article identifier and said storage locker bin identifier.

6. The storage system according to claim 5, wherein said optical reader is a scanner.

7. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage machine unit comprises storage locker bins that are moveable about an axis to provide access to a particular storage locker bin during retrieval of the delivered article by a recipient.

8. The storage system according to claim 7, wherein said storage machine unit comprises a set of bin doors corresponding to said moveable storage locker bins to provide access to any of said moveable storage locker bins when said storage locker bins are moved adjacent to said set of bin doors.

9. The storage system according to claim 8, wherein said set of bin doors is stationary with respect to the movement of said moveable storage locker bins.

10. The storage system according to claim 9, wherein said access is provided when said moveable storage locker bins are moved to a position behind said stationary set of bin doors.

11. The storage system according to claim 8, further comprising a bin door sensor that detects closure of a bin door of said set of bin doors, prior to permitting the movement of said moveable storage locker bins during said retrieval.

12. The storage system according to claim 7, further comprising means to enable self-service retrieval of said delivered article by said recipient.

13. The storage system according to claim 12, wherein said self-service retrieval means further comprises:

means for determining said moveable storage locker bin corresponding to a code entered by said recipient, said moveable storage locker bin containing an article for said recipient, said code being at least one of a code containing a recipient identifier, a PIN code, and a code temporarily assigned to said recipient to enable retrieval;

means for moving said determined storage locker bin to an unloading position; and

means for unlocking said moved determined storage locker bin.

14. The storage system according to claim 7, wherein said storage locker bins are vertically moveable about said axis.

15. The storage system according to claim 7, wherein said storage locker bins comprises a stationary storage locker bin located at a fixed position within said storage machine unit.

16. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein said storage locker bins further comprises an adjustment dividing mechanism that enables a storage locker bin to be configured into a quantity of storage locker bins of various dimensions.

17. The storage system according to claim 16, wherein said adjustment dividing mechanism comprises:

a dividing panel within said storage locker bin; and

a key operated locking mechanism capable of locking said dividing panel into different positions, wherein a single key operates a plurality of said key operated locking mechanisms.

18. The storage system according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for tracking storage locker bin configuration changes; and

a data record for storing and updating said tracked configuration changes.

19. The storage system according to claim 18, wherein said storage locker bin configuration changes include at least one of changes to a quantity of storage locker bins within said storage locker bin and changes to the dimensions of said storage locker bins.

20. The storage system according to claim 18, further comprising an optical reader to read configuration change data for said tracking means.

21. The storage system according to claim 1, further comprising electronic circuitry for automatically triggering a dispatch of an electronic notification to the recipient of a delivered article subsequent to its loading.

22. The storage system according to claim 21, wherein said electronic circuitry further comprises means for recording information necessary for billing related to the delivery of the delivered article, said information including at least one data entity selected from the group of data entities consisting of an order identifier, an ordering customer identifier, a recipient identifier, a customer identifier, a package identifier, a delivery date, a delivery time, a delivery notification date, and a delivery notification time.

23. The storage system according to claim 21, wherein said electronic notification comprises, at least one of a facsimile, an email, a telephone call, and a page.

24. The storage system according to claim 23, wherein a time for dispatching said electronic notification can be customized to include one of a periodic notification and a time during which dispatching said electronic notification is restricted.

25. The storage system according to claim 1, further comprising means for reserving a quantity of storage locker bins for articles to be loaded at a future time, said quantity including at least one of specified ones of said storage locker bins and unspecified ones of said storage locker bins.

26. The storage system according to claim 25, wherein said reservation is for a specific shipper.

27. The storage system according to claim 1, further comprising authentication means for authenticating a recipient identity prior to one of revealing an identifier of a storage machine unit, said storage machine unit containing an article destined for said recipient and providing access to a storage locker bin containing said article destined for said recipient.

28. The storage system according to claim 27, further comprising at least one of a data card reader, a data entry keypad, and a finger print authentication device.

29. The storage system according to claim 28, wherein said authentication means is located separately from said storage machine unit.

30. The storage system according to claim 27, further comprising an electronically controllable entrance door to an area of a facility containing said storage machine units, said entrance door having a disposition to allow or deny entry controlled by said authentication means.

31. The storage system according to claim 27, further comprising means for providing a temporary access code to enable retrieval of the article destined for the recipient from the storage locker bin.

32. The storage system according to claim 1, further comprising means for creating a package location report comprising identifiers of storage machine units containing articles destined for a particular recipient.

33. The storage system according to claim 32, wherein said package location report lists a temporary access code to be used in conjunction with a recipient'"'"'s PIN code for retrieval of said article destined for said recipient.

34. The storage system according to claim 33, further comprising an entrance station including at least one of a data entry keypad and a data card reader.

35. The storage system according to claim 34, further comprising an access card having at least a recipient identifier electronically stored thereon, said recipient identifier readable by said data card reader.

36. The storage system according to claim 35, wherein said means for creating a package location report comprises means for validating an identity of the recipient, said validating means including reading said recipient identifier from said access card using said data card reader and validating data entered on said data entry keypad in conjunction with said read recipient identifier.

37. The storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an access card having at least a recipient identifier electronically stored thereon, said recipient identifier readable by a data card reader; and

a data entry keypad for inputting a recipient'"'"'s PIN code, validation of said recipient identifier and said PIN code causing electronic opening of an access to a destination centralized pickup location wherein said storage machine unit is located.

38. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein said article identifier comprises an identifier of said recipient.

39. The storage system according to claim 1, further comprising a data record having stored therein, said article identifier and said associated storage locker bin identifier.

40. The storage system according to claim 1, further comprising means for creating a report listing quantities of available bins within said storage machine unit.

41. A storage system for storing delivered articles, comprising:

a storage machine unit with storage locker bins which can randomly store a delivered article destined for a recipient; and

a processor communicatively interfaced to said storage machine unit for controlling a disposition of the delivered articles within said storage machine unit.

42. The storage system according to claim 41, further comprising:

a database communicatively linked to said processor; and

at least one application program linked to said database for controlling the disposition of the delivered articles, the disposition, comprising, configuration of said storage locker bins for accommodating the delivered articles, loading the delivered articles into said storage locker bins, notification of delivery of the delivered articles upon loading, and retrieval of said delivered articles by the recipients.

43. The storage system according to claim 41, further comprising, means for loading the delivered article into any randomly chosen storage locker bin having a capacity to accommodate the delivered article, wherein an article identifier is associated with an identifier of the storage locker bin.

44. The storage system according to claim 41, further comprising means for configuring one of a randomly chosen storage locker bin and a specific storage locker bin to accommodate a delivered article destined for the recipient.

45. The storage system according to claim 41, further comprising:

means for loading the article destined for the recipient into a randomly chosen storage locker bin, said loading means comprising means to associate a storage locker bin identifier with an article identifier;

means for notifying the recipient of the delivered article subsequent to said loading; and

means for permitting the recipient to retrieve said delivered article subsequent to said loading.

46. The storage system according to claim 41, wherein said processor is a server.

50. The system according to claim 49, wherein said storage locker bins are vertically moveable about said axis.

47. A storage system for storing delivered articles, comprising:

a storage machine unit with storage locker bins which randomly store a delivered article destined for a recipient; and

electronic circuitry for automatically triggering the dispatch of an electronic notification to the recipient of a delivered article subsequent to its loading.

48. A storage system for storing delivered articles, comprising:

a storage machine unit with storage locker bins which randomly store a delivered article destined for a recipient; and

an adjustment dividing mechanism of said storage locker bins that enables a storage locker bin to be configured into a quantity of storage locker bins of various dimensions.

49. A storage system for storing delivered articles, comprising:

a storage machine unit with storage locker bins into which the delivered articles destined for recipients can be randomly stored, said storage locker bins being moveable about an axis to provide access to a particular storage locker bin during retrieval of the delivered article by a recipient.