Method for Placing a Palletless Goods Package in a Stock Shelf and Delivering Therefrom and for Controlling Logistics of Packages

• US 20080281717A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sami Kortelainen
• Original Assignee: Sami Kortelainen
• Inventors: Kortelainen, Sami
• Application Number:
  US11/908,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20080281717A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0435 with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0464 with access from above
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0485 Check-in, check-out devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1371 with data records
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/041 Camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method to stack palletless and as to their size variable packages (1) on warehouse rack (15) and to retrieve them from said rack and to control the logistics of packages, in which method the said warehouse rack is furnished with an automatic packages stacking and retrieving robot, and in the method the control of warehouse data and logistics takes place by means of a data system. Equipment (5) included in the method receives package (1), for instance, onto conveyor belt (2), equipment (5) carries out weighing of package (1), determination for it necessary space requirement, reading of remote code connected to package (1), as RFID code (20) in order to choose the rack space determined for it on basis of previous functions, and package (1) is retrieved from the rack steered either by the order of the user or of the data system, and the data from above mentioned stacking and retrieving functions are transmitted to the data system.

Claims

1. A method to stack palletless and as to their size variable packages (1) on warehouse rack (15) and to retrieve them from said rack and to control the logistics of packages, in which method the said warehouse rack is furnished with an automatic packages stacking and retrieving robot (19),(26), and in the method the control of warehouse data and logistics takes place by means of a data system, characterized in that equipment (5) included in the method receives package (1), for instance, onto conveyor belt (2), the equipment (5) carries out weighing of package (1), determination for it necessary space requirement, reading of remote code connected to package (1), as RFID code (20) in order to choose the rack space determined for it on basis of previous functions, and package (1) is retrieved from the rack steered either by the order of the user or of the data system, and the data from above mentioned stacking and retrieving functions are transmitted to the data system.

2. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the packages are stacked as to their positions in transverse direction identified as band spaces (a . . . d), of the rack, the band width of which is determined according to the external dimensions package (1a . . . 1d).

3. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the supplier furnishes the package with RFID remote code and electrically the sends data of package to the warehouse data system or the data follow along with the RFID remote code.

4. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the user is identified in manners known per se, as with the RFID code, fingerprint code or PIN code.

5. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the space requirement of package is determined by identifications of the package external dimensions.

6. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that choosing of position of package 1 in rack (15) is effected by the weight of package and also by the demand of quick package collection.

7. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the data system controls the logistics of package (1) by means of electric communication, in which communication the e-mail address is used and by means of it access to the web sides, whereat by means of the communication the goods (package) are ordered from the supplier, the carriage note typed, freight ordered and transport carried out, the transportation invoiced, arrival of goods confirmed, chosen location of the goods (package) in the warehouse rack is transmitted to the data system, the content of stock is updated, invoice data are formed and also of collection and sending of goods (package) from warehouse rack (15) to the customer according to the order received from customer in using correspondingly the above presented necessary functions.

8. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that on collecting goods (package 1) on the basis of from rack (15) for own use, for instance a bearing from the rack to assembly, the control of logistics updates the content of stock, gives, if needed, an order impulse, because of the reduction of the goods in question, and indicates the reduced goods to charge the work number or corresponding identified in the collection order

9. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that in the warehouse system a separate central server (21) is used, which receives and sends data together with the warehouse system of the supplier and customer, who has ordered the goods.

10. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the data system compares the data of received package (1) with the data of the data system, as for instance the size, weight and/or the photographer makes a possible report of deviation.

11. Equipment to realise the method according to the invention and which comprises rack unit (15), at least one reception and delivery station (5), which includes detectors (4),(5) of package (1) and a communication arrangement to the data system (22), overhead rail system (30) of warehouse for moving robot (26) that stacks and retrieves packages by means of the arrangement, whereby the stacking and retrieving robot comprises equipment (31) for movement on rail (31), equipment to locate said robot on rail (30), equipment, as lifting cables (28), and the goods transporting part of said robot of the lifting motor, as for letting down the lower part on different rack levels, and transfer means (7) in said lower part for moving packages to the lower part and away from there, characterized in that stacking and retrieving robot (26) comprises at least an encapsulated upper part, that possible encapsulations of the lower part together with the encapsulation of the upper part locks at least the bottom and the sides of the lower part package space, when the lower part is lifted in connection with upper the part, furthermore, the lower part comprises a transfer platform (6) in order to facilitate the transfer of package and detectors in said lower part least for observation of the package.

12. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that there is in the lower part a net curtain for detection of obstacle outside the lower part loading sides in immediate closeness of the side line and for identification of package height and assurance of lifting, collision sensors, as pietzo films in the front edge of movable plates (7) gripping package (1), sensors of rack frame, as ultrasound means and package sensors, as light cells in the front edge of said plates (7) for identification of the existence and transition of package.

13. A method according to claim 11 characterized in that the lower part has as power source a charged battery and a wireless data transmission arrangement in the upper part of the robot.