AUTOMATED LOADING AND UNLOADING ITEMS
First Claim
1. A method for retrieving items from a vehicle comprising the steps of:
- storing, in a memory, data indicative of a storage location of each of one or more items, wherein the storage locations are assigned locations at which each of the one or more items are placed within a vehicle;
identifying the one or more items to be retrieved;
retrieving data indicative of the storage location of each of the one or more items from the memory;
detecting a position of the vehicle with respect to a delivery location;
actuating a load/unload device to retrieve each of the one or more items from the retrieved storage location if the detected position of the vehicle is within a threshold distance of the delivery location; and
transporting the one or more items to an access port for retrieval from the vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for automated loading and retrieval of items. In various embodiments, items are received at a loading station where identification data may be captured for each item and handling instructions may be generated. In some embodiments, a label having indicia associated with the item may be generated and affixed to the item. The items may then be deposited through an access door into the vehicle identified in the handling instructions. Once the items are loaded into the access door, an automated load/unload device may deposit the item in the appropriate storage location. The automated load/unload device may also retrieve and rearrange items as desired.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for retrieving items from a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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storing, in a memory, data indicative of a storage location of each of one or more items, wherein the storage locations are assigned locations at which each of the one or more items are placed within a vehicle; identifying the one or more items to be retrieved; retrieving data indicative of the storage location of each of the one or more items from the memory; detecting a position of the vehicle with respect to a delivery location; actuating a load/unload device to retrieve each of the one or more items from the retrieved storage location if the detected position of the vehicle is within a threshold distance of the delivery location; and transporting the one or more items to an access port for retrieval from the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for retrieving items from a vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle having a cargo area with an access port and a plurality of storage locations, wherein each of said plurality of storage locations are configured for storing one or more items; a load/unload device configured to transport the one or more items from one of the plurality of storage locations to the access port for retrieval from the vehicle; a vehicle location determining device configured to detect a position of the vehicle; and a controller communicatively coupled to the vehicle location determining device and the load/unload device, the controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory having program code instructions embodied therein, the at least one memory and program code instructions being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the controller to; store, in the at least one memory, data indicative of a storage location of each of the one or more items, wherein the storage locations are assigned locations at which each of the one or more items are placed within the vehicle; receive input indicative of the one or more items to be retrieved; retrieve data indicative of the storage location of each of the one or more items from the at least one memory; receive, from the vehicle location determining device, a detected position of the vehicle with respect to a delivery location; and provide instructions to the load/unload device to retrieve the one or more items from the storage location of each of the one or more items if the detected position of the vehicle is within a threshold distance of the delivery location. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification