Method of handling parcels, and a logistics center for handling parcels
First Claim
1. A method of handling parcels (2) in a logistics center (1) for handling parcels (2), the method comprising the steps consisting in unloading the parcels (2) at an unloading point (3) of the center (1), in moving said parcels (2) and in stowing them in organized manner in various segments (12) of a stowage zone (11) of said center (1), each segment corresponding to a shipment of the parcels (2), and then in transferring said parcels (2) waiting for loading from each segment (12) to a loading point (3), said method being characterized in that, in order to move and in order to stow said parcels (2), it further consists in using racks (5) of the nesting type on legs and of different formats (heights and widths), suitable for nesting together by being superposed on one another, and in using independent self-propelled motor-driven shuttle carts (6) suitable for docking (100) with each rack (5), which shuttle carts are controlled individually and remotely to travel in freely guided manner, and in that it further comprises the steps consisting in:
- unloading (102) each parcel (2) onto a rack (5) of known format that is docked with and that is motor-driven by a shuttle cart (6);
identifying (103) the destination of each parcel (2);
using an outward shipping plan associating each destination of a parcel (2) with a shipment so as to allocate (104) a specific location of a segment (12) to said rack (5) carrying said parcel (2), taking account of the format of said rack (5) so as to enable said parcels (2) to be superposed, and causing said shuttle cart (6) to move (105) towards said specific location so as to store said parcels (2) side-by-side and in superposed manner; and
using an inward delivery plan specifying the delivery sequence for said parcels (2) within the same shipment so as to cause a shuttle cart (6) to dock (110) with each rack (5) carrying a parcel (2) and so as to cause said parcel (2) to be transferred (111) from said stowage zone (11) to said loading point (3).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of handling parcels (2) and a logistics center (1) for handling parcels, use is made of superposable racks (5) and motor-driven shuttle carts (6) that are remotely controlled by a central processing unit (7) to travel in freely guided manner and that are suitable for docking with each rack (5), each parcel (2) is unloaded onto a rack (5) and the destination of the parcel is identified (103), a specific location is assigned (104) to said rack (5) using an outward shipping plan, and said corresponding shuttle cart (6) is caused to move (105) so as to store said parcels (2) side-by-side and in superposed manner, and then, using an inward delivery plan, each rack (5) is docked (110), and each parcel (2) is transferred (111) from said stowage zone (11) to a loading point (3) so that parcels (2) are presented in their order of delivery.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of handling parcels (2) in a logistics center (1) for handling parcels (2), the method comprising the steps consisting in unloading the parcels (2) at an unloading point (3) of the center (1), in moving said parcels (2) and in stowing them in organized manner in various segments (12) of a stowage zone (11) of said center (1), each segment corresponding to a shipment of the parcels (2), and then in transferring said parcels (2) waiting for loading from each segment (12) to a loading point (3), said method being characterized in that, in order to move and in order to stow said parcels (2), it further consists in using racks (5) of the nesting type on legs and of different formats (heights and widths), suitable for nesting together by being superposed on one another, and in using independent self-propelled motor-driven shuttle carts (6) suitable for docking (100) with each rack (5), which shuttle carts are controlled individually and remotely to travel in freely guided manner, and in that it further comprises the steps consisting in:
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unloading (102) each parcel (2) onto a rack (5) of known format that is docked with and that is motor-driven by a shuttle cart (6); identifying (103) the destination of each parcel (2); using an outward shipping plan associating each destination of a parcel (2) with a shipment so as to allocate (104) a specific location of a segment (12) to said rack (5) carrying said parcel (2), taking account of the format of said rack (5) so as to enable said parcels (2) to be superposed, and causing said shuttle cart (6) to move (105) towards said specific location so as to store said parcels (2) side-by-side and in superposed manner; and using an inward delivery plan specifying the delivery sequence for said parcels (2) within the same shipment so as to cause a shuttle cart (6) to dock (110) with each rack (5) carrying a parcel (2) and so as to cause said parcel (2) to be transferred (111) from said stowage zone (11) to said loading point (3). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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- 7. A logistics center (1) for handling parcels (2), the logistics center comprising at least one unloading/loading point (3) for unloading/loading said parcels (2) and a stowage zone (11) that is designed to receive parcels (2) waiting for loading and that is subdivided into various segments (12), each of which corresponds to a shipment of the parcels (2), said logistics center being characterized in that it includes racks (5) of the nesting type on legs and of different formats (heights and widths), suitable for nesting together by being superposed on one another, and independent self-propelled motor-driven shuttle carts (6) suitable for docking (100) with each rack (5), identification means (14) for identifying the destination of each parcel (2), a monitoring and control central processing unit (7) that is suitable for individually and remotely controlling said shuttle carts (6) so that they travel in freely guided manner, and that has an outward shipping plan for shipment of said parcels (2), which plan associates each destination of a parcel (2) with a shipment, and an inward delivery plan specifying the delivery sequence for delivery of said parcels (2) within the same shipment, and in that said parcels (2) are stored side-by-side and in superposed manner in each segment (12).
Specification