Method of handling parcels by using shuttle carts, nesting racks, and lift trolleys having trays

• US 9,845,194 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2017
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solystic
• Original Assignee: Solystic
• Inventors: Chirol, Luc, Miette, Emmanuel
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMBESS, YOLANDA RENEE
• Application Number:
  US15/409,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20170129705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/02 Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/08 using arrangements of conveyors transport of sheets B65H; transport in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/10 with relatively movable racks to facilitate insertion or removal of articles cabinets with means for moving compartments up and down A47B51/00; cabinet system, e.g. consisting of cabinets arranged in a row with means to open or close passages between adjacent cabinets A47B53/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1378 the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method of handling articles in a logistics center uses an unloading zone for unloading the articles arriving at the center and an article stowage zone where the articles are stored in ordered manner, nesting racks coupled to shuttle robot carts, and also trays placed on lift trolleys coupled to the shuttle robot carts, and at least one vertical tray rack for storing the trays loaded with the articles in superposed manner in the stowage zone. If an article is loaded on a nesting rack in the unloading zone, the shuttle robot cart stores the article with the nesting rack in a lower portion of the tray rack.

Claims

1. A method of handling articles in a logistics center having an unloading zone for unloading the articles arriving at the center and an article stowage zone where the articles arriving at the center are stored in an ordered manner, in order to be transported in a predetermined sequential manner when they leave the center, the method comprising:

moving articles from the unloading zone to the stowage zone with a plurality of shuttle robot carts, the shuttle robot carts being configured to couple with nesting racks and lift trolleys,

moving articles from the unloading zone to the stowage zone with the nesting racks coupled to the shuttle robot carts, and

storing the trays loaded with the articles in superposed manner in the stowage zone on at least one vertical tray rack, wherein if an article is loaded on a nesting rack in the unloading zone, the shuttle robot cart stores the article with the nesting rack in a lower portion of the tray rack, and

if an article is loaded on a tray placed on the lift trolleys, the shuttle robot cart stores the article with the tray carried by the lift trolley above the nesting rack in an upper portion of the tray rack that is provided with horizontal runners.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein storing includes using the shuttle robots to actuate the lift trolleys in a manner that positions the trays dynamically and height-wise above one another in the tray rack to minimize empty space between two consecutive trays.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein storing the trays includes using a plurality of tray racks disposed in one or more rows in the stowage zone.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the articles are parcels.

5. A logistics center for handling parcels, which logistics center comprises:

a loading/unloading point for loading/unloading the parcels and a stowage zone that is designed for receiving parcels that are waiting for loading, said loading/unloading point is subdivided into various segments, each of which corresponds to a shipment of said parcels,

a plurality of nesting racks of different height and width formats configured for nesting by being superposed on one another,

a plurality of independently, self-propelled motor-driven shuttle carts, each shuttle cart being configured to dock with a nesting rack loaded with parcels under the control of a central processing unit,

lift trolleys for carrying trays and for docking with the shuttle carts, and

one or more tray racks, each tray rack having a lower portion suitable for storing the nesting rack loaded with parcels, and an upper portion for storing the trays loaded with parcels carried by the lift trolleys, said trays being stored above the nesting rack.

6. A logistics center according to claim 5, wherein the tray racks are wheeled.

7. A logistics center according to claim 6, wherein the wheeled tray racks are arranged to be docked with and moved by a shuttle cart.