A fixed-point automatic package collection system

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of warehousing and logistics technology, specifically a fixed-point automatic package collection system. It includes multiple compartments with self-numbered information, as well as a movable package collection warehouse module, a digital conveyor belt module, and an automatic package collection machine module. The compartments, movable package collection warehouse module, digital conveyor belt module, and automatic package collection machine module are connected sequentially. The movable package collection warehouse module includes several movable package collection warehouses for storing packages from the compartments and a third sensor device corresponding to the number of movable package collection warehouses, with each compartment corresponding to one movable package collection warehouse. This system saves on manual intervention, efficiently transmits the initial classification information of the packages, has a high degree of automation in the classification process, and promptly adjusts the work balance of each module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of warehousing and logistics technology, specifically a fixed-point automatic parcel collection system. Background Technology

[0002] With the rise of online shopping, the volume of express parcels is increasing day by day, which in turn leads to an increase in the workload of parcel packing. Currently, the most commonly used method is the parcel collection machine, which can use a conveyor belt to pour the parcels into packaging bags for centralized packing. It is very labor-saving and efficient. However, the subsequent unloading work still cannot be separated from manual assistance. Due to the surge in the number of express parcels, relying solely on manual methods for material handling and packing is very slow.

[0003] However, existing technologies cannot completely eliminate the need for manual assistance. Whether the baggage collection machine is used in conjunction with a belt conveyor or manual assistance is used, the following problems exist:

[0004] (1) During transport, it is difficult to place the packages neatly and orderly on the belt conveyor for collection. The packages are prone to being too concentrated or too loose. Therefore, relying on manual labor or machines can only achieve a single process in the collection and classification process, resulting in insufficient coordination between the various processes. It is not possible to adjust the work balance of each device in a timely manner. Moreover, the work of labeling the package classification is cumbersome. Relying solely on the existing devices may cause the packages to become chaotic during collection, resulting in the loss of the package labeling information or misclassification.

[0005] (2) The existing operating system that uses a combination of mechanical and manual labor may lead to an excessive number of belt conveyors used for loading due to the efficiency problems caused by the combination. The efficiency of package collection and belt conveyor transportation is related to the percentage of belt conveyor space occupied by the package. The closer the package capacity per unit area of ​​the belt conveyor is to its maximum transportation capacity, the higher the belt conveyor transportation efficiency, the fewer belt conveyors are needed, and the clearer the division of labor, the higher the efficiency and the lower the cost of package collection, without the need for too many devices.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides a highly efficient and balanced fixed-point collection system for express parcels, which avoids the parcels being too concentrated or too loose on the conveyor belt and improves the efficiency of parcel collection and classification. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the problems of low efficiency in the coordination of belt conveyors and baggage collection machines and high costs caused by an excessive number of belt conveyors used for loading in existing technologies, this invention provides a fixed-point automatic baggage collection system.

[0008] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is: a fixed-point automatic bag collection system, including multiple compartments with self-numbered information, and also including a movable bag collection bin module, a digital belt conveyor module and an automatic bag collection machine module; the compartments, the movable bag collection bin module, the digital belt conveyor module and the automatic bag collection machine module are connected in sequence;

[0009] The active package collection module includes several active package collection compartments for storing packages from the slots and a third sensor device corresponding to the number of active package collection compartments, with each slot corresponding to one active package collection compartment;

[0010] The digital belt conveyor module is used to transmit the package and corresponding compartment number information from the active package collection warehouse to the automatic package collection machine module. It includes a digital belt conveyor and several sets of digital buffer belt conveyors arranged sequentially along the package conveying direction.

[0011] The automatic package collection machine module is used to automatically collect packages from the digital buffer belt conveyor, record the grid information, and transfer them to the outbound conveyor belt.

[0012] Preferably, the host computer of the digital buffer belt conveyor is a digital belt conveyor or a host digital buffer belt conveyor, and the slave computer is a slave digital buffer belt conveyor or an automatic baggage collector; the slave computer of the last group of digital buffer belt conveyors is an automatic baggage collector module.

[0013] Preferably, the digital belt conveyor includes a first belt conveyor and a first sensor assembly. The first sensor assembly divides the belt surface of the first belt conveyor into several belt segments and numbers them. The belt segments of the first belt conveyor are divided into two types: empty segments and full segments. The empty segment is the belt segment of the first belt conveyor that has not received packages from the active package bin. The full segment is the belt segment of the first belt conveyor that has received packages from the active package bin. The full segment can be bound with the package's slot number information.

[0014] Preferably, each group of digital buffer belt conveyors includes a second belt conveyor and a second sensor assembly. The digital buffer belt conveyor is used to receive package and grid number information from the upper digital buffer belt conveyor or the digital belt conveyor and transmit it to the lower digital buffer belt conveyor or automatic package collection machine module.

[0015] Preferably, any of the digital buffer belt conveyors is configured to receive all packages on a full section of the belt of a digital belt conveyor or all packages from a higher-level digital buffer belt conveyor at a time.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0017] (1) The fixed-point automatic package collection system of the present invention utilizes the numbered grid corresponding to the active package collection warehouse, and in conjunction with the digital belt conveyor module, transmits the package from the active package collection warehouse and the corresponding grid number information to the automatic package collection machine module. In this process, the manual intervention operation process is saved, the initial classification information of the package is efficiently transmitted, and the classification process is highly automated, and the work balance of each module is adjusted in a timely manner.

[0018] (2) The fixed-point automatic baggage collection system of the present invention uses a digital belt conveyor module to transport all the full bags in the active baggage collection bin of the grid, along with the grid number, to the automatic baggage collection module machine through a digital belt conveyor and several sets of digital buffer belt conveyors. The digital belt conveyor can effectively avoid the situation where the bags are too concentrated or too loose by setting full sections and greatly avoids the situation where the bag marking information is lost due to manual baggage collection. The digital buffer belt conveyor plays the role of connecting the digital belt conveyor and the automatic baggage collection machine, and harmonizes the imbalance of the full section of the digital belt conveyor, thereby improving the system's working efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0020] Figure 1 This invention provides an overall process diagram of a fixed-point automatic package collection system;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a full-capacity example of an active package collection warehouse in a fixed-point automatic package collection system provided by the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 The following is a schematic diagram illustrating the full capacity of the active package collection warehouse in a fixed-point automatic package collection system provided by this invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This invention provides a schematic diagram of grid number binding for a fixed-point automatic package collection system;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a full active package collection warehouse example of a fixed-point automatic package collection system provided by the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 This invention provides a schematic diagram of the unloading position of a full active package collection warehouse in a fixed-point automatic package collection system.

[0026] Figure 7 The diagram shows a digital belt conveyor and a digital buffer belt conveyor conveying packages in a fixed-point automatic package collection system provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0028] Example:

[0029] like Figures 1-7 As shown, the fixed-point automatic package collection system of the present invention includes multiple compartments with self-numbered information, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the compartment numbers can be: 1, 2, ..., m, ... The compartment numbers can represent different meanings according to the user's needs. For example, the numbers can represent packages from different regions or different types of packages, which is helpful for distinguishing packages. It also includes a mobile package collection bin module, a digital belt conveyor module, and an automatic package collection machine module. The compartments, mobile package collection bin module, digital belt conveyor module, and automatic package collection machine module are connected in sequence to form a complete fixed-point automatic package collection system.

[0030] The activity package storage module includes several activity package storage compartments and a third sensor corresponding to the number of activity package storage compartments. Each compartment corresponds to one activity package storage compartment, so the two share the same numbering information, which is both the compartment number and the activity package storage compartment number. The activity package storage compartment is used to store packages from the compartment. The third sensor is set inside each activity package storage compartment and is used to detect whether the activity package storage compartment is full.

[0031] The digital belt conveyor module is used to transmit the packages and corresponding slot number information from the active package collection bin to the automatic package collection machine module. It includes digital belt conveyors arranged sequentially along the package conveying direction and several sets of digital buffer belt conveyors. The function of the digital belt conveyor module is to transmit all the packages in the active package collection bin with the slot number to the automatic package collection module.

[0032] The automatic baggage collection module is used to automatically collect and record the bag information from the digital buffer belt conveyor and transfer it to the outbound conveyor belt. Its working process includes bag picking, bag opening, bag stretching, bag filling, filling, sealing, and labeling.

[0033] In this embodiment, the host computer of the digital buffer belt conveyor is a digital belt conveyor or a higher-level digital buffer belt conveyor, and the slave computer is a lower-level digital buffer belt conveyor or an automatic bagging machine.

[0034] In this embodiment, the digital belt conveyor includes a first belt conveyor and a first sensor assembly. The first sensor assembly divides the belt surface of the first belt conveyor into several belt segments and numbers them digitally, such as... Figure 1As shown, the belt segments can be: ..., n-1, n, n+1, ...; the belt segments of the first belt conveyor are divided into two types: empty segments and full segments; the empty segment is the belt segment of the first belt conveyor that has not received packages from the active collection bin; the full segment is the belt segment of the first belt conveyor that has received packages from the active collection bin. The full segment can bind the grid number information of the package, so that each belt segment can only correspond to the package conveyed by the same grid, reducing the situation of package confusion. It can realize the function of assisting the automatic collection machine module to classify and label packages, and reduce the situation of label confusion after package collection.

[0035] In this embodiment, when the active package bin is full, the third sensor transmits a signal to the active package bin. The bottom of the full active package bin is open, allowing the packages inside to be transferred to an empty section of the digital conveyor belt segment. When the empty section of the first conveyor belt segment reaches the position of the full active package bin, a package lowering position is provided. The active package bin can transfer the packages to the empty section of the first conveyor belt segment. The first sensor component binds and records the corresponding slot number information of the full active package bin with the digital number of the digital conveyor segment, and marks the first conveyor belt segment as full.

[0036] Example 1: such as Figure 2 As shown, when the activity set warehouse corresponding to grid number "m" is full, the packages inside will be transferred to the empty section of the nearest digital conveyor belt segment numbered "n+1", and reference... Figure 3 When the empty segment numbered "n+1" reaches the lower position of the active package collection warehouse corresponding to the grid numbered "m", the package transfer begins. Note that the active package collection warehouse must be full at this time; see reference. Figure 4 After the belt segment number "n+1" is bound to the grid number "m", it becomes "n+1&m". The first sensor component marks this belt segment as full. After the transmission is completed, the third sensor eliminates the "full" signal of the active collection bin.

[0037] Example 2: such as Figure 5 As shown, when the active package warehouse is full, but the empty section of the conveyor belt has passed the full package drop position of the active package warehouse and the next section is also full, package transfer cannot begin until the next empty section of the conveyor belt reaches the full package drop position of the active package warehouse; for example... Figure 6 As shown, when the active collection container of the "k" grid is full, it will be transferred to the next empty segment of the conveyor belt, "n+2", instead of being transferred to the already full segment of the "n+1&m" conveyor belt.

[0038] It should be noted that in this embodiment, all packages in each full active package warehouse must be transferred to the same digital conveyor belt segment.

[0039] In this embodiment, a fixed-point package collection system needs to be equipped with 3 to 5 sets of digital buffer belt conveyors. Each set of digital buffer belt conveyors includes a second belt conveyor and a second sensor assembly. The digital buffer belt conveyor is used to receive package and grid number information from the upper-level digital buffer belt conveyor or the digital belt conveyor, and transmit it to the lower-level digital buffer belt conveyor or automatic package collection machine module. The digital buffer belt conveyor plays a role in connecting the digital belt conveyor and the automatic package collection machine, adjusting the imbalance of the full section of the digital belt conveyor, and improving the system's working efficiency.

[0040] Any digital buffer belt conveyor is configured to receive all packages on a full section of a digital belt conveyor or all packages from a higher-level digital buffer belt conveyor at a time; any digital buffer belt conveyor is configured to transfer all packages to the next digital buffer belt conveyor or automatic package collector at once.

[0041] When the full section of the belt reaches the end of the digital belt conveyor, such as Figure 7 As shown, if the lower-level digital buffer conveyor has no packages, the packages on the full "n+1&m" belt segment, along with the grid number "m", will be transferred to the lower-level digital buffer conveyor. If the lower-level digital buffer conveyor has packages, the conveying of the digital conveyor will be paused. After the packages on the lower-level digital buffer conveyor have been transferred away and it is in a package-free state, the digital conveyor will be restarted to transfer the packages on the full belt segment, along with the grid number information, to the lower-level digital buffer conveyor.

[0042] In this embodiment, the lower-level machine includes a lower-level digital buffer belt conveyor and an automatic package collection machine module. The lower-level machine can collect and analyze the status of its own packages, and send a signal to the upper-level machine to indicate whether it is allowed to receive packages and whether it is in standby mode based on the collection and analysis results. The upper-level machine can receive and process the signal.

[0043] When the digital buffer conveyor is in a no-package state, the second sensor component sends an enable signal to the host computer and stops when no package arrives. When the digital buffer conveyor receives a package arrival signal from the host computer, the second conveyor starts to receive the package transmitted from the host computer. When the digital buffer conveyor is in a package state, it transmits the package to the host computer if the lower-level computer enables reception (i.e., the lower-level computer has no package), otherwise it pauses. It transmits the package to the lower-level computer when the lower-level computer sends an enable signal.

[0044] The last set of digital buffer belt conveyors is connected to an automatic package collector. If the automatic package collector allows the receiving of packages, the last set of digital buffer belt conveyors transmits the package and compartment number information it stores to the automatic package collector. If the automatic package collector does not allow the receiving of packages, the last set of digital buffer belt conveyors will pause and resume transmission when the automatic package collector allows the receiving of packages.

[0045] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A fixed-point automatic parcel collection system, comprising multiple compartments with self-numbered information, characterized in that: It also includes a movable bag-collecting bin module, a digital belt conveyor module, and an automatic bag-collecting machine module; the grid, movable bag-collecting bin module, digital belt conveyor module, and automatic bag-collecting machine module are connected in sequence; The active package collection module includes several active package collection compartments for storing packages from the slots and a third sensor device corresponding to the number of active package collection compartments, with each slot corresponding to one active package collection compartment; The digital belt conveyor module is used to transmit the package information and corresponding compartment numbering information from the active package collection bin to the automatic package collection machine module. It includes digital belt conveyors and several sets of digital buffer belt conveyors arranged sequentially along the package conveying direction. The digital belt conveyor includes a first belt conveyor and a first sensor assembly. The first sensor assembly divides the belt surface of the first belt conveyor into several belt segments and numbers them. The belt segments of the first belt conveyor are divided into empty segments and full segments. An empty segment is a belt segment of the first belt conveyor that has not received packages from the active package collection bin; a full segment is a belt segment of the first belt conveyor that has received packages from the active package collection bin. The conveyor belt segments for transporting packages are configured such that a full segment can be bound to the package's slot number information. Each set of digital buffer conveyor belts includes a second conveyor belt and a second sensor assembly. The digital buffer conveyor belt is used to receive package and slot number information from a higher-level digital buffer conveyor belt or a digital conveyor belt, and transmit it to a lower-level digital buffer conveyor belt or automatic package collection module. Any digital buffer conveyor belt is configured to receive all packages from a full segment of the digital conveyor belt or all packages from the higher-level digital buffer conveyor belt at a time. Any digital buffer conveyor belt is configured to transmit all packages to the next digital buffer conveyor belt or automatic package collection module at once. The automatic package collection module is used to automatically collect packages from the digital buffer belt conveyor, record the grid information, and transfer them to the outbound conveyor belt.

2. The fixed-point automatic package collection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The host computer of the digital buffer belt conveyor is a digital belt conveyor or a host digital buffer belt conveyor, and the slave computer is a slave digital buffer belt conveyor or an automatic baggage collector; the slave computer of the last group of digital buffer belt conveyors is an automatic baggage collector module.

3. A fixed-point automatic parcel collection system according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that: The third sensor is installed inside each active package bin and is used to detect whether the active package bin is full. When the active package bin is full, the third sensor transmits a signal to the active package bin. The bottom opening of the full active package bin transfers the packages inside to the empty section of the digital conveyor belt.

4. A fixed-point automatic package collection system according to claim 3, characterized in that: All packages in each full activity package warehouse are transferred to the same digital conveyor belt segment.

5. A fixed-point automatic package collection system according to claim 4, characterized in that: When the empty section of the first belt conveyor reaches the position of the full active collection bin, a bag-dropping position is set up. The active collection bin can transfer the package to the empty section of the first belt conveyor. The first sensor component binds and records the corresponding grid number information of the full active collection bin with the digital number of the digital belt section, and marks the belt section of the first belt conveyor as full.

6. A fixed-point automatic package collection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lower-level machine includes a lower-level digital buffer belt conveyor and an automatic package collection machine module. Each lower-level machine can collect and analyze the status of its own packages, and send a signal to the upper-level machine, based on the collection and analysis results, to indicate whether it is allowed to receive packages and whether it is in standby mode.

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