Automatic sorting system and method and automatic transport unit

Abstract

The present application provides an automatic sorting system and method and an automatic transport unit. The automatic sorting system comprises a feeding area for distributing items to be sorted, a transport area for moving one or more transport units therein, the transport units carrying the items to be sorted through the transport area, and a drop area comprising a plurality of sorting target objects, and the transport units performing the dropping of the items to be sorted to corresponding sorting target objects in the drop area; wherein the transport area and the drop area are located on the same plane, the drop area comprises at least two areas, and each area corresponds to a sorting target object, and the sorting target object is a movable container for accommodating the items. The automatic sorting system and method and the automatic transport unit provided by the present application can realize high flexibility, low cost and high efficiency of item sorting by adopting a planar area arrangement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention generally relates to the field of automated logistics, and more specifically, to automated sorting systems and methods and automated transport units having a planar, non-overlapping area arrangement. Background Technology

[0002] The rapid development of e-commerce has brought unprecedented opportunities to the express delivery industry, but it has also posed severe challenges. How to efficiently, cost-effectively, flexibly, and accurately sort parcels has always been a difficult problem for the industry. Traditional manual matrix sorting mainly suffers from low efficiency, high error rates, high labor intensity, difficulty in recruiting, and management difficulties. Traditional automated sorting equipment such as cross-belt sorters mainly faces problems such as high investment, slow returns, and poor flexibility and scalability. Their equipment utilization cannot adapt to the changing demands of peak and off-peak periods, and cross-belt sorters are serial systems; a failure at one point on the main line will cause the entire cross-belt sorting system to stop working. Therefore, flexible automated parcel sorting has become a key issue and urgent need for the express delivery industry to seek development.

[0003] The rapid development of robotics technology in recent years has brought tremendous technological changes to the entire logistics industry and has also brought new technologies and design concepts to the sorting industry. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an example of an existing automated sorting system that uses robots. Figure 1 As shown, the automated sorting system adopts the form of "robot + steel platform". The operator places the package on the robot carrying device at the feeding table. The robot carries the package to the steel dropping slot and delivers the package to the dropping slot, thus completing the package sorting task.

[0004] The aforementioned automated sorting system significantly improves sorting efficiency compared to traditional manual sorting methods, and offers advantages such as lower cost and higher flexibility compared to traditional automation methods like cross-belt sorters, thus gaining widespread attention and rapid adoption in the industry. However, the use and construction of steel platforms greatly reduces the flexibility and cost of these systems.

[0005] Furthermore, in the aforementioned automated sorting system, the drop-off slots are arranged in an array within the plane of the steel platform. The robot's drop-off task can cause other robots to wait or crisscross, reducing the overall sorting efficiency. In particular, when the number of robots in the system is large and the robot density is high, the overall system efficiency drops rapidly.

[0006] Therefore, an automated sorting system is needed to improve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to address the deficiencies and shortcomings of the prior art by providing a novel and improved automated sorting system and method with a planar, non-overlapping area arrangement, as well as an automated transport unit used therein.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, an automated sorting system is provided, comprising: a feeding area for distributing items to be sorted; a transport area for movement by one or more transport units, the transport units transporting the items to be sorted through the transport area; and a dropping area including a plurality of sorting target objects, wherein the transport units perform dropping the items to be sorted onto corresponding sorting target objects; wherein the transport area and the dropping area are located on the same plane and do not overlap.

[0009] In the above-mentioned automated sorting system, the transport area and the drop-off area are directly set on the ground.

[0010] In the above-mentioned automated sorting system, the feeding area, the transport area, and the dropping area are located on the same plane, and the feeding area, the transport area, and the dropping area do not overlap with each other.

[0011] In the above-mentioned automated sorting system, the feeding area is located on one side of the transport area, and the dropping area is located on one or more sides of the transport area other than the side where the feeding area is located.

[0012] In the above-described automated sorting system, the feeding area is located at the center of the transport area, and the dropping area is located at least a portion of the periphery of the transport area.

[0013] In the aforementioned automated sorting system, the sorting target is a movable container used to hold the items.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, an automated sorting system is provided, comprising: a transport unit for transporting items to be sorted; a sorting area for operation therein by the transport unit to sort the items to be sorted; and a control device for controlling the sorting of the items to be sorted and the movement of the transport unit in the sorting area; wherein the sorting area further comprises: a feeding area for distributing items to be sorted; a transport area for movement therein by one or more transport units, the transport units transporting the items to be sorted through the transport area; and a dropping area comprising a plurality of sorting target objects, wherein the transport units perform dropping the items to be sorted onto corresponding sorting target objects; wherein the transport area and the dropping area are located on the same plane and do not overlap.

[0015] In the aforementioned automated sorting system, the transport unit is a robot.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, an automatic sorting method is provided, comprising: placing one or more items to be sorted on a transport unit in a supply area; the transport unit carrying the items to be sorted through the transport area; and the transport unit proceeding to a drop-off area to drop the items to be sorted onto their corresponding sorting target objects; wherein the transport area and the drop-off area are located on the same plane and do not overlap.

[0017] In the above-described automatic sorting method, before the transport unit carries the items to be sorted through the transport area, the method further includes: acquiring item-related information of the items to be sorted; determining a specific sorting target object corresponding to the items to be sorted based on the item-related information; and the transport unit carrying the items to be sorted through the transport area specifically includes: determining the movement path of the transport unit based on the specific sorting target object, so that the transport unit carries the items to be sorted through the transport area to reach the specific sorting target object.

[0018] In the above-described automatic sorting method, after the transport unit travels to the unloading area and performs the unloading of the item to be sorted to its corresponding sorting target object, the method further includes: determining whether the item to be sorted corresponds to another sorting target object; in response to the item to be sorted corresponding to another sorting target object, the transport unit carries the item to be sorted through the transport area; and the transport unit travels to the other sorting target object and performs the unloading of the item to be sorted to the other sorting target object.

[0019] In the above-mentioned automatic sorting method, after the transport unit travels to the unloading area to unload the items to be sorted to their corresponding sorting target objects, the method further includes: the transport unit returning to the supply area.

[0020] In the above-described automatic sorting method, the process of the transport unit carrying the items to be sorted through the transport area further includes: determining whether the power of the transport unit is less than a predetermined threshold; and, in response to determining that the power of the transport unit is less than the predetermined threshold, controlling the transport unit to travel to a predetermined charging position.

[0021] In the above-mentioned automatic sorting method, the transportation unit carrying the items to be sorted through the transportation area further includes: the transportation unit using QR code navigation to move through the transportation area.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, an automated transport unit is provided for sorting items, comprising: a carrying component for receiving and distributing items to be sorted; a transport component for moving the automated transport unit in a transport area for sorting items such that the automated transport unit carries the items to be sorted through the transport area; and a delivery component for delivering the items to be sorted to a corresponding sorting target object among a plurality of sorting target objects in a delivery area for sorting items; wherein the transport area and the delivery area are located on the same plane and do not overlap.

[0023] The automatic sorting system, method, and automatic transport unit provided by this invention can achieve highly flexible, low-cost, and high-efficiency item sorting by adopting a planar, non-overlapping area arrangement. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an example of an existing automated sorting system that uses robots;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an example of an automated sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart of an automatic sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic block diagram of an automated transport unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The following description is intended to disclose the invention and enable those skilled in the art to implement it. The preferred embodiments described below are merely examples, and other obvious variations will occur to those skilled in the art. The basic principles of the invention defined in the following description can be applied to other embodiments, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and other technical solutions that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0029] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to their literal meaning, but are used by the inventors only to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Therefore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the invention is provided for illustrative purposes only and not for limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0030] It is understood that the term "a" should be understood as "at least one" or "one or more", that is, in one embodiment, the number of an element can be one, while in another embodiment, the number of the element can be multiple, and the term "a" should not be understood as a limitation on the number.

[0031] While ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," etc., will be used to describe various components, this does not limit which components are used. The term is used only to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may be referred to as a first component, without departing from the teachings of the inventive concept. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0032] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing various embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the terms “comprising” and / or “having” as used in this specification specify the presence of the described features, numbers, steps, operations, components, elements or combinations thereof, without excluding the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, elements or groups thereof.

[0033] The terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art, provided that they do not define the term differently. It should be understood that terms defined in commonly used dictionaries have meanings consistent with those in the prior art.

[0034] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0035] Overview of Automated Sorting Systems

[0036] As mentioned above, in existing automated sorting systems employing robots, the system typically uses a platform-based structure (e.g., a steel platform) with the robot operating above it and the container for receiving packages located below. While this structure achieves the sorting objective, the platform's construction and use significantly reduce the system's flexibility and cost. Therefore, a more flexible and cost-effective automated sorting system is needed.

[0037] In addition, in the above system, the drop-off slots are located in an array within the robot's movement area (e.g., Figure 1As shown, the unloading slots are arranged in an array within the plane of the steel platform. Therefore, during the unloading task, other robots will wait or avoid each other, which reduces the sorting efficiency of the entire system. In particular, when there are many robots and the robot density is high in the system, the waiting or avoidance caused by the robots performing unloading tasks will cause the efficiency of the entire system to drop rapidly.

[0038] Therefore, how to break through the bottleneck of the system efficiency of existing automated sorting systems, reduce robot waiting or collision avoidance caused by robot dropping, and effectively improve the efficiency of automated parcel sorting systems is one of the key issues facing engineering applications.

[0039] Regarding the flexibility of automated sorting systems, due to the cyclical nature of the logistics industry, these systems require a high degree of flexibility. Specifically, the logistics industry experiences distinct peaks and troughs in the volume of goods transported. For example, the express delivery industry sees a sharp increase in volume during major online shopping festivals, while volume decreases significantly during holidays such as the Spring Festival. Therefore, automated sorting systems need to effectively handle these uneven distributions in the volume of goods transported, ensuring the system meets demand without becoming idle.

[0040] Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, an automated sorting system is provided, comprising: a feeding area for distributing items to be sorted; a transport area for movement by one or more transport units therein, the transport units transporting the items to be sorted; and a dropping area including a plurality of sorting target objects, wherein the transport units perform dropping the items to be sorted onto corresponding sorting target objects therein; wherein the transport area and the dropping area are located on the same plane and do not overlap.

[0041] Compared to Figure 1 The automated sorting system shown adopts a "robot + steel platform" configuration. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the automated sorting system adopts a planar layout, that is, the transportation area and the unloading area are set on the same plane, thereby avoiding the cost of raising the transportation area.

[0042] Here, in the automated sorting system of this embodiment of the invention, the unloading area is defined as the area where the automated transport unit performs the unloading process, that is, the area where the items to be sorted are delivered to the corresponding sorting target objects. In other words, the unloading process of the items to be sorted needs to be completed in the unloading area to achieve item sorting. For example, in... Figure 1 In the automated sorting system shown, the drop-off slots on the steel platform are merely inlets for dropping items into the pipes that connect to the package containers. Therefore, Figure 1The loading slots of the steel platform shown do not correspond to the loading area of ​​the present invention, but the whole consisting of the loading slots and the delivery pipes is equivalent to the loading area of ​​the present invention.

[0043] Therefore, the planar arrangement defined in the embodiments of the present invention refers to the fact that the transport area and the drop-off area are located on the same plane as a whole, rather than that a part of the transport area and the drop-off area are located on the same plane.

[0044] Furthermore, since the unloading area is defined as the region where automated transport units (AGUs) perform unloading operations, it does not imply that AGUs must not move within the unloading area. In fact, in one example of an automated sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, unloading channels for AGUs can be provided in the unloading area so that multiple AGUs can simultaneously perform unloading operations for the same sorting target object. Specifically, for a sorting target object, such as a basket containing items, channels for allowing AGUs to pass can be further provided on both sides of the basket and on the rear side relative to the transport area. When two robots arrive near the basket simultaneously within a short period, one robot can move to the side of the basket facing the transport area to unload the item, while the other robot can use the channel to go around to the side of the basket away from the transport area to unload the item, thus further improving sorting efficiency.

[0045] Preferably, in the automated sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the transport area and the drop-off area are located on the ground.

[0046] Thus, the automated sorting system according to the present invention further adopts a "ground-based" structure, so that the transport area and the drop-off area are located on the same plane. Correspondingly, the transport unit moving in the transport area and the sorting target objects included in the drop-off area are also located on the same plane, thereby eliminating the need to build a separate platform for the transport unit and avoiding the loss of flexibility and cost.

[0047] Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that in the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention, the transport area and the drop-off area can be directly set on the ground, or they can be set in other planes as needed. For example, the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented as a three-dimensional automated sorting system, including multiple planes with transport areas and drop-off areas. This is particularly suitable for situations with limited space, thereby making full use of vertical space and reducing the cost of the automated sorting system.

[0048] Furthermore, in the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention, the transport area and the drop-off area do not overlap, that is, the transport area and the drop-off area occupy different parts of the planar physical space, thereby enabling the transport unit to perform drop-off without waiting for drop-off from other transport units or avoiding them, which significantly improves the efficiency of the automated sorting system.

[0049] Here, those skilled in the art will understand that the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention is used for sorting items during the logistics process. The items to be sorted are, for example, parcels transported in the express delivery industry, or other items that need to be sorted before transport. Furthermore, the transport unit in the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention can be a robot, or other transportable units used for transporting items.

[0050] Furthermore, the sorting target object in the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention relates to the category corresponding to the sorted items. For example, in the express delivery industry, a sorting target object typically corresponds to a specific transportation route, and the sorting target object can be a container for holding packages that need to be transported via that route. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the sorting target object in embodiments of the present invention is not limited to corresponding to a specific transportation route; it can also relate to the category corresponding to other sorted items, such as the size of the item, the characteristics of the item (fragility, etc.).

[0051] In summary, the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention provides an automated sorting system with a planar, non-overlapping area arrangement, the core of which lies in the planar, non-overlapping arrangement of the transport area and the drop-off area. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that whether or not items to be sorted are actually being sorted in the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention is not a necessary feature of the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention. That is, even if no transport unit transports items to be sorted from the supply area to the drop-off area via the transport area, as long as the transport area and the drop-off area have a planar, non-overlapping arrangement, it is intended to be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0052] Furthermore, the multiple sorting targets included in the drop-off area are not necessarily physical objects. For example, the drop-off area can be divided into multiple zones, with each zone corresponding to one sorting target object, thereby achieving item sorting. Of course, the sorting target object can also be a physical shelf, basket, etc. Moreover, to improve system flexibility, when the sorting target object is a container for holding items, this container is preferably movable, so that it can be easily replaced after being filled.

[0053] In other words, in the automated sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sorting target object is a movable container for containing the items.

[0054] As mentioned above, in the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention, the transport area and the drop-off area are located in the same plane and do not overlap. Furthermore, the feeding area in the automated sorting system is also located in the same plane as the transport area and the drop-off area, and the feeding area does not overlap with the transport area and the drop-off area. Thus, the arrangement of the feeding area further ensures the high flexibility, low cost, and high efficiency of the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0055] Regarding the actual layout of the supply area, transport area, and drop-off area, the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention can adopt various schemes. Generally, the supply area and drop-off area need to be set up according to the transport area. For example, in one example, the supply area and drop-off area are located on opposite sides of the transport area, allowing the transport unit to sort items by moving them from the supply area to different sorting targets in the drop-off area. Here, the transport area can be of various shapes depending on the actual site conditions; for example, the transport area can be a common rectangle or square. In this case, the supply area can be located in the center of one side of the transport area, while the drop-off area is located on the opposite side. Those skilled in the art will understand that when there are many sorting targets and the area of ​​the transport area is limited, drop-off areas can be set up on multiple sides of the transport area. For example, in a rectangular or square transport area, drop-off areas can be set up on the three sides other than the side where the supply area is located, thereby meeting the sorting needs of the items.

[0056] In another example, the supply area can be placed in the center of the transport area, while the drop-off area can be placed around the perimeter of the transport area. This maximizes the use of the transport area space, which is especially suitable for situations where space is limited.

[0057] Of course, even if the supply area is located in the center of the transportation area, it is not necessary to set up drop-off areas around the transportation area. Instead, an appropriate number of sorting target objects can be set up according to the specific sorting needs, so as to determine whether all sorting target objects can be accommodated on one side of the transportation area, or whether it is necessary to occupy another side or multiple sides.

[0058] Furthermore, from another perspective, in the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention, since the items to be sorted are transported from the supply area to the drop-off area, the transport area is obviously located between the supply area and the drop-off area. Therefore, it can be considered that the shape of the supply area and the drop-off area, especially the shape of the drop-off area, determines the shape of the transport area. Therefore, the layout of the drop-off area can be determined first, and then the layout of the transport area can be determined based on the shape of the drop-off area.

[0059] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the sorting target objects are preferably movable. Therefore, the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention can set an appropriate number of sorting target objects according to the number of items to be sorted. Taking parcel sorting in the express delivery industry as an example, suppose parcels need to be sorted along 30 routes. Then, based on existing data, the number of parcels on each route can be determined, thereby setting multiple sorting target objects corresponding to the same route. For example, if it is determined that the number of parcels corresponding to a certain route is large, multiple sorting target objects corresponding to that route can be set, allowing parcels corresponding to that route to be sorted in parallel, preventing the overall system efficiency from being reduced due to that route. Additionally, if the number of parcels to be sorted increases significantly during a specific time period, the overall number of sorting target objects corresponding to each route can be increased. For example, if normally each route corresponds to one sorting target object, the number of sorting target objects corresponding to each route can be set to two or more during busy periods. This allows the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention to effectively cope with the cyclical characteristics of the logistics industry, providing good flexibility.

[0060] Of course, as the number of items to be sorted increases, the original drop-off area may become insufficient to accommodate all the items. This can be solved simply by expanding the area of ​​the transport area, thereby correspondingly expanding the drop-off area.

[0061] Furthermore, since the feeding area, transport area and dropping area are implemented in the same plane in the automatic sorting system according to the embodiment of the present invention, in addition to realizing the automatic sorting system in a three-dimensional manner as described above, the automatic sorting system can also be easily replicated on the ground.

[0062] Specifically, as mentioned above, the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention is expanded by increasing the area of ​​the transport area, thereby increasing the area of ​​the unloading area. However, with the increase in the area of ​​the transport area, the route taken by the transport units within the transport area also changes. For transport units such as robots, traveling along a pre-set path is obviously the optimal solution. Therefore, to avoid the impact of changes in the transport area on the movement of the transport units, the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention can be replicated entirely without changing the transport area. That is, a new automated sorting system is set up, but the planar layout of the feeding area, transport area, and unloading area is exactly the same as that of the old automated sorting system, thus ensuring that the setup of the transport units is identical.

[0063] In other words, according to one aspect of the present invention, an automated sorting system is provided, comprising: a first feeding area for distributing items to be sorted; a first transport area for movement by one or more transport units, the transport units transporting the items to be sorted; and a first dropping area including a plurality of sorting target objects, wherein the transport units perform dropping the items to be sorted onto the corresponding sorting target objects; wherein the first transport area and the first dropping area are located in the same plane and do not overlap; the automated sorting system further includes a second feeding area, a second transport area, and a second dropping area, and the second planar layout of the second feeding area, the second transport area, and the second dropping area is the same as the first planar layout of the first feeding area, the first transport area, and the first dropping area.

[0064] Here, those skilled in the art will understand that the same planar layout means that the planar arrangement of each area is the same, and is not intended to limit the number of transport units operating in the second transport area, nor to require that the sorting target objects included in the second drop-off area be the same as those in the first transport area and the first drop-off area.

[0065] As described above, in practical use, both the items to be sorted and the transport units, such as transport robots, that transport the items to be sorted serve as the working objects of the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention may also include transport units and their control systems to achieve automated sorting of items.

[0066] In other words, according to one aspect of the present invention, an automated sorting system is provided, comprising: a transport unit for transporting items to be sorted; a sorting area for operation by the transport unit therein to sort the items to be sorted; and a control device for controlling the sorting of the items to be sorted and the movement of the transport unit in the sorting area; wherein the sorting area further comprises: a feeding area for distributing items to be sorted; a transport area for movement by one or more transport units therein, the transport units transporting the items to be sorted through the transport area; and a dropping area comprising a plurality of sorting target objects, wherein the transport unit performs dropping of the items to be sorted to the corresponding sorting target object therein; wherein the transport area and the dropping area are located on the same plane and do not overlap.

[0067] In the above-mentioned automated sorting system, the transport area and the drop-off area are directly set on the ground.

[0068] In the above-mentioned automated sorting system, the feeding area, the transport area, and the dropping area are located on the same plane, and the feeding area, the transport area, and the dropping area do not overlap with each other.

[0069] In the above-mentioned automated sorting system, the feeding area is located on one side of the transport area, and the dropping area is located on one or more sides of the transport area other than the side where the feeding area is located.

[0070] In the above-described automated sorting system, the feeding area is located at the center of the transport area, and the dropping area is located at least a portion of the periphery of the transport area.

[0071] In the aforementioned automated sorting system, the sorting target is a movable container used to hold the items.

[0072] Practical applications of automated sorting systems

[0073] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an example of an automated sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, in this example of the automated sorting system, the feeding area is implemented as a feeding station, where items to be sorted are placed on a mobile transport device using manual or automated methods. Although in Figure 2 Not shown in the diagram, this example of an automated sorting system may include a package inspection inlet equipped with a package inspection device. The package inspection device includes a package information acquisition device for acquiring package information of packages awaiting sorting that enter the package inspection inlet corresponding to the package information acquisition device. The package information includes the destination of the packages awaiting sorting, i.e., the sorting target object as described above. Preferably, the package inspection inlet is located in the supply area.

[0074] The mobile transport device can be, for example, a robot, that moves within a transport segment. Each mobile transport device can be used to load one or more packages to be sorted. Furthermore, the destination information of the packages to be sorted is carried in a destination address information code, which is affixed to the package, thereby enabling the mobile transport device to carry the package to the sorting destination.

[0075] In addition, the transportation section may include a transportation platform, which refers to a platform on which the mobile transportation device moves, and can be the ground, a certain kind of platform built, or a track, etc.

[0076] In such Figure 2 At the outer edge of the transport section shown, there is a drop-off end that serves as a drop-off area. The drop-off end is equipped with a package storage device. The mobile transport device moves to the drop-off end and places the packages to be sorted into the package storage device at the drop-off end.

[0077] In addition, the automated sorting system in this example includes a control unit that is interconnected with the package detection unit and the mobile transport unit. Based on package-related information, the control unit provides task or scheduling information to the mobile transport unit and controls the mobile transport unit to complete the entire package sorting process and task.

[0078] In other words, according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention, an automated sorting system is provided, comprising: a feeding station for placing items to be sorted onto a transport unit; an item inspection device for obtaining item-related information of the items to be sorted; a control device for determining one or more sorting destinations corresponding to the items to be sorted based on the item-related information; a transport area for controlling the transport unit to pass through the transport area to reach the sorting destination; and a drop-off area including the sorting destination for the transport unit to drop the items to be sorted to the sorting destination; wherein the transport area and the drop-off area are located in the same plane and do not overlap.

[0079] In the above-mentioned automated sorting system, the transport area and the drop-off area are directly set on the ground.

[0080] In the above-mentioned automated sorting system, the feeding station, the transport area, and the dropping area are located on the same plane, and the area where the feeding station is located, the transport area, and the dropping area do not overlap with each other.

[0081] In the above-mentioned automated sorting system, the feeding station is located on one side of the transport area, and the dropping area is located on one or more sides of the transport area other than the side where the feeding station is located.

[0082] In the above-mentioned automated sorting system, the feeding station is located at the center of the transport area, and the dropping area is located at least a portion of the periphery of the transport area.

[0083] In the aforementioned automated sorting system, a movable container for holding the items to be sorted is placed at the sorting destination.

[0084] According to an example of an embodiment of the present invention, an automated sorting system is provided, comprising: a transport unit for transporting items to be sorted; a feeding table for placing the items to be sorted on the transport unit; an item inspection device for obtaining item-related information of the items to be sorted; a control device for determining one or more sorting destinations corresponding to the items to be sorted based on the item-related information, and controlling the transport unit to travel to the sorting destination; a transport area for the transport unit to pass through the transport area under the control device to reach the sorting destination; and a drop-off area including the sorting destination for the transport unit to drop the items to be sorted to the sorting destination; wherein the transport area and the drop-off area are located in the same plane and do not overlap.

[0085] Automated sorting method

[0086] According to another aspect of the present invention, an automatic sorting method is provided, comprising: placing one or more items to be sorted on a transport unit in a supply area; the transport unit carrying the items to be sorted through the transport area; and the transport unit proceeding to a drop-off area to drop the items to be sorted onto their corresponding sorting target objects; wherein the transport area and the drop-off area are located on the same plane and do not overlap.

[0087] Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart of an automatic sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 As shown, the automatic sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: S1, placing one or more items to be sorted on a transport unit in a supply area; S2, the transport unit carrying the items to be sorted through a transport area; and S3, the transport unit moving to a drop-off area and dropping the items to be sorted onto their corresponding sorting target objects; wherein the transport area and the drop-off area are located on the same plane and do not overlap.

[0088] Specifically, in the supply area, one or more items to be sorted, such as packages, can be placed on transport units manually or automatically. The transport unit can be a robot for carrying the packages to be sorted, and the packages can be placed on the robot's carrying device.

[0089] Subsequently, the transport unit can obtain item-related information, such as the sorting destination, of the items through the item inspection inlet and an item inspection device. For example, this item inspection device can be a scanning device that scans the waybill on the package to obtain the package's destination information.

[0090] Then, the control device determines the correspondence between the package's destination information and the sorting target object in the drop-off area. Here, the correspondence between the package's destination and the sorting target object can be any one-to-one, many-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many. Furthermore, based on this correspondence and scheduling logic, the control device can determine the sorting target object to which the transport unit carrying the specific items to be sorted should move.

[0091] In other words, in the automatic sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention, before the transport unit carries the item to be sorted through the transport area, the method further includes: obtaining item-related information of the item to be sorted; determining a specific sorting target object corresponding to the item to be sorted based on the item-related information; and the transport unit carrying the item to be sorted through the transport area specifically includes: determining the movement path of the transport unit based on the specific sorting target object, so that the transport unit carries the item to be sorted through the transport area to reach the specific sorting target object.

[0092] Within the transport area, the control device can further control the transport unit to move to the corresponding sorting target object and execute the unloading action of the item, thereby completing a single sorting task. In addition, if the transport unit carries other items to be sorted that need to be transported to different sorting target objects, the control device continues to control the transport unit to move to the next sorting target object until all the items to be sorted have been delivered.

[0093] In other words, in the automatic sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention, after the transport unit travels to the unloading area to unload the item to be sorted to its corresponding sorting target object, the method further includes: determining whether the item to be sorted corresponds to another sorting target object; in response to the item to be sorted corresponding to another sorting target object, the transport unit carries the item to be sorted through the transport area; and the transport unit travels to the other sorting target object and unloads the item to be sorted to the other sorting target object.

[0094] Then, the control unit can control the transport unit to return to the supply area to continue the sorting task of the items.

[0095] In other words, in the automatic sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention, after the transport unit travels to the unloading area to unload the items to be sorted to their corresponding sorting target objects, the method further includes: the transport unit returning to the supply area.

[0096] Here, those skilled in the art will understand that the control device can be an overall control device installed in the automated sorting system, used to communicate with the transport units via, for example, wireless communication, thereby controlling the movement and unloading actions of the transport units. Alternatively, the control device can be installed within each transport unit, thereby controlling the movement and unloading actions of each individual transport unit.

[0097] Furthermore, in the automatic sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the step of the transport unit carrying the items to be sorted through the transport area further includes: determining whether the power of the transport unit is less than a predetermined threshold; and controlling the transport unit to travel to a predetermined charging position in response to determining that the power of the transport unit is less than the predetermined threshold.

[0098] Furthermore, in the automatic sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the transportation unit carrying the items to be sorted through the transportation area further includes: the transportation unit using QR code navigation to move through the transportation area.

[0099] Automated Transport Unit

[0100] According to another aspect of the present invention, an automated transport unit is provided for sorting items, comprising: a carrying component for receiving and distributing items to be sorted; a transport component for moving the automated transport unit in a transport area for sorting items, such that the automated transport unit carries the items to be sorted through the transport area; and a delivery component for delivering the items to be sorted to a corresponding sorting target object among a plurality of sorting target objects in a delivery area for sorting items; wherein the transport area and the delivery area are located on the same plane and do not overlap.

[0101] Figure 4 This is a schematic block diagram of an automated transport unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the automated transport unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a carrying component 101 for accommodating and distributing items to be sorted; a transport component 102 for moving the automated transport unit in a transport area for item sorting, such that the automated transport unit carries the items to be sorted through the transport area; and a delivery component 103 for delivering the items to be sorted to a corresponding sorting target object among a plurality of sorting target objects in a delivery area for item sorting; wherein the transport area and the delivery area are located on the same plane and do not overlap.

[0102] According to embodiments of the present invention, the automated transport unit may be, for example, a robot, used to transport items to be sorted to various sorting target objects in the automated sorting system described above, so as to achieve the sorting of items.

[0103] Specifically, the carrying component can be a tray on the robot used to hold items to be sorted. The transport component refers to the parts of the robot used for movement, such as wheels, and the necessary devices for driving this movement, such as motors. Furthermore, the delivery component refers to the device used to deliver the items to be sorted to the corresponding sorting target when the robot moves to the drop-off area. For example, it could be... Figure 1 The robot shown may be equipped with a flip-up mechanism or other devices such as a robotic arm. In the aforementioned automated transport unit, the carrying component is used to receive items to be sorted in the supply area, wherein the supply area, the transport area, and the drop-off area are located on the same plane and do not overlap with each other.

[0104] In the aforementioned automated transport unit, the transport component is used to transport the items to be sorted from the supply area located on one side of the transport area to the drop-off area located on one or more sides of the transport area other than the side where the supply area is located.

[0105] In the aforementioned automated transport unit, the transport component is used to transport the items to be sorted from the supply area located at the center of the transport area to the drop-off area located at least a portion of the periphery of the transport area.

[0106] In the aforementioned automated transport unit, the delivery component is used to drop the items to be sorted into a movable container for containing the items.

[0107] Adaptation of automated sorting systems

[0108] As described above, in the automated sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the transport area and the drop-off area are located on the same plane, and the transport area and the drop-off area do not overlap. Therefore, the items to be sorted are essentially transported through different areas on the same plane, which requires the transport unit transporting the items to be sorted to make appropriate adjustments based on the layout of the automated sorting system.

[0109] For example, in such Figure 1 In the existing automated sorting system shown, since the drop-off area exists in the form of drop-off slots on a steel platform, the transport robot may include a flip plate for carrying packages to be sorted. When the transport robot arrives next to the drop-off slot, it flips the flip plate to pour the package into the drop-off slot.

[0110] Here, those skilled in the art will understand that in the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention, a similar transport robot can also be used as a transport unit, so that when the transport robot moves to the drop-off area, it places the package into the drop-off area by flipping over a flap. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the sorting target object can be a container for holding items, and, in order to hold the items, the container preferably has a certain height. In this case, it is necessary to make appropriate adjustments to the transport robot so that it can easily place the transported items into the container.

[0111] In one example, the transport robot itself could be heightened, or a specific delivery device could be installed on the transport robot to deliver the items into the container.

[0112] In addition, in such Figure 1 In the automated sorting system shown, the movement path of the transport robot is optimized by setting the position and number of drop-off slots, thereby improving the overall operating efficiency of the system. In the automated sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, as described above, the shape of the drop-off area can be considered to determine the shape of the transport area. Therefore, in the automated sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the efficiency of the transport unit in moving and transporting items in the transport area can be improved by optimizing the layout of the drop-off area. That is, in addition to the number of sorting target objects in the drop-off area and their position at the edge of the transport area, the shape of the edge of the transport area can be changed by setting the position of the sorting target objects, thereby further optimizing the transport path.

[0113] Furthermore, in the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention, since the transport area and the drop-off area do not overlap, the sorting target object set in the drop-off area will not affect the movement of the transport unit moving in the transport area. This also allows for further optimization of the mobility configuration of the sorting target object. Specifically, in one example, the sorting target object can be configured to be movable not only after the sorting process is completed, but also during the sorting process, thereby further optimizing the system sorting efficiency through the movement of both the moving object and the sorting target object.

[0114] Furthermore, since the transport unit does not obstruct the movement of other transport units when unloading items, only the avoidance issues of each transport unit within the transport area need to be considered. Therefore, the algorithm for controlling the transport units within the transport area can be further improved to make the automated sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention more efficient.

[0115] The automatic sorting system and its operation method provided in this invention can avoid the problems of low flexibility and high cost caused by raising the transportation area by setting the transportation area and the unloading area on the same plane.

[0116] Furthermore, the automatic sorting system and its operation method provided in this embodiment of the invention can avoid the problem of other transportation units waiting or transportation units avoiding each other when the transportation unit of transporting goods performs the unloading operation by setting the transportation area and the unloading area to not overlap.

[0117] Therefore, the automatic sorting system and its operation method provided in this embodiment of the invention can achieve a highly flexible, low-cost and highly efficient logistics sorting solution by adopting a planar, non-overlapping area arrangement.

[0118] Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present invention described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are merely examples and do not limit the present invention. The objectives of the present invention have been fully and effectively achieved. The functional and structural principles of the present invention have been demonstrated and explained in the embodiments, and any modifications or variations of the implementation of the present invention may be made without departing from these principles.

Claims

1. An automated sorting system, comprising: The distribution area is used to distribute items to be sorted. A transport area for one or more transport units to move through, the transport units carrying the items to be sorted through the transport area; and The unloading area includes multiple sorting target objects, and the transport unit performs the unloading of the items to be sorted to the corresponding sorting target objects therein; The feeding area, the transport area, and the unloading area are located on the same plane and do not overlap. The feeding area is located on one side of the transport area, and the unloading area is located on one or more sides of the transport area other than the side where the feeding area is located. The unloading area includes at least two regions, and each region corresponds to a sorting target object. The sorting target object is a movable container used to hold the item. The unloading area is provided with unloading channels for the sorting target object. Each unloading channel is used by the transport unit to unload the item in the unloading area. For the same sorting target object, multiple automated transport units can unload the item simultaneously.

2. The automatic sorting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feeding area, the transport area and the dropping area are located on the same plane, and the feeding area, the transport area and the dropping area do not overlap with each other, the feeding area is located at the center of the transport area and the dropping area is located at least a portion of the periphery of the transport area.

3. The automatic sorting system as described in claim 2, wherein the shape of the transport area is determined based on the shape of the drop-off area, and the shape of the transport area includes a rectangle or a square.

4. The automatic sorting system as described in claim 1, wherein the transport area and the drop-off area are directly located on the ground.

5. The automated sorting system as described in claim 1, wherein the transport area and the unloading area are arranged on a constructed platform or track.

6. The automated sorting system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a multi-layered plane with the transport area and the drop-off area provided therein.

7. The automatic sorting system as described in claim 1, wherein the destination information of the items to be sorted corresponds to the sorting target objects in the drop-off area, and the correspondence includes any one of one-to-one, many-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many.

8. The automated sorting system as described in claim 1 or 7, wherein the transport unit carries at least one item to be sorted, and each item to be sorted corresponds to at least one sorting target object.

9. The automatic sorting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the event of a change in the number of items to be sorted, the number of sorting target objects in the drop-off area is changed based on the number of items to be sorted.

10. The automated sorting system as described in claim 9, wherein, for any destination, if the number of items to be sorted corresponding to the destination increases, the number of sorting target objects corresponding to the destination is increased.

11. The automatic sorting system as described in claim 9, wherein, within a preset time period, and when the number of items to be sorted increases, the number of sorting target objects in the drop-off area is increased within the preset time period.

12. The automated sorting system as described in claim 10 or 11, wherein when the number of sorting target objects increases and the area of ​​the drop-off area is insufficient to accommodate the sorting target objects, the area of ​​the transport area and the area of ​​the drop-off area are expanded.

13. The automated sorting system of claim 12, comprising a first feeding area, a first transport area, and a first unloading area, and a second feeding area, a second transport area, and a second unloading area, wherein the second planar layout of the second feeding area, the second transport area, and the second unloading area is the same as the first planar layout of the first feeding area, the first transport area, and the first unloading area, wherein, The first supply area, the first transport area, and the first drop-off area are the automatic sorting system before the automatic sorting system is replicated, and the second supply area, the second transport area, and the second drop-off area are the automatic sorting system after the automatic sorting system is replicated.

14. An automated sorting system, comprising: Transport units are used to transport items to be sorted; A sorting area, in which the transport unit operates to sort items to be sorted; and Control equipment for controlling the sorting of the items to be sorted and the movement of the transport unit in the sorting area; The sorting area further includes: The distribution area is used to distribute items to be sorted. A transport area for movement by one or more transport units carrying the items to be sorted through the transport area; and, The unloading area includes multiple sorting target objects, and the transport unit performs the unloading of the items to be sorted to the corresponding sorting target objects therein; The feeding area, the transport area, and the unloading area are located on the same plane and do not overlap. The feeding area is located on one side of the transport area, and the unloading area is located on one or more sides of the transport area other than the side where the feeding area is located. The unloading area includes at least two regions, and each region corresponds to a sorting target object. The sorting target object is a movable container used to hold the item. The unloading area is provided with unloading channels for the sorting target object. Each unloading channel is used by the transport unit to unload the item in the unloading area. For the same sorting target object, multiple automated transport units can unload the item simultaneously.

15. An automated sorting method, comprising: Place one or more items to be sorted onto the transport unit in the supply area; The transport unit carries the items to be sorted through the transport area; and, The transport unit moves to the unloading area and unloads the items to be sorted to their corresponding sorting target objects. The feeding area, the transport area, and the unloading area are located on the same plane and do not overlap. The feeding area is located on one side of the transport area, and the unloading area is located on one or more sides of the transport area other than the side where the feeding area is located. The unloading area includes at least two regions, and each region corresponds to a sorting target object. The sorting target object is a movable container used to hold the item. The unloading area is provided with unloading channels for the sorting target object. Each unloading channel is used by the transport unit to unload the item in the unloading area. For the same sorting target object, multiple automated transport units can unload the item simultaneously.

16. An automated transport unit for sorting items, comprising: Supporting components are used to hold and distribute items to be sorted. A transport component for moving the automated transport unit within a transport area for sorting items, such that the automated transport unit carries the items to be sorted through the transport area; and A delivery component is used to deliver the items to be sorted to the corresponding sorting target object among multiple sorting target objects in the drop-off area for item sorting; The feeding area, the transport area, and the unloading area are located on the same plane and do not overlap. The feeding area is located on one side of the transport area, and the unloading area is located on one or more sides of the transport area other than the side where the feeding area is located. The unloading area includes at least two regions, and each region corresponds to a sorting target object. The sorting target object is a movable container used to hold the item. The unloading area is provided with unloading channels for the sorting target object. Each unloading channel is used by the transport unit to unload the item in the unloading area. For the same sorting target object, multiple automated transport units can unload the item simultaneously.

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