Unmanned warehouse and cargo verification equipment in unmanned warehouse

Abstract

The utility model provides an unmanned cabin, and relates to the technical field of automatic control. The unmanned warehouse comprises a warehouse, at least one kind of goods is placed in the warehouse, a first goods marker is arranged on the surface of the goods, and a second goods marker is arranged on the surface or inside the goods; the cargo verification equipment is arranged at a preset position in the warehouse and comprises a scanning window and a degaussing part arranged within a preset distance close to the scanning window, and the scanning window identifies a first cargo marker arranged on the surface of the cargo to obtain cargo information; the degaussing part is used for degaussing a second cargo marker arranged on the surface or inside the cargo; the sensing device is arranged in a channel from the cargo verification equipment to a warehouse outlet in the warehouse; the door control device is arranged at the exit of the warehouse; and the central control machine is connected with the induction device and the door control device, and when the induction device detects the second cargo marker which is not demagnetized, the central control machine controls the door control device to lock the warehouse outlet. According to the embodiment of the invention, the efficiency of local distribution service can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of automatic control technology, and more specifically, to an unmanned warehouse and cargo verification equipment in the unmanned warehouse. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of the logistics sector, local delivery services have become a popular choice for users when purchasing goods. Local delivery services typically involve users searching for goods on a shopping platform, confirming their purchase, and then initiating a purchase request. The platform generates a delivery task, which is then accepted by a delivery company, who picks up the goods from the corresponding store and delivers them to the user.

[0003] The unmanned warehouse model refers to providing unified warehousing services for multiple merchants. When a user places an order on a platform, delivery personnel, such as food delivery workers, determine the corresponding unmanned warehouse based on the order information, pick up the goods, and deliver them to the user. However, due to significant differences in delivery capacity and the often complex nature of orders (e.g., high repetition), self-service picking by delivery personnel is prone to risks of mis-picking, missing items, or theft, especially for high-value goods such as 3C electronics and cosmetics. These high-value, attractive products can cause substantial losses for merchants if mis-picked. Therefore, a solution is needed to reduce and prevent mis-picking, missing items, or theft in unmanned warehouses, thereby minimizing losses for merchants.

[0004] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this disclosure, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide an unmanned warehouse and cargo verification equipment to improve the efficiency of local delivery services and reduce the operating costs of local delivery services.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an unmanned warehouse is provided, comprising a warehouse space with at least one shelf deployed therein, the shelf having multiple storage locations, each storage location holding at least one type of goods, the surface of the goods being provided with a first goods marker, and the surface or interior of the goods being provided with a second goods marker, for delivery capacity to pick up and verify goods corresponding to orders to be delivered from the storage locations; a goods verification device, disposed at a predetermined location within the warehouse, the goods verification device including a scanning window and a demagnetizing component disposed within a predetermined distance from the scanning window, the scanning window including a barcode scanning component, the barcode scanning component identifying the first goods marker disposed on the surface of the goods to obtain goods information, and the demagnetizing component demagnetizing the second goods marker disposed on the surface or interior of the goods; a sensing device disposed within the warehouse in a passage from the goods verification device to the warehouse exit; a door control device disposed at the warehouse exit; and a central control unit connected to the sensing device and the door control device, wherein when the sensing device detects an undemagnetized second goods marker, the central control unit controls the door control device to lock the warehouse exit.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the door control device includes: a door lock component for allowing or prohibiting the opening of the warehouse exit, the door lock component being an electromagnetic lock; and an alarm component for issuing an alarm when the sensing device detects a second cargo marker that has not been demagnetized.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the door lock component is controlled by the central control unit to prevent the warehouse exit from opening, and the alarm component outputs an alarm signal when the door lock component prevents the warehouse exit from opening. The alarm component includes at least one of an audible alarm component or a visual alarm component.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the central control unit controls the door control device to unlock the warehouse exit when it receives an opening command.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, a camera is also included, the camera's field of view covering the shelf or the goods verification equipment, the camera monitoring the picking process or goods verification process in the unmanned warehouse.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, a communication component is also included, which is connected to the application service platform for communication and to the cargo verification device for transmitting cargo order information.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, a communication component is also included. The communication component is connected to the application service platform for communication and is connected to the central control unit to transmit an opening command to the central control unit, so that the central control unit controls the door control device to unlock the warehouse exit.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the central control unit is disposed in the cargo verification equipment.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the demagnetizing component in the cargo verification device is used to demagnetize the second cargo marker after receiving a demagnetizing command triggered by the scanning component after recognizing the first cargo marker and obtaining cargo information.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the cargo verification device further includes a touch screen displaying cargo information.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the second cargo marker is attached to the surface of the cargo and is in the form of a sheet;

[0017] The second cargo marker is overlapped with the first cargo marker, with the first cargo marker on top and visible, and the second cargo marker on the bottom.

[0018] The second cargo marker is smaller than the first cargo marker, and the second cargo marker is not visible on the surface.

[0019] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a cargo verification device for an unmanned warehouse is provided, comprising: a cargo verification device disposed at a predetermined position within the warehouse, the cargo verification device including a scanning window and a demagnetizing component disposed within a predetermined distance from the scanning window, the scanning window including a barcode scanning component for identifying cargo picked from the unmanned warehouse, identifying a first cargo marker disposed on the surface of the cargo to obtain cargo information, and the demagnetizing component demagnetizing a second cargo marker disposed on or inside the cargo.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the cargo verification device further includes a touch screen displaying cargo information.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the demagnetizing component is a demagnetizing coil, which is disposed at least partially around the scanning window.

[0022] The unmanned warehouse provided in this embodiment, by setting up a warehouse, goods verification equipment, sensing devices, door control devices, and a central control unit, allows delivery personnel to independently pick up the goods corresponding to the orders to be delivered from the warehouse and complete the goods verification. At the same time, it can provide support to prevent the goods from being mistakenly taken out of the unmanned warehouse or taken out of the unmanned warehouse without authorization when the delivery personnel pick up the goods. It can reduce and prevent the occurrence of mis-taking / missing / theft problems in the unmanned warehouse, reduce the loss of goods for merchants, and thus reduce the time and labor costs of local delivery.

[0023] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this disclosure, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an unmanned warehouse in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an unmanned warehouse in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the gate control device 4 in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the access control device and the door control device 4 in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the second human-computer interaction component in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cargo verification equipment in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0031] Figures 7A to 7C This is a schematic diagram of the demagnetizing component 23 in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0032] Figures 8A to 8C This is a schematic diagram showing the relative positional relationship between the demagnetizing component 23 and the scanning window 22 in the first direction in this embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figures 9A to 9D This is a schematic diagram showing the relative positional relationship between the demagnetizing component 23 and the scanning window 22 in the second direction in this embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cargo verification device 2 in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0035] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of an unmanned warehouse in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0036] Figures 12A-12CThis is a schematic diagram of a first cargo marker and a second cargo marker in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, example embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to make this disclosure more comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the concept of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art. The described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a full understanding of embodiments of this disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the technical solutions of this disclosure can be practiced with one or more of the specific details omitted, or other methods, components, apparatus, steps, etc., can be employed. In other instances, well-known technical solutions are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of this disclosure.

[0038] Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are merely illustrative of this disclosure, and the same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts, thus repeated descriptions of them will be omitted. Some block diagrams shown in the drawings are functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically or logically independent entities. These functional entities may be implemented in software, in one or more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or in different network and / or processor devices and / or microcontroller devices.

[0039] The exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an unmanned warehouse in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0041] refer to Figure 1 An unmanned warehouse 100 can include:

[0042] Warehouse 1, at least one shelf 11 is deployed in the warehouse space, the shelf 11 has multiple storage locations, each storage location holds at least one type of goods, the surface of the goods is provided with a first goods mark, and the surface or interior of the goods is provided with a second goods mark, so that the delivery capacity can pick the goods corresponding to the order to be delivered from the storage location and verify them.

[0043] Cargo verification equipment 2 is set at a predetermined position in the warehouse 1, including a scanning window and a demagnetizing component. Cargo verification equipment 2 is used to scan the first cargo marker for verification and demagnetize the second cargo marker after verification.

[0044] The sensing device 3 is installed in the passageway from the cargo verification equipment to the exit of the warehouse 1 inside the warehouse 1;

[0045] Door control device 4 is installed at the exit of warehouse 1;

[0046] The central control unit 5 is connected to the sensing device 3 and the gate control device 4. When the sensing device 3 detects a second cargo marker that has not been demagnetized, the central control unit 5 controls the gate control device 4 to lock the exit of the cargo warehouse 1.

[0047] The unmanned warehouse 100 does not have permanent on-site staff; delivery personnel pick and verify goods themselves. The unmanned warehouse 100 can accommodate one or more merchants storing their goods on their respective shelves 11. Therefore, merchants providing local delivery services do not need to provide their own storage space or on-site staff, significantly reducing the operating costs of local delivery services. When unmanned warehouses are set up in certain areas, and multiple merchants store their goods in these large unmanned warehouses, delivery personnel in that area can access the unmanned warehouse to complete multiple pending orders from various merchants, quickly fulfilling multiple local delivery tasks. This greatly improves the efficiency of local delivery services and saves time and labor costs for local delivery tasks.

[0048] An exemplary usage process of the unmanned warehouse 100 can be as follows: After receiving a user order, the application service platform of the local delivery service determines that the goods corresponding to the order are stored in the unmanned warehouse 100, and generates a delivery destination corresponding to the user and a delivery order corresponding to the unmanned warehouse. The server allocates the delivery order to the terminal equipment with appropriate delivery capacity according to the pre-set allocation principle.

[0049] After receiving a local delivery task corresponding to unmanned warehouse 100, the delivery terminal equipment arrives at the corresponding unmanned warehouse 100 according to the local delivery task. The entrance to warehouse 1 is normally closed and requires entry verification.

[0050] The entry verification process is as follows: At the entrance of warehouse 1, the delivery personnel provide their identity information to the server connected to the access control device at the entrance of warehouse 1. Based on this identity information, the server retrieves the pending orders for that delivery personnel corresponding to the unmanned warehouse from the application service platform system. If the platform system contains pending orders for that delivery personnel corresponding to the unmanned warehouse, the server then uses communication device 6 (see...) Figure 2 The system sends an opening command to the access control device to open the entrance of warehouse 1 for delivery personnel to enter. This access control device can be included within the door control device 4 (i.e., exit control and entry control can be the same type of lock device), or it can be a separate device. In an exemplary embodiment, the access control device is a smart lock, and the lock device in the door control device 4 is an electromagnetic lock.

[0051] Inside warehouse 1, in event 01, the delivery force finds the corresponding shelf 11 and storage location in warehouse 1 based on the order to be verified, and picks the goods corresponding to the order to be delivered according to the quantity corresponding to each stock keeping unit (SKU). For example, picking 5 bags of fries (SKU is one bag of fries, and the quantity corresponding to this SKU is equal to 5), or picking 2 cases of beverages, each case containing 6 bottles (SKU is one case of beverages, and the quantity corresponding to this SKU is equal to 2).

[0052] Next, in event 02, the delivery personnel move the picked goods to the unmanned warehouse 100 provided in this embodiment for verification. A first goods marker is affixed to the surface of the goods, indicating goods information; this first goods marker may be, for example, a barcode or QR code. Within a predetermined distance around the first goods marker, i.e., close to it, a second goods marker is also affixed for verifying the goods.

[0053] In an exemplary embodiment, the second cargo marker may be magnetic, for example, and this magnetism can be demagnetized by the unmanned warehouse 2 or detected by the sensing device 3.

[0054] After the delivery personnel scans the first cargo marker of the goods in the scanning window of the cargo verification device 2, the cargo verification device 2 verifies the goods according to the order to be delivered. After the verification is passed, it controls the demagnetizing component to demagnetize the second cargo marker of the goods.

[0055] In Event 03, the delivery personnel remove goods from the unmanned warehouse 100. If the second cargo marker has been verified and demagnetized, the sensor 3 will not be triggered. If the delivery personnel intentionally or mistakenly remove goods that have not been verified from the unmanned warehouse 100, the second cargo marker will still have magnetism that can be detected by the sensor 3. Therefore, after detecting the undemagnetized second cargo marker, the sensor 3 will send an alarm message to the central control unit 5. The central control unit 5 will control the gate control device 4 to lock the exit of the warehouse 1, preventing unverified goods from leaving the unmanned warehouse 100.

[0056] Therefore, the unmanned warehouse 100 does not need to be equipped with permanent on-site staff. The delivery capacity can cooperate with the equipment in the unmanned warehouse 100, such as the goods verification equipment 2, to complete the sorting and verification of goods. At the same time, it can also prevent unverified goods from being unintentionally or maliciously taken out of the unmanned warehouse 100 due to the lack of on-site staff supervision, thus achieving the safe operation of the unmanned warehouse 100.

[0057] The above provides a general overview of the exemplary operation process of the unmanned warehouse 100. Below, each part of the unmanned warehouse 100 will be described in detail. The various functions and processes involved in the description of each part can be freely combined and applied to the complete use of the unmanned warehouse 100.

[0058] In an exemplary embodiment, the central control unit 5 is connected to the sensing device 3 and the door control device 4 via wireless communication.

[0059] In some embodiments, the central control unit 5 can be directly the controller of the goods verification device 2; that is, in other embodiments, the central control unit 5 can also be a separately configured controller. In either case, the central control unit 5 can be installed in the goods verification device 2.

[0060] When the central control unit 5 is the controller of the goods verification device 2, the central control unit 5 can connect to the server of the application service platform that provides local delivery services through wireless communication, thereby obtaining the orders to be delivered for verification. At the same time, it controls the gate control device 4 according to the orders to be delivered or instructions from the server.

[0061] When the goods verification device 2 and the central control unit 5 are set up separately, both can be connected to the server via wireless communication. Thus, the goods verification device 2 can verify the goods according to the delivery order from the server, and the central control unit 5 can control the gate control device 4 according to the delivery order or instructions from the server.

[0062] Furthermore, in this separate configuration, in some embodiments, the goods verification device 2 can connect to the server of the application service platform providing local delivery services via wireless communication to obtain the order to be delivered for goods verification, and the central control unit 5 obtains the order to be delivered or instructions by connecting to the goods verification device 2 to control the gate control device 4.

[0063] In other embodiments, the central control unit 5 can obtain orders or instructions to be delivered from the server via wireless communication, and the goods verification device 2 obtains the orders to be delivered through the central control unit 5 to verify the goods.

[0064] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an unmanned warehouse in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0065] refer to Figure 2 In an exemplary embodiment, the unmanned warehouse 100 may further include a communication component 6, which is connected to an application service platform that provides local delivery services for communication.

[0066] In some embodiments, the communication component 6 is connected to the cargo verification device 2 to transmit cargo order information, which includes orders to be delivered and information on whether the orders to be delivered have been verified.

[0067] In some embodiments, the communication component 6 is connected to the central control unit 5 to transmit a door opening command to the central control unit 5, so that the central control unit 5 controls the door control device 4 to unlock the warehouse exit. This door opening command may, for example, come from an application service platform.

[0068] When the central control unit 5 is the controller of the goods verification device 2, the communication component 6 is only connected to the central control unit 5, obtains the order to be delivered from the server of the application service platform and transmits it to the goods verification device 2, and transmits the message that the order to be delivered of the goods verification device 2 has been verified to the application service platform; in addition, it transmits the instructions from the server to the central control unit 5 so that the central control unit 5 can control the gate control device 4 according to the instructions.

[0069] When the cargo verification device 2 and the central control unit 5 are set up separately, both can be connected to the communication component 6 via wireless communication, thereby connecting to the server through the communication component 6.

[0070] Furthermore, in this separate configuration, in some embodiments, the communication component 6 can also be located within the goods verification device 2, becoming part of it. In this case, the central control unit 5 obtains the order to be delivered or instructions by connecting to the communication component 6 in the goods verification device 2 to control the gate control device 4.

[0071] In some embodiments, the communication component 6 may also be located within the central control unit 5, becoming part of it. In this case, the goods verification device 2 obtains the order to be delivered through the communication component 6 in the central control unit 5 to verify the goods.

[0072] In this embodiment of the disclosure, communication component 6 refers to the sum of components with network functions, including but not limited to routers, switches, gateways, modems, firewalls, wireless access points (APs), network adapters (NICs), load balancers, network storage devices (such as NAS), bridges, repeaters, hubs, network interface cards (NICs), fiber optic transceivers, virtual private network (VPN) devices, domain name system (DNS) servers, dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) servers, network monitoring devices, network security devices (such as intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS)), proxy servers, and other communication devices and any combination thereof.

[0073] In an exemplary embodiment, the central control unit 5 may also be installed in the sensing device 3; or, the central control unit 5 may also be installed in the door control device 4; or, the central control unit 5 may be installed in both the sensing device 3 and the door control device 4; or, when the sensing device 3 and the door control device 4 are integrated, the central control unit 5 may also be integrated with the sensing device 3 and the door control device 4, for example, simultaneously installed on the door frame or door panel of the exit of the warehouse 1.

[0074] The sensing device 3 can be an acoustomagnetic detector. The form of the sensing device 3 includes, but is not limited to, door-shaped, strip-shaped, column-shaped, and flat-panel types. Door-shaped sensing devices can form a relatively wide detection area, quickly triggering an alarm when goods with undemagnetized acoustomagnetic tags pass by. Strip-shaped sensing devices are suitable for passageways or small entrances / exits where space is limited, such as those installed on the doors of unmanned warehouses; they can be installed side-by-side or staggered to expand the detection range. Column-shaped sensing devices resemble columns, providing detection functionality while also serving a decorative and spatial partitioning function, such as dividing the unmanned warehouse exit into multiple passageways. Flat-panel sensing devices are thin and concealed, and can be embedded in the walls of the unmanned warehouse's storage compartment 1, the door panels at the exit of storage compartment 1, etc., to detect people leaving the warehouse, offering high concealment. Furthermore, with continuous technological development, the sensing device 3 can be further developed into more innovative forms to adapt to different application scenarios and needs.

[0075] The sensing device 3 and the gate control device 4 can be physically far apart (e.g., one installed in the passageway and the other at the exit). In some embodiments, the sensing device 3 can be installed in the passageway from the cargo verification equipment 2 to the exit of the warehouse 1, and the gate control device 4 can be installed at the exit of the warehouse 1.

[0076] In other embodiments, the sensing device 3 and the door control device 4 may also be simultaneously located at the exit of the warehouse 1. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensing device 3 and the door control device 4 may be integrated, physically close to each other, or even exist in a single hardware device. For example, the sensing device 3 may be located within the door control device 4, or the door control device 4 and the sensing device 3 may be simultaneously located on the door frame or door panel at the exit of the warehouse 1.

[0077] The sensor 3 and the gate control device 4 may not need to communicate with each other; both are connected to the central control unit 5. Alternatively, the sensor 3 and the gate control device 4 may communicate with each other. When the sensor 3 detects an undemagnetized second cargo marker, it sends an alarm signal to the gate control device 4, causing the gate control device 4 to lock the exit of warehouse 1. Alternatively, when the gate control device 4 has an exit verification function, it can send a detection signal to the sensor 3 based on exit requests sent by delivery personnel within warehouse 1, triggering the sensor 3 to detect whether the delivery personnel sending the exit request possess an undemagnetized second cargo marker. In this method, the sensor 3 does not need to detect continuously, only when triggered, saving energy. However, in this method, the sensor 3 needs to be located close to or even directly at the exit of warehouse 1 to detect those sending exit requests.

[0078] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the gate control device 4 in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0079] refer to Figure 3 In an exemplary embodiment, the gating device 4 may include:

[0080] Door lock component 41 is used to allow or prevent the opening of the warehouse exit; door lock component 41 is an electromagnetic lock.

[0081] Alarm component 42 is used to issue an alarm when the sensing device 3 detects a second cargo marker that has not been demagnetized.

[0082] In an exemplary embodiment, the door lock component 41 is controlled by the central control unit 5 to prevent the warehouse exit from opening, and the alarm component 42 outputs an alarm signal when the door lock component 41 prevents the warehouse exit from opening. The alarm component includes at least one of an audible alarm component or a visual alarm component.

[0083] The door lock component 41 and the alarm component 42 can be installed in different physical locations, or they can be integrated into the same hardware.

[0084] The door lock component 41 is controlled by the central control unit 5, which can both unlock and lock the door lock component 41.

[0085] When the access control device at the entrance of the unmanned warehouse is implemented through the door lock component 41 in the access control device 4, the door lock component 41 is in a normally locked state in the entrance direction of the warehouse 1.

[0086] In the entrance direction, the access control device of the unmanned warehouse 1 can be equipped with a first human-machine interaction component, such as a password input component or an identity information input component, to receive identity information and transmit it to the central control unit 5 or the server of the application service platform for the server to verify the identity information of the person entering. In an exemplary embodiment, the first human-machine interaction component can be located inside the door lock component 41, as part of the door lock component 41, such as in the form of a smart lock; or it can be set separately from the door lock component 41 (e.g., a touch screen or input device). When the first human-machine interaction component and the door lock component 41 are set separately, they do not need to communicate with each other. The first human-machine interaction component connects to the server through the central control unit 5, or the first human-machine interaction component connects directly to the server; the door lock component 41 communicates with the central control unit 5, or the door lock component 41 communicates with the server. In some embodiments, when the first human-machine interaction component and the door lock component 41 are set separately, they can also have a communication connection. In this case, the first human-machine interaction component can connect to the central control unit 5 through the door lock component 41, or connect to the server through the door lock component 41. Alternatively, the door lock component 41 is connected to the central control unit 5 and connected to the server through the first human-machine interaction component.

[0087] In an exemplary embodiment, a graphic sign for the unmanned warehouse can also be set at the entrance of the unmanned warehouse, so that delivery personnel can scan the graphic sign for the unmanned warehouse using an application on their mobile phone to provide their identity information to the server of the application service platform, so that the server can verify their identity information.

[0088] After verifying the identity information, the server sends an open command or a prevent open command to the door lock component 41 via the central control unit 5, or directly sends an open command or a prevent open command to the door lock component 41. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, the door lock component 41 can communicate with the server of the application service platform, or communicate with the server of the application service platform via the central control unit 5.

[0089] In some embodiments, when the access control device at the entrance of warehouse 1 is not implemented through the door lock component 41, the access control device can also be directly connected to the server of the application service platform, so that the server can directly send an opening command to the access control device to allow the access control device to open and unlock the entrance of warehouse 1.

[0090] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the access control device and the door control device 4 in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0091] refer to Figure 4 In an exemplary embodiment, when an access control device 7 at the entrance of warehouse 1 and a door control device 4 at the exit of warehouse 1 are respectively installed, the access control device 7 is, for example, a smart lock, and the door lock component 411 in the door control device 4 is, for example, an electromagnetic lock. The door lock component 41 can be in a normally locked state or a normally open state in the exit direction of warehouse 1.

[0092] When the door lock component 41 is in the normally open state in the exit direction of the warehouse 1, the central control unit 5 can control the door lock component 41 to lock the exit of the warehouse 1 when the sensor device 3 detects an undemagnetized second cargo marker. In addition, the central control unit 5 can also control the door lock component 41 to unlock the exit of the warehouse 1 when it receives an opening command from the server of the application service platform.

[0093] When the door lock component 41 is in the normally locked state in the exit direction of the warehouse 1, a second human-machine interaction component can be set up in the warehouse 1 to allow the user to send an exit request.

[0094] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the second human-computer interaction component in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0095] refer to Figure 5 In some embodiments, the second human-computer interaction component 8 and the door lock component 41 can be provided separately.

[0096] The second human-machine interface component 8 can be directly connected to the central control unit 5, or it can be connected to the central control unit 5 through the door lock component 41. The second human-machine interface component 8 is used to send an exit request to the central control unit 5, so that the central control unit 5 can verify the user's identity information. For example, the exit request may include the user's identity information, including but not limited to numerical information such as the last four digits of a mobile phone number, and biometric information such as facial information. The central control unit 5 can determine whether to allow the user to leave based on the user's identity information.

[0097] If the user's identity information determines that they are allowed to leave, and the sensor 3 does not detect the undemagnetized second cargo marker, then the central control unit 5 controls the door lock component 41 to unlock the exit of the warehouse 1. If the user's identity information determines that they are not allowed to leave, or the sensor 3 detects the undemagnetized second cargo marker, then the central control unit 5 can send a message to the door lock component 41 to instruct it to keep the exit of the warehouse 1 locked. The message indicating whether the sensor 3 has detected the undemagnetized second cargo marker can be sent actively by the sensor 3 to the central control unit 5 (it may not be sent if it is not detected), or it can be read by the central control unit 5 from the sensor 3.

[0098] In some embodiments, the second human-machine interface component 8, in addition to sending the exit request to the central control unit 5, can also send the exit request to the sensing device 3 to trigger the sensing device 3 to detect the undemagnetized second cargo marker. The sensing device 3 sends the detection result to the central control unit 5 for review and approval to allow the user to exit.

[0099] Alarm component 42 can be a conventional audible and visual alarm device, used to alert users who want to leave the warehouse to detect an undemagnetized second cargo marker, preventing users from accidentally taking undemagnetized cargo out of the warehouse.

[0100] In some embodiments, the alarm component 42 may also be connected to at least one of the central control unit 5 and the sensing device 4 to controllably send alarm signals or stop alarm signals.

[0101] When the sensing device 4 detects the presence of a second cargo marker that has not been demagnetized, it can send information to the alarm component 42 to control the alarm component 42 to issue an audible and visual alarm signal.

[0102] When the central control unit 5 determines that the sensing device 3 has detected the presence of a second cargo marker that has not been demagnetized, it can send information to the alarm component 42 to control the alarm component 42 to issue an audible and visual alarm signal.

[0103] The central control unit 5 can control the alarm component 42 to stop sending alarm signals under preset conditions (such as receiving a door opening command from the server or receiving other commands).

[0104] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cargo verification equipment in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0105] refer to Figure 2 The cargo verification equipment 2 may include:

[0106] The package includes a housing 21, a scanning window 22, and a demagnetizing component 23 located within a preset distance of the scanning window 21. The scanning window 22 is connected to the housing 21 and includes a scanning component 221. The scanning component 221 is used to identify a first cargo marker set on the surface of the cargo to obtain cargo information. The demagnetizing component 23 is used to demagnetize a second cargo marker set on or inside the cargo.

[0107] In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the demagnetizing component 23 demagnetizes the second cargo marker after receiving a demagnetizing signal triggered by the scanning component 21 after recognizing the first cargo marker and obtaining cargo information.

[0108] Cargo verification equipment 2 allows delivery personnel to verify the goods and their corresponding delivery orders after picking them from the unmanned warehouse. Within a very short time, it demagnetizes the second cargo marker on the verified goods, thus preventing the demagnetized goods from triggering alarms within the unmanned warehouse and ensuring they are not considered unintentionally or maliciously taken out. Cargo verification equipment 2, in conjunction with sensing device 3 and gate control device 4, enables cargo management in the unmanned warehouse, completing cargo verification and loss prevention.

[0109] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the demagnetizing component 23 is disposed within a preset distance of the scanning window 22, thereby allowing the demagnetization of the second cargo marker to be achieved during the process of the cargo being scanned and removed by the scanning window 22.

[0110] Below, several embodiments of the cargo verification device 2 are described in detail.

[0111] Figures 7A to 7C This is a schematic diagram of the demagnetizing component 23 in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0112] refer to Figure 7A In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the demagnetizing component 23 is a demagnetizing coil.

[0113] Demagnetizing coils utilize the principle of electromagnetic induction, generating an alternating magnetic field by passing an alternating current through it, thereby demagnetizing magnetic materials. Demagnetizing coils are typically made of wound wires; when current passes through the wires, a magnetic field is generated around them. This magnetic field can alter the magnetic domain structure within the magnetic material, thus eliminating or weakening its magnetism.

[0114] In an exemplary embodiment, the second cargo marker is an acousto-magnetic tag, and the acousto-magnetic system operates based on the resonant characteristics of ferromagnetic materials. In this case, a demagnetizing coil can generate an alternating magnetic field by passing a current of a specific frequency and intensity through it. When the parameters of this alternating magnetic field match the resonant frequency of the ferromagnetic material within the acousto-magnetic tag, it can interfere with the tag's resonant state, thereby achieving the demagnetization function. In practical applications, the demagnetizing coil can flexibly adjust the current and magnetic field parameters to adapt to different types of acousto-magnetic tags.

[0115] Demagnetizing coils can be implemented in various forms. For example, they can be air-core coils, where the demagnetizing effect can be adjusted by changing the number of turns, wire diameter, and the magnitude and frequency of the current flowing through the coil. They can also be coils with an iron core, the presence of which enhances the magnetic field strength and improves demagnetizing efficiency. In addition, demagnetizing coils can be designed in different shapes and sizes, such as circular, square, and ring-shaped, to suit the shape and position requirements of various objects to be demagnetized, depending on different application scenarios and needs.

[0116] refer to Figure 7B In the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, the demagnetizing component 23 is a demagnetizing sheet or a demagnetizing plate.

[0117] Demagnetizing sheets are sheet-like materials used to eliminate or weaken the magnetism of objects. They are designed based on the properties and physical principles of magnetic materials. The microstructure and magnetic distribution within the demagnetizing sheet enable it to interact with nearby magnetic objects, achieving a demagnetizing effect by altering the magnetic field distribution. Typically, it utilizes its own magnetic field characteristics to interfere with or cancel the magnetism of the object to be demagnetized, thereby reducing its magnetic strength.

[0118] A demagnetizing plate is a large-area demagnetizing sheet that can generate a relatively uniform magnetic field on a plane. It is suitable for demagnetizing large-sized acousto-magnetic tags or multiple tags simultaneously. For example, in some embodiments, multiple acousto-magnetic tags may be affixed to goods, and using a demagnetizing plate can complete the demagnetization operation quickly and efficiently.

[0119] When the second cargo marker is an acousto-magnetic tag, the demagnetizing sheet is placed near the tag. Its own magnetic field distribution can affect the ferromagnetic material inside the tag, disrupting its original resonance conditions and achieving demagnetization. The advantages of the demagnetizing sheet are its simple structure and small size, making it suitable for applications with high space requirements.

[0120] Demagnetizing sheets come in various forms. From a material perspective, they can be made of ferrite materials, which have high permeability and low loss, effectively achieving demagnetization. They can also be made of rare-earth permanent magnet materials, which have strong magnetism and significant demagnetization effects. In terms of shape and structure, planar demagnetizing sheets can be used to demagnetize planar objects; demagnetizing sheets designed with special shapes such as curves or rings can adapt to the demagnetization needs of objects with different shapes, such as cylindrical objects or objects with special curved surfaces.

[0121] refer to Figure 7C In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the demagnetizing component 23 is a demagnetizing strip.

[0122] A demagnetizing strip is a long, narrow device used to eliminate or weaken the magnetism of magnetic materials. Its working principle is based on electromagnetic induction or the properties of magnetic materials. When in contact with or near a magnetic object, the demagnetizing strip generates a specific magnetic field. This magnetic field interacts with the object's original magnetic field, disrupting the orderly arrangement of magnetic domains within the object, thereby reducing or eliminating the object's magnetism.

[0123] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the aspect ratio of the demagnetizing sheet or demagnetizing plate is less than a first preset value, while the aspect ratio of the demagnetizing strip is greater than a second preset value, and the first preset value is less than the second preset value.

[0124] In an exemplary embodiment, the second cargo marker can be an acousto-magnetic tag, and the demagnetizing strip can generate a magnetic field distribution suitable for demagnetizing the acousto-magnetic tag through a specific magnetic design. The demagnetizing strip generally has a certain length and can provide a relatively uniform magnetic field over a large area, making it suitable for scenarios where multiple tags need to be demagnetized simultaneously.

[0125] Demagnetizing strips come in various forms. In terms of materials, they can be made of soft magnetic materials, which possess high permeability and low coercivity, allowing for rapid response to changes in external magnetic fields and effective demagnetization. Alternatively, they can be made of permanent magnet materials, which generate a more stable and durable magnetic field. Structurally, demagnetizing strips can be solid for robust durability or hollow to reduce weight and cost. Furthermore, depending on the application, demagnetizing strips can be designed in different sizes and surface shapes; for example, narrower strips are used for demagnetizing delicate items, while curved strips conform to specific shapes for demagnetization.

[0126] In addition to the examples above, the demagnetizing component 23 can also be a demagnetizing box.

[0127] A demagnetizing box is a closed or semi-closed demagnetizing device that can completely or partially enclose acousto-magnetic tags, achieving demagnetization by generating a specific magnetic field environment inside the box. The advantages of a demagnetizing box are that it reduces interference from external magnetic fields, improving the accuracy and stability of demagnetization.

[0128] Figures 8A to 8C This is a schematic diagram showing the relative positional relationship between the demagnetizing component 23 and the scanning window 22 in the first direction in this embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0129] With the first direction set to face the scanning window 22, the demagnetizing component 23 and the scanning window 22 can have various relative positional relationships when viewed from the first direction.

[0130] refer to Figure 8A In some embodiments, the demagnetizing component 23 is arranged around the scanning window 22. This can be any type of demagnetizing component 23, such as a demagnetizing coil, a demagnetizing sheet, or a demagnetizing strip.

[0131] refer to Figure 8B In other embodiments, the demagnetizing component 23 may be located at least one of the perimeters of the scanning window 22, at a distance less than or equal to a preset distance from the scanning window.

[0132] refer to Figure 8C In some other embodiments, the demagnetizing component 23 may also be disposed in the middle of the scanning window 22, either side-by-side with or surrounding the scanning component 221.

[0133] exist Figures 8A to 8C In the embodiment shown, the demagnetizing component 23 can be fitted to the scanning window 22, or it can be spaced a certain distance from the scanning window 22.

[0134] Figures 9A to 9D This is a schematic diagram showing the relative positional relationship between the demagnetizing component 23 and the scanning window 22 in the second direction in this embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0135] Set the second direction to the side facing the scanning window 22.

[0136] refer to Figure 9A In some embodiments, the demagnetizing component 23 is disposed inside the housing 1 and is not visible.

[0137] refer to Figure 9B In some other embodiments, the demagnetizing component 23 is disposed on the outside of the housing 1 and is visible.

[0138] refer to Figure 9C In some other embodiments, the demagnetizing component 23 is embedded in the housing 1.

[0139] refer to Figure 9D In some embodiments, the scanning window 22 further includes a transparent panel 222, which is positioned in front of the barcode scanning component 221.

[0140] The demagnetizing component 23 can be located behind the transparent panel 222 of the scanning window 22.

[0141] The positions of the demagnetizing component 23 and the scanning window 22 defined in the first and second directions can be freely combined to form at least 12 combinations, which will not be listed here.

[0142] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cargo verification device 2 in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0143] refer to Figure 10 In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the cargo verification device 2 further includes a touch screen 24, which displays cargo information acquired by the scanning component 221, allowing delivery personnel to interact with the machine through methods such as selection.

[0144] Goods information includes, for example, the type of goods, quantity, brand, or order information.

[0145] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, the cargo verification device 2 also includes a controller 25, which is connected to the sensing device 3 and the gate control device 4. When the sensing device 3 detects the second cargo marker 62 that has not been demagnetized, it controls the gate control device 4 to lock. The relationship between the controller 25 and the central control unit 5 in the unmanned warehouse 100 is detailed in the foregoing embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0146] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of an unmanned warehouse in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0147] refer to Figure 11 In an exemplary embodiment, the unmanned warehouse 100 may also include a camera 9.

[0148] In some embodiments, the camera 9's field of view covers the shelf 11 or the goods verification device 2, and the camera 9 monitors the picking process or goods verification process in the warehouse 1.

[0149] Camera 9 can be a single camera or multiple cameras. When camera 9 is multiple cameras, they can be set in different locations, and the field of view of each camera can cover multiple directions.

[0150] In some embodiments, the camera 9 can be connected to the central control unit 5 to send the acquired image information to the central control unit 5 for judgment. In other embodiments, the camera 9 can also be directly connected to the server of the application service platform to send the acquired image information to the server.

[0151] The central control unit 5 or the server can use the image information collected by the camera 9 to make a loss prevention judgment, or, when the user sends an exit request, call the camera 9 to collect the on-site image inside the warehouse 1 in real time according to the exit request (for example, call the camera at the exit of the warehouse 1 to collect the user image) to determine in real time whether to allow the user to leave.

[0152] Figures 12A-12C This is a schematic diagram of a first cargo marker and a second cargo marker in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0153] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the first cargo marker is, for example, an adhesive label with a barcode or QR code containing cargo information, and the second cargo marker is, for example, a sheet attached to the surface of the cargo.

[0154] refer to Figure 12A In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the second cargo marker 122 is stacked on top of the first cargo marker 121, with the first cargo marker located on top and visible, and the second cargo marker located below.

[0155] In some embodiments, such as Figure 12A The size of the second cargo marker 122 is less than or equal to the size of the first cargo marker 121, and the second cargo marker 122 is invisible.

[0156] By overlaying the first cargo marker 121 onto the second cargo marker 122, making the second cargo marker 122 invisible, the possibility of the user damaging the second cargo marker before or during verification can be reduced.

[0157] refer to Figure 12B In other embodiments, the second cargo marker 122 is larger than the first cargo marker 121. For example, when the second cargo marker 122 is an acousto-magnetic tag, the coil of the second cargo marker 122 may wrap around the first cargo marker 121.

[0158] Providing larger acousto-magnetic tags enables the sensing device 3 to more accurately and quickly identify tag signals, while also improving the demagnetization success rate of the demagnetization component 23. Whether demagnetizing or being detected, this reduces the risk of missed readings and proactively avoids potential problems caused by tag sensing issues.

[0159] In addition, in some embodiments, the first cargo marker 121 can be processed directly at the center of the larger second cargo marker 122 (e.g., by spraying a QR code or barcode onto the second cargo marker 122), thereby reducing the materials required to produce the first cargo marker 121 and saving costs.

[0160] Finally, by superimposing the first cargo marker 121 onto the second cargo marker 122, or by directly fabricating the first cargo marker 121 onto the second cargo marker 122, making the second cargo marker 122 inseparable from the first cargo marker 121, the possibility of the user damaging the second cargo marker before or during verification can be reduced.

[0161] refer to Figure 12C In some other embodiments, the first cargo marker 121 and the second cargo marker can be arranged side by side, so that two markers can be made from one material at the same time, realizing automated production line production and improving production efficiency.

[0162] In addition to the methods described above, the first cargo marker 121 can be located on the surface of the cargo, while the second cargo marker 122 can be located inside the cargo (e.g., inside clothing), thereby reducing the possibility of the second cargo marker 122 being illegally removed. It should be noted that in this configuration, the distance between the first cargo marker 121 and the second cargo marker 122 must also be maintained within a preset distance (e.g., the first cargo marker 121 is placed on the front of the clothing, and the second cargo marker 122 is placed on the back of the clothing) to achieve almost simultaneous scanning and demagnetization.

[0163] In some embodiments, the goods corresponding to a SKU have the same first goods label 121, for example, two identical bottles of cola with identical first goods labels 121. In other embodiments, different goods may have different first goods labels 121, for example, two identical bottles of cola with corresponding goods information of cola 1234 and cola 1235 respectively.

[0164] Furthermore, the second cargo marker 122 corresponding to different goods can be exactly the same, used only to mark whether they are magnetic or demagnetized, in order to reduce costs. The second cargo marker 122 corresponding to different goods can also be different, so that the demagnetizing device 23 can accurately demagnetize, or the sensing device 3 can accurately identify which goods are not demagnetized, and accurately locate the delivery capacity carrying the undemagnetized goods and the undemagnetized goods it has picked up.

[0165] In some embodiments, to reduce costs, a second cargo marker 122 may be set to record only one type of information. In this case, multiple second cargo markers 122 may be set on a cargo, each second cargo marker 122 corresponding to different information, and different combinations of second cargo markers 122 corresponding to different information (for example, the combination of three second cargo markers 122, A, B, C, and D, corresponds to beverages, and the combination of three second cargo markers 122, A, C, and D, corresponds to instant noodles), so that the sensing device 3 can accurately identify which cargo has not been demagnetized, accurately locate the delivery vehicle carrying the undemagnetized cargo, and the undemagnetized cargo it has picked up.

[0166] The implementation methods of the first cargo marker 121 and the second cargo marker 122 can be combined according to the above embodiments, and will not be listed one by one here.

[0167] In summary, the unmanned warehouse 100 provided in this embodiment allows for self-picking of orders to be delivered, which can greatly save warehousing costs, operating costs and time costs, and improve the efficiency of local delivery services.

[0168] It should be noted that although several modules or units for the device used to perform actions have been mentioned in the detailed description above, this division is not mandatory. In fact, according to embodiments of this disclosure, the features and functions of two or more modules or units described above can be embodied in one module or unit. Conversely, the features and functions of one module or unit described above can be further divided and embodied by multiple modules or units.

[0169] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and concept of this disclosure are indicated by the claims.

Claims

1. An unmanned warehouse, characterized in that, include: A warehouse, wherein at least one shelf is deployed in the warehouse space, the shelf has multiple storage locations, each storage location holds at least one type of goods, the surface of the goods is provided with a first goods marker, and the surface or interior of the goods is provided with a second goods marker, so that delivery capacity can pick up the goods corresponding to the order to be delivered from the storage location and verify them; A cargo verification device is set in a predetermined location within the warehouse. The cargo verification device includes a scanning window and a demagnetizing component set within a preset distance of the scanning window. The scanning window includes a barcode scanning component, which identifies a first cargo marker set on the surface of the cargo to obtain cargo information. The demagnetizing component demagnetizes a second cargo marker set on or inside the surface of the cargo. A sensing device is installed inside the warehouse in the passageway from the cargo verification equipment to the warehouse exit; A gate control device is installed at the warehouse exit; The central control unit is connected to the sensing device and the gate control device. When the sensing device detects a second cargo marker that has not been demagnetized, the central control unit controls the gate control device to lock the cargo warehouse exit.

2. The unmanned warehouse as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The gating device includes: A door lock component, used to allow or prevent the opening of the warehouse exit, wherein the door lock component is an electromagnetic lock; An alarm component is used to issue an alarm when the sensing device detects a second cargo marker that has not been demagnetized.

3. The unmanned warehouse as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The door lock component is controlled by the central control unit to prevent the warehouse exit from opening. The alarm component outputs an alarm signal when the door lock component prevents the warehouse exit from opening. The alarm component includes at least one of an audible alarm component or a visual alarm component.

4. The unmanned warehouse as described in claim 1, characterized in that, When the central control unit receives an opening command, it controls the door control device to unlock the warehouse exit.

5. The unmanned warehouse as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a camera, the field of view of which covers the shelf or the goods verification equipment, and the camera monitors the picking process or goods verification process in the unmanned warehouse.

6. The unmanned warehouse as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a communication component, which is connected to the application service platform for communication and to the cargo verification device for transmitting cargo order information.

7. The unmanned warehouse as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a communication component, which is connected to the application service platform for communication and to the central control unit for transmitting door opening commands, so that the central control unit controls the door control device to unlock the warehouse exit.

8. The unmanned warehouse as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The central control unit is installed in the cargo verification equipment.

9. The unmanned warehouse as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The demagnetizing component in the cargo verification equipment is used to demagnetize the second cargo marker after receiving a demagnetizing command triggered by the scanning component after recognizing the first cargo marker and obtaining cargo information.

10. The unmanned warehouse as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cargo verification equipment also includes a touch screen displaying cargo information.

11. The unmanned warehouse as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second cargo marking is affixed to the surface of the cargo and is in the form of a sheet; The second cargo marker is overlapped with the first cargo marker, with the first cargo marker on top and visible, and the second cargo marker on the bottom. The second cargo marker is smaller than the first cargo marker, and the second cargo marker is not visible on the surface.

12. A cargo verification device for an unmanned warehouse, characterized in that, include: The cargo verification equipment is set in a predetermined position in the warehouse. The cargo verification equipment includes a scanning window and a demagnetizing component set within a preset distance of the scanning window. The scanning window includes a barcode scanning component, which is used to identify the cargo picked from the unmanned warehouse and to obtain cargo information by identifying a first cargo marker set on the surface of the cargo. The demagnetizing component demagnetizes a second cargo marker set on or inside the cargo.

13. The cargo verification equipment as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The cargo verification equipment also includes a touch screen displaying cargo information.

14. The cargo verification equipment as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The demagnetizing component is a demagnetizing coil, which is arranged to at least partially surround the scanning window.

Images