Pull-control system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transport container for a system for detecting a flow of parts. The container comprises a first holder comprising a first specific shape for receiving a first type of part to be transported, a first detector of a state of occupancy of the first holder, and a detector of a geolocation of the container and a controller configured to transmit an identifier of the container together with said state of occupancy of the first holder and said geolocation. The invention also relates to a system for detecting a flow of parts, the system comprising a container such as described above. A method for managing the flow of parts implementing said system is also described.

Description

[0001] PULL FLOW SYSTEM

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD AND STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0004] The present invention relates to a system for monitoring the transport of parts and their storage in order to optimize a manufacturing process. More specifically, the system presented makes it possible to optimize, in real time, a flow of articles transported in support boxes. The detection of parts during their transport and their consumption makes it possible to organize a dispatch of new parts as well as a new production of said parts.

[0005] STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a transport box for a system for detecting a flow of parts. The box comprises:

[0007] - a first support comprising a first specific shape for receiving a first type of part to be transported,

[0008] - a first detector of an occupancy state of the first support, a detector of a geolocation of the box and

[0009] - a controller configured to transmit an identifier of the box together with said occupancy status of the first support and said geolocation.

[0010] Advantageously, the box comprises a second support, the second support comprising a second specific shape for receiving a second type of part to be transported and a second detector of an occupancy state of the second support, the first shape being different from the second shape so that the first support cannot receive the second type of part and the second support cannot receive the first type of part, the controller being configured to transmit the occupancy state of the second support. The shape comprised by the support may be a negative of a part of a slat or a negative of a part of a droopnose of an aircraft.

[0011] The box may also include a plurality of supports, each support having a specific shape so as to be able to receive only a particular type of part from a set of different types of parts, each support including a support occupancy detector, the controller being configured to transmit the occupancy status of each support.

[0012] The box can be configured to receive a complete set of slats from an aircraft, each support comprising a specific shape so that it can receive only one slat from the set of slats.

[0013] Said detector of the state of occupation of the support may comprise a mechanical detector and / or an electromechanical detector and / or an optical detector and / or a weight detector and / or a volumetric detector and / or an ultrasonic detector and / or an electromagnetic ray detector, the detector being configured to detect said part and / or to be actuated by the part upon reception of said part by the support.

[0014] The geolocation detector may include a GPS detector and / or a GSM-TDOA detector.

[0015] The box may also include a temperature sensor and / or a humidity sensor and / or a shock sensor.

[0016] The controller may be configured to transmit a temperature and / or humidity and / or force and / or acceleration measured by said respective sensor.

[0017] A system for detecting a flow of parts may comprise a box as previously described and a receiver configured to receive the identifier of the box with the occupancy status and the geolocation and

[0018] - determine from geolocation: a positioning of the box at a starting point or at an arrival point or at a point in transit and / or

[0019] - determine from the box identifier and the occupancy status: the presence of one type of room or the presence of all types of rooms in the box.

[0020] The system may include a plurality of transport crates, the identifier of each crate being unique within the plurality of crates and associated with a single crate.

[0021] The system may also be configured to detect a risk of damage to a box. Said risk of damage may be detected if the temperature and / or humidity and / or force and / or acceleration measured by said respective sensor exceeds a threshold, preferably the system being configured to trigger an inspection of the box and / or a content of the box in the event that said risk of damage has been detected.

[0022] The system can also be configured to detect a part returned by a customer by performing the steps of:

[0023] - determine the positioning of the box,

[0024] - while the box maintains a position at the arrival point:

[0025] - determine an absence of a type of part in said box and then

[0026] - determine the presence of said type of part in said box.

[0027] The system can be configured to handle a quantity of coin flow by performing the steps of:

[0028] - determine a number of boxes with a positioning at the arrival point and determine the types of parts present in each of said boxes,

[0029] - compare a set of said types of parts to a threshold,

[0030] - increasing a flow of parts from the starting point to the arrival point if all of said part types are below said threshold. A method for managing a flow of parts may implement the system as described above. The system may comprise a plurality of transport boxes. The method may comprise the steps of:

[0031] - determine a set of boxes with a positioning at an arrival point,

[0032] - in said set of boxes, determine a number of occupation states changing from a presence state to an absence state for a period of time,

[0033] - determine a flow of desired parts from the starting point to the arrival point from said change.

[0034] Further, the method may comprise the step of

[0035] - determine in said set of boxes with positioning at the arrival point a number of occupation states displaying an absence state,

[0036] - in the event that the said number is above a threshold: Increase a production of part types corresponding to the supports with the said absence status.

[0037] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The present invention will be better understood on the basis of the following description and the attached drawings in which:

[0039] - Figure 1 shows a transport box for a part flow detection system,

[0040] - figure 2 shows a transport box comprising a second support,

[0041] - Figure 3 shows a transport box with a plurality of supports,

[0042] - figure 4 shows a transport box configured to receive a complete set of slats from an aircraft,

[0043] - Figure 5 shows a system for detecting a flow of transported parts, Figure 6 shows an example of flow detection carried out by the system.

[0044] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0045] Figure 1 shows a transport box (10) for a system for detecting a flow of parts. The box comprises a first support (30) with a first specific shape (40). A first type of part (50) having said first specific shape (40) is also shown.

[0046] The box comprises a first detector (60) of an occupancy state of the first support, a geolocation detector (70) of the box and a controller (80). The controller is connected to the geolocation detector and to the first occupancy state detector (60). It is configured to transmit an identifier of the box together with said occupancy state of the first support and said geolocation.

[0047] Preferably, said identifier is unique for the box. In other words, in the case of a plurality of boxes, the identifier of each box is unique within the plurality of boxes and associated with a single box. Said identifier may be a number, a letter or a combination of numbers and letters.

[0048] The said identifier can also be calculated from the specific shape of the medium.

[0049] The first support is arranged inside the transport box. During transport, the part to be transported (50) is received by the support to be held stably, without moving.

[0050] Figure 1 shows that the first support comprises a first specific shape which is adapted to the first type of part.

[0051] The "part type" is determined by a two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape of at least part of the part's surface. Each individual part corresponds to a single part type.

[0052] The first support may comprise a negative shape of the portion of the surface that determines the part type. In this case, the first support comprises a negative shape of at least a portion of the surface of the first part type. In other words, the support forms a negative of a portion of the surface of the part to be transported.

[0053] Thus, when the holder receives the part of said first type, the holder hugs said part of the surface without leaving any space. As a result, close contact is established between the holder and the surface.

[0054] For example, Figure 1 shows that the tapered portion of the part would be received by the holder without leaving a gap. Generally, the holder "includes a specific shape for receiving a type of part" in the case where at least a portion of the holder includes a surface shape that makes close contact, without leaving a gap, with at least a portion of the surface of the part.

[0055] For example, said shape of the support may be a negative of a portion of a movable leading edge flap or a negative of a portion of a pivoting leading edge flap of an aircraft. The English term "slat" will also be used to designate a movable leading edge flap. The English term "droopnose" will also be used to designate a pivoting leading edge flap, which is also called a "drooping nose".

[0056] The shape of the support is thus specific to receive a particular type of part. Since the surface of the support corresponds to a part of the surface of the part type, the support can only receive a single type of part. Another type of part, by definition having a different surface shape, could not be received. A space would remain between the other type of part and the support, close contact would not be established.

[0057] Thus, the first support (30) defines the type of part (50) which can be in the transport box (10). Any other type of part could not be received in a valid or technically correct manner by said box (10).

[0058] This specificity of the support makes it possible to find the type of part from a simple measurement of the occupancy of the support. In the case where the support is occupied and / or a presence of a part is detected, it is necessarily the type of part that can be received by the specific shape of the support. Thus, knowing the type of support or the specific shape of the support, a presence detected on the support makes it possible to deduce the presence of a particular type of part in the box. For example, in the case where the shape included by the support is a negative of a part of a slat, the detection of an occupancy state makes it possible to deduce that a slat, of a type that can be received by the support, is in the box. Similarly, in the case where the shape included by the support is a negative of a droopnose, the detection of a presence state makes it possible to deduce the presence, within the box, of a droopnose whose shape is adapted to the shape of the support.

[0059] The first detector (60) is arranged in the box to detect an occupancy state of the first support. Preferably, the first detector can be fixed directly to the support. Said occupancy state indicates a presence of a part in the support or an absence of a part in the support. Preferably, the first detector determines that a part of the surface of the part is in contact with a surface of the support. Since the detection of a mechanical contact between the part to be transported and the support can be sufficient to determine said occupancy state of the support, said first detector can be technically simple. Advantageously, a contact detector can be used. Such a detector is particularly inexpensive and technically reliable, a measurement error is absent. In other words, in all cases where a part is received by the support, a presence signal is detected.In all cases where no coin is present in the holder, an absence signal is detected. Since the specific shape of the holder unequivocally determines the type of coin, the presence or absence information makes it possible to deduce whether a particular type of coin is present in the box or not.

[0060] Said occupancy state detector may comprise a mechanical detector and / or an electromechanical detector and / or an optical detector and / or a weight detector and / or a volumetric detector and / or an ultrasonic detector and / or an electromagnetic ray detector. The detector may be configured to detect said part and / or to be actuated by the part upon reception of said part by the support.

[0061] For example, the detector (60) may be an electrical switch actuated by contact with the surface of the workpiece when the workpiece is validly received by the support. The detector may also be an optical detector which is covered by the surface of the object when said surface comes into close contact with the support.

[0062] A remote reception of a box identifier, a geolocation of the box and information on the occupancy status of the first support makes it possible, at the location where the information is received, to determine a global position of a room of the first type. In other words, from the simple information of occupancy, geolocation and identifier it is possible to deduce a global position of a particular room.

[0063] The box identifier makes it possible to determine the specific shape of the support placed inside the box. For example, a database located at the receiving location makes it possible to find the first specific shape of the first support placed within the box whose identifier was received. From the specific shape of the support, it is possible to determine the type of part that can be received by the support. The occupancy status of the support makes it possible to determine that said part is actually in the box. The geolocation information then makes it possible to determine the position of the part.

[0064] The controller is configured to transmit the box identifier together with said occupancy status of the first support and said remote geolocation. Upon said remote reception, the flow of parts can thus be determined as described above.

[0065] It is also possible to provide several supports with the same specific shape within the box. In this case, several parts of the same type can be transported with the transport box.

[0066] Figure 2 shows the elements already introduced with the description of Figure 1. The same elements are designated by the same reference signs.

[0067] The transport box shown in Figure 2 further comprises a second support (90). The second support (90) and the first support (30) are both arranged inside the box. The box thus comprises the first and second supports and can transport two parts. The second support comprises a second specific shape (100) for receiving a second type of part (110). Figure 2 shows the second type of part (110) with the second specific shape (100). The second support also comprises a second detector (120) for determining an occupancy state of the second support. As described in connection with the first support, the second support can receive only the second type of part (110). The specific shape of the second support (100) is adapted to receive only the second type of part to establish close contact with at least a portion of a surface of the second type of part.Thus, only the second type of coin can be received in the second holder without leaving a gap between the coin and the holder. The second holder may comprise a negative shape of at least a portion of the surface of the second type of coin.

[0068] The first shape (40) of the first support (30) is different from the second shape (100) of the second support (90) such that the first support cannot receive the second type of part and the second support cannot receive the first type of part.

[0069] Figure 2 shows non-limiting examples of part shapes. The first support (30) cannot receive the part with the second specific shape. In other words, in the case where the part of the second specific shape (100, 110) were placed in the first support, the surface of the first support would not come into close contact with the surface of the second part. In the example shown, the lower part of the second shape (100) would be stopped on the edge of the cone of the shape of the first support. A hollow would remain between the second part and the first support. The part with the second shape would not be validly held by the first support and could not be transported. In this case, the presence detector will not be actuated, which will result in feedback requiring corrective action. On the contrary, as shown in Figure 2, the first part with the first specific shape (40) perfectly fits the first support.The surface of the first support (30) can come into close contact, without leaving a gap, with the first part, having the first specific shape. The controller is configured to also transmit the occupancy state of the second support. In other words, the controller (80) receives from the first detector (60) the occupancy state of the first support and from the second detector (120) the occupancy state of the second support. Said occupancy state can indicate a presence of a part in the support or can indicate an absence of a part in the support. The controller also receives a geolocation from the geolocation detector. Said geolocation can comprise the coordinates of the terrestrial position of the caisson. The controller then transmits an identifier of the caisson together with the geolocation and with the first and second occupancy states.

[0070] As described before, a receiver can advantageously infer, from the received information, a location of a particular room type or a particular room as described subsequently.

[0071] The geolocation information allows to deduce a positioning location of the box. The box identifier allows to deduce the type of part that can be received by the first support and the type of part that can be received by the second support. The occupancy information of the first and second support allows to deduce:

[0072] In the case of a presence detected for the first support that a part of the first type is located at the positioning location of the box.

[0073] In the case of a detected presence for the second support that a part of the second type is located at the positioning location of the box.

[0074] As described above, the specific shape of the support allows simple information to be deduced about the presence or absence of a specific part at the positioning location of the box.

[0075] Figure 3 shows the same features described in relation to Figures 1 and 2. The same elements are designated by the same reference signs.

[0076] The transport box shown in Figure 3 comprises a plurality of supports (150). Said plurality of supports comprises the first support (30) and the second support (90), described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, and in addition other additional supports. Each of the supports comprises a specific shape, as previously described for the first and second support. Said shape of each support is specific so as to be able to receive only a particular type of part taken from a set of different types of parts. In other words, a shape of any support, the support selected from the plurality of supports, is different from the shapes of all the other supports of the plurality of supports. The shape of each support is thus specific for a specific type of part.

[0077] For example, a set of coins is to be received by the plurality of holders included in the box. Each coin is of a different type from all other coins in the set of coins. In other words, each coin has a different shape from all other coins. In this case, there is only one possibility of distributing the set of coins within the plurality of holders. Each coin, due to its shape or coin type, corresponds exactly to a single holder among the plurality of holders in which it can be stored. No coin of said plurality of coins can change storage location with another coin, due to the fact that each shape of holder is unique within the plurality of holders. Each holder of the plurality of holders includes an occupancy detector of said holder. The controller (80) of the box transmits the occupancy status of each holder of the plurality of holders.

[0078] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the first type of part may be a slat of a wing of an aircraft, for example the inboard slat of the left wing (240). The second type of part may be the middle slat of the left wing (250). An outboard slat of the left wing (260) may be a third type of part. The set of part types may thus be the set of the different slats of a wing of an aircraft. The set of part types may be a complete set of slats of an aircraft, in other words all the slats of a left wing and a right wing. In the example shown in Figure three, the complete set of slats comprises the three slats of the left wing (240, 250, 260) and the three slats of the right wing. Each slat has a unique shape within the plane's slat set, no slat can take the place of another slat on the plane.

[0079] The plurality of supports may thus be configured to receive a complete set of slats of an aircraft. Each of the slats of the set of slats has a unique position within the plurality of supports. Each support of the plurality of supports has a specific shape configured so as to be able to receive only a single slat of the set of slats of the aircraft.

[0080] Alternatively, the plurality of supports included in the box may be configured to receive other parts, for example a set of trailing edge flaps or flaps of an aircraft (270), shown in Figure 3.

[0081] As described previously, each carrier includes a carrier occupancy detector and the controller is configured to transmit the occupancy status of each carrier.

[0082] Figures 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and 4 eshow the same elements already introduced in combination with figures 1 to 3. The same elements are indicated by the same reference signs.

[0083] The plurality of supports (150) shown in Figure 4a is configured to receive a complete set of slats of an aircraft. Thus, the first support (30) comprises a specific shape, being the negative of a part of a slat (130). In other words, the surface of the first support has a shape corresponding to a part of the surface of the slat. When said slat is placed in this support, the part of the surface of the slat closely matches the surface of the support, without leaving any space. The support is thus specific to this single slat of the set of slats. The second support (90) comprises a second specific shape, different from the first specific shape of the first support. In Figure 4, for example, it can be seen that the first specific shape of the first support comprises a larger radius on the left side. The second specific shape (100) of the second support (90) comprises a smaller radius at the same location.The slat corresponding to the second specific shape can only be received by the second support (90). In the case where said slat would be placed in the first support, the shape of the support would not match the surface of the slat. A space would remain between the support and the slat, the slat would not be correctly supported and could be damaged during transport. Also observed above the second support (90) are other supports of the plurality of supports (150), configured to receive other slats of the set of slats. In the example shown, each support comprises a surface corresponding to a part of a particular slat of the set of slats. In other words, each slat has its dedicated or unique location within the plurality of supports.

[0084] Figure 4a also shows an example of a detector of a support occupancy state. In the example shown, the detector is implemented by an electrical switch. Said switch is mechanically actuated by a bar (280). The slat received by the corresponding support moves the bar and thus actuates the switch. The actuated switch indicates the presence of the slat in the support. Figure 4a shows that each support of the plurality of supports is individually equipped with its electrical switch. An occupancy state can thus be determined for each support. When the support receives the slat, the bar (280) of the detector is necessarily moved and the detector is necessarily actuated. In the case of an empty support, said bar cannot be actuated and necessarily indicates an absence of part in the support. The detection of presence or absence is thus faultless, with a reliability rate of 100%.The combination of a simple and reliable detector with the specificity of the support results in faultless detectability of a part type, regardless of the complexity of the part.

[0085] Figures 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e show the detector and its actuation in even more detail.

[0086] Figure 4b shows the occupancy state detector (60, 120) in an unactuated state, corresponding to a state of absence of a part in the holder. The bar (280) is in a vertical position, entering a space in the holder. Figure 4c shows the detector (60, 120) in an actuated state, corresponding to a state of occupancy of the holder or a state of presence of a part in the holder. Solely to improve visibility, the holder is shown empty, without a part. The bar is moved to a horizontal position, freeing access to the holder.

[0087] Figure 4d shows the first (30) and second (90) holders with the first (60) and second (120) detectors. Each of the detectors is actuated by its own bar (280). Figure 4d shows the two empty holders and the detectors in a position corresponding to an absence of a part. Figure 4e shows a slat (290) received by the second holder. The first holder is empty, as already shown in Figure 4d. The slat (290) has pushed the bar (280) and thus actuated the second detector. The second detector thus indicates a presence of a part in the second holder while the first detector indicates an absence of a part in the first holder.

[0088] The geolocation detector shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 may comprise a satellite location detector. Such a detector may, for example, use a signal from the GPS, GLONASS or other system. The geolocation detector may also comprise a GSM-TDOA detector which determines a position from terrestrial telecommunication signals. Preferably, the geolocation detector comprises a plurality of detectors and is configured to determine a position from one or more available signal types.

[0089] The controller uses, for example, a wireless telecommunications network to transmit geolocation, the box identifier and occupancy status. For example, the controller may use a GSM network and / or a WIFI network and / or a Bluetooth network and / or a satellite communication network to transmit said information.

[0090] As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the transport box may also comprise a temperature sensor (160) and / or a humidity sensor (170) and / or a shock sensor (180). The controller is thus configured to transmit a temperature and / or a humidity and / or a force and / or an acceleration measured by said respective sensor, together with the other information described above. The measurements of temperature, humidity, force and / or acceleration in relation to the box or inside the box make it possible to detect a risk of damage to the box and / or the contents transported by the box, as will be described subsequently.

[0091] Figure 5 shows a system (20) for detecting a flow of transported parts.

[0092] By a flow of parts we understand a first number of a first type of parts located at a starting point (210), a second number of the first type of parts located at a point in transit (230) and a third number of the first type of parts located at an arrival point (220).

[0093] Said flow may also comprise the numbers indicated above for a second type of part and still for other types of part. Said flow may also comprise a number of a type of part arriving at the arrival point per unit of time and / or a number of a type of part leaving the departure point per unit of time.

[0094] The system may comprise one or more transport boxes (10) as described above. The system also comprises a receiver (190) configured to receive a transmission emitted by the box controller or by the different controllers of the different boxes. In particular, the receiver is configured to receive from each box: the identifier of the box, the occupancy status of each of the supports within said box and the geolocation of said box.

[0095] For example, the system may comprise several boxes as shown in Figures 3 and 4. It is thus a system for detecting and managing a flow of slats from a starting point to an arrival point and its storage. More precisely, the starting point may be a slat production site. The arrival point may be an aircraft assembly site where the aircraft will be equipped with the slats received from the slat manufacturer and / or its storage location.

[0096] In this case, the parts flow corresponds to the count of slats stored in the outgoing boxes at the slat production site, in transit and at the aircraft assembly site. More precisely, said count is carried out for each type of slat, for example the number of slats of the type "inner left wing slat" and / or the number of slats of the type "middle left wing slat".

[0097] The system may also be configured to receive the temperature and / or humidity and / or force and / or acceleration measured by said respective sensor within the box and transmitted by the controller. The system is configured to detect a risk of damage related to the box, identified by the unique identifier of the box. Said risk of damage is detected by the receiver if the temperature and / or humidity and / or force and / or acceleration measured by said respective sensor exceeds a defined threshold. Advantageously, the system may be configured to trigger an inspection of the box and / or a content of the box in the event that said risk of damage has been detected.

[0098] Figure 5 also shows the flow of parts transported within one or more transport boxes (10). The same transport box (10) may be located at a starting point (210) or at a transit point (230) between the starting point (210) and an arrival point (220) or at the arrival point (220). In the case of several boxes, each of said boxes may be located at one of said positions among: departure, transit or arrival. To detect the flow of parts transported, the receiver receives from each box: the identifier of the box, the occupancy status of each of the supports within said box and the geolocation of said box.

[0099] From the geolocation, the receiver determines the positioning of the caisson at the starting point, the arrival point or a transit point. More precisely, the receiver receives from the controller within the caisson, terrestrial coordinates corresponding to the location of the caisson. The receiver may for example have at its disposal a geolocation of the starting point and a geolocation of the arrival point. The receiver can thus calculate a first distance between the geolocation of the caisson and the geolocation of the starting point and a second distance between the geolocation of the caisson and the geolocation of the arrival point. The receiver can associate the position of the caisson with the starting point in the case where said first distance is smaller than a first threshold. The receiver can associate the position of the caisson with the arrival point in the case where said second distance is smaller than a second threshold.The positioning of the box can be associated with a transit point in the case where the first distance is greater than the first threshold and the second distance is greater than the second threshold.

[0100] The positioning of the box can be determined with an accuracy of 50 meters or less, preferably with an accuracy of 10 meters.

[0101] From the box identifier, the receiver determines the type of part that can be present within the box. For example, the receiver has a database grouping a box identifier with a type of part. The box identifier can be unequivocally associated with a type of part because the specific shape of the support within the box allows only one type of part to be stored. As described previously, the shape of the support allows only a shape corresponding to the part to be transported in said support. In the case where several supports are present in the box, the receiver determines, from the box identifier, the type of part that can be present in each of the supports. In other words, the receiver determines for each support what type of part is present in the box in the case where the detector indicates a presence of a part.

[0102] From the occupancy status of each of the supports within the box, the receiver determines the types of parts that are present within the box. As described previously, the information of the presence of a part in a support together with the box identifier makes it possible to conclude the presence of a given type of part within the box, thanks to the specificity of the support for a given type of part.

[0103] Thus, the receiver can determine the flow of a part type between a starting point and an arrival point.

[0104] Figure 6 shows an example of flow detection performed by the system. A first column shows a unique identifier (300) received from each box. A second column shows the geolocation of each box. Each box is identified as being located at the starting point (D, 210), in transit (T, 230) or at the arrival point (A, 220).

[0105] In the example shown, each box has six supports inside. The system receives for each box the occupancy status of each support. According to the example shown, the system receives from box G-773 the information that this box is located at the arrival point and that the first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth supports are occupied, indicated by the number "1". The third support is unoccupied, indicated by the number "0". The system knows, for example from a database, that the supports within box G-773 can receive slats of an aircraft of a certain type. Thus, it is known that the first support can receive only a slat of type 140-L, for example the inboard slat of the left wing of an aircraft of type "Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2". The other supports of the box can, for example, receive only the other slats present in said type of aircraft.

[0106] The system can thus deduce that the 260-L slat has been removed from the box. The other slats (240-L, 250-L, 240-R, 250-R, 260-R) are still in the transport box stored at the arrival point.

[0107] Preferably, said system can also be configured to detect a part returned by a customer or a defective part. In other words, from the information received by the receiver, it is possible to determine a return flow of types of parts to be revised or repaired. To determine a number of types of parts to be revised, the receiver receives the information from the box or boxes with a positioning at the arrival point. In other words, during a first step, the receiver determines a positioning of the box at the arrival point. The receiver then observes the box while it remains at the arrival point without leaving the arrival point. During this time, the receiver receives the occupancy status of each support of said boxes placed at the arrival point. An empty support, without the presence of a part, within a box positioned at the arrival point indicates that the corresponding part has been removed from the support by the customer.Each support which, at the point of arrival, indicates an absence of a type of part and then a presence of said type of part is marked as "return part type" or returned part. Alternatively, if no part has been placed in said support at the point of departure. In the case where this same support then indicates the presence of a part, this allows to deduce that said part has been placed in the support at the point of arrival. Thus, it is possible to deduce that it is a part to be returned, more particularly, a part to be revised or defective.

[0108] Advantageously, said system can also be configured to manage a quantity of parts flow between the starting point and the arrival point. In other words, the system directs the flow of parts, for example by determining a necessary start-up of transport boxes, leaving from the starting point. The system can also establish a schedule of parts to be sent per day or boxes to be sent per day or per other unit of time. To manage said quantity of parts flow, the system determines a number of boxes having a position at the arrival point. In other words, the system counts the boxes that send a position corresponding to the arrival point. The system then determines for each box located at the arrival point the number of each type of part located at the arrival point. As described previously, each box transmits the occupancy status of each support within the box.From a database and the box identifier, the room type for each support is known by the system. Thus, the number of each room type can be deduced by knowing the occupancy status of each support.

[0109] The system then compares all of said parts to a threshold. In other words, for each part type, the system compares the quantity of part types present at the arrival point to a threshold. In the case where all of said part types are below said threshold, the system can act on the flow of parts. The system can, for example, increase the flow of parts from the starting point to the arrival point. For example, the system can act to increase a shipping speed and / or a quantity of these crates in transit (230) to the arrival point. The system can also increase a provision, for example a production flow, of parts at the departure point. It is understood that the system can also reduce a flow of parts, for example if all of said part types are above said threshold.

[0110] A method for managing a flow of parts can advantageously implement the system described above.

[0111] The method may include a first step in which the system determines a set of boxes with a positioning at an arrival point. As described previously, the system counts the boxes that transmit a positioning at the arrival point.

[0112] Then, the system observes within each box positioned at the arrival point how many occupancy states change between a presence state and an absence state during a given period of time. Thus, the system determines a number of coins removed from the box during the period of time or, in other words, a rate of use or consumption of coins. More precisely, the system knows how many coins of each type are removed from the boxes at the arrival point.

[0113] From said utilization rate the system can calculate a flow of desired parts from the starting point to the arrival point. For example, said flow of parts can be adapted to match the utilization rate of the parts. It is also possible to adapt said flow in order to increase a stock of parts at the arrival point or to reduce a stock of parts at the arrival point.

[0114] Said method may also comprise the step of determining, within the boxes with positioning at the arrival point, a number of occupancy states displaying an absence state. In other words, the receiver of the system observes the boxes having transmitted a positioning at the arrival point. For each of said boxes, the system counts the supports displaying an absence state. In other words, the system counts the number of supports positioned at the arrival point which are empty. From this information, the system also determines the number of each type of part missing at the arrival point. For each type of part, the number of missing parts corresponds to the number of empty supports which can receive said type of part. Thus, the system knows how many parts of each type have been used.

[0115] In case the said number is above a threshold, the system can increase a production of part types corresponding to the supports with the said absence status. In other words, for a given part type, the system counts how many empty supports corresponding to this part type are in the boxes at the arrival point. When the number of empty supports exceeds a threshold, the system increases a production of parts of this type. The system can automatically increase said production.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Transport case (10) for a parts flow detection system (20), the case comprising: - a first support (30) comprising a first specific shape (40) for receiving a first type of part (50) to be transported, - a first detector (60) of an occupancy state of the first support, - a detector for geolocation (70) of the box and - a controller (80) configured to transmit a box identifier together with said occupancy status of the first support and said geolocation.

2. Casing according to claim 1, the casing comprising a second support (90), the second support comprising a second specific shape (100) for receiving a second type of part (110) to be transported and a second detector (120) of an occupancy state of the second support, the first shape being different from the second shape so that the first support cannot receive the second type of part and the second support cannot receive the first type of part, the controller being configured to transmit the occupancy state of the second support.

3. Box according to claim 1 or 2 in which the shape included by the support is a negative of a part of a slat (130) or a negative of a part of a drop nose (140) of an aircraft.

4. Enclosure according to claim 1 or 2 comprising a plurality of supports (150), each support comprising a specific shape so as to be able to receive only a particular type of part taken from a set of different part types, each support comprising a support occupancy detector, the controller being configured to transmit the occupancy status of each support.

5. Box according to claim 4, the box being configured to receive a complete set of slats from an aircraft, each support comprising a specific shape so as to be able to receive only one slat from the set of slats.

6. A housing according to at least one of the preceding claims in which the occupancy state detector of the support comprises a mechanical detector and / or an electromechanical detector and / or an optical detector and / or a weight detector and / or a volumetric detector and / or an ultrasonic detector and / or an electromagnetic ray detector, the detector being configured to detect said part and / or to be actuated by the part upon receipt of said part by the support.

7. Housing according to at least one of the preceding claims in which the geolocation detector comprises a GPS detector and / or a GSM-TDOA detector.

8. A housing according to at least one of the preceding claims comprising a temperature sensor (160) and / or a humidity sensor (170) and / or a shock sensor (180) and in which the controller being configured to transmit a temperature and / or humidity and / or force and / or acceleration measured by said respective sensor.

9. A parts flow detection system (20), the system comprising a container according to at least one of the preceding claims and a receiver (190) configured to receive the container identifier with the occupancy status and geolocation and - determine from geolocation: a positioning (200) of the container at a starting point (210) or at an arrival point (220) or at a point in transit (230) and / or - determine from the box identifier and the occupancy status: the presence of one type of room or the presence of all types of rooms in the box.

10. System according to claim 9 comprising a plurality of transport boxes according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, the identifier of each box being unique within the plurality of boxes and associated with a single box.

11. System according to claim 9 or 10 configured to detect a risk of damage related to a box, said box being according to claim 8, said risk of damage being detected if the temperature and / or humidity and / or force and / or acceleration measured by said respective sensor exceeds a threshold, preferably the system being configured to trigger an inspection of the box and / or of a box's contents in the event that said risk of damage has been detected.

12. A system according to at least one of claims 9 to 11 configured to detect a part returned by a customer by performing the steps of: - determine the positioning of the enclosure, - while the casing maintains a position at the arrival point: - determine the absence of a certain type of part in said box and then - to determine the presence of said type of part in said container.

13. A system according to at least one of claims 9 to 12 configured to manage a quantity of parts flow by performing the steps of: - determine the number of crates with a positioning at the arrival point and determine the types of parts present in each of said crates, - compare a set of these types of parts to a threshold, - increase a flow of parts from the starting point to the arrival point if the total of said types of parts is below said threshold.

14. A method for managing a parts flow implementing a system according to at least one of claims 9 to 13, the system comprising a plurality of transport crates according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprising the steps of: - determine a set of boxes with a positioning at an arrival point, - within said set of compartments, determine a number of occupancy states changing from a state of presence to a state of absence over a period of time, - determine a flow of desired parts from the starting point to the arrival point from said change.

15. A method according to claim 14 comprising the step of - determine, within said set of boxes with positioning at the arrival point, a number of occupancy states displaying a state of absence, - in the case where said number is above a threshold: Increase production of part types corresponding to the supports with said state of absence.

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