Trunk logistic facility and arrangement method
The core logistics facility design with a cross-dock area, warehouse area, and vertical conveyor addresses the lack of design guidelines, enabling efficient cargo handling and tenant convenience through dedicated areas and conveyors, ensuring separate operation for large tenants.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024096362
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-25
AI Technical Summary
There are no design guidelines for core logistics facilities suitable for trunk line transportation, which hinders efficient operation and tenant convenience.
The core logistics facility comprises a cross-dock area, warehouse area, and vertical conveyor, allowing for pallet-by-pallet cargo unloading, loading, and sorting, with dedicated warehouse areas for frequent users, and exclusive use of connected cross-dock areas via dedicated vertical conveyors.
Facilitates efficient cargo handling, ensures convenience for large tenants, and allows separate operation from other tenants, enhancing overall facility efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure 2025187503000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a core logistics facility used by trucks that carry out trunk line transportation, and a method for arranging tenants in the core logistics facility. [Background technology]
[0002] Various efforts are being made to realize Level 4 autonomous driving for large trucks (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). In addition, development has begun on next-generation core logistics facilities with dedicated ramps directly connected to highway interchanges (see Non-Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]
[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, "Autonomous Driving Level 4 and Other Advanced Mobility Services Research, Development and Social Implementation Project (RoAD to the L4)", June 7, 2021, [Retrieved May 10, 2024], Internet <https: / / www.meti.go.jp / policy / mono_info_service / mono / automobile / Automated-driving / kenkyuukaihatsukeikaku.pdf> . [Non-patent document 2] Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., "Japan's first "next-generation core logistics facility" directly connected to an expressway interchange development plan launched," February 3, 2022, [Retrieved May 10, 2024], Internet<https: / / www.mec.co.jp / news / archives / mec220203_logicross.pdf> . Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] However, no design guidelines have been disclosed that indicate how the structure of a core logistics facility should be designed. The present invention aims to provide a core logistics facility with a structure suitable for use by trucks that handle trunk line transportation. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] The core logistics facility of the present invention comprises a cross-dock area, a warehouse area, and a vertical conveyor. The cross-dock area unloads and loads trunk transport trucks and regional delivery trucks, and sorts cargo on a pallet-by-pallet basis. The warehouse area is located above or below the cross-dock area and stores cargo. The vertical conveyor transports pallets vertically between the cross-dock area and the warehouse area. The warehouse area consists of multiple floors. The warehouse area includes a dedicated warehouse area that is one floor above or below the cross-dock area and has a dedicated vertical conveyor that transports pallets vertically between the cross-dock area and the warehouse area. [Effects of the Invention]
[0006] The core logistics facility of the present invention facilitates unloading and loading of cargo from mainline transport trucks onto regional delivery trucks and sorting of cargo by pallet in the cross-dock area, and also enables storage of cargo by vertical transport in the warehouse area using a vertical conveyor. In addition, tenants who frequently use mainline transport trucks independently can be assigned a dedicated warehouse area and can have exclusive use of the cross-dock area connected to the dedicated warehouse area by a dedicated vertical conveyor. Therefore, convenience for large tenants with high logistics volumes can be ensured, and the operation of the core logistics facility can be separated from other tenants, allowing the core logistics facility to be operated efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a core logistics facility of the present invention. [Figure 2] Schematic floor plan of the cross-dock area connected to the warehouse area by a vertical conveyor. [Figure 3] Schematic floor plan of the warehouse area, excluding the dedicated warehouse area. [Figure 4] A schematic diagram of the floor plan of the cross-dock area, where the entire floor is connected to the floor of a dedicated warehouse area by a dedicated vertical conveyor. [Figure 5] Schematic floor plan of a floor where the entire floor is a dedicated storage area. [Figure 6] Schematic floor plan of the cross-dock area floor, part of which is connected to the floor of the dedicated warehouse area by a dedicated vertical conveyor and vertical conveyor. [Figure 7] Schematic floor plan of a floor where part of the floor is a dedicated storage area. [Figure 8] A view from the Y direction of the warehouse area when three floors are arranged in succession. [Figure 9] View from the Y direction when placed as follows: Warehouse area floor, Cross dock area floor, Warehouse area floor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Components having the same functions are given the same numbers, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. [Example]
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the core logistics facility of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the cross-dock area floor connected to the warehouse area by a vertical conveyor, and FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the warehouse area floor that does not include a dedicated warehouse area. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the cross-dock area floor where the entire floor is connected to the dedicated warehouse area floor by a dedicated vertical conveyor, and FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the entire floor where the dedicated warehouse area floor is. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the cross-dock area floor where part of the floor is connected to the dedicated warehouse area floor by a dedicated vertical conveyor and a vertical conveyor, and FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the floor where part of the floor is a dedicated warehouse area. X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are shown throughout the figures. Axes will be used appropriately to indicate directions.
[0010] The core logistics facility 10 includes a cross dock area 100, a warehouse area 200, and a vertical conveyor 300. If the core logistics facility 10 is configured with multiple floors, it also includes indoor ramps 501 and 502 for vehicles to move between floors (movement in the Z-axis direction). For example, the indoor ramp 501 may be an indoor ramp for downbound traffic, and the indoor ramp 502 may be an indoor ramp for upbound traffic. The core logistics facility 10 also includes a floor for a mobility pool area 400 used as a temporary pool for trunk transport trucks that are responsible for trunk transport. A dedicated ramp 600 directly connected to a highway or a highway interchange may be connected to the floor of the mobility pool area 400.
[0011] In this specification, "floor" refers to a floor. "XX area" refers to a range of location, and an area may consist of multiple floors, or may include part of a single floor. In the example of FIG. 1, the core logistics facility 10 is eight stories tall, with the first to third, fifth, and seventh floors being warehouse areas 200, the fourth, sixth, and eighth floors being cross-dock areas 100, and the rooftop floor being the mobility pool area 400. However, other arrangements are also possible. For example, the mobility pool area 400 may be on the first floor, or may be located outside the building, or part of a floor may be the mobility pool area 400. For example, half of the rooftop floor may be the mobility pool area 400, and the other half may be the cross-dock area 100. Furthermore, for example, the floors above and below the mobility pool area 400 may be the cross-dock areas 100.
[0012] In the example of FIG. 1, the first to third floors are warehouse areas 201 that do not include the dedicated warehouse area 244 (see FIG. 3). The seventh floor is warehouse area 202 that includes only the dedicated warehouse area 244 (see FIG. 5). The fifth floor is warehouse area 203 that includes a portion of the dedicated warehouse area 244 (see FIG. 7). The fourth floor is cross dock area 101 that is connected to warehouse area 201 by vertical conveyor 300 (see FIG. 2). The eighth floor is cross dock area 102 that is entirely connected to warehouse area 202 of the dedicated warehouse area 244 by dedicated vertical conveyor 310 (see FIG. 4). The sixth floor is cross dock area 103 that is partially connected to warehouse area 203 of the dedicated warehouse area 244 by dedicated vertical conveyor 310 and vertical conveyor 300 (see FIG. 6).
[0013] The cross-dock area 100 unloads, loads, and sorts cargo from trunk transport trucks and regional delivery trucks in pallet units. A "truck transport truck" is a truck that transports cargo between trunk logistics facilities. It may be an autonomous truck or a manned truck. Trunk transport trucks also include trucks that can be connected and platooned. Regional delivery trucks transport cargo between trunk logistics facilities and regional logistics facilities, or between trunk logistics facilities and destinations. They are generally smaller than trunk transport trucks. A "pallet" is a unit used to bundle multiple packages and is transported by trunk transport trucks. A pallet typically contains multiple packages, but may also contain only one package. Pallets can be shaped like boards, baskets, boxes, or containers, and may be equipped with wheels. Pallets do not need to have a special structure; existing ones can be used.
[0014] The cross dock area 100 (101, 102, 103) has an outer track 110 located along part or all of its perimeter. A berth 120 for trunk transport trucks and a berth 130 for regional delivery trucks are located inside the outer track 110. Further inside is a space 140 where unloading, loading, and sorting of cargo are performed on a pallet-by-pallet basis (see FIGS. 2, 4, and 6). In the examples shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, the outer track 110 is formed into a four-sided rectangle. However, depending on the positions of the ramps 501 and 502 inside the building, it may also be formed into a three-sided rectangle. Furthermore, if part of the floor is the cross dock area 100, the outer track 110 may have three or two sides. The trunk transport truck berth 120 has a length and width sufficient for trunk transport trucks to park there. It may be provided with features that make it easy for not only human-driven trunk transport trucks but also autonomous trunk transport trucks to recognize the vehicle compartment (e.g., easily identifiable marks using cameras or sensors, electromagnetic devices, etc.). The regional delivery truck berth 130 has a length and width that allows regional delivery trucks, which are intended to be driven by a human driver, to park there. In the example shown in Figures 2, 4, and 6, the main transport truck berth 120 is located on one side of the outer track 110, and the regional delivery truck berth 130 is located on the side opposite the main transport truck berth 120. In this example, pallets are transported mainly in the X-axis direction in Figures 2, 4, and 6. Naturally, they may also be transported somewhat in the Y-axis direction, but if a large movement in the Y-axis direction is required, it may be more efficient to transport them using a main transport truck or a regional delivery truck. Note that the arrangement of the main transport truck berth 120 and the regional delivery truck berth 130 is not limited to opposite sides. They may also be arranged on the same side. In this case, pallets are transported mainly in the Y-axis direction.
[0015] The warehouse area 200 is located above or below the cross dock area 100 and stores cargo in a portion of the space 240 (see Figures 3, 5, and 7). A vertical conveyor 300 transports pallets vertically (in the Z-axis direction) between the cross dock area 100 and the warehouse area 200. The vertical conveyor 300 is, for example, an elevator for transporting cargo. The warehouse area 200 may be configured with multiple floors. The warehouse area 200 includes a dedicated warehouse area 244, which is located one floor above or below the cross dock area 100 and has a dedicated vertical conveyor 310 that transports pallets vertically between the dedicated warehouse area 244 and the cross dock area 100. If a floor exists between the dedicated warehouse area 244 and the cross dock area 100, a space must be secured on the intervening floor for the dedicated vertical conveyor 310 to pass through, and the vertical travel distance increases, resulting in inefficiency. Therefore, it is desirable to locate the dedicated warehouse area 244 on the floor one floor above or one floor below the cross dock area 100. The warehouse areas 201 or 203 other than the dedicated warehouse area 244 are connected to the cross dock area 101 or cross dock area 103 by a vertical conveyor 300 (see Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6). The dedicated warehouse area 244 is connected to the cross dock area 102 or cross dock area 103 by a dedicated vertical conveyor 310 (see Figures 1, 4 to 7).
[0016] The warehouse area 200 may have a central roadway 210 located in the center, and may include a floor on which a shared berth 220 for mainline transport trucks and regional delivery trucks or a berth 230 for regional delivery trucks is located along the central roadway 210. In principle, the transfer of cargo between mainline transport trucks and regional delivery trucks can be carried out in pallets in the cross-dock area 100. However, when a mainline transport truck is loaded with cargo for a single tenant, or when a main transport truck is loaded with cargo for a single tenant, it is more efficient to unload, load, and sort the cargo in the warehouse area 200 used by that tenant. The term "tenant" refers to the lessor (user) of the space in the warehouse area 200. The tenant may be the shipper of the cargo, or a transportation company commissioned by the shipper. Tenants with high logistics volumes may equip the warehouse area 200 with a belt conveyor that transports cargo in the Y-axis direction, or may have an aisle for forklifts. In the example of Figures 3 and 7, a shared berth 220 is located on one side of the central roadway 210, and a berth 230 for local delivery trucks is located on the other side. The shared berth 220 is convenient for relatively large tenants who may use mainline transport trucks alone. On the other hand, the berth 230 for local delivery trucks is convenient for tenants who find it difficult to use mainline transport trucks alone.
[0017] Also, if the entire floor is a dedicated warehouse area 244 as shown in Figure 5, it is possible to choose not to provide a roadway and berths. In that case, all cargo unloading and loading can be done in the cross dock area 102 connected by a dedicated vertical conveyor 310. This allows for a larger cargo storage space 240.
[0018] The core logistics facility 10 facilitates unloading and loading of cargo from mainline transport trucks onto local delivery trucks, and sorting of cargo by pallet in the cross dock area 100, and also enables storage of cargo by vertically transporting it in the warehouse area 200 using a vertical conveyor 300. In addition, the core logistics facility 10 allows tenants who frequently use mainline transport trucks independently to be assigned a dedicated warehouse area 244, and to have exclusive use of the cross dock area 100 connected to the dedicated warehouse area 244 by a dedicated vertical conveyor 310. This ensures convenience for large tenants with large volumes of goods, and allows the core logistics facility 10 to be operated efficiently because it can be operated separately from other tenants.
[0019] <Warehouse area floor layout> Figure 8 shows a view from the Y direction of the three warehouse floors arranged in a continuous fashion. Figure 9 shows a view from the Y direction of the warehouse floor, cross-dock floor, and warehouse floor arranged as follows. A is the required ceiling height for spaces 140 and 240, where unloading, loading, and sorting of goods are performed; T is the floor thickness (the thickness from the ceiling of the floor below to the floor of spaces 140 and 240); and B is the height of the step between the driveway and berth and spaces 140 and 240. Generally, A is approximately 5.5 m, and B is approximately 1.0 m. In the example of Figure 8, the height of one floor is A + T, while in the example of Figure 9, the height of one floor is A + B + T. Aligning the driveway position allows for a lower design height for each floor, which is advantageous if the facility is subject to height restrictions under the Building Standards Act, etc., and potentially allows for more floors. Even if all floors of the warehouse area 200 are not continuous, making some floors continuous can still reduce the facility height. Therefore, the warehouse area 200 may include a configuration of multiple consecutive floors. In the example of FIG. 1, the warehouse area 200 is continuous from the first floor to the third floor. As described above, it is considered efficient to configure the cross dock area 100 floor with the perimeter lane 110 along part or all of the perimeter, and the warehouse area 200 floor with the central lane 210. However, the effect obtained by configuring the warehouse area 200 with multiple consecutive floors (the effect of being able to lower the height by one floor) can also be obtained with other lane configurations as long as the lane configuration is common to the warehouse area.
[0020] <Public areas, private areas> 2, 4, and 6, the cross dock area 100 may be divided into a public area 141 where sorting is performed based on tenants and a dedicated area 142 where sorting is performed based on destinations. The dedicated warehouse area 244 may be connected to the dedicated area 142 by a dedicated vertical conveyor 310. The warehouse areas 201 and 203 connected to the public area 141 by the vertical conveyor 300, and the warehouse area 201 connected to the dedicated area 142 by the vertical conveyor 300, may include spaces 241 and 242 where pallets are disassembled and packages are sorted based on destinations.
[0021] As collaboration in joint transportation and delivery among multiple tenants progresses, it is conceivable that multiple tenants will share a single trunk transport truck. Pallets have a destination set. The "destination" of a pallet is one of the core logistics facilities 10 or a regional logistics facility to which it is transported by a regional delivery truck. When only pallets from one tenant are loaded onto a trunk transport truck, the pallets are sorted based on the destination. When pallets from multiple tenants are loaded onto a trunk transport truck, the pallets can be sorted first based on the tenant, and then based on the destination. For example, if the destination is the core logistics facility 10, this is because the location of the warehouse area 200 differs for each tenant. This is also because the regional logistics facilities often differ for each tenant.
[0022] When the destination of pallets for multiple tenants loaded onto a trunk transport truck is the core logistics facility 10, the pallets are sorted by tenant in the public area 141 of the cross dock area 100 and transported to each tenant's warehouse area 200. This transport can be performed using a vertical conveyor 300. The warehouse areas 201 and 203 connected to the public area 141 by the vertical conveyor 300 can include a space 241 where pallets are disassembled and sorted based on their destination. If the destination of the pallets is another core logistics facility, the pallets can be sorted so that they can be loaded onto a trunk transport truck bound for that core logistics facility. If the destination of the pallets is a regional logistics facility, the pallets can be sorted so that they can be loaded onto a regional delivery truck bound for that logistics facility. Because of this operation, the warehouse area 200 connected to the public area 141 by the vertical conveyor 300 can be assigned tenant locations in the warehouse area 200 so that tenants who frequently use the trunk transport truck are located.
[0023] If only pallets belonging to a single tenant are loaded onto a trunk transport truck, the pallets can be sorted based on their destination in the dedicated area 142. As mentioned above, if the tenant's warehouse area 200 has a shared berth 220 for trunk transport trucks and regional delivery trucks, the trunk transport truck may stop in the warehouse area 200. The dedicated area 142 is convenient for tenants whose logistics volume is not large enough to justify the provision of a shared berth 220 in the warehouse area 200 but who occasionally use the trunk transport truck independently. Furthermore, depending on the collaboration of joint transportation and delivery, a group of multiple tenants may be treated as a single tenant. In such cases, the warehouse area 201 connected to the dedicated area 142 by the vertical conveyor 300 may also include a space 242 for disassembling pallets and sorting the parcels based on their destination. For example, even if a group of multiple tenants is treated as a single tenant within the core logistics facility 10, the parcels can be separated by tenant by specifying the destination of the parcel as a regional logistics facility managed by each tenant. Since this type of operation will be required, the locations of tenants in the warehouse area 200, which is connected to the dedicated area 142 by the vertical conveyor 300, can be allocated so that tenants who often use mainline transport trucks independently are placed in the warehouse area 200.
[0024] In other words, it is more efficient to allocate tenants so that the tenants located in the warehouse area 200 connected to the public area 141 by the vertical conveyor 300 use the trunk transport trucks more frequently than the tenants located in the warehouse area 200 connected to the private area 142 by the vertical conveyor 300. The determination of whether the trunk transport trucks are used by multiple tenants can be based on a predetermined calculation method. For example, it can be based on the number of times the trunk transport trucks are used by multiple tenants on a monthly or daily basis, or on the percentage of times the trunk transport trucks are used by multiple tenants. It can be determined taking into account the efficiency of each core logistics facility. It can also reduce the amount of movement of pallets in the Y-axis direction. The term "single use" also includes cases where a group of multiple tenants is treated as a single tenant.
[0025] Furthermore, the locations used by the tenants can be allocated so that the tenants located in the dedicated warehouse area 244 tend to use the trunk transport trucks independently more often than the tenants located in the warehouse area 200 connected to the dedicated area 142 by the vertical conveyor 300. In other words, the dedicated warehouse area 244 is allocated to tenants who frequently use the trunk transport trucks independently, or large tenants who handle large volumes of goods. By arranging the area in this manner, the cross dock area 100 connected to the dedicated warehouse area 244 by the dedicated vertical conveyor 310 can be used exclusively. This ensures convenience for large tenants with large volumes of goods, and allows the core logistics facility 10 to be operated separately from other tenants, thereby enabling the core logistics facility 10 to be operated efficiently. [Explanation of symbols]
[0026] 10 Core logistics facilities 100, 101, 102, 103 Cross dock area 110 Outer perimeter lane 120 Trunk transport truck berth 130,230 Regional delivery truck berths 140,240,241,242 spaces 141 Public Areas 142 Private Areas 200, 201, 202, 203 Warehouse Area 210 Central lane 220 Shared berth 244 Dedicated warehouse area 300 Vertical conveyor 310 Dedicated vertical conveyor 400 Mobility pool area 501,502 Rampway inside building 600 Dedicated rampway
Claims
1. A cross-dock area where trunk transport trucks and regional delivery trucks are unloaded, loaded, and sorted by pallet, a warehouse area for storing cargo located above or below the cross-dock area; a vertical conveyor that conveys pallets vertically between the cross-dock area and the warehouse area; Equipped with The warehouse area is made up of multiple floors, The warehouse area is one floor above or one floor below the cross-dock area, and includes a dedicated warehouse area with a dedicated vertical conveyor that conveys pallets vertically between the cross-dock area and the warehouse area. A core logistics facility characterized by its
2. The core logistics facility according to claim 1, The cross dock area has an outer perimeter lane arranged over a part or the entire perimeter, and a berth for trunk transport trucks and a berth for regional delivery trucks are arranged inside the outer perimeter lane. A core logistics facility characterized by its
3. The core logistics facility according to claim 2, The warehouse area has a central roadway located in the center, and a floor on which a shared berth for trunk transport trucks and local delivery trucks or a berth for local delivery trucks is located along the central roadway. A core logistics facility characterized by its
4. The core logistics facility according to claim 2, The warehouse area has a central roadway located in the center, and a floor on which a berth for a local delivery truck is located along the central roadway. A core logistics facility characterized by its
5. The core logistics facility according to claim 1, The dedicated storage area has floors with no roadways. A core logistics facility characterized by its
6. The core logistics facility according to claim 1, The cross-dock area includes a public area where sorting is performed based on tenants and a dedicated area where sorting is performed based on destinations. A core logistics facility characterized by its
7. The core logistics facility according to claim 6, The dedicated warehouse area is connected to the dedicated area by the dedicated vertical conveyor. A core logistics facility characterized by its
8. The core logistics facility according to claim 6, The warehouse area connected to the public area by the vertical conveyor is It has space to disassemble the pallets and sort the packages based on their destination. A core logistics facility characterized by its
9. The core logistics facility according to claim 6, The dedicated area and the warehouse area connected by the vertical conveyor are It has space to disassemble the pallets and sort the packages based on their destination. A core logistics facility characterized by its
10. The core logistics facility according to claim 1, The storage area includes a structure with multiple consecutive floors. A core logistics facility characterized by its
11. A method for arranging tenants in a warehouse area of a core logistics facility according to claim 6, The locations to be used by the tenants are allocated so that the tenants located in the warehouse area connected to the public area by the vertical conveyor will use the trunk transport trucks more frequently than the tenants located in the warehouse area connected to the exclusive area by the vertical conveyor.
10. A placement method comprising:
12. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: The locations to be used by the tenants are allocated so that the tenants located in the dedicated warehouse area tend to use the trunk transport trucks by themselves more often than the tenants located in the warehouse area connected to the dedicated area by the vertical conveyor.
10. A placement method comprising:
13. A method for arranging tenants in a warehouse area of a core logistics facility according to claim 6, In the warehouse area connected to the public area by the vertical conveyor, a plurality of tenants are located who frequently use the trunk transport truck, The warehouse area connected to the dedicated area by the vertical conveyor is allocated to tenants who often use mainline transport trucks independently.
10. A placement method comprising:
14. A method for arranging tenants in a warehouse area of a core logistics facility according to claim 1, The dedicated warehouse area will be used by tenants who often use mainline transport trucks independently.
10. A placement method comprising: