Adjustable Container Floors for High-Accuracy Parcel Sortation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurately sorting parcels of varying sizes, shapes, and weights at high throughput rates poses challenges, requiring manual intervention to correct mis-sorted parcels and efficiently pack them in containers.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with movable container floors that adjust volume based on parcel load, using mechanisms like scissor lifts, springs, or winches to accommodate varying parcel sizes, combined with a control system to manage parcel distribution and container depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fixed-volume containers are used for parcel sorting, then the container structure is simple and stable, but the sorting accuracy and throughput are reduced due to inability to accommodate varying parcel volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the container floor movable rather than fixed. The floor can be raised or lowered based on the volume of parcels in the container, allowing the container to adapt dynamically to different sorting requirements. This dynamic adjustment enables accurate sorting of parcels with varying volumes while maintaining a relatively simple overall container structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the depth of the container interior volume through floor movement. The floor position parameter is changed based on the parcel load, allowing the same physical container to accommodate different volumes. This parameter adjustment improves sorting accuracy without requiring multiple different container types.
2Productivity
If manual intervention is used to correct mis-sorted parcels, then the system can handle complex sorting situations, but the throughput rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle through the movable floor mechanism that automatically adjusts based on parcel volume. The system monitors the container fill level and autonomously raises or lowers the floor to maintain optimal sorting conditions, eliminating the need for manual intervention to correct mis-sorted parcels. This automation maintains high throughput rates while handling complex sorting situations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If container depth is fixed, then the structure is stable and simple, but the packing efficiency for parcels of varying sizes is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the container floor dynamically adjustable to match the volume of parcels being packed. The floor position is changed based on real-time monitoring of parcel accumulation, allowing the container to adapt to different packing scenarios. This dynamic adjustment maximizes packing efficiency for parcels of varying sizes without requiring a complex multi-component container structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal container that can handle parcels of various sizes and volumes through the movable floor mechanism. A single container design serves multiple functions by adjusting its effective volume, eliminating the need for different container types for different parcel sizes. This multi-functionality improves packing efficiency while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A sorting conveyor system sorting parcels into volume-adjustable containers with movable floors and an associated method for adjusting the depth of the container's interior volume. The containers are mounted on carts and have movable floors that are raised and lowered to decrease and increase the depth of the container's interior volume below an upper rim as a function of the load of parcels in the container.