Condition-Controlled Totes for Online Grocery Logistics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current plastic bins used for online grocery orders lack temperature control, limiting the time and distance that refrigerated or frozen items can be stored, which poses logistical challenges for retailers.
Innovation Solution
Condition-controlled totes equipped with refrigeration units and communication capabilities to receive commands for maintaining temperature, entering a refrigeration state, or entering a freezer state, are used to manage online grocery orders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If plastic bins are used for holding grocery items, then the items can be stored and transported, but the time and distance for storing refrigerated and frozen items is limited due to lack of temperature control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from passive plastic bins to active temperature-controlled totes. The totes incorporate refrigeration units that can dynamically adjust temperature parameters to maintain refrigerated and frozen conditions throughout the supply chain, thereby extending storage time while ensuring temperature reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The totes are designed with self-service temperature control capabilities through integrated refrigeration units. These units autonomously maintain required temperature levels without external intervention, allowing the totes to self-regulate their thermal environment during transport and storage, thus extending usable duration while maintaining reliability.
2Length of moving object
If plastic bins are used for holding grocery items, then the items can be stored, but the delivery distance is limited due to lack of temperature control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by equipping totes with active refrigeration systems that can maintain temperature parameters over extended periods. This enables the totes to sustain refrigerated and frozen conditions during longer transit times and greater distances, thereby expanding delivery radius while ensuring temperature reliability throughout the journey.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration units within the totes provide self-service temperature management during transport. These autonomous systems continuously monitor and adjust temperature levels without external input, allowing the totes to independently maintain proper conditions over extended delivery distances, thus resolving the contradiction between distance and reliability.
3Reliability
If condition-controlled totes with refrigeration units are used, then temperature control and extended storage are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing multi-functional totes that combine storage, temperature control, tracking, and communication capabilities in a single integrated system. The totes serve multiple functions simultaneously - holding groceries, regulating temperature, monitoring location, and communicating with the fulfillment system - thereby managing complexity through functional integration rather than adding separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into the tote structure itself. The refrigeration unit, temperature sensors, communication modules, and tracking devices are integrated directly into the tote housing, creating a unified temperature-controlled smart container. This merging approach consolidates complexity within a single coordinated system rather than requiring separate independent components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of condition-controlled totes extends the cold chain compliance period, allowing for longer storage and increased delivery distances of refrigerated and frozen items, thereby improving logistical efficiency for retailers.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the number of totes includes a refrigeration unit and a receiver
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to processing online orders. In some embodiments, a system for processing online order comprises an order processing server configured to receive an online order including grocery items and transmit, to a control circuit, the online order, the control circuit configured to receive the online order, determine the grocery items included in the online order, determine a number of grocery items that require refrigeration and a number of grocery items that require freezing, determine a number of totes required for the online order, assign to the online order the number of totes required, transmit, to the totes, a command, wherein each of the number of totes is configured to receive, from the control circuit, the command, and in response to the receipt of the command, one of maintain its temperature, enter the refrigeration state, and enter the freezer state.