Used Container Routing for Reuse Based on Order Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing volume of used containers from home delivery services poses challenges in efficiently reusing and managing containers, as existing systems lack effective methods for determining container suitability for reuse and optimizing container allocation for order fulfillment.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a receptacle, sensor system, used container database, and conveyor system, where a control circuit assigns identifiers, measures dimensions, determines container conditions, and routes containers based on suitability for reuse, predicting container usage and allocating them to fulfillment or disposal areas, and selecting new containers when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If containers are manually assessed and sorted for reuse, then labor costs are high and processing speed is slow, but automation introduces complexity in determining container suitability
Solution Approach 1:
The container autonomously presents its identification features (barcodes, RFID tags, visual markers) for detection, and the system automatically determines suitability based on pre-defined criteria without human intervention. The container essentially serves itself by providing the necessary information passively through its design features.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical assessment and sorting operations are replaced with automated sensor systems (cameras, barcode scanners, RFID readers) and control circuits that detect container features and make routing decisions electronically, eliminating the need for human labor in the sorting process.
2Loss of substance
If all used containers are retained for potential reuse, then waste is reduced, but storage requirements and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment and routing of containers immediately upon receipt, determining their suitability for reuse before they enter the storage system. Containers are sorted into different pathways (reuse, repair, disposal) based on their condition, ensuring that only suitable containers occupy storage space.
Solution Approach 2:
Different storage areas or handling procedures are assigned to containers based on their specific condition and suitability characteristics. Containers with different qualities (reusable, repairable, disposable) are directed to different destinations, optimizing space utilization and management efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If container dimensions are not measured, then processing is faster, but accurate matching to order requirements cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The dimension measurement process is integrated continuously into the container flow without interrupting the overall processing sequence. Sensors measure container dimensions as they pass through the system on the conveyor, eliminating the need for separate measurement steps and maintaining continuous operational flow.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for reusing containers. A system for container reuse comprises an order database storing a plurality of orders associated with an order fulfillment facility, a conveyor system, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to determine container capacity requirements of the plurality of orders in the order database based on dimensions of products in each order, predict container usage for fulfilling orders at the order fulfillment facility based at least on the container capacity requirements of the plurality of orders, determine whether a used container received at the conveyor system should be retained based on a container dimension of the used container and the container usage predicted for the order fulfillment facility, and cause the conveyor system to route the used container to a fulfillment area or a disposal area based on whether the used container should be retained.