Freight Loading Box Conveyor Balls for Destination-Based Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency in loading and unloading goods in a vehicle's freight loading box, where labor-intensive manual sorting and positioning of goods lead to decreased delivery efficiency, especially as goods are placed deeper inside the box, requiring significant physical effort and time to access.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle equipped with conveyor balls and a control system that groups and positions goods by delivery destination, allowing for automated loading and unloading by moving grouped goods towards the entrance side of the freight loading box when arriving at a delivery location, using a ball controller, sensor unit, and communication with a delivery system to optimize the logistics process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If goods are loaded in reverse order of delivery destinations (deepest goods for first destinations, shallowest for last), then delivery route optimization is achieved, but loading and unloading labor intensity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic goods arrangement system where the loading box is divided into multiple regions that can be dynamically adjusted based on delivery sequences. The system automatically reconfigures goods positions during delivery routes, transforming the static reverse-order loading problem into a dynamic multi-region management solution that reduces labor intensity while maintaining delivery efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The loading box is segmented into multiple regions corresponding to different delivery destinations or time slots. This segmentation allows goods to be organized in manageable groups rather than a single deep-stack arrangement, enabling easier access to goods for any delivery destination without requiring complete unstacking of all goods
2Stability of the object's composition
If goods are manually sorted and positioned by delivery driver, then goods are properly organized for delivery, but labor cost and physical strength consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic goods arrangement functionality where the vehicle's control system autonomously manages goods positioning based on delivery information. The system automatically receives delivery destination data, determines optimal loading positions, and controls the goods transfer mechanism to place goods correctly, eliminating the need for manual sorting and positioning by the delivery driver
3Volume of stationary object
If goods are loaded deep inside the freight loading box, then loading space utilization is maximized, but unloading time and physical effort increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts goods accessibility based on delivery sequences. Goods for upcoming deliveries are automatically positioned in easily accessible regions, while goods for later deliveries can be placed deeper in the loading box. This dynamic repositioning maintains high space utilization while ensuring that unloading always involves only shallow retrieval of the next delivery's goods
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning of goods before delivery occurs. By receiving delivery information in advance and pre-arranging goods in appropriate regions, the system ensures that when the vehicle arrives at a delivery destination, the corresponding goods are already positioned for easy access, eliminating the need for time-consuming search and retrieval operations
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment vehicle includes a freight loading box, conveyer balls installed in the freight loading box, a goods loader configured to move and load goods grouped according to a delivery destination to positions set in the freight loading box by controlling the conveyor balls, and a goods unloader configured to move the goods for the delivery destination toward an entrance side of the freight loading box by controlling the conveyor balls upon arrival of the vehicle at the delivery destination.