Parcel locker bank system with banks of lockers with rear side access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parcel locker bank systems face issues such as monopolization of the user interface by carrier agents during peak hours, leading to long waiting times for recipients, and a time-consuming dispatch process due to the need to open new compartment doors for each shipment and manual identification capture.
Innovation Solution
A parcel locker bank system with a rear-side access for carrier agents and front-side access for recipients, utilizing a remote shipping system and mobile device application to manage dispatch and collection processes, enabling simultaneous dispatch and pickup operations, and integrating identification capture through mobile device scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the user interface is monopolized by carrier agents during dispatch operations, then dispatch efficiency is improved, but recipient access is blocked causing long waiting times
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the user interface access into two separate physical access points: a front side for recipients and a rear side for carrier agents. This segmentation allows simultaneous independent access - recipients can use the front interface while agents perform dispatch operations at the rear interface, eliminating the monopolization problem and reducing waiting times
2Reliability
If a new compartment door is opened for each shipment dispatch, then shipment security is maintained, but the dispatch process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-opens the rear compartment door before dispatch operations begin. Carrier agents can then quickly place multiple shipments into lockers without repeatedly opening and closing the door, significantly accelerating the dispatch process while maintaining security through the controlled rear access point
3Measurement precision
If manual identification capture is required for each shipment, then tracking accuracy is ensured, but the dispatch process becomes slower
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual identification capture with automated optical scanning. Barcode readers or cameras integrated into the interface automatically read and capture shipment identification labels as they are placed in lockers, eliminating manual data entry while maintaining accurate tracking and significantly improving dispatch throughput
Data Source
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AI summary
A parcel locker bank system for dispatching and collecting shipments (130) by an agent (406), as well as for the dropping-off and picking-up of shipments (130, 405) by a user (404), the parcel locker bank system including: - a bank (100, 700) of lockers (110n) comprising a front side, a rear side, a control unit (116), a user interface (108) facing towards the front side of the bank (100, 700), and several lockers (110n) extending each between said front side and said rear side of the bank (100, 700) and each configured to store a shipment (130), each locker (110n) comprising a compartment opened on the rear side of the bank (100, 700), closed on the front side of the bank (100, 700) by an individual electronically controlled door (112n), - a remote shipping system (407) comprising a Parcel Handling application (430) and communicating with the bank (100, 700) via a first long-distance communication network (408), and with a mobile device (420) of the agent via a second long-distance communication network (422), The compartment of each locker (110n) is opened on the rear side of the bank (100, 700), the control unit (116) is configured to open the doors (112n) on the front side of the bank to allow dispatching, collecting, dropping-off and picking-up the shipments (130, 405), and the Parcel Handling application is configured to send data to the mobile device (420) of the agent to guide him through the dispatching and collecting of shipments (130) from the rear side and to receive data from the mobile device (420) of the agent to verify that the agent has made no mistake in dispatching and collecting.