System for the storage and retrieval of parcels
An automatic storage and retrieval system is provided that is usable to sort, store and retrieve parcels for delivery. The system provides a multi-layered rail system allowing a high-density storage system for parcels. In some aspects, the parcels may be sorted between parcel containers in different layers, and in some aspects parcel containers may be transferred between layers, allowing individual parcels to be logically sorted and placed within a parcel container according to a delivery destination. Once at a delivery destination, the system may be used to load an unmanned delivery device, such as a robot, with a parcel container associated with the delivery destination.
1 . A system for storage and retrieval of parcels, the system comprising:
a storage vessel defining an internal volume having a first side, a second side spaced apart from the first side, a front portion extending between the first side and the second side and a rear portion spaced from the front portion and extending between the first side and the second side;
a first set of rails defining a first parcel container route within the internal volume; and
a plurality of first parcel containers movably coupled to the first set of rails, each of the plurality of first parcel containers having at least a first parcel container first side and a first parcel container second side, an at least partially open first parcel container top extending between the first parcel container first side and the first parcel container second side, and at least one first parcel container open bottom face opposite the at least partially open first parcel container top and extending between the first parcel container first side and the first parcel container second side, and a plurality of first parcel container dividers adjustable to define a plurality of adjustable first parcel container compartments between the first parcel container first side and the first parcel container second side, each of the plurality of first parcel containers further having moveable first parcel container panels that selectively move, via a motor to cover a portion of the at least one first parcel container open bottom face to retain a selected at least one parcel or expose the portion of the at least one first parcel container open bottom face to release the selected at least one parcel.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first container harness coupled to each of the plurality of first parcel containers, and to the first set of rails, the first container harness supporting each of the plurality of first parcel containers and guiding each of the plurality of first parcel containers within the first parcel container route of the first set of rails.
3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second set of rails, vertically offset from the first set of rails, the second set of rails defining a second parcel container route within the internal volume, the second parcel container route being vertically aligned with the first parcel container route; and
a plurality of second parcel containers movably coupled to the second set of rails, each of the plurality of second parcel containers having at least a second parcel container first side and a second parcel container second side, an at least partially open second parcel container top extending between the second parcel container first side and the second parcel container second side, and at least one second parcel container open bottom face opposite the at least partially open second parcel container top and extending between the second parcel container first side and the second parcel container second side, and a plurality of second parcel container dividers adjustable to define a plurality of adjustable second parcel container compartments between the second parcel container first side and the second parcel container second side, each of the plurality of second parcel containers further having moveable second parcel container panels that selectively move to cover a portion of the at least one second parcel container open bottom face or expose the portion of the at least one second parcel container open bottom face;
wherein the first parcel container route and the second parcel container route are configured to vertically align a selected one of the plurality of first parcel containers with a selected one of the plurality of second parcel containers, such that the selected at least one parcel released from the portion of the at least one first parcel container open bottom face is received through the at least partially open second parcel container top of the selected one of the plurality of second parcel containers.
4 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising a second container harness coupled to each of the plurality of second parcel containers, and to the second set of rails, the second container harness supporting each of the plurality of second parcel containers and guiding each of the plurality of second parcel containers within the second parcel container route of the second set of rails.
5 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising a first drive system operably coupled between the first set of rails and the plurality of first parcel containers, the first drive system operable to move each of the plurality of first parcel containers along the first parcel container route.
6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a second drive system operably coupled between the second set of rails and the plurality of second parcel containers, the second drive system operable to move each of the plurality of second parcel containers along the second parcel container route.
7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising: a computing device configured to direct operation of the first drive system and the second drive system to selectively vertically align the selected one of the plurality of first parcel containers with the selected one of the plurality of second parcel containers, the computing device further configured to selectively open the moveable first parcel container panels on the selected one of the plurality of first parcel containers to allow the selected at least one parcel from selected one of the plurality of first parcel containers to move to the selected one of the plurality of second parcel containers.
8 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a third set of rails, vertically offset from the second set of rails, the third set of rails defining a third parcel container route within the internal volume, the third parcel container route being vertically aligned with the first parcel container route and the second parcel container route; and
a plurality of third parcel containers movably coupled to the third set of rails, each of the plurality of third parcel containers having at least a third parcel container first side and a third parcel container second side, an at least partially open third parcel container top extending between the third parcel container first side and the third parcel container second side, and at least one third parcel container open bottom face opposite the at least partially open third parcel container top and extending between the third parcel container first side and the third parcel container second side, and a plurality of third parcel container dividers adjustable to define a plurality of adjustable third parcel container compartments between the third parcel container first side and the third parcel container second side, each of the plurality of third parcel containers further having moveable third parcel container panels that selectively move to cover a portion of the at least one third parcel container open bottom face or expose the portion of the at least one third parcel container open bottom face;
wherein the second parcel container route and the third parcel container route are configured to vertically align a selected one of the plurality of second parcel containers with a selected one of the plurality of third parcel containers, such that a selected parcel released from the portion of the at least one second parcel container open bottom face is received through the at least partially open third parcel container top of the selected one of the plurality of third parcel containers.
9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a third container harness coupled to each of the plurality of third parcel containers, and to the third set of rails, the third container harness supporting each of the plurality of third parcel containers and guiding each of the plurality of third parcel containers within the third parcel container route of the third set of rails.
10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a third drive system operably coupled between the third set of rails and the plurality of third parcel containers, the third drive system operable to move each of the plurality of third parcel containers along the third parcel container route.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first drive system, the second drive system and the third drive system are operably coupled together.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is further configured to direct operation of the second drive system and the third drive system to selectively vertically align the selected one of the plurality of second parcel containers with the selected one of the plurality of third parcel containers, the computing device further configured to selectively open the moveable second parcel container panels on the selected one of the plurality of second parcel containers to allow a parcel from the selected one of the plurality of second parcel containers to move to the selected one of the plurality of third parcel containers.
13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a lift coupled within the internal volume and configured to receive at least one of a first parcel container of the plurality of first parcel containers, a second parcel container of the plurality of second parcel containers, or a third parcel container of the plurality of third parcel containers from one of the first set of rails, the second set of rails, or the third set of rails and to deliver the first parcel container, the second parcel container, or the third parcel container to another of the first set of rails, the second set of rails, or the third set of rails.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is further configured to direct the operation of the lift to move the first parcel container, the second parcel container, or the third parcel container from one of the first set of rails, the second set of rails, or the third set of rails to another of the first set of rails, the second set of rails, or the third set of rails.
15 . The system of claim 14 , the lift further comprising a harness bracket and a lift mechanism, the harness bracket having at least a first rail extension selectively connectable to the first set of rails, the second set of rails, or the third set of rails to receive the first parcel container, the second parcel container, or the third parcel container and selectively connectable to another of the first set of rails, the second set of rails, or the third set of rails to deliver the first parcel container the second parcel container, or the third parcel container, the lift mechanism configured to selectively position and support the first parcel container the second parcel container, or the third parcel container with the first rail extension vertically adjacent a desired one of the first set of rails, the second set of rails, or the third set of rails.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein each of the first set of rails, the second set of rails and the third set of rails comprises:
a first rail frame coupled within the internal volume, the first rail frame having a first track and a second track; and
a second rail frame coupled within the internal volume having a third track and a fourth track, the second rail frame being vertically offset from the first rail frame by a first distance, and horizontally offset from the first rail frame by a second distance.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein each of the first container harness, the second container harness, and the third container harness includes a first upper pin coupled within the first track and a second upper pin coupled within the second track.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein each of the first container harness, the second container harness, and the third container harness includes a first lower pin coupled within the third track and a second lower pin coupled within the fourth track.
19 . A system for the storage and retrieval of parcels, the system comprising:
a storage vessel defining an internal volume having a first side, a second side spaced apart from the first side, a front portion extending between the first side and the second side and a rear portion spaced from the front portion and extending between the first side and the second side;
a multi-layered rail system, wherein each layer of the multi-layered rail system comprises a set of rails defining a parcel container route within the internal volume;
a motor;
a plurality of parcel containers movably coupled to a rail frame on a layer of the multi-layered rail system, each of the plurality of parcel containers having at least a parcel container first side and a parcel container second side, an at least partially open parcel container top extending between the parcel container first side and the parcel container second side, and at least one parcel container open bottom face opposite the at least partially open parcel container top and extending between the parcel container first side and the parcel container second side, and a plurality of dividers adjustable to define a plurality of adjustable compartments between the parcel container first side and the parcel container second side, each of the plurality of parcel containers further having panels that are selectively movable by the motor to cover a portion of the at least one parcel container open bottom face to retain at least one parcel or expose the portion of the at least one parcel container open bottom face to release the at least one parcel; and
a lift coupled within the internal volume and configured to receive a selected parcel container from one layer of the multi-layered rail system and to deliver the selected parcel container to another layer of the multi-layered rail system.
20 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising a drive system operably coupled to the multi-layered rail system, the drive system operable to move each of the plurality of parcel containers along the parcel container route defined by the set of rails of the layer.
21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein each set of rails of each layer of the multi-layered rail system is configured to allow vertical alignment of a first parcel container selected from the plurality of parcel containers in a first layer with a second parcel container selected from the plurality of parcel containers in a lower, adjacent second layer, such that a selected parcel released from the portion of the at least one parcel container open bottom face of the first parcel container in the first layer is received through the at least partially open parcel container top of the second parcel container in the second layer.
22 . The system of claim 21 , further comprising a computing device configured to direct operation of the drive system, the lift, and the plurality of parcel containers to group parcels within the plurality of parcel containers according to delivery zones.
23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein each set of rails of each layer of the multi-layered rail system maintains the same orientation of each of the plurality of parcel containers within the parcel container route as the drive system moves each of the plurality of parcel containers along the parcel container route.
24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of parcel containers is sized to allow two parcel containers to extend from the first side of the storage vessel to the second side of the storage vessel with the parcel container second side of a first parcel container of the two parcel containers adjacent the parcel container first side of a second parcel container of the two parcel containers.
25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein each set of rails of each layer of the multi-layered rail system comprises an upper rail frame and a lower rail frame, wherein the upper rail frame is vertically offset from the rail frame by a first distance and horizontally offset from the first-rail frame by a second distance.
26 . The system of claim 25 , further comprising a delivery robot configured to transport the selected parcel container, and wherein the computing device is configured to direct the drive system and the lift to deliver the parcel container from the multi-layered rail system to the delivery robot at a desired delivery zone.
27 . The system of claim 26 , further comprising a delivery robot loading station proximate the rear portion of the internal volume of the storage vessel.