Storage and sorting method and apparatus, control device and storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12280949-B2
Application number	US-202017627408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2020
Priority date	Jul 24, 2019
Publication date	Apr 22, 2025
Grant date	Apr 22, 2025

Abstract

The present invention provides a storage and sorting method and apparatus, a control device and a storage medium, and relates to the field of logistics. The storing and sorting apparatus of the present disclosure includes: a conveying device configured to convey articles; and at least one storage device, wherein the storage device is located over the conveying device, and is configured to obtain and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device in a storage phase, and release the stored articles to the conveying device in a sorting phase.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A storing and sorting apparatus, comprising:
a conveying device configured to convey articles;
a shaft; and
at least one storage device, wherein the at least one storage device is located over the conveying device, is nested on the shaft and is configured to:
be driven to rotate about the shaft;
obtain and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device in a storage phase; and
release the stored articles to the conveying device in a sorting phase.

2. The storing and sorting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an extending direction of the shaft is parallel to a conveying direction of the conveying device.

3. The storing and sorting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one storage device comprises a plurality of storage devices; and
the plurality of storage devices are distributed along an axial direction of the shaft, and the plurality of storage devices are configured to be driven to rotate about the shaft separately or simultaneously.

4. The storing and sorting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one storage device comprises a plurality of storage units configured to rotate about the shaft in the case where the at least one storage device rotates about the shaft.

5. The storing and sorting apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:
the at least one storage device is in the shape of a polygonal prism; each side of the polygonal prism is provided with a storage unit respectively, and each storage unit is configured to obtain and store one article.

6. The storing and sorting apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of storage units comprises a retractable gripping end.

7. The storing and sorting apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the gripping end comprises a chuck or a mechanical gripper.

8. The storing and sorting apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an information entry device located on an opposite side of the conveying device along the conveying direction, and configured to obtain information of the articles to be entered into the conveying device.

9. The storing and sorting apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a differential conveying device located on an opposite side of the conveying device along a conveying direction, and configured to convey the articles to the conveying device and adjust a movement speed so that the distance between every two adjacent articles is equal.

10. The storing and sorting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one storage device is configured to adsorb and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device by an adsorption force, or to grip and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device by a mechanical structure in the storage stage.

11. The storing and sorting apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a control device connected to the conveying device and the at least one storage device and configured to:
control the conveying device to convey the articles under the storage device, and control the at least one storage device to obtain the articles in the storage phase; and
control the at least one storage device to release the stored articles to the conveying device in the sorting stage.

12. A storage and sorting method, comprising:
determining whether there is an article entering a conveying device of a storing and sorting apparatus, wherein the storing and sorting apparatus comprises the conveying device configured to convey articles, a shaft and at least one storage device, the at least one storage device is nested on the shaft and is configured to: be driven to rotate about the shaft; obtain and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device in a storage phase; and release the stored articles to the conveying device in a sorting phase; and
selecting a target storage device from the at least one storage device, and controlling the target storage device to obtain and store the article in the case where it is determined that an article enters the conveying device; wherein the at least one storage device is located over the conveying device.

13. The storage and sorting method according to claim 12 , wherein the controlling the target storage device to obtain and store the article comprises:
rotating the target storage device by a predetermined angle so that a position of an empty storage unit of the target storage device is opposite to the conveying device;
conveying the article under the target storage device; and
controlling the empty storage unit of the target storage device to obtain and store the article.

14. The storage and sorting method according to claim 13 , wherein:
when a number of target storage devices is one; the conveying the article under the target storage device comprises: controlling the conveying device to convey the article under the target storage device, wherein a number of articles is one; or
when a number of target storage devices is plural; the conveying the articles under the target storage device comprises: controlling the conveying device and a differential conveying device to convey a plurality of articles under corresponding target storage devices respectively, wherein a number of articles is not greater than the number of target storage devices.

15. The storage and sorting method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
selecting a destination of currently sorted articles;
determining all storage devices that store articles destined for the selected destination as release storage devices;
controlling the release storage devices to release the articles destined for the selected destination to the conveying device; and
controlling the conveying device to actuate to convey the articles to the destination.

16. A control device comprising:
a memory configured to store instructions; and
a processor configured to execute a method for performing instructions comprising:
determining whether there is an article entering a conveying device of a storing and sorting apparatus, wherein the storing and sorting apparatus comprises the conveying device configured to convey articles, a shaft and at least one storage device, the at least one storage device is nested on the shaft and is configured to: be driven to rotate about the shaft; obtain and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device in a storage phase; and release the stored articles to the conveying device in a sorting phase; and
selecting a target storage device from the at least one storage device, and controlling the target storage device to obtain and store the article in the case where it is determined that an article enters the conveying device; wherein the at least one storage device is located over the conveying device.

17. The control device according to claim 16 , wherein the controlling the target storage device to obtain and store the article comprises:
rotating the target storage device by a predetermined angle so that a position of an empty storage unit of the target storage device is opposite to the conveying device;
conveying the article under the target storage device; and
controlling the empty storage unit of the target storage device to obtain and store the article.

18. The control device according to claim 16 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
selecting a destination of currently sorted articles;
determining all storage devices that store articles destined for the selected destination as release storage devices;
controlling the release storage devices to release the articles destined for th

Assignees

• Beijing Jingdong Zhenshi Information Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lu Mengfan
• Yang Xiaodong
• Cui Shuandong
• Zhao Bin
• Liu Jinyu

Classifications

• B65G47/902

  provided with drive systems incorporating rotary and rectilinear movements · CPC title

• B65G47/31

  by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series · CPC title

• B07C3/008

  Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items (pile receivers in general B65H31/00) · CPC title

• B07C1/06

  Orientating; Aligning {; Aligning to one edge} · CPC title

• B65G1/127

  the circuit being confined in a vertical plane · CPC title