Systems, methods, and apparatuses for shifting and staging storage structures and parcels thereon

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12380398-B2
Application number	US-202318219429-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2023
Priority date	Aug 31, 2018
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for selectively shifting and staging storage structures in a storage space are provided. Systems, methods, and apparatuses for dynamically organizing packages based on a travel route are also provided. In embodiments, a plurality of parcels may be stored on storage structures located within a vehicle and each storage structure may be provided in a modular assembly. During a delivery operation, the system may determine which parcels are next to be delivered and, either based on predetermined information or dynamic information, may adjust the position of the storage structures within the vehicle using shifting mechanisms and control systems coupled thereto to present the appropriate parcel for retrieval from the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a support surface;
a shifting mechanism comprising a plurality of rollers; and
a plurality of storage structures movable along the support surface using the shifting mechanism, wherein:
each of the plurality of storage structures is configured to support at least one shelf,
the plurality of rollers is powered by actuators to provide rotational movement,
a first set of rollers of the plurality of rollers is configured to extend to engage the plurality of storage structures and rotate in a first direction of the support surface to move the plurality of storage structures in the first direction, and
a second set of rollers of the plurality of rollers is configured to extend to engage the plurality of storage structures and rotate in a second direction of the support surface to move the plurality of storage structures in the second direction.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second set of rollers is configured to retract when the first set of rollers is extended to engage the plurality of storage structures and rotate in the first direction to move the plurality of storage structures in the first direction; and
the first set of rollers is configured to retract when the second set of rollers is extended to engage the plurality of storage structures and rotate in the second direction to move the plurality of storage structures in the second direction.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the shifting mechanism further comprises a first shifter assembly configured to engage and move the plurality of storage structures in the first direction and a second shifter assembly configured to engage and move the plurality of storage structures in the second direction.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein each of the first shifter assembly and the second shifter assembly comprises at least one actuator and a one-way retaining mechanism.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of storage structure bases, wherein each storage structure base of the plurality of storage structure bases is configured to support a storage structure of the plurality of storage structures as the plurality of storage structures is moved in at least one of the first direction or the second direction.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of storage structures is arranged within a storage space based on a delivery route of a delivery vehicle in which the storage space is located, and the system further comprises a controller configured to adjust a position of the plurality of storage structures within the storage space based on data on the delivery route received from a computing system associated with the system.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured, based on the data, to adjust the position of the plurality of storage structures prior to a destination on the delivery route so that at least one parcel corresponding to the destination is positioned at least one of a rear entry of the delivery vehicle for retrieval or a bulkhead of the delivery vehicle for retrieval.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of storage structures is rearranged in a storage space and the system further comprises a dividing panel that separates the storage space into two areas of travel for the plurality of storage structures.

9. A system comprising:
a support surface;
a shifting mechanism comprising a plurality of rollers and a shifter assembly; and
a plurality of storage structures movable along the support surface using the shifting mechanism, wherein:
each of the plurality of storage structures is configured to support at least one shelf,
at least a portion of the plurality of rollers is configured to extend to engage the plurality of storage structures and rotate in a first direction of the support surface to move the plurality of storage structures in the first direction, and
the shifter assembly is configured to engage and move the plurality of storage structures in the first direction.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein a second portion of the plurality of rollers is configured to retract when the portion of the plurality of rollers is extended to engage the plurality of storage structures and rotate in the first direction to move the plurality of storage structures in the first direction.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the shifter assembly comprises at least one actuator and a one-way retaining mechanism.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of storage structure bases, wherein each storage structure base of the plurality of storage structure bases is configured to support a storage structure of the plurality of storage structures as the plurality of storage structures is moved in the first direction.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of storage structures is arranged within a storage space based on a delivery route of a delivery vehicle in which the storage space is located, and the system further comprises a controller configured to adjust a position of the plurality of storage structures within the storage space based on data on the delivery route received from a computing system associated with the system.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured, based on the data, to adjust the position of the plurality of storage structures prior to a destination on the delivery route so that at least one parcel corresponding to the destination is positioned at least one of a rear entry of the delivery vehicle for retrieval or a bulkhead of the delivery vehicle for retrieval.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of storage structures is rearranged in a storage space and the system further comprises a dividing panel that separates the storage space into two areas of travel for the plurality of storage structures.

16. A system comprising:
a support surface;
a shifting mechanism comprising a plurality of rollers; and
a storage structure movable along the support surface using the shifting mechanism, wherein:
a first set of rollers of the plurality of rollers is configured to extend to engage the storage structure and rotate in a first direction of the support surface to move the storage structure in the first direction and retract when a second set of rollers of the plurality of rollers is extended to engage the storage structure and rotate in a second direction to move the storage structure in the second direction, and
the second set of rollers is configured to extend to engage the storage structure and rotate in the second direction of the support surface to move the storage structure in the second direction and retract when the first set of rollers is extended to engage the storage structure and rotate in the first direction to move the storage structure in the first direction.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the shifting mechanism further comprises a first shifter assembly configured to engage and move the storage structure in the first direction and a second shifter assembly configured to engage and move the storage structure in the second direction.

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Gil Julio
• Freeman Mallory

Classifications

• B65G1/133

  the circuit being confined in a horizontal plane · CPC title

• B65G1/0478

  for matrix-arrangements · CPC title

• B60P3/34

  the living accommodation being expansible, collapsible or capable of rearrangement ({B60P3/38} takes precedence; tents supported at least partially by vehicles E04H15/06) · CPC title

• G08G5/57

  for unmanned aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/55

  for a single aircraft · CPC title