Global Patent Index - EP 1415238 A2

EP 1415238 A2 20040506 - AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR EFFICIENT ARTICLE STORAGE AND SELF-SERVICE RETRIEVAL

Title (en)

AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR EFFICIENT ARTICLE STORAGE AND SELF-SERVICE RETRIEVAL

Title (de)

AUTOMATISIERTES SYSTEM ZUR EFFIZIENTEN ARTIKELLAGERUNG UND -SELBSTBEDIENUNGSENTNAHME

Title (fr)

SYSTEME AUTOMATIQUE EFFICACE POUR LE STOCKAGE ET LA RECUPERATION EN LIBRE-SERVICE D'ARTICLES

Publication

EP 1415238 A2 20040506 (EN)

Application

EP 02726636 A 20020315

Priority

  • US 0208022 W 20020315
  • US 81090301 A 20010316
  • US 86472401 A 20010524

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO02074634A2] An automated system of storage locker bins to efficiently provide the storage and self-service retrieval of articles. The articles can be packages and the automated system of storage locker bins can be used effectively in a package delivery process in which packages are transported in bulk to a destination centralized pickup location for recipients. The automated system of storage locker bins can be utilized to receive and store the bulk delivered packages as they can be loaded randomly into the automated system of storage locker bins, reducing the time and effort required by the package shipper to deliver the packages. The automated system of storage locker bins can operate at a high level of efficiency with regard to space utilization to further reduce storage costs and ultimately reduce delivery costs by employing moving and stationary bins to allow recipients to retrieve packages stored at heights above the reach of those recipients and bins which are configurable in size to allow storage locker bins to be adjusted to sizes more closely approximating the size of the articles or packages to be loaded into them. The automated system of storage locker bins can further reduce the cost of the package delivery effort by employing a notification function to automatically notify recipients of the bulk delivered packages following their being loaded into the bins of the automated system and by enabling recipients to perform self-service retrieval of their articles or packages. The automated system of storage locker bins can enable self-service retrieval following an authentication of the recipient by providing recipients the location of the storage machine unit containing their package and a temporary access code to retrieve their package.

IPC 1-7

G06F 17/00; B65G 1/137

IPC 8 full level

B65G 1/137 (2006.01); G06Q 20/00 (2006.01); G07C 9/00 (2006.01); G07F 7/00 (2006.01); G07F 17/12 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP US)

B65G 1/127 (2013.01 - EP); B65G 1/1373 (2013.01 - EP); G06Q 20/00 (2013.01 - EP); G07C 9/21 (2020.01 - EP US); G07C 9/23 (2020.01 - EP); G07C 9/27 (2020.01 - EP); G07F 7/00 (2013.01 - EP)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

WO 02074634 A2 20020926; WO 02074634 A3 20040304; AU 2002257055 A1 20021003; CA 2440262 A1 20020926; EP 1415238 A2 20040506; EP 1415238 A4 20060308

DOCDB simple family (application)

US 0208022 W 20020315; AU 2002257055 A 20020315; CA 2440262 A 20020315; EP 02726636 A 20020315