LOGISTIC PROCEDURE FOR GOODS TO BE SOLD AND PACKAGES TO BE SHIPPED, PACKAGE RECEIVING STATION AS WELL AS STORE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROCEDURE

Abstract

The invention relates to the logistical linking of package flows with goods flows by positioning common package acceptance stations (gPAS) at or in goods-sales-branches (WVF) where the goods (W) aresold.

Claims

1. Method for logistic handling of packages to be sent (P) and goods to be sold (W) from goods sales branches (WVF), by A) Goods (W) are transported from a goods central warehouse (WZL) to the goods sales branches (WVF) in their distribution area by means of goods trucks, B) in particular empty packaging is transported by the goods trucks on the return trip from the goods sales branches (WVF) to the goods central warehouse (WZL), a) packages (P), in particular returned packages (P), are delivered by customers (K) at automated or manual package acceptance stations (PAS), and b) transported from there to a package central warehouse (PZL) of a package logistics company (PL), characterized in that the packages (P), in particular franked packages, are delivered by the customer (K) at a respective, in particular automated, common package acceptance station (gPAS), which are embodied to accept for several different package logistic companies (PL) and positioned at or in the goods sales branches (WVF), the packages (P) are sorted at least according to the different package logistic companies (PL) and be transferred to the individual package logistic companies (PL), transported to the package central warehouses (PZL) of the individual package logistic companies (PL).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the packages (P) are transported from the goods-sales branches (WVF) to the goods-central warehouse (WZL) in particular by means of the goods trucks on their return trip, the packages (P) are sorted there at the latest, at least according to package logistic companies (PL) and the logistic company specific sorted packages (P) are transported from the goods central warehouse (WZL) to the package central warehouse (PZL) in particular by means of package trucks, in particular by the package logistic companies.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the packages (P) are sorted in the goods sales branches (WVF), at least according to package logistic companies (PL) and the logistic company specific sorted packages (P) are transported from the goods sales branch (WVF) to the package central warehouse (PZL), in particular by means of package delivery vans or package trucks.

4. Method according to claim 1 any one of the preceding claim, characterized in that after the package (P) has been delivered to the commonpackage acceptance station (gPAS), a delivery receipt is automatically issued in paper form or online to the customer (K), on which the following is noted the delivery time, and/or the package logistic company (PL) indicated on the package (P), and/or a delivery identifier that enables online tracking of the package (P) by the customer.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the package information present on the package (P), in particular on its label, is automatically scanned upon entry into the common package acceptance station (gPAS), and the package (P) is automatically fed to a collector container (S) for the package logistic company (PL) determined, and/or the package logistic company (PL) is informed, especially just-in-time, about the number of packages (P) delivered in each goods sales branch (WVF) or in the distribution area of a goods central warehouse (WZL), in particular, broken down by recipient, in particular, indicating the delivery identifier of the specific package (P), and/or the return packages (Pr) of the goods sales branch own online store are determined and the latter is promptly informed of the number of returns present, in particular by stating the delivery ID of the specific package (P).

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that from the package (P) when entered into the common package acceptance station (gPAS) automatically. the weight, and/or the dimensions, especially the maximum dimension, and/or the shape is determined, and/or this information is additionally transmitted to the package logistic company (PL), especially just-in-time.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the packages (P) are paid for, in particular franked, at or in the package acceptance station (gPAS) with regard to the shipping costs, in particular the transport costs, preferably cashless, be paid by the customer (K) at the common package acceptance station (gPAS) or, in particular beforehand, online, and/or in particular, after the customer (K) has selected the desired package logistics company (PL), which takes place at the latest at the common package acceptance station (gPAS).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that if no package logistics company (PL) is bindingly indicated on the entered package (P) yet the customer is informed of the respective transport costs incurred by the various package logistics companies (PL) available at the common package acceptance station (gPAS) for the transport of this package, in particular also the transport time until delivery to the recipient, the customer selects one of these package logistic companies.

9. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that packaging material (15), in particular adhesive tape (15.2) and/or wrapping paper (15.1) and/or folding cartons, are made available to the customer (K) at the common package acceptance station (gPAS) for self-service, free of charge or against payment, in the latter case by automatic dispensing after payment.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that when a filled collector container (S) is removed from the common package acceptance station (gPAS), at least one plausibility check is carried out with regard to the filling of the collector container (S), in particular the weight and/or volume of the filling of packages (P) located in the collector container (S) is compared with the weight and/or volume of the packages (P) accepted at the package acceptance station (gPAS), in particular for this collector container (S), if the result of the comparison is negative, an alarm signal is given to the personnel responsible for the package acceptance station (gPAS).

11. Method according to claim 1 any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the common package acceptance station (gPAS) is monitored for safety, especially is automatically connected to the nearest police station, especially in terms of signaling.

12. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the customer (K) inserts one or more goods (W) into the input opening (1) and declares these goods (W) at the operating unit (10) as a donation for the boards, or the customer (K) orders and pays for one or more goods (W) at the operating unit (10) as a donation for the boards, the entered or ordered goods (W) are then fed, in particular automatically, to a donation container for the boards, which is preferably located in the logistics room (WVF.2).

13. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a package (P) is automatically dispensed to the customer (K), in particular by opening a output shelf (17) in which the package (P) is located, in particular of a package (P) containing a product, usually a high-priced product, previously purchased and paid for by the customer in the relevant goods sales branch (WVF), and/or especially of a package (P) delivered by a package logistic company (PL) to the package acceptance station for the customer.

14. Package acceptance system with at least one common package acceptance station (gPAS), wherein the common package acceptance station (gPAS) comprises. an input opening (1), in particular an input channel (1′) adjoining it, at least one collector container (S) for the packages (P), an internal transport device (2), in particular a chute or a conveyor belt (2), from the input opening (1) to the collector container (S), a receipt generator (3) for generating a delivery receipt, where the package receiving system includes a scanner (4) for reading the package information indicated on the package (P), especially on its label, characterized in that the scanner (4) is designed to read the logistician identifier present on the package (P), in particular a QR code or bar code, of one of several specific package logistic companies (PL).

15. Package acceptance system according to claim 14, characterized in that the common package acceptance station (gPAS) includes the scanner (4), and/or a scale (7) for weighing the package (P), and/or a cashless payment unit (8), in particular an EC terminal (8), and/or a level sensor (9) for the at least one collector container (S).

16. Package acceptance system according to claim 14, characterized in that the common package acceptance station (gPAS) includes a measuring device (11) for determining the dimensions, in particular the largest dimension, and/or the shape of the package (P), and/or an operating unit (10) with a display (5), in particular a touch display (5), and/or a reach-through protection behind the input opening (1), in particular at the beginning of an input channel (1′) starting behind it, and/or a output unit (12) for packaging material (15), and/or a position sensor (13) and/or motion sensor (13) for determining the position and/or movement of a package (P) located in the input channel (1′).

17. Package acceptance system according to claim 14, characterized in that several collector containers (S) for packages (P) assigned to different package logistic companies are present, at least one automatic switch is provided for automatically feeding a package (P) to a logistic company specific collector container (S) as a function of the scanned logistician identifier, and/or the scanner (4) is embodied to read the recipient identifier of a specific recipient, in particular an online sender, present on the package (P), in particular on its label.

18. Package acceptance system according to claim 14, characterized in that a security monitoring system for the common package acceptance station (gPAS) is present, which comprises in particular at least one camera, in particular coupled with a motion detector, which films at least the operating side of the common package acceptance station (gPAS) as well as its surroundings, and/or an emergency button (16) which, when triggered, informs the personnel responsible for operating this common package acceptance station (gPAS), and/or an automatic, signaling connection to the nearest police station.

19. Goods-Sales-Branch (WVF), characterized in that the goods-sales-branch (WVF) comprises a common package acceptance station (gPAS) according to claim 14.

20. Goods-sales-branch according to claim 19, which comprises. a main building with a sales room (WVF.1) for goods therein, a return room (WVF.3), in particular separable therefrom, with at least one packaging return vending machine (18), in particular a refund-container-return-automat (18), therein characterized in that the common package acceptance station (gPAS) is arranged in the return room (WVF.3), and/or accessible from outside the main building in an external wall of the main building, and/or near the main building, and/or is embodied as a drive-in station.

21. Goods-sales-branch according to claim 19, characterized in that a safety monitoring system for the goods sales branch (WVF) is existing, which in particular includes the safety monitoring system for the common package acceptance station (gPAS), in particular includes the local area of the package acceptance station (gPAS).

Description

C) EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS

[0104] Embodiments according to the invention are described in more detail below by way of example. It shows:

[0105] FIG. 1a: a prior art logistic scheme,

[0106] FIG. 1b: the logistic scheme according to the invention,

[0107] FIG. 2: a common package acceptance station in front view,

[0108] FIG. 3: a goods sales branch, cut open in the view from above.

[0109] FIGS. 1a and 1b show [0110] on the middle vertical line the potential customers K, [0111] left from the vertical line the—logistic company specific package acceptance stations PAS, [0112] left of these are the PZL package central warehouses, which are logistically linked to them, [0113] right from the vertical line the goods sales branches WVF, [0114] right of these are the WZL goods central warehouses, which are logistically linked to them.

[0115] The package acceptance stations pass on the packages deposited at them, in particular return packages, to the package central warehouse PZL which is logistically connected to them, i.e. usually responsible for an area, while the prior delivery of the packages to the customers does not necessarily have to take place via these logistic company specific package acceptance stations, but can take place directly from the package central warehouse PZL.

[0116] The goods sales branches WVF are supplied with goods by the goods central warehouses WZL.

[0117] All package logistic streams are shown in red, goods logistic streams in blue.

[0118] According to FIG. 1a, the known method is as follows:

[0119] A customer receives an ordered package, delivered to his home either directly from the package central warehouse by means of a package delivery truck, or from the package acceptance station PAS, from where he then usually collects it himself. If the goods are not completely or partially satisfactory, they are returned by the customer himself to the logistic company specific package acceptance station PAS, where they are picked up and taken to the package central warehouse PZL. From there, it is usually first taken to another package central warehouse PZL nearest to the recipient, usually an online sender, and from there delivered to the recipient.

[0120] One of the customers, possibly the same customer who ordered and returned the package, often buys goods for his daily needs in a goods sales branch WVF.

[0121] These goods are delivered with goods trucks from a responsible goods central warehouse WZL, whereby these goods trucks are hardly loaded on the return trip.

[0122] FIG. 1b shows the method according to the invention.

[0123] This differs from FIG. 1a in that the customer K, who has received an ordered package in the way described but wants to return it as a return package to the original sender, e.g. the operator of the online store, does not hand it over in one of the logistic company specific package acceptance stations PAS, but hands it over at one of the common package acceptance stations gPAS located at or in the WVF.

[0124] This saves him a detour to the PAS positioned at another location, and he can do it during his daily shopping, which he does anyway in a WVF.

[0125] The packages deposited in each gPAS, i.e. each WVF, are transported by the goods trucks delivering the goods there on their return trip to the WZL, for which enough storage space is also available in the goods truck.

[0126] Preferably only at the WZL, these return packages are sorted according to the individual package logistic companies and—usually by the corresponding package logistic company itself—picked up at the WZL and usually transported to the nearest, own PZL.

[0127] If the package logistic company in the WZL also already sorts these return packages according to the recipients or the receiving areas, the corresponding package tranches can already be fed to the nearest PZL.

[0128] The advantages of this method are: [0129] the customer saves additional way and time for dropping off the return package in a logistic company specific PAS, [0130] the customer has access to the much longer and more customer-friendly opening hours of the WVF instead of the shorter and at each PAS different opening hours of the different PAS, [0131] the operator of the WVF thereby increases customer loyalty, [0132] The package logistic company receives a large proportion of its packages, in particular returned packages, offered in concentrated form at a relatively small number of WZLs and saves time-consuming collection at a much larger number of its own PASs.

[0133] In the medium term, the package logistic company can even do without its own package acceptance station PAS, especially if the commonpackage acceptance stations gPAS are also equipped to accept and, in particular, frank primary packages.

[0134] FIG. 3 shows two possible arrangements of a common package acceptance station gPAS in a goods sales branch WVF:

[0135] The area with the building of a goods sales branch WVF, which is not shown in a realistic size distribution, is divided into the goods sales room WVF.1—which usually takes up by far the largest part of the floor space of the building of the goods sales branch WVF—with an entrance and exit area in front, through which the customers K enter and leave the goods sales room WVF.1.

[0136] Usually adjacent to the entrance area, but usually separated therefrom, is a return room WVF.3 in which a return vending machine 18 for refunded containers is located, usually recessed in a wall of the return room WVF.3 so that the rear side of the return vending machine 18 is accessible to the personnel of the goods sales branch WVF, preferably from a refund room WVF.4 adjacent to the rear side of the return vending machine 18.

[0137] A logistics room WVF.2, where pallets or roll carts of new goods delivered by goods trucks W-LKW are temporarily stored before being taken to the sales room WVF.1 where the goods are put in the shelves, being often located next to the refund room WVF.4 and in some cases may be identical to it.

[0138] In the logistics room WVF.2 and/or the refund room WVF.4, those items are often also temporarily stored which, after unloading the goods W from the goods truck W-LKW, have to be loaded onto the latter so that it can take them with it on its return trip to the goods central warehouse WZL, for example collector containers S filled with returned collectord containers, but also goods returns and the like.

[0139] As a first possibility, the common package acceptance station gPAS can also be accommodated in the return room WVF.3, preferably again recessed in a wall there, preferably next to the return vending machine 18, so that the rear of the gPAS is also accessible to the personnel from the rear, namely from the refund room WVF. 4, for example for removing a collector container S filled with checked-in packages from the rear of the common package acceptance station gPAS and placing a new, empty collector container S there.

[0140] The common package acceptance station gPAS may also be located in an outer wall of the building of the goods sales branch WVF, preferably again in such a way that the rear side of the common package acceptance station gPAS is accessible to the personnel from the inside of the building, preferably the logistics room WVF.2.

[0141] After intermediate storage in the logistics room WVF.2, the collector containers S filled with packages are also taken along by the goods trucks W-LKW on their return trip to the goods central warehouse.

[0142] The entrance door to the return room WVF.3 is usually only open at the same times than the entrance to the goods sales room WVF.1.

[0143] The area 50 on which the goods sales branch WVF is located is usually enclosed, for example fenced, and the access to the area 50, on which the parking spaces 52 for the customers K are also located, can usually be closed by an access restriction such as a barrier 51. Customers K thus normally only have access to a common package acceptance station gPAS located in the return room WVF.3 during the opening hours of the goods sales branch WVF, unless the entrance door to the return room WVF.3 would be left open longer than the access to the goods sales room WVF.1.

[0144] If, on the other hand, the common package acceptance station gPAS is located in an outer wall of the building of the goods sales branch WVF—or even in a separate building on the area 50 of the goods sales branch WVF—this opens up the possibility of leaving the access restriction, for example the barrier 51, open longer than the opening hours of the goods sales room WVF.1 of the goods sales branch WVF, and thus to enable the customer K to use the common package acceptance station gPAS for an even longer period of time than the opening hours of the goods sales room WVF.1.

[0145] FIG. 2 shows an example of a front view of a common package acceptance station gPAS as seen by the customer K when using it:

[0146] This comprises, on the one hand, the input opening 1, which is adjoined by an input channel 1′ in the viewing direction of FIG. 2, and into which the customer K places the package P to be handed over, namely on a transport device 2 in the form of a conveyor belt running in this input channel 1′ in the viewing direction.

[0147] Next to this is a operating unit 10 with a screen, i.e. display 5, which is usually designed as a touch-sensitive screen, as well as a keyboard 6. The operating unit 10 also generally comprises a payment unit 8, which usually functions without cash, for example an EC and/or credit card terminal 8 for entering a card, as well as a receipt generator 3, via which the customer is issued a receipt after placing his package P. The receipt generator 3 is designed to generate a receipt.

[0148] Preferably, a scanner 4, for example in the form of a QR code reader or bar code reader, is further provided on the operating unit 10 in order to be able to read the QR code or bar code located on accompanying documents of the package P, for example a return order of the logistics company.

[0149] The control system of the entire common package acceptance station gPAS, which is not shown, is also preferably accommodated in a protected manner in the housing of the operating unit 10, in particular accessible from the rear side thereof.

[0150] Furthermore, an emergency button 16 is provided at the common package acceptance station gPAS, either as part of the operating unit 10 or separately in a conspicuous location, including in the vicinity of the input opening 1, which the customer K can actuate if, for example, a malfunction of the common package acceptance station gPAS occurs when placing the package P, and with which he can alert personnel of the goods sales branch WVF.

[0151] The input channel 1′ can have further equipment features that facilitate the handling of the packages P for the operator of the common package acceptance station gPAS:

[0152] Since, on the one hand, the weight of the package P is of interest, a scale 7 can be installed, preferably in operative connection with the conveyor belt 2, which weighs the package P deposited thereon as it is transported into and through the input channel 1′ until it falls into the collector container S—as can be seen in FIG. 3.

[0153] Since the dimensions of the individual packages are also of interest, an automatic measuring device can be provided for this purpose, in this case divided into a first measuring device 11.1, which extends in a side wall of the input channel 1′ over the entire height thereof and determines the height of the package P, and a second measuring device 11.2, which extends in the ceiling wall of the input channel 1′ over substantially the entire width thereof and determines the width of the package P.

[0154] If the determination of the height and width takes place during the movement of the package P through the input channel 1′, one of the two measuring devices 11.1, 11.2 can also be designed in such a way that the beginning and the end of the package P during the passage and thus the length of the package P in the viewing direction of FIG. 2 is determined with it.

[0155] Furthermore, only on one or also on several of the peripheral walls of the input channel 1′, a scanner 4 can also be arranged to identify markings on one of the outer sides of the package P, in particular QR codes, bar codes or other markings, which in particular identifies the package logistic company who has to transport this package P.

[0156] In the event that a customer K arrives at the common package acceptance station gPAS with a package P which has not yet been completely sealed or packed, the equipment required for this purpose is made available to the customer K in the form of, on the one hand, a working table 14, as also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or a fold-out or—in particular from the gPAS, preferably its input opening—pull-out work plate, dispensers for packaging material 15 such as wrapping paper 15.1 and adhesive tape 15.2, which can be withdrawn from a corresponding withdrawal slot from a supply roll located behind it and, after separation, can be removed for final packaging of the package P.

[0157] If the common package acceptance station gPAS is additionally to fulfill the function of a package delivery, the common package acceptance station gPAS can have lockable output shelfs 17 for this purpose, of which only two are shown in FIG. 2, and which are each filled from the rear by the staff of the goods sales branch WVF with a package to be fetched, so that, after input of certain authorization data by the customer K at the operating unit 10, the door in the front side of the output shelf 17 in the front side of the common package acceptance station gPAS is opened for the customer K, so that he can take out his package P located therein.

[0158] Alternatively, the customer K can also be issued his package P via the input channel 1′, which then functions as an output channel in that the transport device such as the conveyor belt 2 is driven in the direction to the opening 1, after the correct package P, to which the customer K is entitled, has previously been automatically placed on the conveyor belt 2 from the rear of the common package acceptance station gPAS and moved forward to the customer K from a storage for stored packages not shown.

REFERENCE LIST

[0159] 1 input opening

[0160] 1′ input channel

[0161] 2 transport device, conveyor belt

[0162] 3 receipt generator

[0163] 4 scanner

[0164] 5 display

[0165] 6 keyboard, real or virtual shown in the display

[0166] 7 scale

[0167] 8 payment unit, creditcard terminal

[0168] 9 level sensor

[0169] 10 operating unit

[0170] 11 measuring device

[0171] 11.1, 11.2 measuring device

[0172] 12 output unit (for packaging material)

[0173] 13 position sensor, motion sensor

[0174] 14 working table

[0175] 15 packaging material

[0176] 15.1 wrapping paper

[0177] 15.2 adhesive tape

[0178] 16 emergency button

[0179] 17 output shelf

[0180] 18 refund-container-return-automat, return vending machine

[0181] 50 area

[0182] 51 barrier

[0183] 52 parking space

[0184] K customer

[0185] P package

[0186] Pr return package

[0187] PAS package acceptance station

[0188] gPAS common package acceptance station

[0189] PL package logistic company

[0190] PZL package central warehouse

[0191] S collector container

[0192] W goods

[0193] W truck, goods-truck

[0194] WVF goods-sales-branch

[0195] WVF.1 sales room

[0196] WVF.2 logistics room

[0197] WVF.3 return room

[0198] WVF.4 refund room

[0199] WZL goods central warehouse