ES1258744U - PACKING STATION (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Packing station (1) for the preparation of shipments provided with an identifier code (4), comprising a surface (2) for the support of a package (P) and a camera (3) oriented towards the surface (2), characterized in that it comprises processing means configured to identify the code (4) and associate it with a video recorded by the camera (3) so that the video is associated with the packet (P). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

PACKAGING STATION

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention relates to a packing station. More specifically, it refers to a packing station for the preparation of shipments provided with an identified code

BACKGROUND

Currently there is an exponential growth of electronic commerce, companies that already had an online sales channel have been joined by many companies that have been forced to complement their traditional physical sales model with a new electronic commerce channel through of eCommerce platforms.

To meet the existing demand, the presence of various warehouses is necessary from where the various logistics operations are carried out in order to deliver the products to the end customers. Depending on the type of product and the industry, these warehouses may have a greater or lesser degree of automation depending on the design of the order preparation process.

In warehouses with a lesser degree of automation in which order preparation is generally carried out through manual processes or "picking", there is a high rate of possible human errors and as a consequence, a significant number of complaints from customers.

Packing stations for the preparation of shipments provided with an identifier code are already known, which comprise a surface for supporting a package and a camera facing the surface. However, it is desirable to have a packing station that allows the identification of packing errors earlier, that facilitates the traceability of errors in the packing process and that allows the packing to be adapted, for example to facilitate unpacking for the recipient of a shipment. .

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art, the present invention proposes a packing station that allows to guarantee the complete automatic capture of the order preparation and packing process. This packing station allows to show evidence of the manual preparation process of the orders and the presence of the articles in the event of possible future customer complaints.

The packing station allows you to capture and store videos of manual preparation and packing of orders prepared by warehouse personnel. In addition, the software associated with the storage station can be integrated with the warehouse management software (WMS), for example to automatically associate the captured videos with customers and thus be able to also trace each order with the articles that compose it.

An example of a workflow in a warehouse having an embodiment of the packing station according to the present invention would be the following. First, a customer places an order through the online sales channel. The fulfillment center (for example, a warehouse) then starts preparing the order. Order picking, which includes for example inserting an item into a box and closing said box, is recorded with a camera. Subsequently, the order is sent, which will be received by the customer.

The packing station records a video associated with the order that can be used as a tool to identify errors in the event of possible claims from the customer. The storage station shows the evidence of the order preparation process in order to take preventive and corrective actions if failures are identified in these processes.

The packing station can be integrated into the order picking process at different stages and thus provide various functionalities to the logistics center.

The packing station can be provided with a powerful communications interface that allows the connection of a wide range of peripherals that facilitates its use as an order picking assistance station or "Workstation".

In addition to having a tool to show evidence or not of the existence of the items that are the subject of a possible claim by a customer, the videos generated by the packing station can be optionally used as a loyalty and experience improvement tool. user of the online sales channel of companies in the retail sector. By providing the end customer with a video in which they can see the preparation of their order prior to receipt, it is about reaching the highest level in order customization, viewing this service as an individualized marketing strategy or "marketing one to one ».

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to some examples of practical embodiment of the packaging station of the invention, a set of figures is attached as an integral part of the description in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a packing station according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the description of the possible preferred embodiments of the invention, it is necessary to give numerous details to promote a better understanding of the invention. Even so, it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the invention can be implemented without these specific details. On the other hand, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.

Figure 1 shows a packing station 1 for the preparation of shipments provided with an identifier code 4. The station comprises a surface 2 for the support of a package P and a chamber 3 oriented towards the surface 2, thus chamber 3 You can videotape the evolution of packet P in the packaging process. Furthermore, station 1 comprises processing means configured to identify code 4 and associate it with a video recorded by camera 3 so that the video is associated with packet P. Thanks to this configuration of the means Processing allows to ensure the traceability of the errors made in the packaging since the video allows to identify the stage of the packaging in which said error has occurred. In some embodiments the processing means are outside the camera 3 but connected to it so that they can receive videos recorded by the camera.

In some embodiments station 1 further comprises a transmitter configured to transmit the video. In some embodiments, the transmitter is configured to transmit in real time the video recorded by the camera 3, for example, to a switchboard from which it is controlled that the packaging is correct. This allows you to quickly identify that an error has occurred in a packaging process. In some of these embodiments or in other embodiments the transmitter is configured to send the video to a selected recipient based on code 4, in this way the video can be sent to the recipient of the packet P. In some of these embodiments or in others embodiments the transmitter is configured to send the video to a server connected to the internet, in this way access to the video can be allowed through a URL and / or an IP address.

In some embodiments station 1 further comprises a barcode reader. In the present specification, and unless explicitly stated otherwise, the expression "barcode reader" does not imply limitation to a linear barcode, although in some embodiments the reader may be an exclusively linear barcode reader. Instead, the term "barcode reader" encompasses barcode readers of more than one dimension, such as QR code and / or BIDI code readers. In some embodiments the bar code reader is used to identify the identifier code 4. In some of these embodiments or in other embodiments the bar code reader is used to identify the items to be packaged.

In some embodiments of station 1, the identifier code 4 is arranged on top of the surface 2 to support the package P. In this way it is possible for the camera 3 itself to identify the identifier code 4 without the need for an additional reader.

In some embodiments, station 1 further comprises a display and station 1 processing means is configured to select packaging instructions based on code 4 and display the packaging instructions. packaging on the screen. In this way, the type of packaging is adapted to each shipment, since the operator who is going to pack the items can see the process to follow on the screen.

In some embodiments of station 1 the processing means is configured to select packing instructions based on user data. In this way, the packaging is tailored to a specific user. For example, there may be users with special needs (for example, users who have problems with their finger joints) who make special packaging preferable (for example, the use of less resistant paper or a type of packaging that requires less strain on your fingers in the unpacking process). In this way the video allows recipients to ensure that the package is properly packed, for example before starting the unpacking.

In some embodiments of station 1 the processing means are configured to identify packaging errors in the video captured by camera 3.

In some embodiments station 1 further comprises an alarm device. This alarm device can be activated when a packaging error is detected, so as to alert an operator that a packaging error has occurred. In some embodiments the alarm is a visual and / or audible alarm.

In view of this description and figures, the person skilled in the art will understand that the invention has been described according to some preferred embodiments thereof, but that multiple variations can be introduced in said preferred embodiments, without departing from the object of the invention such and how it has been claimed.

In this text, the term "comprises" and its derivations (such as "comprising", etc.) should not be understood in an exclusive sense. In other words, these terms should not be construed as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include more elements, stages, etc.

Claims (8)

1. Packing station (1) for the preparation of shipments provided with an identifier code (4), comprising a surface (2) for the support of a package (P) and a camera (3) oriented towards the surface (2 ), characterized in that it comprises processing means configured to identify the code (4) and associate it with a video recorded by the camera (3) so that the video is associated with the packet (P). A station (1) according to claim 1 further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the video. Station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a bar code reader. Station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in which the identifier code (4) is arranged on the surface (2) to support the package (P). Station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a screen and in which the processing means are configured to select packaging instructions based on the code (4) and display the packaging instructions on the screen . Station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the processing means are configured to select packaging instructions based on data from a user. Station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the processing means are configured to identify packaging errors in the video captured by the camera (3). Station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising an alarm device.