WO2002081347A1 - System for transporting and distributing packages - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for transporting and distributing small packages and/or mail envelopes and messages in general using the suburban metropolitan network. The system comprises wagons (1) appropriately conditioned for carrying packages containing sacks and general correspondence or mixed wagons (1') with an area for passengers and another area for packages, which are separated from one another by a transversal intermediate partition (6'). The wagon (1) or wagons (1') are hooked up to the passenger train of the metropolitan transportation network. They then transport packages from one place to another. Sorting stations are available in every train station, either in the tunnel or on the surface. Means of transportation such as conveyor belts are placed between said sorting stations and the wagons on the railway platforms without hampering circulation of passengers. The packages are distributed from said sorting stations by means of a distribution network based on self-propelled light vehicles.

Description

 PACKAGE TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system of transport and clistríbución of parcels, specifically intended to transport small packages, as well as envelopes with correspondence and messaging in general, through the suburban metropolitan network, allowing to take advantage of metropolitan transport networks and movements without that supposes any interference in the transport of the passengers, since the transport of the parcel is carried out by means of special wagons coupled to the passenger train, or on the train cars themselves with parts of these properly conditioned and independent of the passenger area . In addition, the system is complemented in the stations with means that allow the loading and unloading of the parcel and its transfer is enough and from respective classification and distribution statutes, which may be located in the stations themselves or on the surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, the distribution of parcels of all kinds within cities, and especially when it corresponds to small packages, envelopes and the like, is carried out in a high percentage through messaging networks in which numerous vehicles and people intervene giving rise to a series of problems of all kinds, from those that derive from the increase in urban traffic that originates, to economic problems, through ecological, logistics, etc. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system that has been recommended has been designed to solve the above-mentioned problem, based on the use of the suburban metropolitan network in the cities that have said network, for the transport of parcels.

More specifically, the system of the invention comprises wagons properly conditioned in its interior distribution for the location of bag holders, packages, and / or small containers of easy removal and manual or mechanical handling, said wagons coupled to the passenger train and provided of doors of fast opening, being able to have such wagons mixed configuration, that is to say, for freight of parcels and for passengers, or to be wagons destined in their totality to the load of parcels.

The transport system has been designed in order to obtain numerous advantages of a logistic, economic, ecological and practical type, in terms of decongestion of surface traffic in large cities with a suburban transport network, compared to other existing analog systems. Purposes and before the imminent boom of hair transport motivated by the development of electronic commerce.

The system is complemented with a circuit of conveyor belts or rollers and forklifts, simulated on the platforms and / or stations, as well as stafetas, which without transferring their location in passenger traffic allow the circulation of bags, packages and small containers from the wagons to the classification and distribution estates, which may be located in the same urban stations or on the surface, according to the morphological possibilities of; its enclave and the logistical convenience of its location. Said estafetas are planned for the realization of the classification of the packages, for their subsequent capillary distribution on the surface or for their transfer to other lines of the network, and they may also be recipients of said parcels from the surface for dispatch within the system covered by the net.

The capillary distribution network of the surface parcel is contemplated, by means of self-propelled vehicles, preferably by electric power, which will cover the area of influence of each station, accessing them in the cases of underground stafetas through tunnels conditioned to the effect that connect with the surface, while in the case of estates located on surfaces, the distribution vehicles will directly access them, the parcel being elevated to the surface by means of the aforementioned circuit, consisting of belts, conveyor rollers and forklift elevators.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DD3ÜJOS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical realization thereof, a set of drawings in • is attached as an integral part of said description. where for illustrative purposes and not limitation, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- It shows a side elevation view of a car destined for the transport of parcels, which will be related to the cars of a train of the metropolitan suburban network of a city. ^{• '} , ^{•' • '} Figure 2.- Sample. a view also in side elevation of another car, in this case mixed, that is, with a part for parcels and another part for passengers.

Figure 3.- Shows a view of, for example, the car of Figure 1 represented on a larger scale and with a sectioned part thereof to show the internal configuration suitable for transporting parcels.

Figure 4 shows, finally, a schematic representation of an example of what would be a package transport system carried out in accordance with the object of the present invention, where cars, interior transport circuits of the packages are shown by means of conveyor belts, sorting stations on the ground and on the surface and transfer to the surface by means of lifting platforms and self-propelled vehicles for distribution and capillary collection.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, it can be seen how the package transport system object of the invention, which is intended to be able to use conventional metropolitan urban transport networks, comprises one or more wagons (1) of similar structure to the wagons of a conventional passenger transport train, but adapted internally based on compartments (2) suitable for receiving bags and / or containers (3) with correspondence and / or parcel of any kind, so that in these compartments (2) they can be located, as said, bags or containers (3), or independent packages, correspondence, etc. In any case, said car. I) - conditioning for the transport of parcels and provided to engage in a conventional suburban or metropolitan passenger transport train, including doors (4) for rapid opening for the extraction or introduction of the parcel.

On the other hand, there may be mixed wagons (1 '), as shown in Figure 2, where there is a part or area (5) for passengers and another part or area (6) for parcels, with their opening doors ( 4), its internal partitioning (2), both zones (5) and (6) being independent and separated by an intermediate partition (6 ') of any nature. The internal distribution or compartmentalisation (2) of the wagon (1) or zone (6) of the mixed wagon (1 '), has a configuration and dimensions adapted to the nature and size of the containers or bags (3), packages or envelopes transported , assigning destination points to said containers (3) and even compartments (2) that allow the classification of the packages, correspondence, etc., according to the destinations of the receiving stations of such packages within the line or lines covered by the metropolitan network.

The system is complemented by an automated operating circuit, consisting of rollers or conveyor belts (7) provided on each platform (8) of a station, without altering the transit of passengers, in order to carry out the transport, reception and in its case distribution of the parcel between the wagon or wagons (1-1 ') and a classification post (10) located on the platform itself or on the surface, so that once the correspondence, packages and other objects are classified, make the distribution Capillary and, where appropriate, collection of the parcel through the use of light vehicles (9), self-propelled and preferably powered by electricity, which would access the basements through ramps and tunnels (11), while on the surface (12) packages, corresponding and other objects would arrive through forklifts (13) or with appropriate conveyor belts (14), all as shown in Figure 4.

Claims

τi B TY τ τ «π τ c A r τ n. I ^a .- Package transport and distribution system, which being planned to be able to use the conventional metropolitan suburban transport networks, is characterized in that it comprises one or more wagons (1) or (1 ') properly conditioned internally for the stowage of the parcel, and equipped with doors (4) of rapid opening to allow the extraction / introduction of the parcel itself; having provided means established in the platforms and / or stations (8) for the transfer of the parcel between - said or said wagons (1) or (1 ') and a classification ticket (10) provided in the respective station, being the Estafeta (10) simada in each case accessible to the various relevant media of a capillary distribution network of the surface parcel itself. 2 .- transport system and parcel distribution, according ^to claim I, characterized ^" in that the carriage (1) is internally conditioned to a whole package, based compartments (2) with the configuration and size suitable for bags, containers (3), packages and other correspondence. 3 .- System transposes and parcel distribution, according to claim I ^to, wherein the carriage (1 ') is mixed and includes a zone (5) for passengers and an area (6) fitted to package, both areas being separated and independent by means of an intermediate partition (6 '). 4 ^a .- Package transport and distribution system, according to previous claims, characterized in that the means of transfer between the wagon or wagons (1-1 ') of parcels and the stafeta (10) established in each platform and / or station (8), they are consumed by appropriate conveyor belts (7) or by means of conveyor belts (14) and forklifts (13), for surface elevation when the classification staph is established on the surface itself (12). 5 .- transport system and parcel distribution, according to previous claims, characterized in that the distribution network capillary is formed by light vehicles and self - propelled (9), preferably powered by electricity, which can access the post offices (10) located in the stations (8) through ramps and tunnels (11) that connect the bottom of the location of the station (10) with the surface.