U.S. patent number 3,653,538 [Application Number 05/040,212] was granted by the patent office on 1972-04-04 for method and system for distribution of articles in residential areas.
Invention is credited to Robert L. Lamar, deceased.
United States Patent |
3,653,538 |
Lamar, deceased |
April 4, 1972 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION OF ARTICLES IN RESIDENTIAL
AREAS
Abstract
An automatic method and system for the distribution of articles,
such as newspapers, in residential areas. Programmed information
concerning a desired distribution route provides the input to a
closed-cycle mobile article launcher. A measured quantity, related
to the distance travelled by the mobile launcher from an initial
reference position on the distribution route, is used to control
the rate at which the programmed information is delivered to the
closed-cycle firing system of the article launcher. The firing
control system can operate as a closed-cycle or as an open-cycle at
the command of the vehicle driver.
Inventors: |
Lamar, deceased; Robert L.
(Houston, TX) |
Family
ID: |
21909745 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/040,212 |
Filed: |
May 25, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/494;
124/51.1; 124/77; 221/13; 700/231; 221/1; 221/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P
3/007 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
3/00 (20060101); B65g 059/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;124/8,9,11,13,51
;146/74 ;119/51 ;222/176,177,178,193 ;221/1,13,185 ;89/1.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Martin; Larry
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A method for distributing domestic articles to designated
residences along at least one predetermined distribution land route
including the steps of:
determining distribution information relative to said residences
from a reference position on said route;
storing the determined distribution information;
moving an article-launching land vehicle along said route from said
reference position;
measuring at least one route parameter relating to the vehicle's
motion as the vehicle moves along said route from said reference
position;
progressively releasing the stored distribution information;
and
launching said articles from said vehicle to their respective
designated residences in accordance with the contents of the
released information.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein,
said articles are newspapers.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein,
said distribution information includes the distance of each
residence from said reference position along the vehicle's
trajectory on said route.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein,
said distribution information further includes the amount of energy
required for launching each newspaper to its designated
residence.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein,
said distribution information further includes the position of each
residence with respect to the direction of travel of said vehicle
on said route.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein,
said parameter is the distance travelled by said vehicle from said
reference position.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein,
said stored information is progressively released at a rate
determined by the value of the measured distance.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein,
said articles are newspapers.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein,
said distribution information is stored as a pattern of holes on a
tape.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein,
said distribution information includes the distance of each
residence from said reference position along the vehicle's
trajectory on said route.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein,
said distribution information further includes the amount of energy
required for launching each article to its designated
residence.
12. The method of claim 11 and further including the steps of:
converting into electric signals the information released by said
tape, and
selecting said amount of energy required in accordance with said
electric signals.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein,
said stored information includes instructions for the vehicle's
driver relative to said route.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein,
said instructions are obtained from a magnetic tape recorder which
is controlled by said electric signals.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein,
said distribution information is stored with respect to the
vehicle's nominal velocity along said route.
16. The method of claim 15 and further including the steps of:
measuring the actual velocity as the vehicle moves along said
route;
comparing the measured actual velocity with said nominal velocity
to obtain a velocity correction factor; and
controlling the time of launching of said newspapers from said
vehicle to their respective target areas in accordance with said
velocity correction factor.
17. A mobile system for launching newspapers to designated
buildings along a predetermined land distribution route, said
system comprising:
launching means for launching each newspaper to its designated
building;
feeding means for progressively feeding each newspaper to said
launching means;
automatic control means for synchronizing said feeding means with
said launching means;
storage means for storing distribution information relative to said
buildings from a reference position on said route, and
said control means being operable in accordance with the content of
the distribution information progressively reproduced from said
storage means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As it is presently practiced, the handling and distribution of
articles in residential areas is relatively expensive. For example,
a typical present day newspaper distribution system requires,
within a large city, several distributors. Each distributor employs
a number of newspaper boys, each having a predetermined route
consisting on the average of 100 deliveries or more. The turnover
of such newspaper boys is relatively great and both the distributor
and the newspaper publisher continuously receive complaints from
unhappy patrons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a prime objective of this invention to provide a new method
and system for the distribution of articles, such as newspapers,
within a given residential area. A mobile carrier transports the
newspapers in storage bins from which they are individually fed
through a suitable conveyer system to a newspaper hurling or
launching machine. The firing of the machine is normally controlled
automatically by a punched tape which has been programmed in
accordance with the desired distribution-route data. This data
includes information concerning the number and time of occurrence,
as related to distance, of desired firings for a particular vehicle
velocity. Other information, as on existing perturbations and
obstacles within the distribution route, is also punched into the
tape to allow the driver of the vehicle to change the firing system
from automatic to manual operation.
As the vehicle travels along its trajectory from a reference
position, the distance travelled is measured by a suitable
odometer, which can be mechanical, electro-mechanical, or
electronic. The unwinding of the prepunched tape is controlled by
the odometer, and hence the closed-cycle firing system is also
controlled by the odometer. From the tape are derived electric
signals which control the inter-actions among the mechanical and
electro-mechanical parts used to regulate the energy required for
launching the newspapers onto the desired target areas. Suitable
circuitry is also provided to compensate for encountered variations
in and from the prepunched data on the tape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an automatic,
article-launching machine in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of the
major parts in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a showing of a typical distribution route travelled by
the automatic, article launcher;
FIG. 4 is a block-diagram representation of the automatic,
firing-control system used in the launcher of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a view, partly in cross section, of an article propeller
which can be used in the system of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a view on line 6--6 in FIG. 5; and
FIG. 7 is a representation of a typical prepunched tape used in the
system of FIG. 4.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, there is shown a mobile,
article launcher, generally designated as 10. Launcher 10 includes
a self-propelled truck 12 having a driver cabin 14 in which is
mounted a control box 15 with an instrumentation panel 16. Truck 12
is propelled on wheels 18, although in arctic countries tracks
could be substituted for the wheels.
On the loading platform 20 of truck 12 is mounted an automatic,
article-launching machine, generally designated as 22. Although the
machine 22 can be adapted for launching various articles, its
primary purpose will be described in connection with the launching
of rolled newspapers 24 stored in at least one, but preferably two
storage bins 26 and 28. From bin 26 the newspapers 24 are fed to a
right-ejector 30 by a conveyer 32. Similarly, a conveyer 36 feeds
the newspapers 24 from storage bin 28 to a left ejector 34.
While different energy sources could be used for conveying and
ejecting the newspapers onto their targets, it is preferred to use
a compressed air source 40. The application of the compressed air
from source 40 is controlled and regulated by an electro-mechanical
control system 42 which is in turn controlled and operated by an
electronic control system inside box 15. Although one of the wheels
18 could be used for measuring distance travelled by truck 12, it
is preferred for greater accuracy to employ a well-calibrated fifth
wheel 46 which is supported on a suitable spring suspension 48.
Referring more specifically to FIG. 3, truck 12 will start on its
distribution route from a reference position 50 in a typical
residential street 52. The object is to deliver automatically the
newspapers 24 from bins 26 and 28 onto target areas 53, 54 and 55
on the right-hand side of street 52, and onto targets 56, 57, 58
and 59 on the left-hand side of street 52. While only seven targets
are shown in FIG. 3, it will be understood that ordinarily a
typical street 52 will contain many patrons receiving newspapers
24. The target areas are on the front lawns of the patrons at
convenient locations. To achieve a closed-circuit, launching
system, information concerning the particulars of each distribution
route 52 must first be obtained and stored on a suitable storage
medium from which it can be retrieved as a function of the motion
of truck 12. The characteristics of this motion are conveniently
selected as the distance travelled by truck 12 from the reference
position 50, as well as the velocity of truck 12.
A preferred system for achieving a closed-circuit firing system is
shown in FIG. 4. The fifth wheel 46 serves as an odometer wheel
which is suitably coupled by a coupling device 47 to a
flexible-drive shaft 62. Drive shaft 62 is coupled to a
drive-synchronizing mechanism 63 of a tape deck, generally
designated as 64. A shaft 65 supports a tape supply spool 68, and a
shaft 66 supports a pickup spool 70. A tape 72 moves from supply
spool 68 to the pickup spool 70 in the direction of the arrow 74.
The linear motion of tape 72 is synchronized by the mechanism 63
with the rotation of the drive shaft 62 and hence with the rotation
of the odometer wheel 46. The information stored on tape 72 is read
out by a suitable, conventional, readout mechanism 76 which
supplies electric signals onto lines 78. Mounted also on the tape
deck 64 are indicator lights 80 and 82. Indicator light 80 lights
up when the left ejector 34 is actuated, while indicator light 82
lights up when the right ejector 30 is actuated. For manually
controlling the closed circuit-ejector mechanism, there is provided
a stop-and-start button 84. Other tape deck controls 86, such as
are normally found on tape decks, for advancing and reversing the
tape 72, are also provided. It may be desired to issue instructions
for special situations concerning the delivery of certain
newspapers, or to warn the driver of obstacles which he may
encounter. The is accomplished by connecting to the tape deck 64 a
magnetic tape recorder 90. Magnetic tape recorder 90 is actuated by
the prepunched information on tape 72.
The lines 78 provide input signals to a launch-control, logic
circuit 92 which includes conventional electronic circuitry for
controlling the timing and operation of the regulators, valves, and
other electro-mechanical elements in the electro-mechanical system
42. The signals from the logic circuit 92 are fed via lines 94 into
the electro-mechanical system 42. As previously mentioned, the
energy source is preferably compressed air which may be obtained
from the air tank 40. It is the object of the electro-mechanical
system 42 to regulate the amount of force applied to the ejectors
30 and 34.
This invention is not concerned with the particular elements which
go into making the electronic and electro-mechanical systems 92 and
42. Closed-circuit control systems are well known. The theory of
cybernetics will allow the formulation of the requirements and the
design of any particular control system desired, as well as the
formulation of the criteria for judging the performance thereof.
Basically the electronic and electro-mechanical control systems 92
and 42 provide a means by which a variable force is caused to
conform to the stored data on tape 72. Such an energy control
system constitutes a closed-cycle, control system or servo system.
As is well known to those skilled in the art, the servo system is
governed by a system of equations, including distance travelled and
velocity of travel, which can be written explicitly in dependence
on the physical components selected for accomplishing the ejection
of the newspapers 24. The servo system can be constructed with
parts that are commercially available, that are simple, rugged, and
reliable.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 6, the description of only one
ejector system will be given since the other ejector system is
identical. The selected ejector system is that cooperating with the
supply bin 26, conveyer 32, and right launcher 30.
Launcher 30 may include a reciprocating piston 102 which is
actuated by air pressure admitted through ports 104 and 106. Piston
102 is mounted on one end of a center shaft 108. Mounted on the
other end of shaft 108 is a propeller plate 113 which could be of
circular configuration. Piston 102 slides in a cylinder 112 which
is secured to a structural member 109 attached to the frame of
truck 12. The air pressure is received on line 43 from the
electro-mechanical system 42. A four-way, solenoid-operated valve
120 allows, in one of its positions, for the air pressure to
fluidly communicate between line 43 and a line 122 connected to
port 104 for exerting a force on piston 102. In another position of
valve 120, air pressure communicates between line 43 and a line
124. Line 124 includes a pressure regulator 126 and is connected to
a three-way, solenoid-operated valve 128. In one of its positions,
valve 128 allows air pressure to flow from line 124 through the
regulator 126 into a line 130 connected to the other input port 106
for returning the piston 102 to its rest position. When piston 102
moves from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 5, valve 120 will vent
the air pressure in cylinder 112 to the atmosphere through a vent
pipe 132. Similarly, when piston 102 moves from left to right,
valve 128 will vent the pressure in cylinder 112 to the atmosphere
through a vent pipe 134. Regulator 126 allows a controlled return
of the piston 102 to its rest position.
Cooperatively positioned near plate 113 is a launch trough 140
which receives from the conveyer system 32 a newspaper 24 for
ejection to one of the selected target areas. To arrest the motion
of plate 113 there is provided a suitable energy-absorbing device,
such as a pneumatically operated shock absorber 142, which includes
a spring-biased, slidable piston 144 having at its free end a
resilient bumper 146 in alignment with the line of travel of plate
113. Thus plate 113 will successively propel a newspaper 24 through
the trough 140 in accordance with the programmed information on
tape 72.
The conveyer system 32 may include a rotating belt 150 from which
extend a plurality of arms 152. Papers 24 are fed by gravity to a
lowermost position 154 in bin 26. From this position each arm 152
picks up and lifts a paper 24. The motion of the conveyer belt 150
is synchronized with the motion of the ejector piston 102. After a
paper 24 is ejected through the trough 140, another paper is
delivered by an arm 152 to the trough 140.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 7, the tape reader 76 is a
conventional, eight-track tape reader adapted to read out the
punched information from the tape 72. The tape includes eight
information tracks. Each track includes a series of punched holes.
The location of each hole within each track is a function of the
measured distance from a reference location, such as location 50 on
the distribution route 52.
An exemplary arrangement of the tracks and the punched information
can be as follows:
Track 1 has its holes punched to control the points along the
trajectory travelled by truck 12 at which the left launcher 34 is
actuated or fired. Similarly, Track 3 controls the firing points
for the right launcher 30. A hole in Track 2 provides a signal for
controlling the synchronizing mechanism 63, thereby disengaging the
movement of tape 72 from the distance-measuring device or odometer
wheel 46. The ability to disengage the tape-drive mechanism from
the distance-measuring device is an important feature, since it is
nearly impossible to control or anticipate the actual trajectory of
truck 12 along the distribution route 52. For example, truck 12 may
not be able to follow a substantially straight trajectory due to
obstacles present on the street. Since errors relating to distance
travelled by truck 12 would tend to accumulate, it is desirable to
periodically obtain a signal from Track 2 for the automatic
disengagement of the tape-drive mechanism from the
distance-measuring device. By manually actuating the start button
84, the driver can re-engage mechanism 63 with the
distance-measuring device 46 at the next reference point along the
desired trajectory.
The holes in each of Tracks 4, 5 and 6 provide signals for the
proper selection of the required force to be applied to the
propeller plate 113. The holes in Track 7 provide signals for
guiding the applied energy to the right launcher 30. The absence of
a hole in Track 7 will cause the application of the energy to the
left launcher 34.
Holes in Track 8 provide signals for actuating the magnetic tape
recorder 90, thereby providing the driver with needed or desirable
audible instructions. The tape recorder plays back previously
recorded instructions and then automatically stops.
Thus by pre-recording data both on tape 72 and on the magnetic tape
of the magnetic tape recorder 90, it is possible even for a driver
who is not familiar with the route to rapidly and automatically
accomplish a large number of paper ejections in a relatively short
time period.
The programming of the information is made on the assumption that
truck 12 is travelling at a nominal speed, say between 30 to 35
miles per hour. If the truck is moving at a velocity less than the
nominal velocity, then a delay is introduced into the logic circuit
92, so that the instant of firing is correlated with the actual
velocity of the truck. For example, when the truck is stationary or
moving at a very low velocity, the truck would fire at a position
along the trajectory nearly at a right angle to the desired target
area. The faster the truck is moving, the greater will be the
distance from the firing position to the perpendicular extending
from the target area to the trajectory.
In the operation of the apparatus 10, the odometer wheel 46
measures the distance travelled by truck 12 from a reference
position 50. The rotation of wheel 46 is coupled mechanically by
shaft 62 (or electrically by the generation of suitable pulses) to
the tape drive mechanism 63. With the movement of tape 72,
successive holes in the various Tracks will cause the proper force
selection within the electro-mechanical system 42. The necessary
information is contained within Tracks 4, 5, 6 and 7. As the tape
72 further advances, Tracks 1 and 3 are read out by the tape reader
76 causing either or both of the launchers 30 and 34 to become
actuated. A hole in Track 2 will cause the disengagement between
the odometer wheel 46 and the tape-drive mechanism 63. Prior to
this disengagement, a hole in Track 8 (event J) will cause
instructions to be issued by tape recorder 90 to the operator or
driver. The driver will receive information concerning the
selection of the next reference point 50 along the trajectory 52.
When the truck reaches the next desired reference point 50, the
driver actuates button 84 to re-engage the odometer wheel 46 with
the tape drive mechanism 63 thereby commencing a new closed-cycle
operation.
While the means coupling the odometer wheel 46 with the tape drive
mechanism 63 is shown as being a flexible drive shaft 62, it will
be appreciated that the odometer wheel 46 can be made to generate a
series of pulses the inter-spacings of which will be a function of
the distance travelled by the odometer wheel 46. A suitable motor
(not shown) can be made to step in synchronism with the generated
pulses and thus drive the tape 72 in synchronism with the odometer
wheel 46.
This invention lends itself for both manual or automatic operation
in accordance with the distribution conditions prevailing at the
time the vehicle moves along its trajectory on said route.
Corrections for trajectory errors can be made by the operator by
actuating the manual controls 86, thereby advancing or retarding
the tape 72 relative to the readout means 76.
* * * * *