| CPC B07C 3/08 (2013.01) [B07C 3/008 (2013.01); B60P 3/007 (2013.01)] | 15 Claims |
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1. A reconfigurable on-board package sorting system for a delivery vehicle, comprising:
an enclosed storage compartment including at least one horizontal plane;
a plurality of bins for holding packages, each bin including a computer readable identifier, wherein the plurality of bins comprise a plurality of stackable containers, each with the computer readable identifier, the computer readable identifier providing a listing of container dimensions, wherein the listing of container dimensions enables a calculation of stacking height for a combination stackable container to form a column within the enclosed storage compartment;
at least one set of correlated motorized conveyor belts on each horizontal plane, the set of correlated motorized conveyors belts sized as a function of the plurality of bins, including:
at least two conveyor belts linearly oriented on the horizontal plane;
at least two mixing conveyor belts, each mixing conveyor belt oriented adjacent to each conveyor belt to provide directional transition to a next conveyor belt of the at least two conveyor belts, wherein the set of correlated motorized conveyor belts operate to enable loading and unloading of packages by providing directional movement of the bins in at least one loop on the horizontal plane by selective rotation of each motorized conveyor belt;
an on-board computer including a processor and memory configured to receive data from each computer readable identifier, the processor including instructions to:
identify a location of each of the plurality of bins; and
direct operation of the set of correlated motorized conveyor belts to selectively operate each motorized conveyor belt to relocate one or more of the bins;
a door integrated with the enclosed storage compartment; and
a sliding assembly mounted on an inside of the door, the sliding assembly including at least one pivoting arm configured to slide horizontally and vertically, the at least one pivoting arm comprising a first pivoting arm and a second pivoting arm spaced from the first pivoting arm, assembly being movable between a first position and a second position when the door is in a closed position, wherein, when the sliding assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, the first and second pivoting arms move toward one another in order to grab one of the plurality of stackable containers, such that when the door is moved from the closed position to an open position, the one of the plurality of stackable containers swings outside with the door.
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