US 12,448,231 B2
Tube-carrier based logistics system and method for performing logistics services with such system
Sten Wandel, Varberg (SE); Fredrik Eng Larsson, Stockholm (SE); Andreas Wells, Trångsund (SE); Sofia Ohnell, Gothenburg (SE); and Anders Johnson, Gothenburg (SE)
Assigned to Omniloop AB, Varberg (SE)
Appl. No. 18/001,735
Filed by Omniloop AB, Varberg (SE)
PCT Filed Jun. 23, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/067175
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 14, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/260019, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2050744-8 (SE), filed on Jun. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0267403 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 54/02 (2006.01); B65G 51/04 (2006.01); G06Q 10/0832 (2023.01)
CPC B65G 54/025 (2013.01) [B65G 51/04 (2013.01); B65G 2201/02 (2013.01); G06Q 10/0832 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A logistics service system comprising:
at least two tubes, at least one of which is connected to a terminal;
at least one carrier configured to hold goods items to be handled in the logistics service system;
at least one switching device arranged to connect at least two of the at least two tubes, and configured to redirect the carrier from one of the tubes into another of the at least two tubes;
at least one means for propulsion of the at least one carrier in the tubes;
at least one control unit;
an acceleration arrangement that includes electromagnets provided on at least one place along the tubes and at least one permanent magnet provided on the carrier, the electromagnets and the permanent magnets being configured to interact in response to the control unit to accelerate, and/or decelerate, and/or rotate, and/or hold the carrier; and
at least one turning device that includes at least one plate provided with electromagnets, the at least one plate being arranged in connection with the at least two tubes; wherein, when a carrier is located on the plate, the control unit is configured to actuate the electromagnets of the plate to interact with the permanent magnets of the carrier such that the carrier is turned to be aligned with at least one of the at least two tubes, or
a turning sphere as a turning device, the turning device including an outer sphere, a middle sphere, and an inner sphere that are controlled by internal magnetic control devices, the turning sphere being arranged in connection with at least two tubes; wherein, when a carrier is located in the turning sphere, the control unit is configured to actuate the magnetic control devices to interact with the permanent magnets of the carrier such that the carrier is turned to be aligned with one of the at least two tubes based on information from the control unit;
wherein all above are configured to produce logistics services that include both storing and transport functions.