Vehicle systems and methods to support the distribution of products

Abstract

Some embodiments provide vehicle systems comprising: a housing; a wheel system comprising at least one axle extending between at least two wheels positioned on opposite sides of the housing and supporting the housing; a mobile product distribution system comprising: a product movement system maintained within the housing; and multiple bay doors formed in the housing and with which inbound vehicles and outbound vehicles align while products are distributed from each of the inbound vehicles to at least one of the outbound vehicles; wherein the product movement system extends between the multiple bay doors and is configured to transport the products from each of the inbound vehicles, through the housing and to at least one of the outbound vehicles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle system, comprising:
 a housing;   a wheel system comprising at least one axle extending between at least two wheels positioned on opposite sides of the housing and supporting the housing;   a mobile product distribution system comprising:   a product movement system maintained within the housing;   multiple bay doors formed in the housing and with which inbound vehicles and outbound vehicles align while products are distributed from each of the inbound vehicles to at least one of the outbound vehicles; and   a control circuit cooperated with the housing and configured to: receive identifiers of each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles that are within one or more thresholds distances from the mobile product distribution system; generate a distribution plan identifying a number of each product to be moved from each of the inbound vehicles and a number of each product to be moved into each of the outbound vehicles based on the identifiers of each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles and corresponding distances of the inbound vehicles and outbound vehicles relative to the mobile product distribution system; and determine product distribution routing to be applied by at least by the product movement system based on the distribution plan;   wherein the product movement system extends between the multiple bay doors and the control circuit directs the control of the product movement system to cause the transport of the products by the product movement system from each of the inbound vehicles, through the housing and to at least one of the outbound vehicles;   wherein the product movement system comprises a conveyor system extending through the housing, wherein the conveyor system comprising multiple conveyors over which at least some of the products are supported as the products are moved along at least a first conveyor of the multiple conveyors and provides at least a portion of a conveyor path between two bay doors and along which products are transported from a first inbound vehicle of the inbound vehicles to a first outbound vehicle of the outbound vehicles; and   wherein the first conveyor is retractable and movable to be moved away from a first bay door to open space of the floor of the housing between at least the first bay door and a second bay door.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle system of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple bay doors are arranged in the housing enabling at least the first inbound vehicle to align with the first bay door of the multiple bay doors while at least the first outbound vehicle is simultaneously aligned with the second bay door of the multiple bay doors and a second outbound vehicle is simultaneously aligned with a third bay door of the multiple bay doors;
 wherein at least a subset of conveyors of the multiple conveyors of the product movement system extend from the first bay door to each of the second bay door and the third bay door and is configured to transport the products from the first inbound vehicle to the first outbound vehicle and the second outbound vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The vehicle system of  claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to: estimate arrival times of each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles based on the respective distances the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles are from a temporary distribution location of multiple different temporary distribution locations and historical travel times; generate the distribution plan identifying the number of each product to be moved from each of the inbound vehicles and the number of each product to be moved into each of the outbound vehicles based on the estimated arrival times and the identifiers of each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles; and cause the product distribution routing to be applied at least by the product movement system based on the distribution plan. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle system of  claim 1 , wherein the product movement system comprises:
 an automated routing system comprising:   a conveyor system controller communicatively coupled with the control circuit to receive the product distribution routing;   at least one scanner system configured to detect product identifiers of each of multiple products traveling along the first conveyor of the conveyor system and communicate the product identifier to the conveyor system controller; and   a plurality of motorized product routers each positioned to move relative to one of the multiple conveyors of the conveyor system, wherein the conveyor system controller is configured to control each of the motorized product routes to move in accordance with and in implementing the product distribution routing to direct each of the identified products as the identified products move along a second conveyor of the multiple conveyors onto a third conveyor and toward the corresponding one of the multiple bay doors and the intended outbound vehicle.   
     
     
         5 . The vehicle system of  claim 4 , wherein the conveyor system controller is configured to communicate instructions to control the motorized product router to simultaneously direct each of multiple distinct and separate products, based on the product identifier of each of the products, from multiple of the inbound vehicles each aligned with one of the multiple bay doors to one of multiple of the outbound vehicles each aligned with one of the multiple bay doors while the multiple inbound vehicles are aligned with one of the multiple bay doors. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a pallet transport system, wherein the control circuit is configured to communicate instructions to cause the first conveyor to be retracted and moved away from the first bay door to open the space of the floor of the housing between at least the first bay door and the second bay door, and communicate instructions directing the pallet transport system to cooperate with and transport at least a set of multiple products from the first inbound vehicle across at least a portion of the floor of the housing and to the first outbound vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wireless transceiver; and   wherein the control circuit of the mobile product distribution system couples with the wireless transceiver to receive the inbound vehicle identifiers for each inbound vehicle that is within a first threshold distance of the mobile product distribution system, and the outbound vehicle identifiers for each outbound vehicle that is within a second threshold distance of the mobile product distribution system, wherein the control circuit schedules when each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles is to align with one of the multiple bay doors, and communicates a notification to each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles specifying timing of when each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles is to align with one of the multiple bay doors and specifies a bay door identifier with which each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles is to align.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile product distribution system further comprises:
 a loading ramp associated with the first bay door of the multiple bay doors and configured to extend between the mobile product distribution system to cooperate with the first inbound vehicle to support at least one of the multiple conveyors and the products while the products are transferred by the at least one of the multiple conveyors from at least the first inbound vehicle; and   a height control system that controls an adjustment of a height of at least a portion of the mobile product distribution system in allowing alignment with at least one of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the first conveyor comprises a plurality of hinges and is expandable and movable, and wherein the first conveyor is configured to be moved to align with and expanded to extend into a corresponding one of the inbound vehicles or outbound vehicles that is aligned with the first bay door with which the first conveyor is aligned. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a scheduling control circuit; and   memory storing computer instructions that when executed by the scheduling control circuit cause the scheduling control circuit to:   obtain, for each of the multiple inbound vehicles, a source location from which a corresponding one of the multiple of inbound vehicles is to transport at least one product of multiple products;   obtain multiple destination locations scheduled to receive at least one of the multiple products and to which at least one of the multiple outbound vehicles is to travel;   select a first temporary distribution location of the multiple different temporary distribution locations as a function of the multiple destination locations and at least one of the source locations; and   communicate instructions to cause the mobile product distribution system to be transported to the selected first temporary distribution location.   
     
     
         11 . A method of distributing products between vehicles, comprising:
 causing a mobile product distribution system to be transported via a wheel system of the mobile product distribution system to a selected first temporary distribution location;   providing each of multiple inbound vehicles and multiple outbound vehicles with access to align with one of multiple bay doors formed in a housing of the mobile product distribution system and with which inbound vehicles and outbound vehicles align;   receiving, at a control circuit of the mobile product distribution system cooperated with the housing, identifiers of each of the multiple inbound vehicles and the multiple outbound vehicles that are within one or more threshold distances of the mobile product distribution system;   generating, through the control circuit, a distribution plan identifying a number of each product to be moved from each of the multiple inbound vehicles aligned with one of the bay doors and a number of each product to be moved into each of the multiple outbound vehicles aligned with one of the bay doors based on the identifiers of each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles and corresponding distances of the inbound vehicles and outbound vehicles relative to the mobile product distribution system;   distributing products from each of the inbound vehicles to at least one of the outbound vehicles while aligned with one of the multiple bay doors directing the control of the product movement system causing the transporting of the products through the housing by a product movement system within the housing and extending between the multiple bay doors from each of the inbound vehicles to at least one of the outbound vehicles wherein the product movement system comprises a conveyor system extending through the housing and comprising multiple conveyors over which at least some of the products are supported as the products are moved along at least a first conveyor of the multiple conveyors and provides at least a portion of a conveyor path between two bay doors and along which products are transported from a first inbound vehicle of the inbound vehicles to a first outbound vehicle of the outbound vehicles; and   causing the first conveyor to be retracted and moved away from a first bay door to open space of a floor of the housing between at least the first bay door and a second bay door to enable movement of products from the first inbound vehicle to the first outbound vehicle without the conveyor system.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the providing the multiple inbound vehicles and the multiple outbound vehicles with access to align with one of the multiple bay doors comprises enabling at least the first inbound vehicle to align with the first bay door of the multiple bay doors while at least the first outbound vehicle is simultaneously aligned with the second bay door of the multiple bay doors and a second outbound vehicle is simultaneously aligned with a third bay door of the multiple bay doors; and
 wherein the distributing the products comprises transporting the products along at least a subset of conveyors of the multiple conveyors of the product movement system extending from the first bay door to each of the second bay door and the third bay door from the first inbound vehicle to the first outbound vehicle and the second outbound vehicle.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 estimating arrival times of each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles based on the respective distances the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles are from a temporary distribution location of multiple different temporary distribution locations and historical travel times;   generating the distribution plan identifying the number of each product to be moved from each of the inbound vehicles and the number of each product to be moved into each of the outbound vehicles based on the estimated arrival times and the identifiers of each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles; and   causing the product distribution routing to be applied at least by the product movement system based on the distribution plan.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving, from one or more scanner systems, a product identifier of each product traveling along the first conveyor of the conveyor system;   identifying, for each of the products, an intended outbound vehicle and a corresponding one of the bay doors where the intended outbound vehicle is located; and   controlling at least one of a plurality of motorized product routers each positioned to move relative to one of the multiple conveyors of the conveyor system to move in accordance with and in implementing the product distribution routing; and   directing each of the identified products as the identified products move along a second conveyor of the multiple conveyors onto a third conveyor and toward the corresponding one of the bay doors and the intended outbound vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the controlling the plurality of motorized product routers comprises communicating instructions to control the motorized product routers and simultaneously directing each of multiple distinct and separate products, based on the product identifier of each of the products, from the multiple inbound vehicles each aligned with one of the multiple bay doors to one of the multiple outbound vehicles each aligned with one of the multiple bay doors while the multiple inbound vehicles are aligned with one of the multiple bay doors. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 communicating instructions to cause the first conveyor to be retracted and moved away from the first bay door to open the space of the floor of the housing between at least the first bay door and the second bay door;   communicating instructions directing that a pallet transport system be cooperated with and transport at least a set of multiple products from the first inbound vehicle across at least a portion of the floor of the housing and to the first outbound vehicle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 wirelessly receiving the inbound vehicle identifiers for each inbound vehicle that is within a first threshold distance of the mobile product distribution system;   wirelessly receiving the outbound vehicle identifiers for each outbound vehicle that is within a second threshold distance of the mobile product distribution system;   scheduling, through the control circuit of the mobile product distribution system, when each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles is to align with one of the multiple bay doors; and   communicating a notification to each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles specifying timing of when each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles is to align with one of the multiple bay doors, and specifying a bay door identifier with which each of the inbound vehicles and the outbound vehicles is to align.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 extending a loading ramp configured to extend between the mobile product distribution system to cooperate with the first inbound vehicle to support at least one of the multiple conveyors and the products while the products are transferred by the at least one of the multiple conveyors from the first inbound vehicle; and   activating a height control system and adjusting a height of at least a portion of the mobile product distribution system in aligning with at least one of the multiple inbound vehicles and the multiple outbound vehicles.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identifying, by a scheduling control circuit of a mobile product distribution system scheduling system, a source location of each of the multiple inbound vehicles from which a corresponding one of the multiple inbound vehicles is to transport at least one product of multiple products;   identifying multiple destination locations to receive at least one of the multiple products and to which at least one of the multiple outbound vehicles is to travel;   selecting the first temporary distribution location of multiple different predefined temporary distribution locations where the mobile product distribution system is to be temporarily positioned to enable products to be distributed from the multiple inbound vehicles to the multiple outbound vehicles, wherein the selecting the first temporary distribution location comprises selecting the first temporary distribution location as a function of the multiple destination locations and at least one of the source locations; and   wherein the causing the mobile product distribution system to be transported comprises communicating instructions to cause the mobile product distribution system to be transported to the selected first temporary distribution location.