System for controlling delivery and return of printed matter

Printed matter is distributed between a source location and a plurality of geographically separate target locations by providing at each of the target locations a location transmitter capable of emitting a unique identifying code and packing at the source location individual orders of the printed matter for the target locations into respective containers and providing each of the containers with a container transmitter capable of generating a unique identifying code. The packed containers for a plurality of the target locations are loaded onto a truck and the codes of the containers being loaded are recorded in a respective portable device on each truck along with the respective target locations. The device continuously electronically determines the position of the truck and guides the loaded truck along a route past the respective plurality of target locations in accordance with the electronically determined truck position, typically by providing optical or audible instructions for the driver. When the truck reaches each target location the respective target-location transmitter is read and an acoustic or optical output is generated by the device indicating which of the containers is to be unloaded thereat. Then at each target location any container whose code is associated with the respective target location is unloaded.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a system for identifying and controlling 
the delivery and return of printed matter. More particularly this 
invention concerns the outward distribution of books, periodicals, and the 
like from the publisher to the wholesaler and from the wholesaler to the 
retailer and of returns moving oppositely. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The distribution of printed matter--books, magazines, newspapers, and 
various periodicals--between the publisher, wholesalers, and retailers is 
a particularly complex problem for several reasons. First of all time is 
frequently a very critical factor in that, for example, a newspaper comes 
off the press at about midnight and must normally be at the retailer by 5 
AM. Furthermore each target location normally has a different mix of 
printed matter, as a small newsstand in one region might only order a 
handful of copies of a certain periodical and a great number of another 
while a similar small newsstand elsewhere will need a different selection. 
This business is complicated by the fact that the periodicals are 
frequently sold on consignment or with the understanding that the supplier 
will take back any unsold copies and give the returner credit for them. 
The distribution is further complicated by the fact that it is typically 
done by truck at night using relatively low-paid workers who cannot be 
counted on to do more than drop off and pick up packages. The orders are 
frequently left and the returns are picked up at the target locations in 
the absence of the operator of the remote locations. 
Thus in a typical distribution chain there are the following elements: 
printing up the matter to be distributed, 
packing the printed matter, 
delivering the printed matter from the publisher to the wholesaler, 
unpacking the matter at the wholesaler, 
picking individual orders for the retailers, 
packing the retailers' orders, 
loading the packed orders into trucks, 
delivering the packed orders to the retailers as the truck moves along a 
prescribed route, 
dropping each packed order off at the appropriate target location (the 
retailer), 
taking the returns from each retailer at the respective target location, 
and 
bringing back the returns to the wholesalers and arranging appropriate 
credits for the retailers. 
Obviously this is a complex sequence of events where frequently the 
following problems are encountered: 
the printed material is delivered too late from the publisher for the 
wholesaler to incorporate them into the outgoing orders, 
the orders are picked wrong, 
the delivery truck gets lost or skips part of its route, particularly when 
a replacement or new driver is on, 
tying machines for the order fail or the tied orders come apart, 
the orders get damaged by weather on their way to the retailers, 
the orders are mixed up in the delivery truck and either not delivered or 
delivered to the wrong vendor, 
the packing tapes or cords fail and the bundles of printed matter come 
apart, 
the orders are misdelivered because the operator cannot read or determine 
who is supposed to get them, 
some orders are put on the wrong trucks or left at the source location, and 
returns are lost or credited to the wrong retailer. 
Furthermore the delivered materials are often only held in taped bundles so 
that it is easy for some articles to be stolen before the retailer picks 
them up. Furthermore, however the printed matter is packed can create an 
environmental problem. If simple tapes or cords are used, these must be 
cut and disposed of and if more protective packing is used to prevent 
damage to the packed goods the disposal problem is even greater. 
Another problem lies in identifying which package goes to which target 
location and which package of returns comes from which target location. 
The most efficient method known hitherto employs the use of bar codes 
printed on the packaging. Such bar codes are frequently made unreadable by 
damage from handling or bad weather. Similar problems are encountered with 
magnetically coded strips, again from the normally rough handling. 
Thus it has been suggested to employ reusable and returnable packages such 
as boxes of plastic or cardboard, even with fabric walls and slide 
fasteners. Such reusable packages have not proven satisfactory in that 
they must meet very disparate requirements, to wit: 
they must be able to hold different sizes of printed matter from large 
newspapers to small pocket books, 
the contents can be small items to books as heavy as 12 kg, 
it must be easy to fill and empty the reusable container, 
the container must protect its contents from the weather, 
the weight of the empty container must be very small, preferably less than 
250 g, 
when empty the container must take up as little space as possible, 
the container must have a long service life, 
the container must protect its contents well, 
the container should not be suitable for other uses to discourage its 
theft, 
the container should be part of an identifiable pledge system, 
the container must be washable, 
the container should be easily opened to add to it late-arriving printed 
matter, 
the container must be capable of being used in an automatic transport 
system, 
the container must be inexpensive, 
the container should be easy to lift and carry, and 
the container should insure maintenance of its contents in original 
condition. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
distribution system for printed matter. 
Another object is the provision of such an improved distribution system for 
printed matter which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is 
which ensures an accurate and rapid movement of the printed matter from 
the source location to the target location and opposite movement of the 
returns. 
A further object is to provide an improved container for use in the 
inventive system. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Printed matter is distributed between a source location and a plurality of 
geographically separate target locations according to the invention by 
providing at each of the target locations a location transmitter capable 
of emitting a unique identifying code and packing at the source location 
individual orders of the printed matter for the target locations into 
respective containers and providing each of the containers with a 
container transmitter capable of generating a unique identifying code. The 
packed containers for a plurality of the target locations are loaded onto 
a truck and the codes of the containers being loaded are recorded in a 
respective portable device on each truck along with the respective target 
locations. The device continuously electronically determines the position 
of the truck and guides the loaded truck along a route past the respective 
plurality of target locations in accordance with the electronically 
determined truck position, typically by providing optical or audible 
instructions for the driver. When the truck reaches each target location 
the respective target-location transmitter is read and an acoustic or 
optical output is generated by the device indicating which of the 
containers is to be unloaded thereat. Then at each target location any 
container whose code is associated with the respective target location is 
unloaded. 
Thus with this system the device carried in the truck, which can be powered 
by its own or the truck's battery, in effect keeps an inventory of the 
containers in the truck and assists the driver not only in dropping off 
the correct containers, and if necessary picking up any returns, but also 
in finding his or her way along the route. As a result if the order for a 
particular target location changes or a location is dropped or added, the 
system can easily accommodate the change. Even if a fresh driver takes 
over a route, it is likely that he or she will get all the stops right the 
first time out. What is more if the driver is not particularly intelligent 
or organized, the computerized control device will ensure that the 
deliveries and pickups are made accurately. In fact according to a feature 
of this invention each control device can have several language modules so 
that even if the driver does not speak the prevailing language, the device 
can give instructions in the language he or she understands, as the 
vocabulary for the street directions and pickup orders is relatively 
limited. 
The position of the truck is determined via the global positioning system 
which uses signals from several satellites to accurately triangulate any 
position on the earth. While this system is intentionally made slightly 
inaccurate to prevent its military use by unauthorized powers, it is 
possible to effect the desired correction by detecting the target 
transmitter once the driver is near the desired target location. It is 
also of course possible to use other systems, such as a compass-based on 
that keeps track of the direction of movement of the truck along with the 
distance covered to reckon position, or even an inertial-based or 
stellar-oriented system. 
According to the invention at the source location a battery of the device 
is charged and information is loaded into the device about the route of 
the respective truck and the codes of the target locations along the 
respective route. 
The reading/positioning device can communicate at least while at the source 
location with a host computer for exchange of information. According to 
the invention this host computer not only loads into the device the target 
locations of all the stops on the route and the code numbers of all the 
containers to be delivered, but can also load into the device routing 
information including a digital map of the route of the respective truck. 
The device is programmed to issue directional commands, either optically 
on its display or audibly. On reading any of the codes the device 
simultaneously records the time when the code is read. This is 
particularly useful in processing returns. 
According to the invention the codes of the container transmitters are read 
as the respective containers are loaded into the respective truck. This 
information is merged with the inputted information about target locations 
to link the container codes with respective target locations. A stationary 
reader connected to the host computer may be provided at the source 
location to confirm that the containers are loaded on the right trucks. 
The code-reading device can ascertain that the containers are loaded in 
the right order, that is the order they will have to be unloaded in as the 
truck makes its stops. When the order is incorrect, the device will emit 
an alarm signal to indicate that a correction should be made. 
In a similar vein the device reads the codes of the containers as same are 
unloaded from the truck and generates an alarm if a container is unloaded 
from the truck which is not supposed to be unloaded at the target location 
where the truck is unloading. What is more at each target location an 
all-done signal is emitted by the device when all of the containers 
destined for the respective target location have been unloaded from the 
truck. Another signal can be emitted if the operator attempts to unload a 
container destined for another location. 
In accordance with the invention at the source location a plurality of the 
containers is supported in a rack during packing of them with the 
respective orders. The rack comprises a plurality of tracks along which 
rows of the containers are movable, with some of the containers empty and 
some full, and the entire rack can subsequently be rolled right into a 
delivery truck. In another system according to the invention either 
individual containers or a plurality of angled containers are rolled into 
a common larger container after passing a packing station. Such a packing 
station can be provided at both ends of an order-assembling line. Along 
the conveyor path there can be branches that allow groups of containers to 
be separated and/or combined so that at the downstream end they are in the 
desired order. 
In order to ensure that late-arriving printed matter can be loaded into the 
containers each of the containers is oriented adjacent a respective 
display, and the displays show details of the orders for the respective 
containers. Thus it is possible right up to the last minute to complete an 
order. For example all the weekly and monthly periodicals for a newsstand 
can be loaded into its container(s) early in the day, and at the last 
minute the daily newspapers are dropped in. 
According to another feature of the invention each device holds the codes 
of containers previously left at each of the target locations along the 
route of the respective truck. Thus when returns are picked up at each 
target location in previously issued containers it is possible to read at 
the source location the codes of picked-up containers and arrange credits 
for the returned goods for the respective target locations. The truck 
operator need do nothing more than make the pickup; the more complex work 
of matching the returns to the customers takes place back at the depot. 
According to the invention the transmitters are battery-free transponders. 
Such devices, when subjected to a radio-frequency field can either 
oscillate at a predetermined frequency that therefore constitutes the 
respective code or can actually emit on a standard frequency a 
predetermined coded signal. Since such a device does not have its own 
power source and can be made very cheaply, it is virtually maintenance 
free. The reading/positioning device itself can hold in memory the codes 
of all the containers in the system to be able to confirm that the 
containers being dropped off or picked up are correct. Such a device can 
easily conduct a scan and identify all the transmitters near it, for 
instance in or near the truck. 
The containers according to this invention are flexible and durable bags 
having closures provided with the respective transmitters. The bags are of 
triangular outline and have rectangular mouths so that they can easily 
accommodate large and small printed matter. Each bag can be provided with 
a simple string closure that is pulled tight to close it. The transmitter 
can be mounted right on the closure or on a flap of the bag. 
According to the invention the bags are held on roller tracks of a rack 
that is adapted to hold the containers with openings of the container held 
open for loading the orders into them. Each rack includes a plurality of 
tracks each adapted to hold a plurality of the containers and provided 
with means such as rollers for travel of the containers along the tracks. 
The tracks can be inclined for gravity feed of the containers, or a drive 
can be provided. 
Each target location is provided with a transfer bin provided with the 
respective target transmitter at each target location. The bin is 
dimensioned to hold the respective containers. Thus the driver need merely 
open the bin, take out any containerized returns in it, deposit the new 
containers, and go to the next stop. The bin can be locked for security.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION 
As seen in FIG. 1 a delivery vehicle 1, here a van-type truck, is loaded 
with containers or packages 2, here bags, each provided with a 
radio-frequency transponder 3. Behind the wind-shield of the truck 1 is a 
portable reading/locating device 4 capable of reading information from the 
transponders 3 and of determining the location of the truck 1 from GPS 
satellites 5. These devices 4 are held at the dispatch location in a 
charging unit 6 connected to a central computer 7 that is connected for 
bidirectional communication with these device 4 so it can read information 
from them and load information into them. 
The computer 7 is also connected with a set of displays 8 and also has 
bidirectional communication with a return station 9 and stationary readers 
10 for transponders 3. In addition the computer 7 receives input from a 
main order-directing or input computer 11 also connected to monitors 12 at 
the end of an order-processing and -assembly line 13 to display what 
printed matter goes into which container 2. 
The truck 1 delivers the packages 2 to target locations 14 where customers 
maintain an order box 15 also provided with a transponder 3 detectable by 
the device 4. The operator of the truck 1 takes the device 4 along when 
dropping off packages in the bin 15 so that the device 4 can read its 
transponder 3 also, confirming that the delivery is correct. Packages 2' 
to be returned are held in the box 15. A reader 16 at the 
return-processing station 13 reads the code from the transponder 3 of the 
return bag 2' and reports this information, along with the contents of the 
bag 2' as determined by the person manning the station 13, to the computer 
7 for an appropriate credit. 
FIG. 2 shows the internal business transport of the printed matter at a 
wholesaler. A retail operation works similarly but other packages are 
used. In the illustrated embodiments containers 2 come via a roller track 
17 to the order-assembling station 13. Printed matter is put into the 
containers 2 and sent via a roller track 18 to the displays 8. Here 
late-arriving materials and filler material 19 is loaded into the 
containers 2. The displays 8 show the coding of the individual containers 
and show how many copies of which printed materials are to be put in the 
respective containers 2. Further roller tracks 20 route the filled 
packages 2 to the appropriate trucks 1. 
FIGS. 3 and 4 show two regions of another in-plant order-assembly line 13. 
A filling apparatus is provided at the end of the line 13. The empty 
containers 2 are hung in short tracks 22 and a plurality of the tracks are 
hung in a rolling cart 23 one above the other. The tracks 22 may be 
provided with drives for moving along the respective bags 2. The packages 
2 hung on the carts 23 are then moved to the displays 8 as shown in FIG. 
4. 
FIG. 5 shows a container 2 which is a bag having a solid handle 24 engaged 
on rollers 25 which are provided in a roller track 26. The bag 2 is 
triangular seen from the side and has a rectangular fill opening or mouth 
27 that can accommodate objects as large as tabloid-size magazines. A cord 
30 extends through eyes 28 around the edge of the opening 27 or in flaps 
29 and has a loop 31 extending through a slide-type cord stop 32 having a 
button 33 that is depressible to release it. Thus once the bag 2 is full, 
the cord 30 can be cinched tight to keep the bag's contents from falling 
out. The transponder 3 is provided on the handle flap 24. 
Alternately as in FIG. 6 the transponder 3 can be provided on the cord 32. 
Here also this bag 2 carries its own rollers 34 that ride in a track 35. 
Thus with this system the orders are assembled on the line 13 by operators 
who read what is to go into what container 2 from the monitors 12. The 
partially filled bags are moved to the displays 8 where any late-arriving 
materials are added, and then the racks 23 are pushed out to the 
respective trucks 1. 
Meanwhile each device 4 is recharged and programmed at 6 for the 
appropriate route information plus the code numbers of all the containers 
to go on the respective trucks 1, plus all the code numbers of containers 
2 previously dropped off along that route, so that the retailers can be 
charged if they lose any. 
As the containers 2 are loaded into the truck the device 4 for that truck 
1, plus another such device which can be mounted at the loading bay, 
ensures that the proper containers are loaded in the proper order, 
sounding an alarm if an attempt is made to load a container for another 
truck or to put the containers in out of order. 
The device 4 is normally mounted on the truck's dashboard so the driver can 
refer to it for directions along his or her route, which directions can be 
given audibly or optically, even in the driver's own native language if 
necessary. When the truck 1 is near the appropriate target location 14 the 
device 4 warns the driver. 
Once stopped the device 4 reads the transmitter 3 of the bin 15 to confirm 
that the proper destination is reached, and to correct any inaccuracies in 
the GPS positioning. The codes of any bags 2 taken from the bin 15 are 
read, as are the codes of the bags 2 loaded into it. If the driver 
attempts to unload a bag 2 for another destination, the device 4 emits a 
warning, and if the driver attempts to leave without dropping off all the 
bags 2 for a given destination another alarm is given. 
Once back at the source location the returns are simply unloaded to the 
return-processing station 9 and the device 4 downloads to the central 
computer 7 the numbers and locations of any pickups, and the returns are 
properly credited. Thus this system allows even a person with no real 
understanding of what is happening to make a series of deliveries and 
pickups with great accuracy.