Automated material inventory and delivery system for underground mines

Abstract

The invention discloses an automated material inventory and delivery system for underground mines using a shaft and hoist transporting material from the surface to working areas. The system includes means for automatically and paperless processing orders for supplies from a plurality of locations within the mine. The system communicates to client through a plurality of terminals located throughout the mine and tracks material received, stored and distributed using electronic inventory tracking means. Loading and unloading of material into and out of the cage is automatic and includes automatic guided vehicle means to gather the ordered material and deliver to the cage. The system includes means whereby consumable supplies are autonomously delivered to a working area to ensure sufficient material is on hand to meet production targets. Ore may be transported to the surface using the cage and ore containers, optimizing the use of the hoist and increasing mine production.

1 . A method for automated material inventory and delivery in a mining operation with a mine conveyance device, said method comprising:
 placing an order for a consumable material at: at least one system access station, or at least a terminal located in the mine, wherein the terminal is accessible to a wireless network in the mine;   processing the order for the consumable material, received via the at least one system access station or via the wireless network from the at least one terminal, by a central processing enterprise resource planning (ERP) unit;   providing at least one smart cube configured to receive the consumable material from at least one supplier, wherein,
 the consumable material and a serial number for the at least one smart cube are registered to the ERP unit, 
 the at least one smart cube is equipped with wireless connectivity for connecting to the wireless network, and 
 the at least one smart cube is equipped with tagging technology configured to track the consumable material via the ERP unit through a delivery process, wherein the tagging technology enables real-time processing functionality for mobile inventory management; 
   providing at least one payload autonomous carrier (PAC) configured to:
 automatically collect the at least one smart cube and deliver the at least one smart cube to a mine conveyance; 
 automatically load the at least one smart cube into the mine conveyance; 
 automatically unload the at least one smart cube from the mine conveyance; 
 control operations of the mine conveyance, via communication through the ERP unit; 
 autonomously deliver the at least one smart cube to a predetermined working area inside the mine; 
 scan, in real-time during travel using integrated sensors and instrumentation, layout and developments of the mine and relay the scanned information to the ERP unit via the wireless network; and 
 provide tracking of movement to the ERP unit via the wireless network. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one payload autonomous carrier (PAC) which is configured to extend the wireless network inside the mine. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mine conveyance is further used to transport containerized ore to surface of the mine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ERP unit is further configured to: receive and process customer orders, prioritize the customer orders, and provide automatic inventory control and replenishment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ERP unit is further configured to optimize arrival and departure schedules, wherein said schedules are a function of material delivery priority. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ERP unit is further configured to optimize mine conveyance logic. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PAC is equipped with at least one collision avoidance sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PAC is equipped with at least one environmental sensor to provide real-time information on air quality.