Device and method for the automatic handover of goods

• US 20040133304A1
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sesam GmbH
• Original Assignee: Roland Wubbe
• Inventors: Fobbe, Aldo Hermann, Okkels, Jesper
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/214
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/144 the receptacle being transportable and attachable to a building
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Abstract

The invention pertains to an apparatus for receiving ordered products and/or making products available for pickup, particularly in the absence of the user. The apparatus has a lockable container of the products with at least an input device and a controller with a memory element. The method employs this reception/provision apparatus.

In order to create a method for receiving ordered products and/or making products available for pickup that requires easy handling and slight construction measures at the residence or place of business of the user, it is proposed in regard to the apparatus that a control unit (18) comprising at least input device (6), controller (7) and memory element (8) can be positioned with container (2) in front of the user'"'"'s residence or place of business for an expected delivery/pickup. With regard to the method, it is proposed that, after a completed ordering process, the obtained order information (9) be input by the user into memory element (8) of reception/provision apparatus (1) to put reception/provision apparatus (1) in a state of readiness and that transportable reception/provision apparatus (1) be positioned in front of the user'"'"'s residence or place of business for the expected delivery or pickup of product (11).

Claims

1. Apparatus for receiving ordered products and/or making products available for pickup without personal transfer to or by the user of the product (reception/provision apparatus), with a lockable container for the products, with at least one input device, optionally arranged on or in the container for inputting delivery/pickup information from or to the delivery person or return agent, respectively, with a controller arranged in or on the container, with a memory element for checking the delivery/pickup information input by the delivery person or return agent, respectively, with order information stored in the memory element, by means of which the container is opened if the delivery/pickup information agrees in a predetermined way with the order information, characterized in that, for an expected delivery/pickup, a) a control unit (18) comprising at least input means (6), controller (7) and memory element (8) can be positioned with container (2) in front of or near the user'"'"'s residence or place of business or b) the memory element or a part of the control unit containing the memory element can be inserted by the user in the container that is or can be positioned in front of the user'"'"'s residence or place of business.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that container (2) and control unit (18) constitute a constructive unit or that the reception/provision apparatus has at least one interface between container (2) and memory element (8).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that container (2) comprises fastening elements, preferably on its rear side, by means of which container (2) can be fastened to a stationary construction element (12) arranged in front of or on the outside wall of the user'"'"'s residence or place of business.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that stationary construction element (12) is constructed as a post anchored in the ground, on which container (2) can be hung, and retaining elements (17a,17b) are arranged on construction element (12) for locking elements (14) and openings (20a,20b).

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that fastening elements (14,17a,17b,20a,20b) for placing container (2) on and removing it from construction element (12) can be locked and unlocked from the interior of container (2).

6. Apparatus according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that a door (3) that can be locked and unlocked by means of a door lock (5) is arranged on container (2), and door lock (5) is electrically operated by controller (7).

7. Apparatus according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that controller (7) is equipped with an interface (15), preferably a USB interface, for inputting order information (9) into memory element (8).

8. Apparatus according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that a power source (16), preferably a battery, by which the control unit is supplied, is arranged in container (2).

9. Apparatus according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that a carrying element, preferably a carrying handle or at least a recessed handle, is arranged on the outside of container (2).

10. Apparatus according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that rollers are arranged on the outside of container (2).

11. Apparatus according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that input device (6) is constructed as a scanner, preferably a laser scanner, for reading in delivery information (10) arranged on product (11), preferably in the form of a bar code.

12. Method for receiving ordered products and/or making products available for pickup without personal transfer to or by the user of the product using a reception/provision apparatus, particularly according to one of claims 1-11, with a lockable container for the products, with at least one input means arranged optionally on or in the container for inputting delivery/pickup information from or to the return agent or delivery person, with a controller arranged on or in the container with a memory element for checking the delivery/pickup information input by the delivery person or return agent against order information stored in the memory element, by means of which the container is opened if the delivery/pickup information agrees in a predetermined manner with the order information, characterized in that, after a completed ordering process, agreed-upon order information (9) for readying reception/provision apparatus (1) is input into memory element (8) of reception/provision apparatus (1) and, for the expected delivery or pickup of product (11), the transportable reception/provision apparatus (1) is positioned in front or of or near the user'"'"'s residence or place of business, or the transportable memory element or a transportable part of the control unit is inserted into the reception/provision apparatus positioned in front of the user'"'"'s residence or place of business or the positionable reception/provision apparatus or the part of the control unit present there.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that, after a completed delivery or pickup of product (11) by the delivery person or the return agent, delivered product (11) and reception/provision apparatus (1) or a transportable part of the control unit containing the memory element or the transportable memory element is taken into the user'"'"'s residence or place of business.

14. Method, particularly according to claim 12 or 13, for receiving ordered products and/or making products available for pickup without personal transfer to or by the user of the product using a reception/provision apparatus, particularly according to one of claims 1-11, with a lockable container for the products, with at least one input means arranged optionally on or in the container for inputting delivery/pickup information from or to the return agent or delivery person, with a controller arranged on or in the container with a memory element for checking the delivery/pickup information input by the delivery person or return agent against order information stored in the memory element, by means of which the container is opened if the delivery/pickup information agrees in a predetermined manner with the order information, characterized in that the ordering process is accomplished by the user by means of data communications via an external central fulfillment computer which, for the order fulfillment, generates an identcode or securely complementary identcodes for all participants involved in the order fulfillment and communicates it/them to these participants and in that the user input the identcode to the memory element of the reception/provision apparatus.

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the loading of the memory element used on or in the container is accomplished by the user by means of a short-range, particularly a noncontact, data transmission means such as a Bluetooth or IR interface of a mobile telephone or a notebook.

16. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the loading of the memory element used on or in the container with the order information is accomplished by the user by means of a data coupler that modulated the order information onto a power supply network to which the user'"'"'s data communications unit and reception/provision apparatus are connected.