AUTOMATED ARTICLE DELIVERY AND COLLECTING MACHINE

• US 20160066732A1
• Filed: 09/10/2014
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seyed Amin Ghorashi Sarvestani
• Original Assignee: Seyed Amin Ghorashi Sarvestani
• Inventors: SARVESTANI, SEYED AMIN GHORASHI
• Granted Patent: US 9,504,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/143 the container comprising identification means, e.g. a bar code
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1201 Letter-box assemblies for apartment buildings
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42

Abstract

Provided is a storage unit for depositing articles for subsequent retrieval. The storage unit includes a plurality of storage compartments with at least one retractable and foldable shelf member within each storage compartment. The storage unit also includes a set of doors configured to cooperate with each other and movable between a closed configuration which disallows access to the plurality of storage compartments and an opened configuration which allows access to the plurality of storage compartments. A control system which includes a computer, a processor board and software is also included with the storage unit. The control system may receive and process an input allowing the set of doors to be moved to an open configuration and may selectively define an access opening between the set of doors for accessing a storage section selected from at least one of the storage compartments.

Claims

1. A storage unit for depositing articles for subsequent retrieval, the storage unit comprising:

a plurality of storage compartments;

at least one retractable and foldable shelf member within each storage compartment, each retractable and foldable shelf member having a front side and a back side;

a set of doors configured to cooperate with each other and movable between a closed configuration which disallows access to the plurality of storage compartments and an opened configuration which allows access to the plurality of storage compartments; and

a control system comprising a computer, a processor board and software for receiving and processing an input and for moving the set of doors to the open configuration based on the input and to selectively define an access opening between the set of doors for accessing a storage section, the storage section being selected from at least one of the storage compartments.

2. The storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the input includes a dimension of an article to be deposited, and the control system is configured to assign at least one of the storage compartments as the storage section based on the dimension and wherein the input includes a unique code which is associated with the storage section.

3. The storage unit according to claim 2, wherein two or more storage compartments are assigned as the storage section and wherein the access opening is arranged to match openings of the two or more storage compartments.

4. The storage unit according to claim 3, wherein the control system calculates freight charge and wherein payment may be accepted by debit/credit card through a smart card reader and writer, Near Field Communication (NFC) through a NFC/RFID card reader or cash through a cash recycle unit to dispense and deposit bank notes.

5. The storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one retractable and foldable shelf member within each storage compartment defines the size of the storage compartment, the retractable and foldable shelf member being movable between an in-use position in which the shelf members are arranged for supporting the articles to be deposited and a stored position which merges at least two of the storage compartments to create a larger storage compartment.

6. The storage unit according to claim 5, wherein each shelf member includes two foldable parts which are foldable along multiple lap joints.

7. The storage unit according to claim 6, wherein each shelf member is foldable at the middle of the shelf along the multiple lap joints, wherein the foldable parts fold from the middle and turn approximately 90 degrees to position the two foldable parts along the interior wall of the storage unit.

8. The storage unit according to claim 6, wherein the two foldable parts of each shelf member are horizontally positioned and fold from the middle and turn approximately 90 degrees to position the two foldable parts at a first side wall, a second side wall, a back wall or a front wall along the interior wall of the storage unit.

9. The storage unit according to claim 8, wherein each storage compartment includes at least two retractable and foldable shelf members.

10. The storage unit according to claim 9, wherein a first retractable and foldable shelf member folds from the middle and turns approximately 90 degrees to position the two foldable parts at a first side wall along the interior wall of the storage unit and a second retractable and foldable shelf member folds from the middle and turns approximately 90 degrees to position the two foldable parts at a second side wall along the interior wall of the storage unit.

11. The storage unit according to claim 9, wherein a first retractable and foldable shelf member folds from the middle and turns approximately 90 degrees to position the two foldable parts at a back wall along the interior wall of the storage unit and a second retractable and foldable shelf member folds from the middle and turns approximately 90 degrees to position the two foldable parts at a front wall along the interior wall of the storage unit, further wherein access to the storage compartment is provided by one of the first or second side wall on the storage unit.

12. The storage unit according to claim 10, wherein the retractable and foldable shelf members include a guide pin on the front side and a guide pin on the back side of the shelf member, each guide pin being capable of moving inside a corresponding front side and back side guide rail to hold the foldable parts in the correct position during the retracting process, to provide more strength to the shelves to hold a load at the flat position, and to provide a seal between the doors of the storage unit.

13. The storage unit according to claim 12, wherein a bidirectional electric motor provides movement to retract the foldable shelf members, further wherein the bidirectional electric motor turns a shaft transferring movement to a first gear, wherein movement of the first gear transfers movement to a main movement gear, wherein movement of the main movement gear transfers movement to a first moving arm by a first belt and a second movement arm by a coupling gear and a second belt, wherein the moving arms are connected to the foldable parts by connecting arms and the connecting arms are attached to the foldable parts by a square shaft.

14. The storage unit according to claim 4, wherein the control system includes a touch screen display for entering an input, a graphical user interface which allows users to enter details of a sender and a receiver of an article, a printer to print shipment documents and payment receipts, a finger print scanner to identify operators, a barcode scanner to enter shipping and receiving information from article barcodes, a security camera to record activities during operation, a secure Personal Identification Number (PIN) pad, and a display screen for advertisements.

15. The storage unit according to claim 13, further comprising a lock mechanism arranged to lock the set of doors in the closed configuration and unlock the set of doors in the open configuration, wherein the lock mechanism comprises an electric lock which is controlled by the storage unit processor board.

16. The storage unit according to claim 15, wherein the set of doors includes a door having a top side and a bottom side corresponding to each storage compartment and a guide rail having a top side and a bottom side between each door, wherein the top side of each door includes a joining pin which can engage a hole in the bottom side of the guide rail and the bottom side of each door includes a joining pin which can engage a hole in the top side of the guide rail, wherein the joining pins are activated by an electric actuator embedded in each door and controlled by the storage unit processor board.

17. The storage unit according to claim 16, wherein the back side guide rail is in a fixed position and the front side guide rail is movable, further wherein the set of doors and the front side guide rail have one of a right hand swing, a left hand swing, a top swing and a bottom swing.

18. A method of operating the storage unit of claim 1 for depositing articles for subsequent retrieval, the method comprising:

entering an input into the control system which includes an article'"'"'s dimensions;

allowing the control system to retract or extend the foldable shelf member from at least one of the storage compartments based on the dimension of the article entered with the input;

allowing the control system to selectively define the access opening by determining a number of doors to be mechanically connected and opened together;

allowing the control system to send an instruction to mechanically connect the appropriate number of doors based on the determined size of the storage compartment;

moving the set of doors to the open configuration based on the entered input to create an access opening to a storage section;

placing the article within the storage compartment; and

closing the set of doors.

19. A storage unit for depositing articles for subsequent retrieval, the storage unit comprising:

a plurality of storage compartments;

two retractable and foldable shelf members within each storage compartment, each retractable and foldable shelf member having a front side and a back side, wherein the retractable and foldable shelf members within each storage compartment define the size of the storage compartment, the retractable and foldable shelf members being movable between an in-use position in which the shelf members are arranged for supporting articles to be deposited and a stored position which merges at least two of the storage compartments to create a larger storage compartment, wherein each shelf member includes two foldable parts which are foldable along multiple lap joints, wherein each shelf member is foldable at the middle of the shelf along the multiple lap joints, wherein a first retractable and foldable shelf member folds from the middle and turns approximately 90 degrees to position the two foldable parts at a first side wall along the interior wall of the storage unit and a second retractable and foldable shelf member folds from the middle and turns approximately 90 degrees to position the two foldable parts at a second side wall along the interior wall of the storage unit;

a set of doors configured to cooperate with each other and movable between a closed configuration which disallows access to the plurality of storage compartments and an opened configuration which allows access to the plurality of storage compartments;

a lock mechanism arranged to lock the set of doors in the closed configuration and unlock the set of doors in the open configuration, wherein the lock mechanism comprises an electric lock which is controlled by a storage unit processor board, wherein the set of doors includes a door having a top side and a bottom side corresponding to each storage compartment and a guide rail having a top side and a bottom side between each door, wherein the top side of each door includes a joining pin which can engage a hole in the bottom side of the guide rail and the bottom side of each door includes a joining pin which can engage a hole in the top side of the guide rail, wherein the joining pins are activated by an electric actuator embedded in each door and controlled by the storage unit processor board, wherein the back side guide rail is in a fixed position and the front side guide rail is movable, wherein the set of doors and the front side guide rail have one of a right hand swing and a left hand swing;

a bidirectional electric motor which provides movement to retract the foldable shelf members, wherein the bidirectional electric motor turns a shaft transferring movement to a first gear, wherein movement of the first gear transfers movement to a main movement gear, wherein movement of the main movement gear transfers movement to a first moving arm by a first belt and a second movement arm by a coupling gear and a second belt, wherein the moving arms are connected to the foldable parts by connecting arms and the connecting arms are attached to the foldable parts by a square shaft; and

a control system comprising a computer, the processor board and software for receiving and processing an input and for moving the set of doors to the open configuration based on the input and to selectively define an access opening between the set of doors for accessing a storage section, the storage section being selected from at least one of the storage compartments, wherein the input includes a dimension of an article to be deposited, and the control system is configured to assign at least one of the storage compartments as the storage section based on the dimension and wherein the input includes a unique code which is associated with the storage section, wherein two or more storage compartments are capable of being assigned as the storage section, wherein the access opening is capable of being arranged to match openings of the two or more storage compartments, wherein the control system calculates freight charge, wherein payment may be accepted by debit/credit card through a smart card reader and writer, Near Field Communication (NFC) through a NFC/RFID card reader or cash through a cash recycle unit to dispense and deposit bank notes, wherein the control system includes a touch screen display for entering an input, a graphical user interface which allows users to enter details of a sender and a receiver of an article, a printer to print shipment documents and payment receipts, a finger print scanner to identify operators, a barcode scanner to enter shipping and receiving information from article barcodes, a security camera to record activities during operation, a secure Personal Identification Number (PIN) pad, and a display screen for advertisements.