Home delivery box and home delivery locker

Abstract

To increase the number of stored cargoes without ensuring a large installation space for a home-delivery box more than necessary.SOLUTION: A home-delivery box includes: a box body 3; a first door 4a; a second door 5a; a partition device 6 for partitioning the inside of the box body 3; a control part 10 controlling an operation of the partition device 6; first cargo detection means 15a for detecting a cargo P on one side in a depth direction; and second cargo detection means 15b for detecting the cargo P on the other side in the depth direction. A first in / out port 4 and a second in / out port 5 of the box body 3 are disposed facing each other. The partition device 6 includes a partition body 6a, a storage part 6b, and a driving part 12. The control part 10 controls the driving part 12 when one of the first cargo detection means 15a and the second cargo detection means 15b detects the cargo P, and moves the partition body 6a so as to be in a state of partitioning the inner part of the box boy 3 from a state of being stored in the storage part 6b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a delivery box and a delivery locker equipped with multiple delivery boxes. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the volume of parcel delivery has increased, and the demand for parcel receiving facilities such as parcel boxes is on the rise, regardless of whether the residence is a detached house or an apartment building. Patent Document 1 discloses a built-in delivery box provided in an opening formed in the exterior wall of a detached house. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a parcel locker that can be shared among residents of an apartment complex by enabling personal authentication. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4054553 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-236797 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, many conventional delivery lockers can only accommodate one package per locker. Furthermore, packages stored in a locker cannot always be retrieved immediately, and there are times and periods when deliveries are concentrated. Therefore, if a package cannot be accommodated in the locker, the delivery person must return the package and re-deliver it. However, increasing the number of re-deliveries not only reduces delivery efficiency and increases delivery costs, but also increases carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, increasing the number of packages that can be accommodated in a locker is an urgent issue. Simply increasing the number of lockers is undesirable, as it creates a new issue of securing installation space.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to make it possible to increase the number of parcels that can be accommodated without having to secure an installation space for the parcel locker that is larger than necessary. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 includes, as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 to 8, a box body 3 having a first loading / unloading opening 4 for luggage P (P1, P2) formed on one side surface in the depth direction and a second loading / unloading opening 5 for luggage P formed on the other side surface in the depth direction; a first door 4a for opening and closing the first loading / unloading opening 4; a second door 5a for opening and closing the second access opening 5; a partition device 6 for dividing the inside of the box body 3 into a plurality of spaces in the depth direction; A control unit 10 configured to be able to control the operation of the partition device 6; a first luggage detection means 15a that is communicably connected to the control unit 10 and detects luggage P stored on one side of the inside of the box body 3 in the depth direction; a second luggage detection means (15b) connected to the control unit (10) so as to be capable of communicating with the control unit (10) and configured to detect luggage (P) accommodated on the other side of the interior of the box body (3) in the depth direction; The first loading / unloading opening 4 and the second loading / unloading opening 5 are arranged opposite each other, The partition device 6 is A partition body 6a that partitions the inside of the box body 3; a storage section 6b for storing the partition body 6a; a drive unit (12) that moves the partition body (6a) between a state in which the partition body (6a) is stored in the storage unit (6b) and a state in which the partition body (6a) partitions the inside of the box main body (3), The control unit 10 is characterized in that when either the first luggage detection means 15a or the second luggage detection means 15b detects luggage P, it controls the drive unit 12 to move the partition body 6a from a state where it is stored in the storage section 6b to a state where it separates the inside of the box main body 3.

[0007] According to the invention described in claim 1, the control unit 10, which is configured to be able to control the operation of the partition device 6, controls the drive unit 12 when either the first package detection means 15a or the second package detection means 15b detects a package P, to move the partition body 6a from a state in which it is stored in the storage section 6b to a state in which it separates the interior of the box main body 3. This allows the interior of the box main body 3 to be divided by the partition body 6a of the partition device 6 as needed. This allows the number of packages P that can be stored to be increased without ensuring an installation space for the delivery box 2 that is larger than necessary. As a result, the number of redeliveries by the delivery person D can be reduced, preventing a decrease in delivery efficiency and an increase in delivery costs, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, for example, if one of the first loading / unloading opening 4 and the second loading / unloading opening 5 were formed on the side or top of the box main body 3 rather than directly opposite the other loading / unloading opening, then space would have to be secured on the side or top of the box main body 3 for loading and unloading luggage P. However, since the first loading / unloading opening 4 and the second loading / unloading opening 5 are positioned directly opposite each other, the space for loading and unloading luggage P can be limited to the first loading / unloading opening 4 side and the second loading / unloading opening 5 side, meaning that there is no need to secure more space than necessary to install the delivery box 2.

[0008] The invention described in claim 2 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8, in the delivery box 2 described in claim 1, The control unit 10 is characterized in that when neither the first luggage detection means 15a nor the second luggage detection means 15b detects luggage P, the partition body 6a is stored in the storage section 6b.

[0009] According to the invention described in claim 2, when neither the first package detection means 15a nor the second package detection means 15b detects a package P, that is, when the inside of the box body 3 is empty, the control unit 10 stores the partition body 6a in the storage section 6b, so that the inside of the box body 3 is open in the depth direction. This makes it easy to use because the control of the control unit 10 can automatically place the delivery box 2 in a state where it is ready to receive a package P.

[0010] The invention described in claim 3 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 8, in the delivery box 2 described in claim 1, The box is characterized by further comprising foreign object detection means 12 to 14 for detecting whether or not there is a foreign object ahead in the moving direction of the partition body 6a when the partition body 6a is in a state of dividing the inside of the box main body 3.

[0011] According to the invention described in claim 3, when the partition body 6a is brought into a state in which it separates the inside of the box main body 3, foreign object detection means 12 to 14 are provided for detecting whether or not there is a foreign object ahead in the direction of movement of the partition body 6a. Therefore, when the foreign object detection means 12 to 14 detect that there is a foreign object ahead in the direction of movement of the partition body 6a, an opportunity can be created to notify the delivery person D of this, so that the foreign object can be removed and the package P can be stored normally.

[0012] The invention described in claim 4 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4 and Figs. 6 to 9, in the delivery box 2 described in claim 1, The first door 4a, the second door 5a, and the partition body 6a are each configured to be lockable or unlockable.

[0013] According to the invention described in claim 4, the first door 4a, the second door 5a, and the partition body 6a are each configured to be lockable or unlockable, so that the first door 4a, the second door 5a, and the partition body 6a can be locked or unlocked depending on the storage status of the luggage P (presence or absence of luggage P1, P2) in the box body 3. This allows the interior of the box body 3 to be partitioned by the partition body 6a as needed to store luggage P, while taking security into consideration.

[0014] The invention described in claim 5 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, in the delivery box 2 described in claim 4, The control unit 10 is configured to be able to control the operations of the first door 4a, the second door 5a, and the partition body 6a, Further comprising a signal acquisition means communicably connected to the control unit 10, The signal acquisition means is characterized by acquiring operation signals transmitted from external information terminals 24 to 27 and for controlling the operations of at least the first door 4a and the second door 5a.

[0015] According to the invention recited in claim 5, when the signal acquisition means acquires an operation signal transmitted from an external information terminal 24 to 27, the control unit 10 can control the operation of at least the first door 4a and the second door 5a. Therefore, the operation of at least the first door 4a and the second door 5a can be controlled by the external information terminal 24 to 27. This provides excellent convenience because the user U and the delivery person D can control the operation of at least the first door 4a and the second door 5a by the information terminal 24 to 27 they use.

[0016] The invention described in claim 6 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, in the delivery box 2 described in claim 1, The box is characterized in that it is further provided with an availability notification means that is communicatively connected to the control unit 10 and that transmits information regarding the availability of the box body 3 based on the detection results by the first luggage detection means 15a and the second luggage detection means 15b to external information terminals 24 to 27.

[0017] According to the invention described in claim 6, the availability notification means transmits information regarding the availability of the box body 3 based on the detection results by the first luggage detection means 15a and the second luggage detection means 15b to external information terminals 24 to 27, so that the user U or delivery person D using the information terminals 24 to 27 can check the information regarding the availability of the box body 3 even from a remote location, which is highly convenient.

[0018] The invention described in claim 7 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, in the delivery box 2 described in claim 1, The box is characterized by further comprising an availability notification means that is communicatively connected to the control unit 10 and that notifies information regarding the availability of the box body 3 based on the detection results by the first luggage detection means 15a and the second luggage detection means 15b.

[0019] According to the invention described in claim 7, the availability notification means notifies information regarding the availability of the box body 3 based on the detection results by the first luggage detection means 15a and the second luggage detection means 15b, so that the user U and the delivery person D can grasp the information regarding the availability of the box body 3 without having to check the inside of the box body 3, which is highly convenient.

[0020] The invention described in claim 8 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in the delivery box 2 described in claim 1, The box body 3 is characterized by having a transfer device 8 that transfers the baggage P stored inside along the depth direction.

[0021] According to the invention described in claim 8, the box body 3 has a transfer device 8 that transfers the package P stored inside along the depth direction, so the package P can be transferred along the depth direction of the box body 3. This allows the delivery box 2 to be used in a way that packages P are stored through one opening and removed from the other opening, making it possible to deliver packages P between the indoor and outdoor sides of a building.

[0022] The invention described in claim 9 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, in the delivery box 2 described in claim 8, A plurality of the partition devices 6 are provided, The interior of the box body 3 is characterized in that it is divided into three or more spaces in the depth direction by the plurality of partition devices 6.

[0023] According to the invention described in claim 9, multiple partition devices 6 are provided, and the interior of the box main body 3 is divided into three or more spaces in the depth direction by the multiple partition devices 6, thereby increasing the number of pieces of luggage P that can be accommodated.

[0024] The invention described in claim 10 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8, a delivery locker 1 equipped with a plurality of delivery boxes 2 described in any one of claims 1 to 9, The plurality of delivery boxes 2 are arranged so that each of the first access openings 4 is located on the same surface on one side, and each of the second access openings 5 ​​is located on the same surface on the other side.

[0025] According to the invention described in claim 10, the multiple delivery lockers 2 are arranged so that the first access openings 4 are located on the same surface on one side and the second access openings 5 ​​are located on the same surface on the other side, so that each of the multiple delivery lockers 2 can store multiple packages P. This makes it possible to increase the number of packages P that can be stored without having to ensure that the installation space for the delivery lockers 2 is larger than necessary. Furthermore, for example, if either the first loading / unloading opening 4 or the second loading / unloading opening 5 is not directly opposite the other loading / unloading opening and is formed on the side or top surface of the box main body 3, it becomes difficult to line up multiple delivery boxes 2, making it difficult to increase the number of packages P that can be stored in the delivery locker 1. However, since multiple delivery boxes 2 are lined up so that each first loading / unloading opening 4 is located on the same surface on one side and each second loading / unloading opening 5 is located on the same surface on the other side, it becomes easier to line up multiple delivery boxes 2, making it easier to increase the number of packages P that can be stored in the delivery locker 1. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to the present invention, the number of parcels that can be accommodated can be increased without having to secure an installation space for the parcel box that is larger than necessary. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state in which the delivery locker is installed in the installation space. [Figure 2A] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration and usage example of a delivery box. [Figure 2B] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration and usage example of a delivery box. [Figure 2C] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration and usage example of a delivery box. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a control unit and other components attached to a delivery box. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of how to use the delivery box. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a reservation system for reserving a delivery locker. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the delivery box. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the delivery box. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a modified example of the delivery box. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the delivery box. [Figure 10A] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a modified example of the delivery box. [Figure 10B] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating changes in the state of the availability notification unit. [Figure 10C] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating changes in the state of the availability notification unit. [Figure 10D] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating changes in the state of the availability notification unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are subject to various limitations that are technically preferable for implementing the present invention, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples. Note that the directions in the following embodiments and illustrated examples are set solely for the convenience of explanation.

[0029] In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a delivery locker. This delivery locker 1 includes a plurality of delivery boxes 2 in which packages P to be delivered by a delivery person D of a delivery company are stored. The delivery locker 1 of this embodiment is installed in a housing complex such as an apartment building or an office building, but is not limited to this and may be installed in a small housing complex such as an apartment or a detached house. When installed in a detached house, only one delivery box 2 may be provided. Furthermore, even when the delivery locker 1 is installed in a detached house, it may be possible to allow the locker 1 to be used jointly with neighboring residents.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the delivery locker 1 of this embodiment has a plurality of delivery boxes 2 arranged vertically and horizontally, and each delivery box 2 functions as a storage section in which packages P are stored. When delivery locker 1 is installed in a housing complex such as an apartment building, it is preferable to install it next to a space where a group mailbox is located, for example.

[0031] [About the configuration of delivery boxes] As shown in Figures 2A to 2C, the delivery locker 2 has openings (4, 5) for loading and unloading packages P on one side and the other side in the depth direction, making it possible to use both sides. In other words, one delivery locker 2 can store two packages P (P1, P2). Because the delivery locker 2 can be used on both sides in this way, when the delivery locker 1 is installed in a specified installation space such as an apartment building, it is positioned so that one side in the width direction, which is perpendicular to the depth direction, faces the wall W. In the following description, one side of delivery box 2 in the depth direction will be referred to as the front side, and the other side as the back side.

[0032] The delivery box 2 comprises a box body 3, a first loading / unloading opening 4 formed on the front of the box body 3, a second loading / unloading opening 5 formed on the back of the box body 3, and a partition device 6 that divides the inside of the box body 3 into one side and the other side in the depth direction.

[0033] The box body 3 has a bottom panel portion 3a, a top panel portion 3b, a side panel portion 3c, a front panel portion 3d, and a back panel portion 3e, and is a rectangular box made of metal that is longer in the front-to-back direction than in the height or width directions. A first loading / unloading opening 4 for loading / unloading luggage P is formed in the front panel portion 3d, and a second loading / unloading opening 5 for loading / unloading luggage P is formed in the rear panel portion 3e.

[0034] The first loading / unloading opening 4 is opened and closed by a first door 4a. As shown in Fig. 3, the first door 4a is provided with a first door locking section 17a for locking and unlocking the first door 4a. The first door lock 17a receives power from a power supply (not shown). The front panel 3d is provided with a strike on which the first door lock 17a engages. The first door lock 17a is an electric lock that electrically locks and unlocks the door, and can be locked or unlocked by accepting an operation from the user U or the delivery person D.

[0035] The second access opening 5 is opened and closed by a second door 5a. As shown in Fig. 3, the second door 5a is provided with a second door locking portion 17b for locking and unlocking the second door 5a. The second door locking unit 17b receives power from a power supply device (not shown). The back panel 3e is also provided with a strike that engages the second door locking unit 17b. In other words, the second door locking unit 17b is an electric lock that electrically locks and unlocks the door, and can be locked or unlocked by accepting an operation from the user U or the delivery person D.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the partition device 6 is attached to the lower surface of the top panel portion 3b of the box body 3. The partition device 6 includes a shutter 6a, a shutter storage section 6b, a rotating roller 6c, and a guide rail 6d.

[0037] The shutter 6a is used to separate the inside of the box body 3 from the center in the depth direction into the front side and the back side, and is made up of a plurality of metal plates connected together in the shape of a blind. 3, the shutter 6a in this embodiment can be operated by a shutter drive unit 12, and deploys downward when dividing the inside of the box body 3, and returns to its original position when not dividing the inside of the box body 3. The shutter drive unit 12 receives power from a power supply device (not shown).

[0038] Furthermore, the tip of the shutter 6a, which is located at the lowest end when it is separating the inside of the box body 3, is equipped with a shutter lock portion 13 for locking and unlocking the shutter 6a, as shown in FIG. 3. Although not shown, the shutter lock unit 13 in this embodiment is a hook-type lock, and a strike for receiving it is provided on the bottom plate 3a of the box body 3. The shutter lock unit 13 receives power from a power supply device, not shown.

[0039] The shutter storage section 6b is a housing for storing the shutter 6a inside, and a shutter entrance through which the shutter 6a is inserted and removed is formed at the rear end. The shutter storage section 6b is disposed close to the front end of the top panel 3b. The shutter entrance is located exactly in the center of the box body 3 in the depth direction. The shutter entrance opens downward, and the shutter 6a is deployed downward when the partition is closed.

[0040] A rotating roller 6c is provided inside the shutter storage section 6b, and the shutter 6a is guided by this rotating roller 6c. The rotating roller 6c is provided from one end to the other end in the width direction of the shutter storage section 6b, and the shutter 6a is placed on top of the rotating roller 6c. More specifically, the shutter 6a is arranged horizontally inside the shutter storage section 6b, and needs to be turned vertically when deployed downward. Therefore, a rotating roller 6c is provided inside the shutter storage section 6b to change the orientation of the shutter 6a from horizontal to vertical. Inside the shutter storage section 6b, a guide rail is provided to hold the shutter 6a in a horizontal state and to guide the movement of the shutter 6a when it is deployed.

[0041] Also, a guide rail 6d for guiding the up and down movement of the shutter 6a is provided directly below the shutter entrance / exit of the shutter 6a. The guide rails 6d are attached to the inner surfaces of the side panel portions 3c located on both sides in the width direction of the box body 3. In other words, the guide rails 6d are provided on both sides in the width direction of the box body 3, and the shutter 6a is positioned between both the guide rails 6d.

[0042] Delivery box 2 configured as described above further includes various sensors for detecting the conditions inside box body 3. Furthermore, the operation of delivery box 2 is centrally controlled by control unit 10 shown in FIG. More specifically, the control unit 10 is a control panel that controls the operation of each part of the delivery box 2, and has control circuits necessary for controlling the shutter drive unit 12, shutter lock unit 13, first door lock unit 17a, and second door lock unit 17b. The control unit 10 is also communicatively connected to the shutter drive unit 12, shutter lock unit 13, first door lock unit 17a, and second door lock unit 17b in the partition device 6 so as to be able to transmit control signals. The control unit 10 is also communicatively connected to various sensors so as to be able to receive signals or data representing the detection results of the various sensors. That is, the control unit 10 can control the shutter driving unit 12, the shutter locking unit 13, the first door locking unit 17a, and the second door locking unit 17b based on the detection results of the various sensors.

[0043] The various sensors include a first luggage detection sensor 15a, a second luggage detection sensor 15b, a first dimension measurement sensor 16a, and a second dimension measurement sensor 16b. Furthermore, when an abnormality occurs, such as when the shutter lock unit 13, the first door lock unit 17a, and the second door lock unit 17b cannot lock due to a foreign object being caught, or when the lock cannot be released due to a malfunction, the shutter lock unit 13, the first door lock unit 17a, and the second door lock unit 17b can send an abnormality detection signal (foreign object detection signal) to the control unit 10. For this reason, the shutter lock unit 13, the first door lock unit 17a, and the second door lock unit 17b may also be included in the various sensors. In other words, shutter lock unit 13 functions as an abnormality detection means (foreign object detection means) inside box body 3. Furthermore, first door lock unit 17a and second door lock unit 17b function as abnormality detection means (foreign object detection means) in first loading / unloading opening 4 and second loading / unloading opening 5. When shutter lock unit 13, first door lock unit 17a, or second door lock unit 17b detects an abnormality (foreign object), delivery box 2 itself may be provided with a function to issue an alert, or an alert may be issued via control unit 10 to user information terminals 24 and 25 or delivery person information terminals 26 and 27, which will be described later. It should be noted that, instead of the shutter lock unit 13, the shutter drive unit 12 may function as an abnormality detection unit (foreign matter detection unit).

[0044] In this embodiment, weight sensors are used as the first luggage detection sensor 15a and the second luggage detection sensor 15b, and when the weight of the luggage P is detected, the detection signal can be transmitted to the control unit 10. The first luggage detection sensor 15a is positioned closer to the front than the center of the depth direction of the bottom panel portion 3a, and the second luggage detection sensor 15b is positioned closer to the back than the center of the depth direction of the bottom panel portion 3a. Therefore, when the package P is placed in the box body 3 closer to the front than the center in the depth direction, a detection signal is sent from the first package detection sensor 15a to the control unit 10. When the package P is placed in the box body 3 closer to the back than the center in the depth direction, a detection signal is sent from the second package detection sensor 15b to the control unit 10. In this embodiment, weight sensors are used for the first luggage detection sensor 15a and the second luggage detection sensor 15b, but this is not limited to this and other sensors such as ultrasonic sensors, photoelectric sensors, cameras (image analysis), etc. may also be used. Furthermore, when the weight of the package P is detected by the first package detection sensor 15a and the second package detection sensor 15b, the detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 10. However, the control unit 10 may also be configured to transmit a signal to the control unit 10 when the weight of the package P that had been detected until then is no longer detected. This allows the control unit 10 to know when the package P is placed in the box body 3 and when the package P is removed from the box body 3. That is, the control unit 10 can handle the detection results of the first package detection sensor 15a and the second package detection sensor 15b as information regarding the availability of the box body 3. Such information regarding the availability of the box body 3 may be transmitted from the control unit 10 to the user information terminals 24 and 25 or the delivery person information terminals 26 and 27 (described later) via the communication network N. In other words, the control unit 10 functions as an availability notification unit for transmitting information regarding the availability of the box body 3 based on the detection results of the first package detection sensor 15a and the second package detection sensor 15b to the external information terminals 24 to 27.

[0045] Furthermore, since the first luggage detection sensor 15a and the second luggage detection sensor 15b are weight sensors in this embodiment, they may be configured not only to detect the weight of the luggage P but also to measure how heavy it is. The weight measurement data of the luggage P measured by the first luggage detection sensor 15a and the second luggage detection sensor 15b is transmitted to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 includes a storage unit (not shown) and is capable of storing signals and data received from the first baggage detection sensor 15a and the second baggage detection sensor 15b in the storage unit. In addition, there may be cases where the size of the stored luggage P is large and the inside of the box main body 3 is filled with one luggage P. In the case of such a large luggage P, the first luggage detection sensor 15a and the second luggage detection sensor 15b detect the luggage P simultaneously.

[0046] In this embodiment, length measuring sensors are used as the first dimension measuring sensor 16a and the second dimension measuring sensor 16b, and after the weight of the package P is detected by the first baggage detection sensor 15a and the second baggage detection sensor 15b, the dimensions of the package P are measured. Then, dimension data indicating the measurement results can be transmitted to the control unit 10. The first dimension measuring sensor 16a is positioned closer to the front of the box body 3 than the center of the depth direction, and the second dimension measuring sensor 16b is positioned closer to the back of the box body 3 than the center of the depth direction. Therefore, when the package P is placed in the box body 3 closer to the front than the center in the depth direction, the first dimension measuring sensor 16a transmits dimension data to the control unit 10. When the package P is placed in the box body 3 closer to the back than the center in the depth direction, the second dimension measuring sensor 16b transmits dimension data to the control unit 10. The signals and data received from the first dimension measuring sensor 16 a and the second dimension measuring sensor 16 b are stored in the memory of the control unit 10 . In addition, when a large-sized package P is stored inside the box main body 3, the dimension data from the first dimension measuring sensor 16a and the dimension data from the second dimension measuring sensor 16b may be added together to form a single dimension data. Furthermore, in this embodiment, length measuring sensors are used as the first dimension measuring sensor 16a and the second dimension measuring sensor 16b, but this is not limitative and may be performed by, for example, image analysis using camera photography.

[0047] The control unit 10 is connected to a communication unit 11 configured by a communication module or the like, and can control the first door 4a and the second door 5a based on operation signals from external information terminals 24 to 27 via the communication unit 11. In other words, the control unit 10 functions as a signal acquisition means that acquires operation signals transmitted from the external information terminals 24 to 27 and used to control the operation of the first door 4a and the second door 5a. The external information terminals refer to a mobile information terminal 24 used by a user U who receives the package P and a mobile information terminal 26 used by a delivery person D who delivers the package P. The mobile information terminals 24, 26 are, for example, smartphones or tablet terminals, but are not limited to these and may be any computer device that is portable and configured to be able to communicate with the communication unit 11 via the communication network N. That is, when storing the package P, the delivery person D can communicate with the control unit 10 using his / her mobile information terminal 26, unlock the first door lock unit 17a or the second door lock unit 17b, and store the package P inside the box main body 3. When receiving the package P, the user U can communicate with the control unit 10 using his / her mobile information terminal 24, unlock the first door lock unit 17a or the second door lock unit 17b, and remove the package P stored inside the box main body 3. In addition, if the size of the luggage P to be stored is large and the inside of the box body 3 is filled with one luggage P, the luggage P may be taken in and out from either the first loading / unloading opening 4 or the second loading / unloading opening 5.

[0048] The operations of the shutter drive unit 12 and the shutter lock unit 13 are all performed automatically under the control of the control unit 10. That is, the shutter 6a divides the interior of the box body 3 into a front side and a rear side in the depth direction. Therefore, when a package P is placed on the front side or the rear side in the depth direction inside the box body 3 and detected by the first package detection sensor 15a or the second package detection sensor 15b, the shutter 6a starts its closing operation. Alternatively, when the luggage P stored inside the box main body 3 is removed and the box is left empty, the first luggage detection sensor 15a and the second luggage detection sensor 15b no longer detect the luggage P, which triggers the shutter 6a to start opening. Furthermore, if the shutter lock unit 13 is unable to lock after the shutter 6a has been closed, it sends an abnormality detection signal to the control unit 10. If the shutter lock unit 13 cannot lock and the shutter 6a does not close, the second package P cannot be accommodated, and therefore the unlocking operation of the first door lock unit 17a or the second door lock unit 17b from the mobile information terminal 26 of the delivery person D can be rejected. In addition, when the size of the package P to be stored is large and the inside of the box body 3 is filled with one package P, the shutter 6a is controlled not to lower. In other words, when the first package detection sensor 15a and the second package detection sensor 15b simultaneously detect the package P, the control unit 10 controls the shutter 6a not to lower. Furthermore, although the operations of the shutter drive unit 12 and the shutter lock unit 13 are all performed automatically under the control of the control unit 10, this is not limited to this and they may also be controlled based on operation signals transmitted from external information terminals 24 to 27 via the communication unit 11.

[0049] [About the operation flow of the delivery box] Delivery box 2 operates, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (see also FIGS. 2A to 2C). That is, first, delivery person D operates mobile information terminal 26, which unlocks first door lock section 17a and opens first door 4a, and the first package P1 is placed inside box body 3 through first loading / unloading opening 4 (step S1).

[0050] Next, the first loading / unloading opening 4 is closed by the first door 4a, and the first door locking portion 17a is put into a locked state (step S2). At this time, the second baggage detection sensor 15b detects the weight of the baggage P1, and the second dimension measurement sensor 16b measures the dimensions of the baggage P1 (step S3).

[0051] When the second baggage detection sensor 15b detects the presence or absence of baggage P1 and the first loading / unloading opening 4 is closed and locked, the shutter drive unit 12 operates to deploy the shutter 6a downward. Then, when the tip of the shutter 6a reaches the bottom plate 3a, the shutter lock unit 13 is locked (step S4). As a result, the first baggage P1 is accommodated inside the box body 3, and the inside of the box body 3 is partitioned into a front side and a rear side in the depth direction.

[0052] Then, when the shutter 6a is lowered and the inside of the box body 3 is partitioned off, the delivery box 2 enters a state of waiting for the package P1 to be received, and a notification indicating that the package P1 is available for reception is sent by the communication unit 11 to the user U's mobile information terminal 24 via the communication network N (step S5). The notification sent to the user U includes information on the detection results (presence or absence of luggage, luggage weight) by the second luggage detection sensor 15b and the measurement results (external dimensions of luggage) by the second dimension measurement sensor 16b. It is also assumed that the memory of the control unit 10 stores a program for generating such a notification. By receiving the notification, the user U can know that the package P1 has been placed in the delivery box 2, as well as the weight and external dimensions of the package P1. Here, if the user U receives the package P1, the state returns to step S1, and if the user U does not receive the package, the state of waiting for the package P1 to be received and the state of waiting for the second package P2 to be stored continues (step S6).

[0053] Next, delivery person D operates mobile information terminal 26, which unlocks first door lock section 17a and opens first door 4a, and the second package P2 is placed inside box body 3 through first loading / unloading opening 4 (step S7).

[0054] Next, the first loading / unloading opening 4 is closed by the first door 4a, and the first door locking portion 17a is put into a locked state (step S8). At this time, the first baggage detection sensor 15a detects the weight of the baggage P2, and the first dimension measurement sensor 16a measures the dimensions of the baggage P2 (step S9).

[0055] The delivery box 2 is now in a state of waiting for receipt of the package P2, and a notification indicating that the package P2 is available for collection is sent by the communication unit 11 to the mobile information terminal 24 of the user U via the communication network N (step S10). The notification sent to user U includes information regarding the detection results (presence or absence of luggage, luggage weight) by the first luggage detection sensor 15a and the measurement results (external dimensions of luggage) by the first dimension measurement sensor 16a. By receiving the notification, the user U can know that the package P2 has been placed in the delivery box 2, as well as the weight and external dimensions of the package P2. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the user U who receives the package P1 and the user U who receives the package P2 are different people (residents of different households), but they may be the same person.

[0056] When one user U receives package P1, the user U operates the mobile information terminal 24, which unlocks the second door locking section 17b and opens the second door 5a. Then, the first package P1 is taken out from inside the box body 3 through the second loading / unloading opening 5 (step S11).

[0057] After the first package P1 has been taken out, if the other user U wants to receive package P2, the user U operates the mobile information terminal 24, which unlocks the first door lock unit 17a and opens the first door 4a. Then, the second package P2 is taken out from inside the box body 3 through the first loading / unloading opening 4 (step S12).

[0058] When the second baggage P2 is removed, there are no more bags P (P1, P2) inside the box body 3. Then, when the first baggage detection sensor 15a and the second baggage detection sensor 15b stop transmitting the detection results of the baggage P, this triggers the shutter lock unit 13 to be unlocked and the shutter drive unit 12 to operate and open the shutter 6a (step S13). The shutter 6a is pulled up by the shutter drive unit 12 and stored in the shutter storage unit 6b.

[0059] By the above-mentioned operation, the inside of the box body 3 returns to its original state. When the first package P1 is removed in step S11, an empty space is created inside the box body 3, and another package P may be delivered. In this case, the delivery person D operates the mobile information terminal 26, which unlocks the second door locking section 17b and opens the second door 5a, and the additional package P is placed inside the box body 3 through the second loading / unloading opening 5. At this time, the shutter 6a remains down, and the interior of the box body 3 remains divided into a front side and a rear side in the depth direction. In addition, there may be cases where the second luggage P2, which was placed later, is taken out before the first luggage P1 is taken out, and in such cases, the operation described above can be applied for control. Furthermore, the first item P1 is stored all the way to the rear side (deep side) in the depth direction inside the box body 3, but it may also be stored on the front side (near side) in the depth direction. In that case, the second item P2 is stored on the rear side (deep side) in the depth direction.

[0060] In the case of a delivery locker 1 equipped with multiple delivery boxes 2 configured as described above, each delivery box 2 can perform the operation illustrated in Figure 4. Therefore, compared to a delivery locker that can be used from only one side, the number of packages P that can be stored can simply be doubled.

[0061] [About the reservation system] The delivery locker 1 (delivery box 2) can be reserved for use by using a reservation system. 5, the reservation system of this embodiment comprises a reservation server 20 that comprehensively manages the reservation system, a delivery locker 1 equipped with a plurality of delivery boxes 2, user information terminals 24, 25, and delivery staff information terminals 26, 27. The delivery locker 1, user information terminals 24, 25, and delivery staff information terminals 26, 27 are connected to the reservation server 20 via a communication network N so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0062] The communication network N in this embodiment may include various communication networks such as a telephone network, an ISDN network, optical fiber, a mobile communication network, a communication satellite network, a CATV network, and other dedicated lines, as well as an internet service provider (i.e., the internet) that connects them. It may also be a collective communication network in which various communication networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and NFC (Near Field Communication) are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other. The connection type may be wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless.

[0063] The reservation server 20 is a central management device made up of a PC, dedicated devices, terminals, etc., and includes a calculation unit 21, a memory unit 22, and a communication unit 23. The calculation unit 21, memory unit 22, and communication unit 23 are electrically connected via a bus or the like. The reservation server 20 allows a user U to reserve a delivery box 2 in advance when they wish to use the delivery box 2, thereby reserving the delivery box 2. By reserving the delivery box 2 in advance, it is possible to prevent the delivery box 2 from being used by another user, thereby reducing the number of redeliveries of the package P by the delivery person D.

[0064] The calculation unit 21 of the reservation server 20 is composed of a CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The ROM stores various programs executed by the CPU. The CPU of the calculation unit 21 reads out various programs stored in the memory unit 22, expands them in the RAM, executes various processes according to the expanded programs, and centrally controls the operation of each means in the reservation system.

[0065] The storage unit 22 of the reservation server 20 is configured with a non-volatile memory, a hard disk, or the like. The storage unit 22 stores various programs executed by the calculation unit 21, various data required for executing the programs, and the like.

[0066] The various programs include a reservation program for reserving a delivery box 2 based on reservation information transmitted from user information terminals 24, 25, and a reservation cancellation program for canceling the reservation when a package P is taken out of the reserved delivery box 2. In addition, each of the multiple delivery boxes 2 in the delivery locker 1 is assigned identification information (e.g., an identification number), and the various data stored in the memory unit 22 includes data on the identification information assigned to the multiple delivery boxes 2. The delivery locker 1 itself is also assigned identification information, and the reservation system can manage reservations for delivery lockers 1 located in multiple locations. The various data stored in storage unit 22 also includes data for a confirmation table for checking the reservation status of delivery box 2.

[0067] The communication unit 23 of the reservation server 20 is composed of a communication module and the like. The communication unit 23 is configured to transmit and receive various signals and various data to and from other devices (user information terminals 24, 25, delivery person information terminals 26, 27) connected via the communication network N by wire or wirelessly.

[0068] The reservation server 20 of this embodiment operates as follows. The reservation server 20 executes a reservation program when it receives a request to reserve the use of the delivery box 2 from a user U who is accessing the reservation server 20. When the reservation program is executed, it first transmits data of a confirmation table displaying the current reservation status to the user information terminal 24, 25. The user information terminal 24, 25 is a mobile information terminal 24 such as a smartphone or tablet terminal, or an information terminal 25 such as a PC, and the confirmation table is displayed on the display unit of the user information terminal 24, 25.

[0069] The user U checks the confirmation table on the user information terminal 24, 25 to confirm which delivery boxes 2 are available for reservation, selects an arbitrary delivery box 2 from among the available delivery boxes 2, and transmits reservation information to the reservation server 20 via the user information terminal 24, 25. The reservation information includes user information, which is information about the user U himself / herself, identification information of the delivery locker 1 and delivery box 2 that the user wishes to reserve, and information about the date and time that the user wishes to reserve.

[0070] The reservation server 20 receives the reservation information transmitted from the user information terminals 24, 25 via the communication unit 23 and stores it in the storage unit 22. Then, the data in the confirmation table is updated based on the information included in the reservation information. In the updated confirmation table, the delivery box 2 reserved by user U will be shown as reserved on the date and time when the reservation was made, and it will be possible to confirm that reservations from other users cannot be made. Even if a reservation is made by another user, it will be rejected.

[0071] The reservation server 20 can also be accessed from the delivery person information terminals 26, 27 used by the delivery person D, and the delivery person D can check which delivery boxes 2 have reservations by looking at the confirmation list. Furthermore, the reservation server 20 may be configured to send a notification informing the delivery person information terminal 26, 27 of the reservation details at the time a reservation is made by the user U. In this case, the reservation information includes information specifying the delivery company that will deliver the package P and information (e.g., an email address) of the delivery person information terminal 26, 27 to which the notification is to be sent. The delivery person information terminals 26, 27 are mobile information terminals 26 such as a smartphone or tablet terminal, or information terminals 27 such as a PC. The mobile information terminal 26 is used by delivery person D, and the information terminal 27 is managed by the delivery company to which delivery person D belongs. The mobile information terminal 26 and the information terminal 27 are connected so that they can communicate with each other and share information.

[0072] Furthermore, when the package P stored in the reserved delivery locker 2 is removed by the user U, the first package detection sensor 15a or the second package detection sensor 15b provided in the delivery locker 2 no longer detects the package P. When the first package detection sensor 15a or the second package detection sensor 15b no longer detects the package P, the reservation server 20 executes a reservation cancellation program. When the reservation cancellation program is executed, the data on the confirmation table is updated and the reservation for the previously reserved delivery locker 2 is cancelled. On the confirmation table, it becomes possible to confirm that the delivery locker 2 is now available for reservations.

[0073] It should be noted that the user U is not necessarily aware of the delivery of the package P. For example, there may be packages that the user U is not aware of, such as mid-year gifts, year-end gifts, presents, etc. The delivery person D recognizes that the package P is a package P that the user U is not aware of, and therefore, when delivering such a package P, the delivery person D notifies the user U's user information terminal 24, 25 of the delivery schedule for the package P in advance. Upon receiving the delivery schedule notification, user U accesses reservation server 20 to reserve delivery box 2. Reservation server 20 then receives user U's reservation for delivery box 2 and updates the confirmation table. Delivery person D can check which delivery box 2 has been reserved by looking at the updated confirmation sheet or by receiving a notification informing him of the reservation details, and then delivers package P according to the reservation details.

[0074] In this way, a delivery box 2 can be reserved. When reserving a delivery box 2, it is possible to specify either the front or rear side of the delivery box 2 in the depth direction, and if it is known in advance that the size of the package will be large, it is also possible to make a reservation to occupy one delivery box 2.

[0075] [About the effects] According to this embodiment, the following excellent effects are achieved. That is, the control unit 10, which is configured to control the operation of the partition device 6, controls the drive unit 12 when either the first package detection sensor 15a or the second package detection sensor 15b detects a package P, to move the shutter 6a from a state where it is stored in the shutter storage unit 6b to a state where it separates the interior of the box main body 3, so that the interior of the box main body 3 can be separated by the shutter 6a of the partition device 6 as needed. This makes it possible to increase the number of packages P that can be stored in the delivery locker 2 without ensuring an installation space larger than necessary. As a result, the number of redeliveries by the delivery person D can be reduced, which prevents a decrease in delivery efficiency and an increase in delivery costs, and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, for example, if one of the first loading / unloading opening 4 and the second loading / unloading opening 5 were formed on the side or top of the box main body 3 rather than directly opposite the other loading / unloading opening, then space would have to be secured on the side or top of the box main body 3 for loading and unloading luggage P. However, since the first loading / unloading opening 4 and the second loading / unloading opening 5 are positioned directly opposite each other, the space for loading and unloading luggage P can be limited to the first loading / unloading opening 4 side and the second loading / unloading opening 5 side, meaning that there is no need to secure more space than necessary to install the delivery box 2.

[0076] Furthermore, when neither the first package detection sensor 15a nor the second package detection sensor 15b detects a package P, i.e., when the inside of the box body 3 is empty, the control unit 10 stores the shutter 6a in the shutter storage unit 6b, so that the inside of the box body 3 is open in the depth direction. This allows the control of the control unit 10 to automatically place the delivery box 2 in a state where it is ready to receive a package P, which is convenient to use.

[0077] Furthermore, the first door 4a, the second door 5a, and the partition body 6a are each configured to be lockable or unlockable, so the first door 4a, the second door 5a, and the partition body 6a can be locked or unlocked depending on the storage status of the luggage P (presence or absence of luggage P1, P2) in the box body 3. This allows the interior of the box body 3 to be partitioned by the partition body 6a as needed to store luggage P, while taking security into consideration.

[0078] Furthermore, when the signal acquisition means acquires an operation signal transmitted from an external information terminal 24 to 27, the control unit 10 can control the operation of at least the first door 4a and the second door 5a. Therefore, the operation of at least the first door 4a and the second door 5a can be controlled by the external information terminal 24 to 27. This provides excellent convenience because the user U and the delivery person D can control the operation of at least the first door 4a and the second door 5a by the information terminal 24 to 27 they use.

[0079] In addition, the availability notification means transmits information regarding the availability of the box body 3 based on the detection results by the first luggage detection means 15a and the second luggage detection means 15b to external information terminals 24 to 27, so that users U and delivery personnel D using the information terminals 24 to 27 can check the information regarding the availability of the box body 3 even from remote locations, which is highly convenient.

[0080] Furthermore, the multiple delivery lockers 2 are arranged so that the first access openings 4 are located on the same surface on one side and the second access openings 5 ​​are located on the same surface on the other side, so that each of the multiple delivery lockers 2 can store multiple packages P. This makes it possible to increase the number of packages P that can be stored without having to secure an installation space for the delivery lockers 2 that is larger than necessary. Furthermore, for example, if either the first loading / unloading opening 4 or the second loading / unloading opening 5 is not directly opposite the other loading / unloading opening and is formed on the side or top surface of the box main body 3, it becomes difficult to line up multiple delivery boxes 2, making it difficult to increase the number of packages P that can be stored in the delivery locker 1. However, since multiple delivery boxes 2 are lined up so that each first loading / unloading opening 4 is located on the same surface on one side and each second loading / unloading opening 5 is located on the same surface on the other side, it becomes easier to line up multiple delivery boxes 2, making it easier to increase the number of packages P that can be stored in the delivery locker 1.

[0081] Furthermore, in recent years, there has been a demand for the realization of a carbon-neutral society by promoting carbon neutrality, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions to virtually zero, and for the achievement of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), and the construction industry is also working to use wooden buildings with low carbon dioxide emissions. As described above, the delivery locker 1 of this embodiment can increase the number of packages P that can be stored without requiring an installation space for the delivery box 2 that is larger than necessary, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions associated with redelivery of the package P, and therefore can contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society by promoting carbon neutrality and the achievement of the SDGs.

[0082] [Modification] It should be noted that the embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Modifications will be described below. The following modifications may be combined as much as possible. In each of the following modifications, elements common to the above-described embodiments will be assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted or simplified.

[0083] [Variation 1] As shown in FIG. 6, the box body 3 of the delivery box 2 of this modified example has a transfer device 8 that transfers the package P stored inside along the depth direction.

[0084] The transfer device 8 in this modified example is a so-called belt conveyor 8, but is not limited to this and may be a roller conveyor, or a cart may be provided that moves back and forth between one side and the other side in the depth direction on the top surface of the bottom plate portion 3a.

[0085] When a belt conveyor 8 is used as the transfer device 8, the bottom plate portion 3a is hollow and has a bottom opening 7 formed on the upper surface. The belt conveyor 8 is provided in the hollow portion of the bottom plate portion 3a. The belt of the belt conveyor 8 is exposed to the inside of the box body 3 from the bottom opening 7, and the cargo P can be placed on the belt conveyor 8.

[0086] The operation of the belt conveyor 8 may be controlled from the information terminals 24 and 25 used by the user U or the information terminals 26 and 27 used by the delivery person D. In other words, by allowing the control unit 10 to control the drive unit that moves the belt of the belt conveyor 8, it becomes possible to control it from each of the information terminals 24 to 27 via the communication unit 11.

[0087] According to this modification, the box body 3 has a transfer device 8 that transfers the package P stored inside along the depth direction, so the package P can be transferred along the depth direction of the box body 3. This allows the delivery box 2 to be used in a way that packages P are stored through one opening and removed from the other opening, making it possible to deliver packages P between the indoor and outdoor sides of a building.

[0088] When the bottom panel 3a has the bottom opening 7 and the belt conveyor 8, it becomes difficult to use weight sensors as the first baggage detection sensor 15a and the second baggage detection sensor 15b. Therefore, in this modification, non-contact sensors such as ultrasonic sensors or photoelectric sensors are appropriately used as the first baggage detection sensor 15a and the second baggage detection sensor 15b.

[0089] [Variation 2] As shown in Fig. 7, the delivery box 2 of this modified example is equipped with multiple partition devices 6. The multiple partition devices 6 are attached in a line in the depth direction of the delivery box 2. Furthermore, in this modified example, two partition devices 6 are used. This allows the interior of the box body 3 to be divided into three spaces in the depth direction. Furthermore, the box body 3 in the delivery box 2 of this modified example has a transfer device 8 (for example, a belt conveyor 8) that transfers the package P stored inside along the depth direction.

[0090] When the interior of the box body 3 is divided into three spaces, if a package P is stored in the space facing the first loading / unloading opening 4 and the space facing the second loading / unloading opening 5, the presence or absence of the package P can be detected by the first package detection sensor 15a and the second package detection sensor 15b. However, a package P stored in the middle space will not be detected, so the delivery box 2 of this modified example further includes one or more third package detection means that are communicatively connected to the control unit 10 and that detect packages P stored in the center of the box body 3 in the depth direction.

[0091] According to this modification, a plurality of partition devices 6 are provided, and the interior of the box body 3 is divided into three spaces in the depth direction by the plurality of partition devices 6, so that the number of pieces of luggage P that can be accommodated can be increased. Furthermore, multiple partitioning devices 6 can be used to partition the interior of the box body 3 in multiple ways. That is, when the shutters 6a of the multiple partitioning devices 6 are stored in the shutter storage sections 6b, the space for storing luggage P inside the box body 3 becomes a space the length of three. Also, when partitioning is performed using only the shutter 6a of one partitioning device 6, a combination of one storage space and two storage spaces is achieved. This is preferable because it allows luggage P of various sizes (lengths) to be stored.

[0092] In this modified example, two partition devices 6 are used, but the present invention is not limited to this and three or more partition devices 6 may be used. However, in this modified example, the delivery box 2 is difficult to share with others because in order to retrieve a package P in the center of the depth direction, it is necessary to retrieve the package P from either the first opening 4 or the second opening 5. Therefore, the use of this modified example may be limited to cases where the same resident receives packages P or in detached houses.

[0093] [Variation 3] As shown in Figure 8, the delivery box 2 of this modified example is equipped with a foreign object detection sensor 14 that detects whether or not there is a foreign object in the direction of movement of the shutter 6a when the inside of the box body 3 is partitioned by the shutter 6a.

[0094] The foreign object detection sensor 14 of this modified example is a non-contact sensor such as an ultrasonic sensor or a photoelectric sensor. The sensor is particularly capable of detecting the presence of a foreign object between the left and right guide rails 6d. In other words, the foreign object detection range SA of the foreign object detection sensor 14 is centered on the space between the guide rails 6d (see the dashed double-dashed line in FIG. 8). In the example shown in FIG. 8, the baggage P is detected as a foreign object, but other small animals, insects, trash, etc. may also be detected as foreign objects.

[0095] According to this modified example, when the shutter 6a is brought into a state in which it separates the inside of the box body 3, a foreign object detection sensor 14 is provided which detects whether or not there is a foreign object ahead in the direction of movement of the shutter 6a. Therefore, if the foreign object detection sensor 14 detects that there is a foreign object ahead in the direction of movement of the shutter 6a, an opportunity can be created to notify the delivery person D of this, so that the foreign object can be removed and the package P can be stored normally. In other words, if the shutter 6a cannot be closed, the next package P cannot be stored properly inside the box body 3. Therefore, when the foreign object detection sensor 14 detects a foreign object, it sends a signal to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 notifies the mobile information terminal 26 used by the delivery person D via the communication unit 11. This allows the delivery person D to quickly remove the foreign object, so that the next package P can be stored properly.

[0096] [Variation 4] 9, in the partition device 6 of this embodiment, the position of the shutter 6a is shifted toward the second access opening 5 from the center in the depth direction of the box body 3. This allows the interior of the box body 3 to be divided into a storage space with a large volume and a storage space with a small volume.

[0097] In the case of such a delivery box 2, after the package P is placed inside the box body 3, the dimensions of the package P are measured using the first dimension measuring sensor 16a or the second dimension measuring sensor 16b, and based on the measurement results, it may be possible to determine whether the package P should be stored in a storage space with a larger volume or a storage space with a smaller volume.

[0098] The control unit 10 determines which storage space the package P should be stored in based on the dimensional measurement results of the package P, but in such a case, the control unit 10 may be a computer device and may further use an AI (Artificial Intelligence) function to determine the dimensional measurement results of the package P. In other words, the control unit 10, which is a computer device, builds a learned model by repeatedly checking the dimensional measurement results of the package P stored inside the box main body 3, moving the package P to one of the storage spaces using the transfer device 8, then lowering the shutter 6a and determining whether the shutter 6a closes normally.

[0099] As a result, the delivery box 2 of this modified example is able to measure the dimensions of the package P after it has been placed inside the box main body 3, and the control unit 10 determines based on the results of the measurement of the dimensions, based on the learned model, whether the package P should be placed in a storage space with a larger volume or a storage space with a smaller volume, and moves it appropriately using the transfer device 8. It should be noted that such a determination as to whether or not to transfer the package P can also be applied to the delivery box 2 described in the second modification example above.

[0100] [Variation 5] The delivery locker 1 of this modified example is equipped with a management device that controls the respective control units 10 of the multiple delivery lockers 2. The management device is a computer device that is connected to be able to communicate with the multiple control units 10. This allows the management device to keep track of the storage status of packages P in each and every delivery locker 2. The user information terminals 24, 25 and the delivery person information terminals 26, 27 are communicatively connected to the management device via a communication network N, allowing the user U and delivery person D to check information relating to the storage status of the package P in the delivery locker 1 (the availability of the delivery box 2), etc. In other words, the management device in the delivery locker 1 of this modified example can centrally control almost all functions of the above-mentioned delivery box 2. This allows the delivery locker 1 of this modified example to optimally store packages P, thereby improving the efficiency of use of the delivery box 2 and significantly reducing the number of redeliveries of packages P by delivery person D.

[0101] [Variation 6] In the delivery box 2 of this modified example, the interior of the box body 3 can be divided into a front side and a rear side in the depth direction by the partition device 6. Then, when the first package P1 is stored inside the box body 3 and is in a waiting state for collection (a state in which the stored package P is waiting to be removed), and when the user information of the user U who will receive the package P1 is known, the delivery person D may store other packages that are to be received by the same user U in the same space as the package P1. That is, for example, if the dimension measurement sensor 16a (16b) determines that the size of the package P1 stored inside the box body 3 is small, and the control unit 10 calculates that there is free space inside the box body 3 after it has been partitioned by the partition device 6, that information is sent to the delivery person information terminal 26, 27 of the delivery person D who will deliver the next package for the same user U. Then, after confirming that information, the delivery person D stores the next package inside the box body 3 where the previous, smaller package P1 is stored. This makes it possible to increase the number of packages P that can be accommodated. As a result, the number of redeliveries by the delivery person D can be reduced, preventing a decline in delivery efficiency and an increase in delivery costs, while also reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

[0102] [Variation 7] The delivery box 2 of this modified example is used as a receiving facility for receiving packages P delivered by a delivery company, but is not limited to this and may also be used when a user U requests a delivery company to collect a package. In this case, the procedure for using the delivery box 2 as described above is reversed.

[0103] [Variation 8] The main box 4 of the delivery box 2 of this modified example has thin vacuum insulation panels built into its housing and door. In other words, the main box 4 has high insulation performance and can maintain the internal temperature within a certain range for a long period of time even without a power source. This makes the main box 4 capable of receiving parcels that require temperature control, such as fresh food, industrial products, and pharmaceuticals. In addition, the main box 4 may have ice packs built into its housing and door.

[0104] [Modification 9] As shown in Figures 10A to 10D, the delivery box 2 of this modified example is provided with an availability notification unit 9 on the first door 4a that opens and closes the first loading / unloading opening 4, and is used to notify information regarding the availability within the box main body 3.

[0105] The availability notification unit 9 of this modified example includes a front side notification unit 9a that notifies when luggage P has been stored on the front side of the depth direction within the box main body 3, and a back side notification unit 9b that notifies when luggage P has been stored on the back side of the depth direction.

[0106] The front side notification unit 9a and the back side notification unit 9b notify that a package P has been stored by, for example, lighting a lamp. That is, when the first package detection sensor 15a detects a package P, the front side notification unit 9a lights up, and when the second package detection sensor 15b detects a package P, the back side notification unit 9b lights up.

[0107] 10A, the front side notification part 9a is lit and the back side notification part 9b is off. That is, the availability notification part 9 can grasp information that the box body 3 has a package P stored on the front side in the depth direction and no package P stored on the back side in the depth direction.

[0108] 10B, the front side notification section 9a and the back side notification section 9b are turned off. That is, the availability notification section 9 can grasp information that the box main body 3 is in a state where no luggage P is stored.

[0109] 10C, the front side notification part 9a and the back side notification part 9b are lit. That is, the availability notification part 9 can grasp information that the box body 3 has luggage P stored on both the front side and the back side in the depth direction.

[0110] 10D, the front notification part 9a is turned off and the back notification part 9b is turned on. That is, the availability notification part 9 can grasp information that the box body 3 has no luggage P stored on the front side in the depth direction, but has luggage P stored on the back side in the depth direction.

[0111] In this modified example, the availability notification unit 9 is provided on the first door 4a, but this is not limited to this and it may be provided on the second door 5a which opens and closes the second loading / unloading opening 5, or it may be provided on both the first door 4a and the second door 5a. The availability notification unit 9 in this modified example is provided on the first door 4a on the front side, with the lower side being the front side notification unit 9a corresponding to the front side of the depth direction of the box main body 3 (the front side as you face the first door 4a), and the upper side being the back side notification unit 9b corresponding to the back side of the depth direction of the box main body 3 (the back side as you face the first door 4a). Therefore, when the vacancy status notification unit 9 is provided on the second door 5a on the rear side, the front side notification unit 9a and the rear side notification unit 9b may be arranged upside down. That is, the lower side may be the rear side notification unit 9b corresponding to the rear side in the depth direction of the box body 3 (the front side as one faces the second door 5a), and the upper side may be the front side notification unit 9a corresponding to the front side in the depth direction of the box body 3 (the back side as one faces the second door 5a).

[0112] According to this modified example, the availability notification unit 9 notifies information regarding the availability of the box main body 3 based on the detection results of the first luggage detection sensor 15a and the second luggage detection sensor 15b, so that the user U and the delivery person D can grasp the information regarding the availability of the box main body 3 without having to check the inside of the box main body 3, which is highly convenient. [Explanation of symbols]

[0113] 1. Delivery locker 2. Delivery box 3 Box body 3a Bottom plate part 3b Top plate section 3c Side plate part 3d front panel 3e Back plate part 4 First entrance 4a First door 5 Second access point 5a Second door 6 Partition device 6a Shutter 6b Shutter storage section 6c Turning Roller 6d guide rail 8 Transfer device

Claims

1. a box body having a first loading / unloading opening for luggage formed on one side surface in a depth direction and a second loading / unloading opening for luggage formed on the other side surface in the depth direction; A first door for opening and closing the first loading / unloading opening; A second door for opening and closing the second access opening; A partition device for dividing the inside of the box body into a plurality of spaces in a depth direction; A control unit configured to be able to control the operation of the partition device; A first luggage detection means that is communicably connected to the control unit and detects luggage stored on one side of the inside of the box body in the depth direction; A second luggage detection means that is communicably connected to the control unit and detects luggage stored on the other side of the inside of the box body in the depth direction, The first access opening and the second access opening are disposed opposite each other, The partition device is A partition body that divides the inside of the box body; A storage section for storing the partition body; a drive unit that moves the partition body between a state in which the partition body is stored in the storage unit and a state in which the partition body divides the inside of the box main body, This delivery box is characterized in that the control unit controls the drive unit when either the first luggage detection means or the second luggage detection means detects a luggage, to move the partition body from a state stored in the storage section to a state separating the inside of the box body.

2. The delivery box according to claim 1, A delivery box characterized in that the control unit keeps the partition body stored in the storage section when both the first luggage detection means and the second luggage detection means do not detect any luggage.

3. The delivery box according to claim 1, This delivery box is characterized in that it further comprises a foreign object detection means for detecting whether or not there is a foreign object ahead in the direction of movement of the partition body when the partition body is in a state where it divides the inside of the box body.

4. The delivery box according to claim 1, A delivery box characterized in that each of the first door, the second door, and the partition body is configured to be lockable or unlockable.

5. The delivery box according to claim 4, The control unit is configured to be able to control operations of the first door, the second door, and the partition body, The signal acquisition means is communicably connected to the control unit. A delivery box characterized in that the signal acquisition means acquires an operation signal transmitted from an external information terminal and for controlling the operation of at least the first door and the second door.

6. The delivery box according to claim 1, A delivery box characterized in that it is communicatively connected to the control unit and further comprises an availability notification means for transmitting information regarding the availability of the box body based on the detection results by the first luggage detection means and the second luggage detection means to an external information terminal.

7. The delivery box according to claim 1, A delivery box characterized in that it is communicatively connected to the control unit and further comprises an availability display means for displaying information regarding the availability of the box body based on the detection results by the first luggage detection means and the second luggage detection means.

8. The delivery box according to claim 1, A delivery box characterized in that the box body has a transport device that transports luggage stored inside along the depth direction.

9. The delivery box according to claim 8, A plurality of the partition devices are provided, A delivery box characterized in that the interior of the box body is divided into three or more spaces in the depth direction by a plurality of the partition devices.

10. A parcel locker comprising a plurality of parcel boxes according to any one of claims 1 to 9, A delivery locker characterized in that the multiple delivery boxes are arranged so that each of the first access openings is located on the same surface on one side and each of the second access openings is located on the same surface on the other side.

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