Baggage transportation system

The luggage conveying system addresses the labor-intensive task of transporting parcels by utilizing an autonomously operable transport vehicle guided by information terminals and operation panels, effectively reducing user effort and enhancing convenience.

JP2025080005AActive Publication Date: 2025-05-23MISAWA HOMES CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023192944
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-11-13
Publication Date
2025-05-23
Estimated Expiration
2043-11-13

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional parcel receiving facilities require users to manually transport delivered parcels, which can be labor-intensive, especially when hands are full, stairs need to be navigated, or the facility is far from the user's destination.

Method used

A luggage conveying system that includes a luggage receiving section, an autonomously operable transport vehicle, and a guidance system. The transport vehicle moves between a waiting space and the user's destination, guided by information terminals and operation panels, to autonomously transport parcels from the receiving section to the user's location.

Benefits of technology

The system reduces the effort required for users to transport parcels by allowing the transport vehicle to autonomously deliver parcels to their destination, even in situations where users have full hands or need to navigate stairs, thereby enhancing convenience and reducing user labor.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To decrease labor of a user to bring a baggage to a destination by transporting the baggage having been delivered to the destination instead of the user.SOLUTION: A baggage transportation system includes: a baggage receiving section 20 in which a baggage P is stored; a transportation moving body 30 which is configured to be capable of performing autonomous operation, and transports the baggage P stored in the baggage receiving section 20; a standby space 40 for the transportation moving body 30; and guiding means which guides reciprocating movement of the transportation moving body 30 between the standby space 40 and a destination being the delivery place of the baggage P.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a luggage transport system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the volume of parcels delivered has increased, and the demand for parcel receiving facilities, such as parcel boxes, is growing regardless of whether the residence is a detached house or an apartment building. Patent Document 1 discloses a delivery box installed at the road side end of an entrance approach leading between the road and the entrance door on a site on which a detached house is built. Moreover, Patent Document 2 discloses a parcel locker that can be shared among residents of an apartment building by enabling personal authentication. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a locker system that delivers parcels containing products purchased online, in stores, etc. to delivery lockers installed in highly public places or facilities. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-115316 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2004-236797 A [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 3560327 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional parcel receiving facilities such as delivery lockers simply store delivered parcels, so users must take out the parcels from the parcel receiving facility and carry them into their homes. This means that carrying the parcel can be a huge effort, for example, when both hands are full, when users have to go up and down stairs, or when the parcel receiving facility is located far from the user's home.

[0005] To provide a system for transporting delivered luggage to a destination on behalf of a user, thereby reducing the labor required for the user to carry the luggage to the destination. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8, a luggage conveying system, A luggage receiving section 20, 120, 220 in which luggage P is stored; A transport vehicle 30, 130, 230 configured to be autonomously operable and transporting the baggage P stored in the baggage receiving section 20, 120, 220; a waiting space 40, 140, 240 for the transport vehicle 30, 130, 230; The transport vehicle 30, 130, 230 is characterized by being equipped with a guidance means (information terminal 64, 65, operation panel 50, 150, guidance means 250) that guides the transport vehicle 30, 130, 230 in its reciprocating movement between the waiting space 40, 140, 240 and the destination to which the luggage P is to be transported.

[0007] According to the invention described in claim 1, the transporting mobile body 30, 130, 230 moves back and forth between the waiting space 40, 140, 240 and the destination to which the package P is to be transported (the user's house 1, the dwelling units 106, 107, 108, and the space in front of the back door 203) according to the guidance of the guiding means, so that the package P stored in the package receiving unit 20, 120, 220 can be reliably transported to the destination by the transporting mobile body 30, 130, 230 on behalf of the user U. As a result, even in a situation where the user U has both hands full, or has to go up and down stairs to the destination, or the distance from the package receiving unit 20, 120, 220 to the destination is long, the user U does not need to carry the package P stored in the package receiving unit 20, 120, 220 to the destination, so that the effort of the user U to carry the package P to the destination can be reduced.

[0008] The invention described in claim 2 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8, in the luggage conveying system described in claim 1, The induction means is a first guiding means for guiding the transfer vehicle 30, 130, 230 from the waiting space 40, 140, 240 to the destination; and a second guiding means for guiding the movement of the transport vehicle 30, 130, 230 from the destination to the waiting space 40, 140, 240.

[0009] According to the invention described in claim 2, the transporting mobile body 30, 130, 230 is guided by the first guiding means when moving from the waiting space 40, 140, 240 to the destination, and is guided by the second guiding means when returning from the destination to the waiting space 40, 140, 240. Therefore, even if the method of guiding the transporting mobile body 30, 130, 230 by the first guiding means and the method of guiding the transporting mobile body 30, 130, 230 by the second guiding means are different, the transporting mobile body 30, 130, 230 can be reliably moved back and forth between the waiting space 40, 140, 240 and the destination.

[0010] The invention described in claim 3 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 7, in the luggage conveying system described in claim 2, The first guiding means includes a portable information terminal 64 that is carried and used by the user U, The portable information terminal 64 and the transport vehicle 30, 130 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other, The transport vehicles 30 and 130 are characterized in that they move based on the position information of the portable information terminal 64 transmitted from the portable information terminal 64 .

[0011] According to the invention described in claim 3, the first guiding means includes a portable information terminal 64 carried and used by the user U, the portable information terminal 64 and the transport vehicle 30, 130 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other, and the transport vehicle 30, 130 moves based on the position information of the portable information terminal 64 transmitted from the portable information terminal 64, so that the transport vehicle 30, 130 can move toward the location where the portable information terminal 64 is located. In other words, the transport vehicle 30, 130 can accompany the user U who carries the portable information terminal 64, and can reliably transport the baggage P to the destination on behalf of the user U, guided by the portable information terminal 64.

[0012] The invention described in claim 4 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 7, in the luggage conveying system described in claim 2, The first guiding means (operation panel 50, 150, repeater 156) is provided near the waiting space 40, 140, The first guiding means and the conveying movable body 30, 130 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other, The transport vehicle 30, 130 is characterized in that it moves based on the position information of the destination transmitted from the first guiding means.

[0013] According to the invention described in claim 4, the first guiding means is provided in the vicinity of the waiting space 40, 140, and the transporting body 30, 130 moves based on the location information of the destination transmitted from the first guiding means, so that the location information of the destination can be transmitted from the first guiding means to the transporting body 30, 130 when the transporting body 30, 130 is waiting in the waiting space 40, 140. As a result, the transporting body 30, 130 can move to the destination after originating from the waiting space 40, 140 without any particular information communication with the first guiding means.

[0014] The invention described in claim 5 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 7, in the luggage conveying system described in claim 2, The second guiding means (operation panel 50, 150, repeater 156) is provided near the waiting space 40, 140, The second guiding means and the conveying movable body 30, 130 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other, The transport vehicle 30, 130 is characterized in that it moves based on the position information of the waiting space 40, 140 transmitted from the second guiding means.

[0015] According to the invention described in claim 5, the second guiding means is provided in the vicinity of the waiting space 40, 140, and the transporting mobile body 30, 130 moves based on the position information of the waiting space 40, 140 transmitted from the second guiding means, making it easy to move the transporting mobile body 30, 130 from the destination of the luggage P to the waiting space 40, 140.

[0016] The invention described in claim 6 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 7, in the luggage conveying system described in any one of claims 1 to 5, The cargo receiving sections 20 and 120 are characterized by having transfer means (pallets 21, push-out section 123) for transferring the stored cargo P to the transport movable bodies 30 and 130.

[0017] According to the invention described in claim 6, the cargo receiving section 20, 120 has a transfer means for transferring the stored cargo P to the transporting body 30, 130, thereby eliminating the need for the user U to transfer the cargo P stored in the cargo receiving section 20, 120 to the transporting body 30, 130, thereby further reducing the effort of the user U.

[0018] The invention described in claim 7 is, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, in the luggage conveying system described in claim 6, The cargo receiving section 20 and the waiting space 40 are characterized by being housed within the same housing 11.

[0019] According to the invention described in claim 7, the cargo receiving section 20 and the waiting space 40 are housed in the same housing 11, so that the storage of the delivered cargo P and the transfer of the cargo P to the transport vehicle 30 waiting in the waiting space 40 can be completed within the same housing 11. As a result, the cargo receiving section 20 and the waiting space 40, and the transport vehicle 30 waiting in the waiting space 40 can be handled as a single independent cargo receiving facility 10, so that such cargo receiving facility 10 can be installed in various places, including public facilities such as train stations, convenience stores, and post offices.

[0020] The invention described in claim 8 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, in the luggage conveying system described in claim 6, The cargo receiving section 120 and the waiting space 140 are provided along the outer wall 102 of a multi-story building 101, The cargo receiving section 120 has a lifting means (pallet 122, moving mechanism) for transporting cargo P to each floor of the building 101, The waiting space 140 is arranged on each floor of the building 101, and the transport vehicle 130 is arranged in the waiting space 140 on each floor.

[0021] According to the invention described in claim 8, the cargo receiving section 120 and the waiting space 140 are provided along the outer wall 102 of the multi-story building 101, so that the cargo receiving section 120, the waiting space 140, and the transport vehicle 130 waiting in the waiting space 140 can be treated as equipment attached to the building 101. Furthermore, the cargo receiving section 120 has an elevator means for transporting the baggage P to each floor of the building 101, and since the waiting space 140 on each floor is provided with a transport vehicle 130, the baggage P can be transported to an upper floor and transported on each floor by the transport vehicle 130. This eliminates the need for the user U to carry the baggage P up to the upper floor, thereby reducing the effort required of the user U to carry the baggage P.

[0022] The invention as recited in claim 9 provides, for example as shown in FIG. 8, a luggage conveying system as recited in claim 1 or 2, The load receiving section 220 and the transport movable body 230 are characterized by being integrally formed.

[0023] According to the invention described in claim 9, since the goods receiving section 220 and the transporting movable body 230 are integrally formed, the goods receiving section 220 containing the goods P can be moved to the destination by the transporting movable body 230. This eliminates the need for the user U to carry the goods P to the destination, thereby reducing the effort required of the user U to carry the goods P. Effect of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, a delivered package is transported to a destination on behalf of a user, thereby reducing the effort required of the user to carry the package to the destination. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a free-standing cargo receiving facility. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a free-standing cargo receiving facility. [Diagram 3]13 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which a package is transferred from a package receiving section to a transport vehicle. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an operation panel and a transport vehicle, and an overview of a luggage transport system including a mobile information terminal communicably connected to the operation panel and the transport vehicle. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a mode in which a transport vehicle reciprocates between a cargo receiving facility and a destination. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a reservation system for reserving cargo receiving facilities. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a building-mounted cargo receiving facility. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a load receiving facility in which a load receiving section and a transport movable body are integrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are subject to various technically preferable limitations for carrying out the present invention, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0027] ◆First embodiment◆ First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0028] [1-1. Receiving facilities] 1 and the like, reference numeral 10 denotes a receiving facility for storing a package P delivered by a delivery company D. The package P is to be received by a user U who is a recipient. Such cargo receiving equipment 10 is a freestanding type that is installed independently in public facilities such as train stations, convenience stores, and post offices, common spaces in residential areas, etc. Therefore, the cargo P stored in the cargo receiving equipment 10 needs to be transported from the cargo receiving equipment 10 to a predetermined destination.

[0029] In this embodiment, the destination to which the package P is to be delivered is the user U's home (user home 1), but is not limited thereto and may be, for example, the user U's office, the home of a friend of the user U, or other locations. In other words, the location requested by the user U is set as the destination to which the package P is to be delivered.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the freestanding receiving equipment 10 comprises a receiving section 20 for storing luggage P, a transport vehicle 30 for transporting luggage P on behalf of a user U, a waiting space 40 for the transport vehicle 30 to wait, and an operation panel 50 for performing operations necessary for various operations of the receiving section 20 and the transport vehicle 30. The goods receiving section 20 and the waiting space 40 are housed in the same housing 11. In addition, when the transport vehicle 30 is waiting in the waiting space 40, it is also housed in the housing 11 like the goods receiving section 20.

[0031] The cargo receiving facility 10 as described above constitutes a cargo transport system together with a guide means for guiding the transport vehicle 30 in its reciprocating movement between the waiting space 40 and the destination to which the cargo P is to be transported. The guiding means of this embodiment has a first guiding means for guiding the movement of the transporting mobile body 30 from the waiting space 40 to the destination, and a second guiding means for guiding the movement of the transporting mobile body 30 from the destination to the waiting space 40.

[0032] [1-2. About the case] The housing 11 has a transport device 12 that forms the bottom of the housing 11 and on which the transport movable body 30 is placed, a front panel 13, a left side panel 14, a right side panel 15, a back panel 16, and a top panel 17. The transport device 12 is, for example, a powered belt conveyor, and is capable of transporting the transporting body 30 along the left-right direction of the housing 11.

[0033] The front panel 13 has an opening 13a for inserting and removing luggage P formed in the center. The front panel 13 is provided with an opening / closing door 50a for opening and closing the loading / unloading opening 13a. The opening / closing door 50a is a one-way door with a handle on one side. In this embodiment, the opening / closing door 50a is provided with an operation panel 50, but the operation panel 50 may be provided in another location on the front panel 13. The opening and closing door 50a can be locked or unlocked by a door lock device (not shown). This door lock device is set to operate by operation from the operation panel 50. Therefore, the door lock device can also be operated from various information terminals (64 to 67) connected to the operation panel 50 so as to be able to communicate with them.

[0034] The lower part of the front plate 13 is formed with a departure opening 13b through which the transporting mobile body 30 passes when going from inside the housing 11 to outside the housing 11, and a return opening 13c through which the transporting mobile body 30 passes when returning into the housing 11. In addition, a slope 13d is provided in front of the departure gate 13b and the return gate 13c so that the transfer vehicle 30 can move from the ground onto the transfer device 12. In order to prevent children, small animals, etc. from entering the housing 11, the front panel 13 may be provided with doors such as shutters for opening and closing the departure opening 13b and the return opening 13c.

[0035] A solar panel 18 for supplying power to the load receiving facility 10 is installed on the upper surface of the top plate 17. The solar panel 18 is supported by a support rail 18a installed on the upper surface of the top plate 17. The power to the receiving facility 10 may be supplied from a power system (not shown), or the power supply from the power system and the power supply from the solar panel 18 may be used in combination.

[0036] A thin vacuum insulation panel may be incorporated in the housing 11 and the opening / closing door 50a. By incorporating a vacuum insulation panel, the goods receiving section 20 has high insulation performance, and the internal temperature can be kept within a constant range for a long period of time even without a power source. This makes it possible for the goods receiving section 20 to receive goods P that require temperature control, such as fresh foods, industrial products, and medicines. In addition, a cooling agent may be incorporated in the housing 11.

[0037] [1-3. About the cargo receiving section] The load receiving section 20 is provided in the internal space of the housing 11 from the center in the height direction to the upper part. Such a cargo receiving section 20 includes a plurality of pallets 21 on which cargo P is placed, and a moving mechanism (not shown) for moving the plurality of pallets 21 within the housing 11. The multiple pallets 21 are luggage placement sections for placing and storing luggage P contained within the luggage receiving section 20, and are supported by a moving mechanism so that they can move within the luggage receiving section 20 with luggage P placed on them. The moving mechanism is set to operate so that, among the multiple pallets 21, pallets 21 on which luggage P is not placed are positioned at the back of the loading / unloading opening 13a. As a result, when the opening / closing door 50a is opened to open the loading / unloading opening 13a, the empty pallets 21 are waiting at the back of the loading / unloading opening 13a. When all the pallets 21 are loaded with luggage P, the door 50a is not unlocked. However, when the user U does not choose to transport the luggage P by the transport vehicle 30 and chooses to take the luggage P home, the pallets 21 are moved appropriately, and the luggage P of the user U is placed at the back of the loading / unloading opening 13a, and then the door 50a is unlocked.

[0038] Although not shown, the pallet 21 or the movement mechanism supporting the pallet 21 is provided with a baggage detection sensor. In this embodiment, a weight sensor is used as the luggage detection sensor, and when the weight of the luggage P is detected, the detection signal can be output to the control unit 51 of the operation panel 50. In other words, information as to whether or not the luggage P is placed on the pallet 21 can be transmitted to the operation panel 50. In this embodiment, a weight sensor is used as the luggage detection sensor, but this is not limited to this, and other sensors such as an ultrasonic sensor, a photoelectric sensor, a camera (image analysis), etc. may be used, or these sensors may be used in combination.

[0039] The moving mechanism in this embodiment appropriately has a frame, a drive unit, and the like necessary for moving the multiple pallets 21 in a vertical rotation circulation manner. That is, the multiple pallets 21 rotate vertically so that their positions are exchanged counterclockwise (or clockwise) when viewed from the front. The method of moving the multiple pallets 21 by the moving mechanism is not limited to the vertical rotation circulation method, but may be other methods such as an up-down horizontal movement method, etc. The method is selected appropriately depending on the number of pallets 21 and the overall size of the goods receiving equipment 10 (goods receiving section 20).

[0040] 3, five pallets 21 are provided in the cargo receiving section 20, and the space directly above the transfer vehicle 30 located on the departure gate 13b side is left as an empty space where no pallets 21 are provided. The existence of this empty space allows the multiple pallets 21 to move without any problems. The number of pallets 21 is not limited to five, and can be changed as appropriate within the scope of the present invention. Even if the number of pallets 21 is five or more, the space directly above the transfer movable body 30 located on the departure gate 13b side is considered to be an empty space where no pallets 21 are provided. In addition, in Figs. 2 and 3, the packages P placed on the five pallets 21 are denoted by symbols P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5.

[0041] The pallet 21 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, and has an opening 22. The opening 22 can be opened and closed by two opening and closing floor parts 23 formed in the shape of folding doors. That is, when the opening 22 is closed by the opening / closing floor 23, the luggage P can be placed thereon. When the opening / closing floor 23 is folded to open the opening 22, the luggage P can be transferred downward through the opening 22. The opening / closing floor 23 is set to operate only when the transport vehicle 30 is disposed below. Therefore, the pallet 21, together with the control unit 51 of the operation panel 50 described later, functions as a transfer means for transferring the luggage P placed thereon to the transport vehicle 30.

[0042] In addition, any cargo P having a size exceeding the width and depth dimensions of the opening 22 in the pallet 21 cannot be received by the cargo receiving section 20. Incidentally, since the box of the package P is larger than the items stored therein, an optional service may be provided in which the package P is unpacked when the delivery person D places it in the package receiving section 20, and only the items that are the actual package P are placed on the pallet 21. In this case, the optional service is provided only after the user U applies for it in advance.

[0043] In addition, the means for transferring the luggage P may be a cargo handling robot that is installed in the luggage receiving section 20, grasps the luggage P placed on the pallet 21, and moves it to the transfer vehicle 30.

[0044] [1-4. About the transport vehicle] The transport vehicle 30 is a so-called luggage transport robot, and is equipped with a main body that travels on a number of wheels. The main body has a loading platform 34 for carrying luggage P, and luggage P is transferred from the pallet 21 of the luggage receiving section 20 to the loading platform 34. The loading platform 34 is also provided with a cushioning material 34a for cushioning impacts on luggage P during loading and transport.

[0045] 4, the transport vehicle 30 includes a drive control unit 31, a drive unit 32, and a communication unit 33, and is configured to be capable of autonomous driving. The autonomous driving is made possible by the drive control unit 31 controlling the drive unit 32 for operating a plurality of wheels.

[0046] The driving control unit 31 that controls the autonomous driving is configured with a computer including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. In addition to the drive unit 32, various devices such as lights, such as headlights and brake lights, and auxiliary devices and actuators necessary for autonomous driving are connected to the driving control unit 31, and these can be controlled by the driving control unit 31. The operation control unit 31 loads a program prestored in the ROM into the RAM and executes it on the CPU, and controls the operation of the drive unit 32 and various devices, etc., thereby controlling the autonomous operation of the conveyance vehicle 30. The operation control unit 31 may be composed of multiple electronic control units.

[0047] The communication unit 33 is communicatively connected to the communication unit 52 of the operation panel 50 described later and the information terminals 64, 65 used by the user U via a communication network N, and is capable of transmitting and receiving various information and various signals between the operation panel 50 or the information terminals 64, 65. The various information and signals received by the communication unit 33 are input to the operation control unit 31, and the operation control unit 31 is capable of autonomous operation based on the various information and signals from the operation panel 50 or the information terminals 64, 65. For example, when the communication unit 33 receives position information indicating the destination of the baggage P, the operation control unit 31 operates the drive unit 32 to start autonomous operation, and becomes able to transport the baggage P to the destination (destination) indicated by the position information.

[0048] Although not shown, the loading platform 34 is provided with a baggage detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of baggage P. In this embodiment, a weight sensor is used as the baggage detection sensor, and when the weight of the baggage P is detected, the detection signal can be output to the driving control unit 31. The driving control unit 31 can start moving to the destination based on the input detection signal, or start moving to the waiting space 40 based on the baggage P being removed from the loading platform 34 and the input of the detection signal no longer being received.

[0049] In this embodiment, a weight sensor is used as the luggage detection sensor, but this is not limited to this, and other sensors such as an ultrasonic sensor, a photoelectric sensor, a camera (image analysis), etc. may be used, or these sensors may be used in combination. Furthermore, since the luggage detection sensor is a weight sensor in this embodiment, it may be configured not only to detect the weight of the luggage P but also to measure the specific weight of the luggage P.

[0050] [1-5. Waiting Space] The standby space 40 refers to the space immediately below the space in the interior of the housing 11 where the load receiving section 20 is provided. That is, the standby space 40 of the transport movable body 30 in this embodiment refers to the space immediately below the load receiving section 20 and surrounded by the transfer device 12, the front panel 13, the left and right side panels 14 and 15, and the back panel 16.

[0051] When one of the multiple transport mobile bodies 30 waiting in the waiting space 40 exits from the departure opening 13b, an empty space is created. Therefore, the transfer device 12 constituting the waiting space 40 is set to perform an operation of moving the other transport mobile bodies 30 waiting toward the departure opening 13b so as to fill the empty space created by the one transport mobile body 30 that has exited. As a result, in the waiting space 40, if a transport mobile body 30 is waiting, the transport mobile body 30 is always positioned at the back of the departure opening 13b.

[0052] A sensor for detecting the transport vehicle 30 is provided in the waiting space 40, and is capable of detecting that the transport vehicle 30 departs from the departure opening 13b and that a space has become available in the waiting space 40. In other words, the detection result by the sensor functions as a trigger for the transfer device 12 to operate. In addition, since this sensor can check the number of transport vehicles 30 waiting in the waiting space 40, if all of the transport vehicles 30 have left, a message to that effect can be displayed on the display device 55 of the operation panel 50, which will be described later.

[0053] [1-6. About the operation panel] As described above, the operation panel 50 is provided on the opening / closing door 50a which opens and closes the loading / unloading opening 13a of the front panel 13, and is configured to be capable of controlling the entire cargo receiving equipment 10, including the transport vehicle 30 which operates outside the waiting space 40. Such an operation panel 50 includes a control unit 51, a communication unit 52, a keypad 53, a reading unit 54, and a display device 55, as shown in FIG.

[0054] The control unit 51 is a computer having a CPU, a memory unit (RAM, ROM, non-volatile memory, hard disk drive, etc.), an input / output interface, a signal processing circuit, a display control circuit, etc., and centrally controls the operation of each unit in the receiving facility 10. The memory unit stores various programs and data required for the operation of the opening / closing floor 23 for the multiple pallets 21 in the goods receiving unit 20, the rotational movement of the multiple pallets 21 by the moving mechanism, the operation of the transfer device 12, communication with the transport vehicle 30, the operation of the door lock device of the opening / closing door 50a, communication with external devices (information terminals 64-67, reservation server 60), communication with various sensors (not shown), etc. The CPU executes these various programs to control the entire goods receiving facility 10 including the transport vehicle 30.

[0055] In addition, the control unit 51 is connected to a communication unit 52 composed of a communication module, etc., and is capable of sending and receiving various information and various signals between external information terminals 64 to 67 and the reservation server 60 via the communication network N. The external information terminals 64-67 include user information terminals 64, 65 used by a user U, and delivery personnel information terminals 66, 67 used by a delivery company. The user information terminals 64, 65 include a mobile information terminal 64 carried by the user U, and the delivery personnel information terminals 66, 67 include a mobile information terminal 66 carried by a delivery personnel D. As a result, the control unit 51 is connected to be able to communicate with external information terminals 64-67 and the reservation server 60, enabling the delivery person D to pick up the package P using the mobile information terminal 66, and the user U to use the mobile information terminal 64 to pick up the package P or transfer the package P to the transport vehicle 30. The mobile information terminal 64 carried by the user U is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet terminal, and the information terminal 65 of the user U is, for example, a PC. The mobile information terminal 66 carried by the delivery person D is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet terminal, and the information terminal 67 for the delivery person is, for example, a PC. The mobile information terminal 66 and the information terminal 67 are connected to be able to communicate with each other, and share information.

[0056] The communication unit 52 is capable of transmitting and receiving various information and various signals not only to and from each of the information terminals 64 to 67, but also to and from the communication unit 33 of the transport vehicle 30. This makes it possible to grasp the position of the transport vehicle 30 when it moves from the waiting space 40 to the destination and when it moves from the destination to the waiting space 40, and also to guide the transport vehicle 30 by transmitting and receiving the position information.

[0057] Furthermore, the control unit 51 receives instruction signals input from a keypad 53 and a reading unit 54, which are input devices, and outputs the instruction signals to a display device 55, which is an output device.

[0058] The keypad 53, which is an input device, is a device for inputting the reception number (which may be a PIN number) of the package P to the control unit 51, and in this embodiment, a numeric keypad consisting of numeric keys from 0 to 9, a delete key, and an enter key is adopted. The reception number is information for identifying the package P and the user U who is the recipient of the package P. The reception number (PIN number) entered from the keypad 53 is a key for unlocking the door lock device of the opening and closing door 50a, and is transmitted in advance to an external information terminal, together with a one-time two-dimensional code described below, to a mobile information terminal 64 used by the user U who will receive the package P, and to a mobile information terminal 66 used by the delivery person D who will deliver the package P.

[0059] The reading unit 54, which is an input device, is a device for reading a one-time two-dimensional code issued to, for example, an external information terminal, and in this embodiment, a camera is used. The external information terminals refer to a portable information terminal 64 used by a user U who receives the package P, and a portable information terminal 66 used by a delivery person D who delivers the package P. The one-time two-dimensional code is a key for unlocking the door lock device of the opening and closing door 50a, and the source of the code may be the information terminal 27 of the delivery company, an information terminal of a shopping site, or any other company that entrusts delivery to the delivery company. Also, the control unit 51 may be the issuer and the code may be transmitted to the mobile information terminals 64, 66 that have been authenticated in advance.

[0060] In this embodiment, the reception number or one-time two-dimensional code contains not only information as a key for unlocking the door lock device, but also information on the weight, external dimensions, and orientation of the luggage P. Therefore, by simply inputting the reception number or one-time two-dimensional code to the control unit 51, the control unit 51 can obtain information as a key for unlocking the door lock device and information on the size of the luggage P.

[0061] The display device 55, which is an output device, is arranged alongside the keypad 53 and the reading unit 54, and can display the reception number entered from the keypad 53, as well as messages for the user U and the delivery person D. This allows the user U or the delivery person D to input the reception number while looking at the display device 55, and therefore allows the reception number to be input accurately. In addition, the display device 55 can display messages for the user U and the delivery person D, for example, instructions on the procedure for unlocking the door lock device, or an explanation of the content of an error that has occurred, such as an incorrect input of a reception number.

[0062] [1-7. Guidance methods] As described above, the guiding means for guiding the movement of the transporting body 30 includes the first guiding means and the second guiding means. The first guiding means guides the transporting body 30 on the outgoing path in the reciprocating movement between the waiting space 40 and the destination, and the second guiding means guides the transporting body 30 on the return path.

[0063] These first and second guiding means are communicatively connected to the transporting body 30, and are capable of transmitting and receiving various information and signals necessary for the reciprocating movement of the transporting body 30 between them. More specifically, the first guiding means in this embodiment includes a portable information terminal 64 carried and used by the user U. Moreover, the second guiding means in this embodiment includes an operation panel 50 provided in the vicinity of the waiting space 40 to which the conveying movable body 30 returns.

[0064] The transfer vehicle 30 in this embodiment is set to move based on position information from a portable information terminal 64, as shown in FIG. The portable information terminal 64, which is the first guiding means, is connected to the transport vehicle 30 by short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), and is capable of transmitting position information of the portable information terminal 64 to the transport vehicle 30. In other words, when moving to the destination, the portable information terminal 64 and the transport vehicle 30 are in a paired state, and the transport vehicle 30 is capable of constantly grasping the position of the portable information terminal 64. This allows the transport vehicle 30 to accompany the user U who is carrying the portable information terminal 64. The portable information terminal 64 acquires its own location information from, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System).

[0065] Furthermore, when the distance between the portable information terminal 64 and the transporting vehicle 30 becomes small, the distance between the transporting vehicle 30 and the user U also becomes small. Therefore, the transporting vehicle 30 is set to move while keeping the distance from the portable information terminal 64 constant. More specifically, the transport vehicle 30 is equipped with a camera with an automatic tracking function, which stores the characteristics of the user U and is capable of tracking the user U while maintaining a constant distance from the user U. However, the method of maintaining a constant distance from the user U is not limited to this, and other sensors such as an infrared sensor may be used. In other words, the transport vehicle 30 is equipped with sensors (including cameras) that detect the user U while moving, and the driving control unit 31 has a means for moving while maintaining a constant distance from the user U.

[0066] In addition, in the above-described mode in which the transport vehicle 30 accompanies the user U, the travel distance may be limited. Alternatively, even while accompanying the user U, the transport vehicle 30 may be limited to communicate with the operation panel 50 and accompany the user U within a range in which communication with the operation panel 50 is possible.

[0067] In addition, the first guiding means in this embodiment is the portable information terminal 64 carried and used by the user U, but is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, a dedicated transmitter assigned in advance to the user U. In this case, the transport vehicle 30 is equipped with a receiver that receives radio waves from the transmitter, which allows the transport vehicle 30 to constantly grasp the position of the portable information terminal 64 and to execute a mode in which it accompanies the user U in the same way as the portable information terminal 64.

[0068] The operation panel 50, which is the second guiding means, is communicatively connected to the transport vehicle 30 as described above, and the transport vehicle 30 moves based on the position information of the waiting space 40 transmitted from the communication unit 52 of the operation panel 50. That is, since the user U will stay at the destination in most cases after the baggage P is transported to the destination and the user U picks up the baggage P, the transport vehicle 30 is set to terminate communication with the mobile information terminal 64 and to start communication with the communication unit 52 of the operation panel 50 when the transport vehicle 30 arrives at the destination.

[0069] In addition, since the transport vehicle 30 needs to enter the waiting space 40 from the return entrance 13c formed in the housing 11, the communication method for guiding the transport vehicle 30 from the destination to the vicinity of the waiting space 40 may be different from the communication method for guiding the transport vehicle 30 from the return entrance 13c into the waiting space 40. Alternatively, the transport vehicle 30 may be guided to enter the waiting space 40 from the return entrance 13c by using sensors such as a camera mounted on the transport vehicle 30 in combination.

[0070] Even if the communication with the operation panel 50 is interrupted, the transport vehicle 30 can return to the waiting space 40 by following a route opposite to the route to the destination. In this case, the second guiding means is configured by the operation control unit 31 in the transport vehicle 30.

[0071] [1-8. Operation flow of the luggage transport system] Next, the operation of the luggage transport system will be described. It is assumed that the user U has previously completed user registration for the receiving facility 10. In addition, the user U is registered on an external management terminal (server) that is communicatively connected to the operation panel 50 and manages the receiving facility 10.

[0072] First, the package P is stored in the package receiving section 20 by the delivery person D. In this case, the delivery person D inputs information about the package P (information about the recipient, user U) into the control section 51 of the operation panel 50 using the keypad 53 or the reading section 54 of the operation panel 50. When the information about the baggage P is stored in the operation panel 50, the control unit 51 operates the door lock device of the opening and closing door 50a to unlock it, and opens the loading / unloading opening 13a. The deliveryman D puts the package P into the package receiving section 20 through the loading / unloading opening 13a and places it on the pallet 21. After that, the deliveryman D closes the loading / unloading opening 13a with the opening / closing door 50a, and the control section 51 locks the opening / closing door 50a.

[0073] The cargo receiving facility 10 is ready to wait for the user U to pick up the cargo P. In addition, when the package P is received in the package receiving section 20, an email (or a message transmission tool other than email may be used) is sent from the operation panel 50 to the information terminals 64, 65 of the user U to inform the user that the package P has been received. The sender of the email may be the management terminal described above. The email contains a receipt number and / or a one-time two-dimensional code as a key for authenticating that the recipient is the recipient of package P.

[0074] When the user U collects the package P, he or she first inputs the receipt number written in the email from the keypad 53, or has the one-time two-dimensional code read by the reader 54. This completes personal authentication of the user U. When the personal authentication of the user U is completed, a screen is displayed on the display device 55, prompting the user U to select whether to transport the baggage P using the transport vehicle 30 or to pick up the baggage P himself / herself. The user U selects either option by inputting an input from the keypad 53.

[0075] If the user U chooses to collect the luggage P himself, multiple pallets 21 rotate and move within the luggage receiving section 20, and after the pallet 21 carrying the user U's luggage P is placed at the back of the loading / unloading opening 13a, the opening / closing door 50a is unlocked and the loading / unloading opening 13a for the luggage P is opened. The user U takes out his / her baggage P from the loading / unloading opening 13a and closes the loading / unloading opening 13a with the opening / closing door 50a. Then, the opening / closing door 50a is locked by the door lock device, and the baggage receiving section 20 enters a state of waiting for the baggage P to be stored.

[0076] On the other hand, when it is selected to transport the luggage P by the transport vehicle 30, the multiple pallets 21 rotate and move within the luggage receiving section 20, and the pallet 21 carrying the luggage P of the user U is positioned directly above the transport vehicle 30 waiting at the back of the departure gate 13b, and then the pallet 21 descends to the loading platform 34 of the transport vehicle 30. Then, the opening 22 of the pallet 21 is opened by the opening / closing floor section 23, and the luggage P is placed on the loading platform 34. At the same time, pairing is performed between the transportation vehicle 30 and the mobile information terminal 64 of the user U, and the transportation vehicle 30 and the mobile information terminal 64 are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0077] When the baggage detection sensor detects that the baggage P has been placed on the platform 34, the transfer vehicle 30 starts to move from the departure gate 13b. At this time, the transfer device 12 is operated to move the transport vehicle 30 waiting in the waiting space 40 to the departure gate 13b side, so as to wait for the next baggage P to be loaded, while creating an empty space on the return gate 13c side.

[0078] The transport vehicle 30, which has gone outside from the departure gate 13b, confirms the user U with a camera and stores the characteristics of the user U. Then, when the user U starts walking, the transport vehicle 30 also moves while keeping a constant distance from the user U by confirming with the camera, and accompanies the user U to the destination (e.g., the user's house 1) to which the package P is to be delivered.

[0079] When the transport vehicle 30 arrives at the destination and the user U removes the baggage P from the loading platform 34 of the transport vehicle 30, the baggage detection sensor no longer detects the baggage. This causes the operation control unit 31 of the transport vehicle 30 to determine that the baggage P has been removed from the loading platform 34. Thereafter, the transport vehicle 30 communicates with the communication unit 52 of the operation panel 50 via the communication unit 33, and upon receiving position information of the waiting space 40 (baggage receiving facility 10) from the operation panel 50, begins moving to the waiting space 40.

[0080] The transport vehicle 30 moves while communicating with the operation panel 50, and when it arrives in front of the waiting space 40, it enters the waiting space 40 from the return entrance 13c and goes into a waiting state again in the waiting space 40. The transfer device 12 operates appropriately so that the waiting transport mobile bodies 30 are lined up in order from the departure gate 13b side with the gaps narrowed. That is, in a situation where two transport mobile bodies 30 are departed and one transport mobile body 30 is waiting at the rear of the departure gate 13b of the waiting space 40, if the first transport mobile body 30 of the two that departed returns from transportation, if it enters the waiting space 40 from the return gate 13c as it is, a space for one transport mobile body will be formed between the waiting transport mobile body 30 and the returning transport mobile body 30. In this case, when the remaining transport mobile body 30 returns, it will not be able to return from the return gate 13c into the waiting space 40, so the transfer device 12 temporarily shifts the waiting transport mobile body 30 to the return gate 13c side at the time when the first transport mobile body 30 returns, and in that state, allows the returning transport mobile body 30 to enter the waiting space 40 from the return gate 13c. As a result, no gap is formed between one waiting transport vehicle 30 and one returning transport vehicle 30, and then these two transport vehicles 30 are moved toward the departure gate 13b. Then, a gap for one vehicle is formed on the return gate 13c side, so that even if the remaining transport vehicle 30 returns from transport, it can enter the waiting space 40 from the return gate 13c without any problem. In order to realize such an operation of the transport device 12, the transport vehicle 30 and the operation panel 50 communicate with each other just before the returned transport vehicle 30 enters the waiting space 40. In other words, by communicating with each other, they can grasp the position information of the transport vehicle 30 and transmit permission for the transport vehicle 30 to enter the waiting space 40.

[0081] In this manner, the transportation of the luggage P is completed.

[0082] When all the transport vehicles 30 have left the facility, the user U can use the information terminals 64, 65 to request automatic transport of the package P to the destination (user's house 1). That is, the information terminals 64, 65 transmit location information of the destination to the operation panel 50 (or a management terminal), and the operation panel 50 can transport the requested package P when a space becomes available on the transport vehicles 30. In this case, the transport vehicle 30 may transport the package P while receiving guidance (transmission of location information) from the information terminals 64, 65 for the user U, or while receiving guidance from the operation panel 50.

[0083] Although not shown, assuming that all of the transport vehicles 30 are removed, a rental cart may be installed in the goods receiving facility 10. That is, the goods receiving facility 10 is provided with a cart storage section for storing the carts, and the rental carts are stored there. A GPS transmitter is attached to the cart so that its position can be ascertained on the operation panel 50 (management terminal) side. When a dolly is used, the dolly is driven into the waiting space 40 from the starting gate 13b, and the baggage P is transferred in the same manner as the transfer vehicle 30. This allows the user U to transfer the baggage P to the destination using the dolly.

[0084] In addition, when there are multiple pieces of luggage P for a user U stored in the luggage receiving section 20, if another piece of luggage P is placed on the platform 34 of the transporting vehicle 30 while another piece of luggage P is already placed on it, it is conceivable that the transporting vehicle 30 will not be able to pass through the departure gate 13b. Therefore, first, the heaviest of the multiple packages P or the package P with the largest upper and lower surface area is transferred from the pallet 21 to the platform 34 of the transfer vehicle 30. Then, the user U takes out the next lightest baggage P from the loading / unloading opening 13a and places it on top of the baggage P placed on the loading platform 34. This allows the conveyance vehicle 30 to move to the destination while carrying a plurality of packages P.

[0085] [1-9. About the reservation system] It is assumed that the cargo receiving facility 10 will be shared by an unspecified number of users U. In order to facilitate smooth use of the cargo receiving facility 10, the cargo transport system of this embodiment is linked to a reservation system for making reservations for the transport vehicle 30.

[0086] 6, the reservation system of this embodiment includes a reservation server 60 that comprehensively manages the reservation system, a goods receiving facility 10 having a goods receiving section 20 on which a plurality of pallets 21 are provided, information terminals 64, 65 for users, and information terminals 66, 67 for delivery personnel. The operation panel 50 of the goods receiving facility 10, the information terminals 64, 65 for users, and the information terminals 66, 67 for delivery personnel are connected to the reservation server 60 via a communication network N so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0087] The communication network N may include various communication networks such as telephone lines, ISDN lines, optical fibers, mobile communication networks, communication satellite lines, CATV lines, 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 LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth, and NFC (Near Field Communication) are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other. The connection form may be wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless.

[0088] The reservation server 60 is a central management device made up of a PC, a dedicated device, a terminal, etc., and includes a calculation unit 61, a storage unit 62, and a communication unit 63. The calculation unit 61, the storage unit 62, and the communication unit 63 are electrically connected via a bus or the like. The reservation server 60 is for allowing a user U, when wishing to use the goods receiving facility 10, to make a reservation in advance to secure a pallet 21 for the goods receiving section 20. By reserving the use of the pallet 21 in advance, it is possible to prevent the pallet 21 from being used by another user, thereby reducing the number of redeliveries of the package P by the delivery person D.

[0089] The calculation unit 21 of the reservation server 60 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 61 reads out various programs, loads them in the RAM, executes various processes in accordance with the loaded programs, and centrally controls the operation of each means in the reservation system.

[0090] The storage unit 62 of the reservation server 60 is configured with a non-volatile memory, a hard disk, etc. In the storage unit 62, various data etc. required for executing various programs executed by the calculation unit 61 are stored.

[0091] The various programs include a reservation program for reserving a pallet 21 in the cargo receiving section 20 based on reservation information transmitted from user information terminals 64, 65, and a reservation cancellation program for canceling the reservation when a cargo P is removed from the reserved pallet 21. Additionally, the multiple pallets 21 in the goods receiving section 20 are given specific information for identifying each pallet 21, and the various data stored in the memory unit 62 includes data of the specific information given to the multiple pallets 21. Additionally, the memory unit of the operation panel 50 also stores data of the specific information given to the multiple pallets 21. It should be noted that specific information is also assigned to the receiving facilities 10 themselves, and the reservation system can manage reservations for receiving facilities 10 located at multiple locations. The various data stored in the storage unit 62 also includes data on a confirmation list for confirming the reservation status of multiple pallets 21.

[0092] The communication unit 63 of the reservation server 60 is composed of a communication module and the like. The communication unit 63 is configured to transmit and receive various signals and data to and from other devices (user information terminals 64, 65, delivery personnel information terminals 66, 67) connected by wire or wirelessly via the communication network N.

[0093] The reservation server 60 of this modified example operates as follows. The reservation server 60 executes a reservation program when it receives a request for reserving the use of a pallet 21 from a user U who is accessing the reservation server 60. When the reservation program is executed, first, data of a confirmation table showing the current reservation status is sent to the user's information terminal 64, 65. The confirmation table is then displayed on the display unit of the user's information terminal 64, 65.

[0094] The user U looks at the confirmation table on the user information terminal 64, 65 to confirm which pallets 21 are available for reservation, selects any one of the available pallets 21, and transmits the reservation information to the reservation server 60 via the user information terminal 64, 65. The reservation information includes user information about the user U himself / herself, specific information about the goods receiving facility 10 and pallet 21 to be reserved, and information about the date and time for which the reservation is desired.

[0095] The reservation server 60 receives reservation information transmitted from the user information terminals 64, 65 via the communication unit 63 and stores it in the storage unit 62. Then, the data in the confirmation table is updated based on each piece of information included in the reservation information. In the confirmation table with the updated data, the pallet 21 reserved by the user U will be shown as reserved at the date and time when the user U made the reservation, and it will be possible to confirm that the pallet 21 is in a state where reservations cannot be made by other users. Even if a reservation is made by another user, it will be rejected.

[0096] The reservation server 60 can also be accessed from information terminals 66, 67 used by delivery personnel D, and delivery personnel D can check which pallets 21 have been reserved by looking at a confirmation list. Furthermore, the reservation server 60 may be configured to transmit a notification informing the delivery person of the reservation details to the delivery person's information terminal 66, 67 at the time of receiving a reservation from 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's information terminal 66, 67 to which the notification is to be sent.

[0097] Furthermore, when the luggage P placed on the reserved pallet 21 is removed by the user U, the luggage detection sensor provided on the pallet 21 no longer detects the luggage P. When the luggage detection sensor no longer detects the luggage P, the reservation server 60 executes a reservation cancellation program. When the reservation cancellation program is executed, the data in the confirmation table is updated and the reservation of the previously reserved pallet 21 is cancelled. On the confirmation table, it becomes possible to confirm that the pallet 21 is now in a state where reservations can be made.

[0098] 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 midyear and year-end gifts, presents, etc. The delivery person D is aware that the package P is not known to the user U, and therefore, when delivering such a package P, the delivery person D notifies the user's information terminal 64, 65 of the delivery schedule of the package P in advance. Upon receiving the notification of the delivery schedule, the user U accesses the reservation server 60 to reserve the pallet 21. The reservation server 60 then receives the reservation of the pallet 21 by the user U and updates the confirmation table. Delivery person D can check which pallet 21 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.

[0099] In this manner, the pallet 21 can be reserved at the cargo receiving facility 10.

[0100] If the users of the receiving facility 10 are not an unspecified number of users U, but are, for example, exclusively residents of an apartment building or a subdivision, the confirmation list may be made public to all users U (residents of the apartment building or subdivision) so that it is clear who is using which pallet 21. When the confirmation list is made public, it is preferable to provide a management service for the receiving facility 10, such as sending a message from an external management terminal to users U who have been occupying pallets 21 for a long period of time, urging them to pick up their packages P, or having a transport vehicle 30 carrying the user U's package P wait in front of the user's house 1.

[0101] [1-10. About the effects] According to this embodiment, the following excellent effects are obtained. That is, since the transport mobile body 30 moves back and forth between the waiting space 40 and the destination (user's house 1) to which the package P is to be transported, following the guidance of the guiding means, the package P stored in the package receiving unit 20 can be reliably transported to the destination by the transport mobile body 30 on behalf of the user U. As a result, even in a situation where the user U has both hands full, or has to go up and down stairs to reach the destination, or the distance from the package receiving unit 20 to the destination is long, the user U does not need to carry the package P stored in the package receiving unit 20 to the destination, so the effort of the user U to carry the package P to the destination can be reduced.

[0102] Furthermore, the transporting mobile body 30 is guided by the first guiding means when moving from the waiting space 40 to the destination, and is guided by the second guiding means when returning from the destination to the waiting space 40. Therefore, even if the method of guiding the transporting mobile body 30 by the first guiding means and the method of guiding the transporting mobile body 30 by the second guiding means are different, the transporting mobile body 30 can be reliably moved back and forth between the waiting space 40 and the destination.

[0103] The first guiding means includes a portable information terminal 64 carried and used by the user U, and the portable information terminal 64 and the transport vehicle 30 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other, and the transport vehicle 30 moves based on the position information of the portable information terminal 64 transmitted from the portable information terminal 64, so that the transport vehicle 30 can move toward the location where the portable information terminal 64 is located. In other words, the transport vehicle 30 can accompany the user U who carries the portable information terminal 64, and therefore can reliably transport the baggage P to the destination on behalf of the user U, guided by the portable information terminal 64.

[0104] In addition, the first guiding means (operation panel 50) is provided near the waiting space 40, and the transport vehicle 30 moves based on the location information of the destination transmitted from the first guiding means, so that the location information of the destination can be transmitted from the first guiding means to the transport vehicle 30 while the transport vehicle 30 is waiting in the waiting space 40. This allows the transport vehicle 30 to move to the destination after originating from the waiting space 40 without any particular information communication with the first guiding means.

[0105] In addition, the second guiding means (operation panel 50) is provided near the waiting space 40, and the transporting mobile body 30 moves based on the position information of the waiting space 40 transmitted from the second guiding means, making it easy to move the transporting mobile body 30 from the destination of the baggage P to the waiting space 40.

[0106] Furthermore, since the cargo receiving section 20 has a transfer means for transferring the stored cargo P to the transport vehicle 30, the user U is saved the trouble of transferring the cargo P stored in the cargo receiving section 20 to the transport vehicle 30, thereby further reducing the labor of the user U.

[0107] In addition, since the goods receiving section 20 and the waiting space 40 are housed in the same housing 11, the storage of the delivered goods P and the transfer of the goods P to the transport vehicle 30 waiting in the waiting space 40 can be completed within the same housing 11. As a result, the goods receiving section 20 and the waiting space 40, and the transport vehicle 30 waiting in the waiting space 40 can be handled as a single independent goods receiving facility 10, and therefore such goods receiving facility 10 can be installed in various places, including public facilities such as train stations, convenience stores, and post offices.

[0108] In recent years, there has been a demand for the realization of a decarbonized society through the promotion of carbon neutrality, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions to virtually zero, and for the achievement of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). As described above, the receiving facility 10 of this embodiment can reduce the effort required by the user U to carry the package P to the destination, making it easier for the user U to receive the package P, which results in improved distribution of home delivery and reduces the number of times the package P needs to be redelivered. This can therefore contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society through the promotion of carbon neutrality and the achievement of the SDGs (especially Goals 11 and 13).

[0109] ◆Second embodiment◆ Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. For the sake of convenience, elements common to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted or simplified, and the description will focus on components different from the first embodiment.

[0110] [2-1. Receiving facilities] 7, reference numeral 110 denotes a receiving facility for storing a package P delivered by a delivery company D. The package P is to be received by a user U who is a recipient. Such a receiving facility 110 is provided along an outer wall 102 of a multi-story building 101. That is, the receiving facility 110 of this embodiment is an attached facility to a building. In this embodiment, the multi-story building 101 is an apartment building or other collective housing, but is not limited to this and may be an office building, a commercial building, or other facility.

[0111] Building 101 has floor slabs on each floor, and corridors (first floor corridor 103, second floor corridor 104, third floor corridor 105) are provided on each floor as shared spaces above the floor slabs. In FIG. 7, only the first three floors of the building 101 are shown, but the number of floors is not particularly limited.

[0112] In this embodiment, the destination to which the package P is to be delivered is set to the residences of the user U on each floor of the building 101 (a first floor residence 106, a second floor residence 107, and a third floor residence 108). Each of the dwelling units 106, 107, 108 has an entrance opening formed in the wall facing the corridor 103, 104, 105 on each floor, and the entrance opening is opened and closed by an entrance door 106a, 107a, 108a. In this embodiment, the spaces in the corridors 103, 104, and 105 on each floor in front of the entrance doors 106a, 107a, and 108a of the respective residences are set as the destinations to which the luggage P is to be delivered.

[0113] The building-attached receiving facility 110 includes a receiving section 120 for storing luggage P, a transport vehicle 30 for transporting luggage P on behalf of a user U, a waiting space 40 for the transport vehicle 30 to wait, and an operation panel 150 for performing operations necessary for the various operations of the receiving section 120 and the transport vehicle 130. A cargo receiving section 120 is disposed on the outdoor side with an exterior wall 102 in between, and a waiting space 140 is disposed on the indoor side. The waiting spaces 140 are provided facing corridors 103, 104, and 105 of each floor. In other words, the building 101 of this embodiment is provided with a plurality of waiting spaces 140. In each waiting space 140, a transport vehicle 130 in charge of each floor waits.

[0114] The cargo receiving facility 110 as described above constitutes a cargo transport system together with a guide means for guiding the transport vehicle 130 in its reciprocating movement between the waiting space 140 and the destination to which the cargo P is to be transported. The guiding means of this embodiment has a first guiding means for guiding the movement of the transporting mobile body 130 from the waiting space 140 to the destination, and a second guiding means for guiding the movement of the transporting mobile body 130 from the destination to the waiting space 140.

[0115] The luggage transport system of this embodiment will be described in more detail below.

[0116] In the exterior wall 102, openings (a first floor opening 102a, a second floor opening 102b, and a third floor opening 102c) are formed in the portions located between the cargo receiving section 120 and the waiting spaces 140 on each floor. These openings 102a, 102b, 102c connect the cargo receiving section 120 located on the outdoor side to the waiting space 140 located on the indoor side, allowing cargo P to pass between the cargo receiving section 120 and the waiting space 140. In addition, shutters or doors for opening and closing the openings 102a, 102b, and 102c on each floor may be provided on the exterior wall 102. The drive unit of the shutter or door is connected to the operation panel 150 so as to be capable of communicating with each other, and the shutter or door is set to automatically open and close in accordance with the passage of the baggage P based on an instruction signal from the operation panel 150.

[0117] [2-2. About the cargo receiving section] The goods receiving section 120 includes an outer wall 102 of the building 101 and a peripheral wall section 121 attached to the outer wall 102 to define a space within the goods receiving section 120. The peripheral wall section 121 is formed long in the height direction of the building 101, and in this embodiment, extends to the top floor of the building 101. In other words, the goods receiving section 120 is surrounded by the outer wall 102 and the peripheral wall 121 and is formed into a cylindrical shape. Further, in the first floor portion of the peripheral wall portion 121, an access opening 121a that is an opening for loading and unloading luggage P is formed. Moreover, a door (not shown) for opening and closing the loading / unloading opening 121a is provided on the peripheral wall 121. In this embodiment, the operation panel 150 is provided on a portion of the peripheral wall 121 that is located near the door, but the operation panel 150 may be provided on the door. The door can be locked or unlocked by a door lock device. This door lock device is set to operate by operation from an operation panel 150. The door lock device can also be operated from information terminals 64, 65 for user U and information terminals 6, 67 for delivery person D, which are communicatively connected to the operation panel 150.

[0118] Such a load receiving section 120 includes a plurality of pallets 122 on which loads P are placed, and a moving mechanism (not shown) for moving the plurality of pallets 122 within the load receiving section 120. The multiple pallets 122 are supported by a moving mechanism so as to be movable within the cargo receiving section 120 with cargo P placed thereon. The moving mechanism is set to operate so that the pallets 122 on which no cargo P is placed among the multiple pallets 122 are disposed at the back side of the loading / unloading opening 121a. Although not shown, the pallet 122 or the moving mechanism is provided with a baggage detection sensor.

[0119] The moving mechanism in this embodiment has a frame, a drive unit, and the like necessary for moving the multiple pallets 21 in a vertical rotation circulation manner. That is, the multiple pallets 122 rotate vertically so that their positions are exchanged clockwise or counterclockwise when viewed from the front. The method of moving the multiple pallets 21 by the moving mechanism is not limited to the vertical rotation circulation method, but may be other methods such as an elevator method. The method is selected appropriately depending on the number of pallets 122 and the overall size of the goods receiving equipment 110 (goods receiving section 120).

[0120] The pallet 122 is provided with a push-out section 123 as a transfer means for moving the luggage P placed thereon to the waiting space 140 side and transferring the luggage P to the loading platform 134 of the transfer vehicle 130. The push-out section 123 has a rising portion that rises up from the upper surface of the pallet 122, and a push-out mechanism that moves this rising portion in the direction toward the outer wall 102 (the openings 102a, 102b, 102c on each floor, the waiting space 140, and the transport body 130) and in the opposite direction. The rising portion may be configured to be foldable. However, the means for transferring the luggage P is not limited to this, and may also be a loading and unloading robot that is installed inside the luggage receiving section 120 or on the outer wall 102, grasps the luggage P placed on the pallet 122, and moves it to the transport vehicle 130.

[0121] [2-3. About the transport vehicle] The transport vehicle 130 is a so-called luggage transport robot, and is provided with a main body that travels on a plurality of wheels. The main body has a loading platform 134 for placing luggage P thereon, and luggage P can be transferred from the pallet 122 of the luggage receiving section 120 to this loading platform 134. The loading platform 134 also has a belt conveyor section 135 for receiving the cargo P transferred from the pallet 122 onto the loading platform 134 side. The belt conveyor unit 135 operates when the luggage P is even partially loaded, thereby pulling the luggage P. In addition, the platform 134 is provided with a luggage detection sensor that detects that the luggage P is loaded on the belt conveyor unit 135. Although not shown, the transport vehicle 130 is configured to be autonomously driven by including a drive control unit, a drive unit, and a communication unit. The belt conveyor unit 135 is operated by the drive control unit or based on an instruction signal from the operation panel 150 connected to the transport vehicle 130 for communication.

[0122] The operation of transferring luggage P from pallet 122 to conveying mobile body 130 will be explained with reference to Figure 7. First, pallet 122 is moved by a moving mechanism so that the top surface of pallet 122 is at approximately the same height as the lower edges of openings 102a, 102b, 102c on each floor (second floor opening 102b in Figure 7). Next, the luggage P is pushed out toward the second floor opening 102b by the rising portion of the push-out portion 123, and the luggage P is placed on the lower edge of the second floor opening 102b. Then, the rising portion of the push-out portion 123 is moved to the end of the pallet 122 on the outer wall 102 side. When the baggage P is placed on the platform 134 of the transport vehicle 130, the belt conveyor unit 135 starts operating, and the entire baggage P is pulled toward the platform 134. In this manner, the cargo P can be transferred from the pallet 122 to the conveying vehicle 130. In addition, for example, a roller conveyor or ball casters may be provided at the lower edge of the openings 102a, 102b, and 102c on each floor in order to facilitate the movement of luggage P.

[0123] [2-4. Waiting Space] The waiting space 140 is formed by surrounding the end space on the exterior wall 102 side of the corridors 103, 104, 105 on each floor with a partition wall 141. The partition 141 is formed with an entrance / exit 141a through which the transporting mobile body 130 carrying the baggage P passes. The partition 141 is provided with an opening / closing door (not shown) for opening and closing the entrance / exit 141a. The opening / closing door has a drive unit communicably connected to the operation panel 150, and is set to automatically open and close when the transporting mobile body 130 enters or exits, based on the control of the operation panel 150.

[0124] [2-5. About the operation panel] As described above, the operation panel 150 is provided in a portion of the peripheral wall portion 121 that is located near the opening and closing door, and is configured to be able to control the entire cargo receiving equipment 110, including the transport vehicle 130 that operates outside the waiting space 140. Although not shown in the figure, such an operation panel 150 includes a control unit that controls the entire cargo receiving equipment 10 including the transport vehicle 30, a communication unit composed of a communication module or the like, a keypad which is an input device, a reading unit which is also an input device, and a display device which is an output device. The control unit is also connected to a communication unit, and is capable of transmitting and receiving various information and various signals to and from external information terminals 64 to 67 and the reservation server 60 via the communication network N.

[0125] The communication unit is also capable of transmitting and receiving various information and various signals to and from the communication unit of the transport vehicle 130. This makes it possible to grasp the position of the transport vehicle 130 when it moves from the waiting space 140 to the destination and when it moves from the destination to the waiting space 140, and also makes it possible to guide the transport vehicle 130 by transmitting and receiving the position information.

[0126] A repeater 156 for relaying various information and various signals from the operation panel 150 is provided in the waiting space 140 on each floor. The movement of the transport vehicle 130 waiting in the waiting space 140 on each floor is controlled by the operation panel 150 via this repeater 156. In addition to the transport vehicle 130, the opening and closing operations of the shutters that open and close the openings 102a, 102b, and 102c on each floor in the exterior wall 102, and the opening and closing doors that open and close the entrance / exit 141a in the waiting space 140 on each floor are also controlled by the operation panel 150 via the repeater 156. That is, the repeater 156 exerts a function of supporting the transport of the luggage P by the transport vehicle 130 arranged on each floor.

[0127] [2-6. Guidance methods] From the above, the first guiding means and the second guiding means of this embodiment for guiding the reciprocating movement of the transport vehicle 130 are composed of the operation panel 150 and the repeater 156 that is communicatively connected to the operation panel 150 and relays the transmission and reception of various information and various signals between the operation panel 150 and the transport vehicle 130. By providing the repeater 156 on each floor in this manner, the transport vehicle 130 on each floor can be operated by the repeater 156 dedicated to that floor, which is preferable because it can suppress the occurrence of problems such as the transport vehicle 130 on another floor malfunctioning due to crosstalk caused by poor communication or the like.

[0128] The operation panel 150 of this embodiment is communicatively connected to information terminals 64-67 for user U or delivery person D, so that the transportation of package P by the transport vehicle 130 can also be performed from the information terminals 64, 65 for user U via the operation panel 150 and repeater 156.

[0129] [2-7. Operation flow of the luggage transport system] Next, the operation of the luggage transport system of this embodiment configured as above will be described.

[0130] First, the package P is stored in the package receiving section 120 by the delivery person D. At that time, information about the package P (information about the user U who is the recipient) is input to the operation panel 150. Then, when the opening and closing door that blocks the loading / unloading opening 121a is locked, the package receiving facility 110 goes into a state of waiting for the user U to pick up the package P.

[0131] In addition, when the package P is received in the package receiving section 120, an email (or a message transmission tool other than email may be used) is sent from the operation panel 150 (or an external management terminal) to the information terminal 64, 65 of the user U informing them that the package P has been received.

[0132] When the user U collects the package P, he or she first issues a transport request for the package P to the operation panel 150 (or an external management terminal). The transport request may be made from a dedicated application available on the information terminal 64, 65 for the user U, or the above-mentioned email informing the user U that the package P has been received may have a button that allows the transport request to be made with one click. Also, for example, a calling device that calls the transport vehicle 130 on the floor where the user's apartment is located may be installed in advance in the dwelling, and the transport request may be made from the calling device.

[0133] When a user U requests the transportation of luggage P, the operation panel 150 operates multiple pallets 122 in the luggage receiving section 120 to move them to the opening of the floor where the destination is located (the second floor opening 102b in the example of FIG. 7). Next, the opening of the floor where the destination is located is opened, and the luggage P placed on the pallet 122 is pushed out by the pushing unit 123 and transferred to the loading platform 134 of the transfer vehicle 130. When the transport vehicle 130 detects that the luggage P has been placed on the loading platform 134, it moves from the waiting space 140 to the corridor (the second floor corridor 104 in the example of FIG. 7) through the open entrance / exit 141a, and proceeds down the corridor to the destination. During the transport of the package P by the transport vehicle 130, the opening 102b of the outer wall 102 and the entrance / exit 141a are securely closed.

[0134] When the transport vehicle 130 arrives at the space in front of the entrance door (entrance door 107a in the example of FIG. 7) which is the destination, and the user U removes the luggage P from the loading platform 134 of the transport vehicle 130, the luggage detection sensor no longer detects the luggage. As a result, the operation control unit of the transport vehicle 130 determines that the luggage P has been removed from the loading platform 134. The transport vehicle 130 then communicates with the communication unit of the operation panel 150 via the repeater 156, and when it receives position information of the waiting space 140 from the operation panel 150, it moves to the waiting space 140. The transport vehicle 130 that has arrived at the waiting space 140 goes into a waiting state again within the waiting space 140 .

[0135] In this manner, the transportation of the luggage P is completed.

[0136] [2-8. About the effects] According to this embodiment, the following excellent effects are obtained. That is, since the transport vehicle 130 moves back and forth between the waiting space 140 and the destination (the dwelling units 106, 107, 108) to which the luggage P is to be transported, following the guidance of the guiding means, the luggage P stored in the luggage receiving unit 120 can be reliably transported to the destination by the transport vehicle 130 on behalf of the user U. As a result, even in a situation where the user U has both hands full, or has to go up and down stairs to reach the destination, or the distance from the luggage receiving unit 120 to the destination is long, the user U does not need to carry the luggage P stored in the luggage receiving unit 120 to the destination, so the effort of the user U to carry the luggage P to the destination can be reduced.

[0137] In addition, since the cargo receiving section 120 and the waiting space 140 are provided along the outer wall 102 of the multi-story building 101, the cargo receiving section 120 and the waiting space 140, as well as the transport vehicle 130 waiting in the waiting space 140, can be treated as equipment attached to the building 101. Furthermore, the cargo receiving section 120 has an elevator means for transporting the baggage P to each floor of the building 101, and since the waiting space 140 on each floor is provided with a transport vehicle 130, the baggage P can be transported to an upper floor and transported on each floor by the transport vehicle 130. This eliminates the need for the user U to carry the baggage P up to the upper floor, thereby reducing the effort required of the user U to carry the baggage P.

[0138] Furthermore, like the first embodiment, the luggage transport system of this embodiment can also contribute to realizing a decarbonized society by promoting carbon neutrality and achieving the SDGs (especially Goals 11 and 13).

[0139] ◆Third embodiment◆ Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. For the sake of convenience, elements common to the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted or simplified, and the description will focus on components different from the first and second embodiments.

[0140] [3-1. Receiving facilities] In Fig. 8(a), reference numeral 210 denotes a receiving facility for storing a package P delivered by a delivery company D. The package P is to be received by a user U who is a recipient. 8(b), such a load receiving facility 210 is provided on a site 200 on which a building 201 such as a detached house is constructed, and travels within the site 200. That is, the load receiving facility 210 of this embodiment is of a traveling type. In this embodiment, the building 201 is a detached house, but is not limited to this and may be a type of house such as an apartment building such as a terraced house, or a facility other than a house.

[0141] The building 201 has an entrance opening formed in the outer wall on the front side, and the outer wall is provided with an entrance door 202 for opening and closing the entrance opening. In addition, building 201 has a service entrance formed in the exterior wall on the rear side, and service entrance door 203 is provided in that exterior wall. In this embodiment, the space in front of the back door 203 is the destination where the package P is to be transported.

[0142] The site 200 comprises an area where a building 201 is constructed and a surrounding garden area where people and vehicles can enter. The garden area is divided into a passage area 200a through which the cargo receiving facility 210 can pass and a no-passage area 200b through which the cargo receiving facility 210 is prohibited. The passage area 200a may be flat or may have a slope leading to the destination. The no-passage area 200b is a private area and is therefore prohibited from passage. In this embodiment, the site 200 is surrounded by a wall, and a gate sleeve 200c that is part of the wall is provided at the boundary with the road.

[0143] The receiving facility 210 is basically waiting behind the side of the gate 200c (the building 201 side, not the road side). In other words, the receiving facility 210 is located adjacent to the road through the gate 200c, making it easy for the delivery person D to make deliveries. The area behind such a gate sleeve 200c is used as a waiting space 240 for the goods receiving facility 210 (transportation movable body 230).

[0144] As shown in Fig. 8(a), the load receiving facility 210 provided within the site 200 includes a load receiving section 220 and a transport movable body 230. In this embodiment, the load receiving section 220 and the transport movable body 230 are integrally formed.

[0145] [3-2. About the cargo receiving section] The cargo receiving section 220 is a box-shaped body including a bottom plate 221, left and right side plates 222, a back plate 223, a partition plate 224, a shelf plate 225, and a roof 226, and has an opening formed in the front for loading and unloading cargo P. The internal space surrounded by each plate is used as the storage space for cargo P.

[0146] The partition plate 224 is disposed in parallel with the left and right side plates 222 near the center between the left and right side plates 222. This results in the storage space for the luggage P being divided into left and right portions. Of the storage spaces separated by the partition plate 224, one storage space has an opening at the front that is opened and closed by an opening / closing door 227. The opening / closing door 227 is of a single-wing type, and has a handle on one side. Of the storage spaces separated by the partition board 224, the other storage space is separated into upper and lower spaces by the provision of a shelf board 225.

[0147] One of the storage spaces, which is provided with an opening and closing door 227, is used as a high-security delivery box-type storage section 220a. That is, the opening and closing door 227 can be locked or unlocked by a door lock device (not shown). This door lock device is set to operate by an operation from an operation panel (not shown) or various external information terminals 64 to 67. In addition, the goods receiving facility 210 is provided with an authentication means required for operating the door lock device as appropriate. It is assumed that a package detection sensor for detecting packages P is provided in the delivery box type storage section 220a.

[0148] The other storage space, which is divided into upper and lower parts by the shelf board 225, has an internal space that is always open. The other storage space is used as storage sections 220b and 220c for delivery of packages P that the user U has requested to be delivered. It is assumed that a baggage detection sensor for detecting the baggage P is provided in the upper and lower delivery storage sections 220b, 220c.

[0149] A solar panel 226a for supplying power to the load receiving facility 210 is installed on the upper surface of the roof 226. The solar panel 226a is supported by a support rail installed on the upper surface of the roof 226. The power to the cargo receiving facility 210 may be supplied from a system power supply (not shown) or a storage battery of an automobile (electric automobile, hybrid automobile) in the parking space. Alternatively, the power may be supplied from a charging facility (charging station) for supplying power to the automobile. The source of electricity supplied to the automobile may be a system power supply or a private power generating facility such as a solar panel.

[0150] An antenna 226b used for communication with a guiding means 250 (described later) is provided on the upper surface of the roof 226. The antenna 226a is connected to a driving control unit of the transportation vehicle 230 (described later) so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0151] [3-3. About the transport vehicle] The transport vehicle 230 has a main body that travels on a plurality of wheels. In this embodiment, a load receiving section 220 is integrally installed on the upper surface, and the load P is indirectly placed on the load receiving section 220, but the load P cannot be placed directly on the transport vehicle 230 itself.

[0152] Such a conveyance vehicle 230 is equipped with a driving control unit, a driving unit, and a communication unit, and is configured to be capable of autonomous driving. The autonomous driving is made possible by the driving control unit controlling the driving unit for operating a plurality of wheels.

[0153] The communication unit is configured with a communication module, and is communicatively connected to the antenna 226a of the goods receiving unit 220. This allows the communication unit of the conveyance movable body 230 to communicate with the guiding means 250, which will be described later, via the antenna 226a.

[0154] [3-4. Waiting Space] As described above, the waiting space 240 is located behind the side door 200c. When the power supply to the transport vehicle 230 is performed, for example, in the waiting space 240, a charging facility may be provided in the side door 200c. Further, the gate sleeve 200c is provided with a second guiding transmitter 252 in the guiding means 250, which will be described later.

[0155] [3-5. Guidance methods] The guiding means 250 is for guiding the movement of the transporting body 230, and has a first guiding means and a second guiding means. The first guiding means guides the transporting body 230 on the outgoing path in the reciprocating movement between the waiting space 240 and the destination, and the second guiding means guides the transporting body 230 on the return path.

[0156] The first guiding means in this embodiment is a first guiding transmitter 251, which is provided on the outer wall of the building 201 facing the space in front of the back door 203, which is the destination. The first guiding transmitter 251 is configured to be capable of emitting radio waves including a signal for guiding the conveyance moving body 230 (that is, the goods receiving facility 210). In this embodiment, the space in front of the back door 203 is set as the destination, and the first guiding transmitter 251 is provided on the outer wall facing the space, but this is not limited to this. For example, if it is desired to set the space next to the front door 202 as the destination, the first guiding transmitter 251 is provided on the outer wall facing the space. In addition, a plurality of first guiding transmitters 251 may be provided. That is, there may be a plurality of destinations.

[0157] The second guiding means in this embodiment is the above-mentioned second guiding transmitter 252, which is provided in the gate sleeve 200c facing the waiting space 240. The second guiding transmitter 252 is configured to be capable of emitting radio waves including a signal for guiding the conveyance vehicle 230 (that is, the goods receiving facility 210).

[0158] The first guiding transmitter 251 and the second guiding transmitter 252 are communicably connected to external information terminals 64 to 67. This allows the transport of the package P by the package receiving facility 210 to be started via the external information terminals 64 to 67. Furthermore, instructions to transport the luggage P may be given not only from the external information terminals 64-67, but also from a calling device that calls the luggage receiving facility 210, which may be installed in advance, for example, in the dwelling unit, in the building 201, and the instructions to transport the luggage P may be given from the calling device.

[0159] [3-6. Operation flow of the luggage transport system] Next, the operation of the luggage transport system of this embodiment configured as above will be described.

[0160] First, the package P is stored in the package receiving section 220 by the delivery person D. At that time, the information terminals 66, 67 for the delivery person D transmit a message to the information terminals 64, 67 for the user U indicating that the delivery of the package P has been completed. This causes the package receiving facility 210 to enter a state of waiting for the user U to pick up the package P.

[0161] When the user U receives the package P, first, the information terminal 64, 65 for the user U transmits an instruction to start transportation to the package receiving facility 210 via the first guiding transmitter 251. When the cargo receiving facility 210 receives the instruction, the operation control unit of the transport vehicle 230 controls the drive unit to start moving, and the transport vehicle 230 moves through the passage area 200a to the destination.

[0162] When the user U arrives at the destination, which is the space in front of the back door 203, and removes the baggage P from the baggage receiving section 220 of the baggage receiving equipment 210, the baggage detection sensor no longer detects the baggage. As a result, the operation control section of the conveyance vehicle 230 determines that the baggage P has been removed from the baggage receiving section 220. Thereafter, the baggage receiving equipment 210 communicates with the second guiding transmitter 252 and moves to the waiting space 240. The cargo receiving facility 210 that has arrived at the waiting space 240 goes into a waiting state again within the waiting space 240 .

[0163] In this manner, the transportation of the luggage P is completed.

[0164] [2-8. About the effects] According to this embodiment, the following excellent effects are obtained. That is, since the transport mobile body 230 moves back and forth between the waiting space 240 and the destination (the space in front of the back door 203) to which the luggage P is to be transported, following the guidance of the guiding means, the luggage P stored in the luggage receiving section 220 can be reliably transported to the destination by the transport mobile body 230 on behalf of the user U. As a result, even in a situation where the user U has both hands full, or has to go up and down stairs to reach the destination, or the distance from the luggage receiving section 220 to the destination is long, the user U does not need to carry the luggage P stored in the luggage receiving section 220 to the destination, so that the effort of the user U to carry the luggage P to the destination can be reduced.

[0165] In addition, since the goods receiving section 220 and the transporting movable body 230 are integrally formed, the goods receiving section 220 containing the goods P can be moved to the destination by the transporting movable body 230. This eliminates the need for the user U to carry the goods P to the destination, thereby reducing the effort required of the user U to carry the goods P.

[0166] Furthermore, like the first embodiment, the luggage transport system of this embodiment can also contribute to realizing a decarbonized society by promoting carbon neutrality and achieving the SDGs (especially Goals 11 and 13). [Explanation of symbols]

[0167] P Luggage U User D. Delivery Person 1 User's home 10 Receiving facilities 11. Cabinet 12 Transfer device 13a Access opening 13b Departure point 13c Return gate 20 Receiving section 21 Palette 30 Transport vehicle 40 Waiting Space 50 Operation Panel 50a Opening and closing door

Claims

1. A luggage receiving section for storing luggage; A transport vehicle configured to be autonomously operable and transporting luggage stored in the luggage receiving section; A waiting space for the transporting movable body; and a guide means for guiding the transport vehicle in a reciprocating movement between the waiting space and a destination to which the luggage is to be transported.

2. 2. The luggage transport system according to claim 1, The induction means is a first guiding means for guiding the transfer body from the waiting space to the destination; and a second guiding means for guiding the movement of the transport vehicle from the destination to the waiting space.

3. 3. The luggage transport system according to claim 2, The first guiding means includes a portable information terminal carried and used by the user, the portable information terminal and the transport vehicle are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other; The luggage transport system according to the present invention is characterized in that the transport vehicle moves based on location information of the portable information terminal transmitted from the portable information terminal.

4. 3. The luggage transport system according to claim 2, The first guiding means is provided in the vicinity of the waiting space, the first guiding means and the conveying movable body are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other; The transport vehicle moves based on location information of the destination transmitted from the first guiding means.

5. 3. The luggage transport system according to claim 2, The second guiding means is provided in the vicinity of the waiting space, the second guiding means and the conveying movable body are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other; The luggage transport system according to the present invention is characterized in that the transport vehicle moves based on position information of the waiting space transmitted from the second guiding means.

6. 2. The luggage transport system according to claim 1, A luggage transport system, characterized in that the luggage receiving section has a transfer means for transferring the stored luggage to the transport movable body.

7. 7. The luggage transport system according to claim 6, A luggage transport system, characterized in that the luggage receiving section and the waiting space are housed within the same housing.

8. 7. The luggage transport system according to claim 6, The cargo receiving section and the waiting space are provided along the outer wall of a multi-story building, The cargo receiving section has a lifting means for transporting cargo to each floor of the building, A luggage transport system, characterized in that the waiting spaces are arranged on each floor of the building, and the transport vehicles are respectively provided in the waiting spaces on each floor.

9. 3. The luggage transport system according to claim 1, A luggage transport system, characterized in that the luggage receiving section and the transport movable body are integrally formed.

Citation Information

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