Box opening / closing system

The box opening and closing system automates the transition of the front locking mechanism to a standby state when the rear door is opened, addressing the inconvenience of manual unlocking and relocking in existing systems.

JP2025114127AActive Publication Date: 2025-08-05UNISON CORP +1
View PDF 5 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024008610
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-01-24
Publication Date
2025-08-05
Estimated Expiration
2044-01-24

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing delivery box systems require manual unlocking and relocking of the front door after opening the rear door to receive packages, which is inconvenient and lacks a mechanical configuration to automate this process.

Method used

A box opening and closing system with a front and rear door mechanism that includes a slide member, biasing members, and a switching mechanism to automatically transition the front locking mechanism to a load-receiving standby state when the rear door is opened, using a combination of slide holes, pins, and biasing members to control the locking portion's displacement.

Benefits of technology

The system allows the front locking mechanism to be automatically set to a package-receiving standby state when the rear door is opened, simplifying the delivery process and eliminating the need for manual relocking.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 2025114127000001_ABST
    Figure 2025114127000001_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To achieve a load receiving stand-by state of a lock mechanism in association with an opening motion of a rear door using a mechanical structure.SOLUTION: A slide member 41 has a tilt part 44 tiltably supported on a forward end part of a main body part 43 and a third energization member 45 that energizes the tilt part 44 towards a neutral position, and slides forward to a restriction position when the main body part 43 is pressed forward by a closing rear door 16. When the slide member is in the restriction position, a switching mechanism 40 allows displacement of a lock part 23 when the tilt part 44 is pressed and tilted by the lock part 23 being displaced from an unlocked position to a locked position, restricts the displacement of the lock part 23 when the tilt part 44 is not tilted even when pressed by the lock part 23 in the locked position, and allows the lock part 23 to be displaced to the unlocked position when an abutment state of the lock part 23 and the tilt part 44 is released in association with the slide member 41 sliding to an allowable position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a box opening and closing system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a delivery box. The delivery box described in Patent Document 1 includes a box body, a door configured to be able to open and close the front opening of the box body, and a lock for locking and unlocking the door. The lock is a combination lock.

[0003] A delivery person from a delivery company opens the unlocked door and places the parcel inside the box. After closing the door, the delivery person changes the dial number of the lock to a number other than the unlock number to lock the lock. Meanwhile, the recipient changes the dial number of the lock to the unlock number, unlocks the lock, opens the door, and removes the parcel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model No. 3213566 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] For example, in detached houses, there is a demand for a delivery box that allows delivery items to be stored inside the box body through a front opening and then removed from the rear opening. In a box opening and closing system including such a delivery box, after opening the rear door that is configured to open and close the rear opening and remove the delivery, it is necessary to unlock the front door and set it to a package receiving standby state. Therefore, there is a demand for a mechanical configuration that unlocks the front door in conjunction with the opening operation of the rear door and sets it to a package receiving standby state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Various aspects of a box opening and closing system for solving the above problems will be described. [Aspect 1] a box body having a front opening, a rear opening, and a storage space communicating with the front opening and the rear opening; a front door attached to the box body and configured to be able to open and close the front opening; a rear door attached to the box body and configured to be able to open and close the rear opening; a front lock mechanism including a lock unit configured to be displaceable between a lock position that prevents the front door from opening and an unlock position that allows the front door to open in a closed state in which the front opening is closed by the front door, and a first biasing member that biases the lock unit toward the unlocked position; a rear locking mechanism that locks and unlocks the rear door; a switching mechanism including a slide member provided inside the box body and configured to be slidable in the front-rear direction between a restricted position and an allowed position that is a position rearward of the restricted position, and a second biasing member that biases the slide member from the restricted position toward the allowed position, the slide member has a main body extending in the front-rear direction, a tilting portion tiltably supported on a front end portion of the main body, and a third biasing member biasing the tilting portion toward a neutral position of the tilting portion, and is configured to slide forward to the restricted position when the main body is pressed forward by the rear door being closed, The switching mechanism is configured such that, when the slide member is in the restricted position, the tilting portion is pressed by the locking portion during displacement from the unlocked position toward the locked position, causing the locking portion to tilt, thereby allowing the locking portion to be displaced; on the other hand, the tilting portion is not tilted even when pressed by the locking portion in the locked position, thereby restricting the displacement of the locking portion; and, as the slide member slides to the permitted position, the abutting state between the locking portion and the tilting portion is released, allowing the locking portion to be displaced to the unlocked position. Box opening and closing system.

[0007] According to this configuration, when the rear opening is closed by the rear door, the slide member is in the restricted position. At this time, for example, a delivery person operates the front door to open the front opening, stores a parcel in the storage space, and then operates the front door to close the front opening. When the delivery person then operates the front locking mechanism to displace the locking portion toward the locked position, the locking portion presses and tilts the tilting portion, thereby allowing the locking portion to be displaced to the locked position. When the locking portion is displaced to the locked position and the pressing force of the locking portion is released, the tilting portion is biased toward the neutral position by the third biasing member, and therefore returns to the neutral position.

[0008] In this state, when the delivery person releases the operating force of the front locking mechanism, the tilting portion is pressed by the locking portion, which is in the locked position due to the biasing force of the first biasing member. When the slide member is in the restricted position, the tilting portion does not tilt even when pressed by the locking portion, which is in the locked position, so displacement of the locking portion to the unlocked position is restricted. This keeps the locking portion in the locked position. In other words, the front door is locked in the closed state.

[0009] On the other hand, when a recipient operates the rear locking mechanism to open the rear door to retrieve a parcel, the rear door releases the pressing force acting on the main body of the sliding member. This causes the sliding member to slide rearward from the restricted position to the permitted position due to the biasing force of the second biasing member. This releases the abutment between the tilting portion and the locking portion, and the biasing force of the first biasing member returns the locking portion to the unlocked position. In other words, the front locking mechanism enters a package-receiving standby state.

[0010] In this way, with the above-described configuration, it is possible to mechanically realize the front locking mechanism being brought into a load receiving standby state in conjunction with the opening operation of the rear door. [Aspect 2] The front locking mechanism is a shaft portion supported rotatably relative to the front door about an axis extending in the front-rear direction; an operation knob connected to a front end of the shaft portion, the locking portion is coupled to the shaft portion and configured to engage with an engagement edge of the front opening at the locked position and not to engage with the engagement edge at the unlocked position; the first biasing member biases the locking portion to rotate toward the unlocked position, The switching mechanism is configured such that, when the slide member is in the restricted position, the tilting portion is pressed by the locking portion in the middle of rotational displacement from the unlocked position to the locked position, causing the tilting portion to tilt, thereby allowing the rotational displacement of the locking portion, and on the other hand, the tilting portion is not tilted even when pressed by the locking portion in the locked position, thereby restricting the rotational displacement of the locking portion. 2. The box opening and closing system according to embodiment 1.

[0011] According to this configuration, the front locking mechanism can be realized with a simple configuration including the shaft portion, the operation knob, the lock portion, and the first biasing member. [Aspect 3] The main body portion has a slide hole extending along the front-rear direction, The switching mechanism is a pin that is inserted into the slide hole and moves relatively in the front-rear direction within the slide hole to support the main body so that the main body can slide in the front-rear direction; a bracket attached to the inner wall of the box body and supporting the pin; The box opening and closing system according to embodiment 1 or embodiment 2.

[0012] According to this configuration, the switching mechanism can be realized with a simple configuration including a main body portion having a slide hole, a pin inserted into the slide hole, and a bracket attached to the inner wall of the box main body.

[0013] [Aspect 4] When the slide hole is a rear slide hole, the pin is a rear pin, and the bracket is a rear bracket, the main body portion has a front slide hole located forward of the rear slide hole and extending along the front-rear direction, The switching mechanism is a front pin that is inserted into the front slide hole and moves relatively in the front-rear direction within the front slide hole to support the main body so that the main body can slide in the front-rear direction; a front bracket attached to the inner wall forward of the rear bracket and supporting the front pin. 4. A box opening and closing system according to embodiment 3.

[0014] According to this configuration, the main body of the slide member is supported by the rear bracket and the front bracket via the rear pin and the front pin, respectively, so that the slide member can be stably supported.

[0015] [Aspect 5] The slide hole has an elongated hole portion extending in the front-rear direction and a locking portion extending in a curved manner from the elongated hole portion and capable of locking the pin. A box opening and closing system according to embodiment 3 or embodiment 4.

[0016] A switching mechanism composed of a main body having a slide hole, a pin inserted into the slide hole, and a bracket attached to the inner wall of the box main body may have the following disadvantage: When attaching the pin inserted into the slide hole to the bracket attached to the inner wall of the box main body, the pin moves relative to the main body of the sliding member, making the work of attaching the pin to the bracket complicated.

[0017] In this regard, with the above-described configuration, the pin can be locked to the locking portion that bends and extends from the elongated hole of the slide hole. Therefore, when the pin inserted into the slide hole is attached to the bracket attached to the inner wall of the box body, the pin is prevented from moving relative to the main body of the slide member. This makes it easy to attach the pin to the bracket.

[0018] [Aspect 6] The rear locking mechanism includes a dial lock that locks and unlocks the rear door. A box opening and closing system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 5.

[0019] This configuration eliminates the need for the recipient to carry a key for the rear locking mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, the front locking mechanism can be brought into a load receiving standby state in conjunction with the opening operation of the rear door by a mechanical configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the box opening and closing system with the front door and rear door open. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the box opening and closing system with the front door and rear door closed. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the box opening and closing system with the front door and rear door closed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the box opening and closing system with the front door closed and the rear door open. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front locking mechanism and the switching mechanism. [Figure 6] 6(a) to 6(d) are perspective views sequentially showing the transition of states when the locking portion of the front locking mechanism is displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position. [Figure 7] 7(a) and 7(b) are perspective views sequentially showing the transition of states when the locking portion of the front locking mechanism is displaced from the locked position to the unlocked position. [Figure 8] 8(a) and 8(b) are perspective views showing a procedure for attaching the rear pin to the rear bracket. [Figure 9] 9(a) and 9(b) are perspective views showing a procedure for attaching the front pin to the front bracket. [Figure 10] 10(a) to 10(c) are perspective views showing the procedure for moving the rear pin locked in the locking portion of the rear slide hole to the elongated hole portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, a storage box, which is one embodiment of a box opening and closing system, will be described with reference to the drawings. The storage box of this embodiment is a delivery box installed in a detached house or the like. In the following description, the front-to-rear direction of the storage box will simply be referred to as the front-to-rear direction. The outside and inside of the house correspond to the front and rear, respectively.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the storage box includes a box body 10, a front door 15, a rear door 16, a front locking mechanism 20, a rear locking mechanism 30, and a switching mechanism 40. <Box body 10> 1 and 2, the box body 10 has a front opening 11, a rear opening 12, and a storage space 13 that communicates with the front opening 11 and the rear opening 12. The box body 10 of this embodiment has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0024] <Front door 15, rear door 16> 1 and 2, the front door 15 is attached to the box body 10 and is configured to be able to open and close the front opening 11. The front door 15 of this embodiment is connected to the front opening 11 so as to be able to open and close via a hinge (not shown) provided on one side of the front opening 11 in the width direction.

[0025] The rear door 16 is attached to the box body 10 and is configured to be able to open and close the rear opening 12. The rear door 16 of this embodiment is connected to the rear opening 12 so as to be able to open and close via a hinge (not shown) provided on one side of the rear opening 12 in the width direction.

[0026] <Front lock mechanism 20> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the front locking mechanism 20 includes a shaft portion 21, an operation knob 22, a locking portion 23, and a first biasing member 24.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the front locking mechanism 20 is provided on the front door 15 on the opposite side of the front door 15 in the width direction from the hinge of the front door 15. The shaft 21 is supported rotatably with respect to the front door 15 about an axis extending in the front-rear direction. The operation knob 22 is connected to the front end of the shaft 21. The operation knob 22 is located on the front side of the front door 15.

[0028] The locking portion 23 is configured to be rotatable between a locked position (see Figure 3) that prevents the front door 15 from opening when the front opening 11 is closed by the front door 15, and an unlocked position (see Figure 4) that allows the front door 15 to open.

[0029] More specifically, the locking portion 23 is connected to the shaft portion 21 and is configured to engage with the engaging edge 11a of the front opening 11 in the locked position, but not to engage with the engaging edge 11a in the unlocked position.

[0030] Locking portion 23 is generally L-shaped and has an engaging portion 23a that is connected to the rear end of shaft portion 21 and extends radially outward from shaft portion 21, and an extending portion 23b that bends from the tip of engaging portion 23a and extends rearward. A locking protrusion 23c is provided at the rear end of extending portion 23b, protruding on the opposite side of engaging portion 23a from extending portion 23b.

[0031] The first biasing member 24 constantly urges the locking portion 23 to rotate toward the unlocked position. The first biasing member 24 in this embodiment is a torsion coil spring that is provided so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 21 and has one end attached to the front door 15 and the other end attached to the locking portion 23, respectively.

[0032] When the front door 15 is in the closed state and is at the 3 o'clock position (locked position) as viewed from the front, the lock portion 23 engages with the engaging edge portion 11a of the front opening 11 to prevent the front door 15 from opening.

[0033] When the locking portion 23 is at the 12 o'clock position (unlocked position) in a front view with the front door 15 in a closed state, it does not engage with the engaging edge portion 11a, thereby allowing the front door 15 to be opened. <Rear locking mechanism 30> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the rear locking mechanism 30 locks and unlocks the rear door 16, and includes a shaft 31, an operating knob 32, a lock piece 33, and a dial lock .

[0034] The rear lock mechanism 30 is provided on the rear door 16 on the opposite side of the rear door 16 in the width direction from the hinge of the rear door 16. The shaft 31 is supported rotatably relative to the rear door 16 about an axis extending in the front-to-rear direction. The operation knob 32 is connected to the rear end of the shaft 31. The operation knob 32 is located on the rear side of the rear door 16.

[0035] In a closed state in which the rear opening 12 is closed by the rear door 16, the lock piece 33 is configured to be rotatable between a locked position (see FIG. 3) that prevents the rear door 16 from opening, and an unlocked position (not shown) that allows the rear door 16 to open. More specifically, the lock piece 33 is connected to the shaft 31, and is configured to engage with the engaging edge 12a of the rear opening 12 in the locked position, but not to engage with the engaging edge 12a in the unlocked position.

[0036] When the rear door 16 is in the closed state and is at the 9 o'clock position (lock position) in a rear view, the lock piece 33 engages with the engaging edge 12a of the rear opening 12 to prevent the rear door 16 from opening.

[0037] When the rear door 16 is in the closed state and is at the 12 o'clock position (unlocked position) in a rear view, the lock piece 33 does not engage with the engaging edge 12a, thereby allowing the rear door 16 to be opened. The dial lock 34 has a well-known configuration and is provided on the operation knob 32. The dial lock 34 has one or more dials, and is configured so that when the numbers on the dials are set to a predetermined PIN number, the operation knob 32 is allowed to rotate, i.e., the lock piece 33 can be rotated from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0038] <Switching mechanism 40> As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the switching mechanism 40 includes a slide member 41 and a second biasing member 42.

[0039] The slide member 41 is provided inside the box body 10 and configured to be slidable in the front-rear direction between a restricted position (see FIG. 3) and an allowed position (see FIG. 4) which is a position rearward of the restricted position.

[0040] The second biasing member 42 biases the slide member 41 from the restricting position toward the allowing position. The slide member 41 has a main body portion 43 extending in the front-to-rear direction, a tilting portion 44 tiltably supported on the front end portion of the main body portion 43, and a third biasing member 45 that biases the tilting portion 44 toward the neutral position of the tilting portion 44.

[0041] Next, the configuration of the switching mechanism 40 will be described in detail. (Main body 43) As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the main body 43 has a base material 43A made of a metal plate, and a protective cap 43B made of resin attached to the rear end of the base material 43A.

[0042] The base material 43A has a top wall and a pair of side walls extending downward from both ends of the top wall in the width direction, and has a U-shaped cross section that opens downward. A rear slide hole 47 extending along the front-rear direction is provided in the top wall of the base material 43A. A rear pin 52 is inserted into the rear slide hole 47 and moves relatively in the front-rear direction within the rear slide hole 47 to support the main body 43 so that it can slide in the front-rear direction.

[0043] More specifically, the rear slide hole 47 has an elongated hole portion 47a extending in the front-rear direction, and a locking portion 47b that bends from the rear end of the elongated hole portion 47a, extends inward in the width direction, and is capable of locking the rear pin 52.

[0044] A front slide hole 46 is provided in the top wall of the base material 43A, which is located forward of the rear slide hole 47 and extends along the front-to-rear direction. A front pin 51 is inserted into the front slide hole 46 and moves relatively in the front-to-rear direction within the front slide hole 46, thereby supporting the main body 43 so that it can slide in the front-to-rear direction.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the switching mechanism 40 is attached to the inner wall 14 of the box body 10 and includes a rear bracket 70 that supports the rear pin 52 and a front bracket 60 that supports the front pin 51.

[0046] The front bracket 60 is attached to the inner wall 14 in front of the rear bracket 70 . (Rear bracket 70) 5, rear bracket 70 has a generally rectangular plate shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction and includes a mounting portion 71 that is attached to inner wall 14, and upper and lower support portions 72 and 73 that bend from the upper and lower edges of mounting portion 71 and protrude inward in the width direction. Rear bracket 70 is made of, for example, a metal plate.

[0047] The mounting portion 71 is provided with holes spaced apart in the front and rear directions, through which mounting screws (not shown) are inserted. 8, the upper support portion 72 and the lower support portion 73 are provided with cutouts 74 and 75, respectively, that support the rear pin 52. The cutouts 74 and 75 have the same shape. That is, the cutouts 74 and 75 have first portions 74a and 75a and second portions 74b and 75b, respectively.

[0048] The first portions 74a, 75a extend along the width direction and open to the inner edges of the upper support portion 72 and the lower support portion 73 in the width direction. The second portions 74b, 75b are bent from the outer ends of the first portions 74a, 75a in the width direction and extend rearward.

[0049] (Front bracket 60) 5, the front bracket 60 has a generally rectangular plate shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction, and includes a mounting portion 61 that is attached to the inner wall 14, and upper and lower support portions 62 and 63 that bend from the upper and lower edges of the mounting portion 61 and protrude inward in the width direction. The front bracket 60 is made of, for example, a metal plate.

[0050] The mounting portion 61 is provided with holes spaced apart in the front and rear directions, through which mounting screws (not shown) are inserted. 9, the upper support portion 62 is provided with a hole 64 for supporting the front pin 51. The lower support portion 63 is provided with a hole (not shown) for supporting the front pin 51.

[0051] (Second biasing member 42) 3 to 5, a rivet 49 is attached to a hole (not shown) formed between the rear slide hole 47 and the front slide hole 46 in the top wall of the base material 43A of the main body 43. The rivet 49 protrudes below the top wall.

[0052] The second biasing member 42 is a tension spring, and has a rear end supported by the rear pin 52 and a front end supported by a portion of the rivet 49 located below the top wall of the base material 43A. (Protective cap 43B) As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the protective cap 43B has a cylindrical rear end portion that protrudes rearward.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 3, when the slide member 41 is in the restricted position, the front surface of the rear door 16 abuts against the rear end of the protection cap 43B. As shown in FIG. 4, when the slide member 41 is in the allowable position, the rear end of the protective cap 43B passes through a hole provided on the edge of the rear opening 12 of the box body 10 and protrudes rearward of the box body 10.

[0054] (Tilt portion 44 and third biasing member 45) As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the tilting portion 44 is made of the same metal plate as the base material 43A. The tilting portion 44 has a U-shaped cross section that opens downward. The rear end of the tilting portion 44 is housed inside the base material 43A. A cushioning material (not shown) is attached to the underside of the top wall of the base material 43A to absorb the impact of a collision with the upper surface of the tilting portion 44. The cushioning material is made of, for example, rubber.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear end of the tilting portion 44 is supported by a tilting shaft portion 48 having an axis extending in the width direction so as to be tiltable relative to the main body portion 43. The third biasing member 45 is a torsion coil spring that is arranged to cover the outer peripheral surface of the tilting shaft portion 48 and has one end supported on the lower surface of the top wall of the base material 43A and the other end supported on the lower surface of the top wall of the tilting portion 44, respectively.

[0056] The third biasing member 45 biases the tilting portion 44 toward the neutral position of the tilting portion 44. In the neutral position, the tilting portion 44 abuts against the cushion material and assumes a posture along the front-rear direction.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 3, the slide member 41 is configured to slide forward to the restricted position when the main body 43 is pressed forward by the rear door 16 being closed. More specifically, the slide member 41 slides forward as the front pin 51 and the rear pin 52 move relative to each other within the elongated hole portions 47a of the front slide hole 46 and the rear slide hole 47. At this time, since the rear end of the second biasing member 42 is fixed by the rear pin 52, the rivet 49 moves as the slide member 41 slides forward, causing the front end of the second biasing member 42 supported by the rivet 49 to move forward. This pulls the second biasing member 42 forward. Therefore, the restoring force of the second biasing member 42 biases the slide member 41 from the restricted position toward the allowed position.

[0058] The switching mechanism 40 is configured so that, when the slide member 41 is in the restricted position, the tilting portion 44 is pressed and tilted by the locking portion 23 in the middle of its rotational displacement from the unlocked position to the locked position, thereby allowing the rotational displacement of the locking portion 23. When the slide member 41 is in the restricted position, the switching mechanism 40 is configured so that the tilting portion 44 does not tilt even when pressed by the locking portion 23 in the locked position, thereby restricting the rotational displacement of the locking portion 23. Furthermore, when the slide member 41 is in the permitted position, the switching mechanism 40 is configured so that the abutting state between the locking portion 23 in the locked position and the tilting portion 44 is released, allowing the locking portion 23 to be displaced to the unlocked position.

[0059] <Operation of this embodiment> 6(a), when the rear opening 12 is closed by the rear door 16, the slide member 41 is in the restricted position. The locking portion 23 of the front locking mechanism 20 is in the unlocked position (a load receiving standby state).

[0060] At this time, the delivery person of the delivery company operates the front door 15 to open the front opening 11, stores the parcel in the storage space 13, and then operates the front door 15 to close the front opening 11. Then, the delivery person rotates the operation knob 22 clockwise, that is, the locking portion 23 is rotated and displaced toward the locked position.

[0061] Then, as shown in Fig. 6(b), the locking portion 23 rotates and presses the tilting portion 44 from above. As a result, as shown in Fig. 6(c), the tilting portion 44 tilts around the tilting shaft portion 48 so that the front portion of the tilting portion 44 lowers. As a result, as shown in Fig. 6(d), the locking portion 23 climbs over the tilting portion 44 and displaces to the locking position below the tilting portion 44. In other words, the locking portion 23 is allowed to rotate and displace to the locking position.

[0062] When the locking portion 23 is displaced to the locked position and the downward pressing force of the locking portion 23 is released, the tilting portion 44 is biased toward the neutral position by the third biasing member 45, and therefore the tilting portion 44 returns to the neutral position.

[0063] In this state, when the delivery person releases the operating force of the operation knob 22, the tilting portion 44 is pressed upward by the locking portion 23, which is in the locked position due to the biasing force of the first biasing member 24. When the slide member 41 is in the restricted position, the tilting portion 44 does not tilt upward beyond the neutral position where it abuts against the cushioning material even when pressed by the locking portion 23 in the locked position, so that the rotational displacement of the locking portion 23 to the unlocked position is restricted. This holds the locking portion 23 in the locked position. In other words, the front door 15 is locked in the closed state.

[0064] On the other hand, when the recipient unlocks the dial lock 34 and opens the rear door 16 to retrieve the parcel, the pressing force acting on the main body 43 of the sliding member 41 by the rear door 16 is released. As a result, the sliding member 41 slides rearward due to the biasing force of the second biasing member 42 from the restricted position shown in Fig. 7(a) to the permitted position shown by the solid line in Fig. 7(b).

[0065] 7(b), the tilting portion 44 no longer overlaps with the locking portion 23 in the vertical direction, and the abutment state between the locking portion 23 and the tilting portion 44 is released. At this time, the biasing force of the first biasing member 24 causes the locking portion 23 to return to the unlocked position.

[0066] Next, a procedure for attaching the slide member 41 to the brackets 60 and 70 will be described. The worker opens the rear door 16 and accesses the inside of the box body 10 through the rear opening 12.

[0067] First, as shown in Figure 8(a), the worker holds the slide member 41 with the rear pin 52 engaged with the engaging portion 47b of the rear slide hole 47, and inserts the upper and lower ends of the rear pin 52 into the first portions 74a, 75a of the cutout portion 74 of the rear bracket 70.

[0068] Next, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the worker slides the upper and lower ends of the rear pin 52 from the first portions 74a, 75a of the notch 74 of the rear bracket 70 to the front ends of the second portions 74b, 75b.

[0069] Next, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the worker aligns the hole 64 of the front bracket 60 and the front slide hole 46 of the slide member 41 so that they are aligned vertically. Next, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the worker inserts the front pin 51 through the hole 64, the front slide hole 46, and the hole of the lower support portion 63 from above.

[0070] Next, as shown in Figures 10(a) and 10(b) in sequence, the worker pulls the slide member 41 in the width direction away from the rear bracket 70, thereby sliding the rear pin 52 from the engagement portion 47b of the rear slide hole 47 to the long hole portion 47a.

[0071] 10(b), when the worker releases the slide member 41, the restoring force of the second biasing member 42 causes the slide member 41 to slide to the rearward allowable position until the rear pin 52 is positioned at the front end of the elongated hole portion 47a, as shown in FIG. 10(c). This completes the attachment of the slide member 41 to the brackets 60, 70.

[0072] <Effects of this embodiment> (1) Because of the above-mentioned effects, the front locking mechanism 20 can be brought into a load-receiving standby state in conjunction with the opening operation of the rear door 16 through a mechanical configuration.

[0073] (2) By appropriately changing the length of the main body 43 of the slide member 41, the configuration of the switching mechanism 40 can be used for a plurality of types of storage boxes having different lengths in the front-rear direction.

[0074] (3) The front locking mechanism 20 can be realized with a simple configuration including the shaft portion 21, the operation knob 22, the locking portion 23, and the first biasing member 24. (4) The switching mechanism 40 can be realized with a simple configuration including a main body 43 having a rear slide hole 47, a rear pin 52 inserted into the rear slide hole 47, and a rear bracket 70 attached to the inner wall 14 of the box body 10.

[0075] (5) The main body 43 of the slide member 41 is supported by the rear bracket 70 and the front bracket 60 via the rear pin 52 and the front pin 51, respectively. Therefore, the slide member 41 can be stably supported.

[0076] (6) The rear slide hole 47 has an elongated hole portion 47a extending in the front-rear direction and a locking portion 47b that extends from the elongated hole portion 47a and is capable of locking the rear pin 52 therein. The switching mechanism 40, which is configured with the main body 43 having the rear slide hole 47, the rear pin 52 inserted into the rear slide hole 47, and the rear bracket 70 attached to the inner wall 14 of the box body 10, may have the following inconvenience: When attaching the rear pin 52 inserted into the rear slide hole 47 to the rear bracket 70 attached to the inner wall 14 of the box body 10, the rear pin 52 moves relative to the main body 43 of the slide member 41. This makes the attachment of the rear pin 52 to the rear bracket 70 complicated.

[0077] In this regard, according to the above configuration, the rear pin 52 can be locked to the locking portion 47b that bends and extends from the elongated hole portion 47a of the rear slide hole 47. Therefore, when the rear pin 52 inserted through the rear slide hole 47 is attached to the rear bracket 70 attached to the inner wall 14 of the box body 10, movement of the rear pin 52 with respect to the main body portion 43 of the slide member 41 is suppressed. Therefore, the work of attaching the rear pin 52 to the rear bracket 70 can be easily performed.

[0078] (7) The rear locking mechanism 30 includes a combination lock 34 that is configured to allow the rear door 16 to be locked or unlocked relative to the box body 10 . This configuration eliminates the need for the recipient to carry a key for the rear locking mechanism 30.

[0079] <Example of change> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0080] The rear locking mechanism 30 is not limited to having a dial lock 34 for locking and unlocking the rear door 16, but may also have a cylinder lock. The locking portion 47b of the rear slide hole 47 may be omitted.

[0081] The front slide hole 46, the front pin 51, and the front bracket 60 may be omitted. In this case, it is preferable that the cross-sectional shape of the rear pin 52 be elongated in the front-rear direction in order to prevent the slide member 41 from rotating around the rear pin 52.

[0082] The switching mechanism 40 is not limited to one including a main body 43 having a rear slide hole 47, a rear pin 52 inserted into the rear slide hole 47, and a rear bracket 70 attached to the inner wall 14 of the box body 10. In short, it is sufficient if it includes a slide member configured to be slidable in the front-rear direction between a restricted position and an allowable position that is a position rearward of the restricted position, and a second biasing member that biases the slide member from the restricted position toward the allowable position.

[0083] The front locking mechanism 20 is not limited to one having a shaft 21 supported rotatably about an axis extending in the front-rear direction. For example, it may be one having a shaft supported so as to be reciprocable in the width direction. In short, the front locking mechanism may be one that includes a locking part that is attached to the front door 15 and configured to be displaceable between a locked position that prevents the front door 15 from opening and an unlocked position that allows the front door 15 to open when the front opening 11 is closed by the front door 15, and a first biasing member that biases the locking part toward the unlocked position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 10...Box body 11...Front opening 11a...Engagement edge 12…Rear opening 12a...Engagement edge 13...Storage space 14…Inner wall 15...Front door 16...Rear door 20...Front locking mechanism 21...Shaft 22...Operation knob 23...Rock Club 23a...Engagement part 23b...extension part 23c...locking protrusion 24...First biasing member 30...Rear locking mechanism 31...Shaft 32...Operation knob 33...Lock piece 34...Dial lock 40...Switching mechanism 41...Slide member 42...Second biasing member 43...Main body 43A…Base material 43B...Protective cap 44…Tilt part 45...Third biasing member 46...Front slide hole 47...Rear slide hole 47a…Long hole part 47b...Latching part 48…Tilt shaft part 49...Rivet 51...Front pin 52...Rear pin 60...Front bracket 61...Mounting part 62...Top support part 63…Lower support part 64…hole 70...Rear bracket 71...Mounting part 72...Top support part 73…Lower support part 74...Notch 74a…Part 1 74b…Second part 75...Notch 75a…Part 1 75b…Second part

Claims

1. a box body having a front opening, a rear opening, and a storage space communicating with the front opening and the rear opening; a front door attached to the box body and configured to be able to open and close the front opening; a rear door attached to the box body and configured to be able to open and close the rear opening; a front lock mechanism including a lock unit configured to be displaceable between a locked position that prevents the front door from opening and an unlocked position that allows the front door to open in a closed state in which the front opening is closed by the front door, and a first biasing member that biases the lock unit toward the unlocked position; a rear locking mechanism that locks and unlocks the rear door; a switching mechanism including a slide member provided inside the box body and configured to be slidable in the front-rear direction between a restricted position and an allowed position that is a position rearward of the restricted position, and a second biasing member that biases the slide member from the restricted position toward the allowed position, The slide member has a main body extending in the front-rear direction, a tilting portion tiltably supported on a front end portion of the main body, and a third biasing member that biases the tilting portion toward a neutral position of the tilting portion, and is configured to slide forward to the restricted position when the main body is pressed forward by the rear door being closed, The switching mechanism is configured such that, when the slide member is in the restricted position, the tilting portion is pressed by the locking portion during displacement from the unlocked position toward the locked position, causing the locking portion to tilt, thereby allowing the locking portion to be displaced; on the other hand, the tilting portion is not tilted even when pressed by the locking portion in the locked position, thereby restricting the displacement of the locking portion; and, as the slide member slides to the permitted position, the abutting state between the locking portion and the tilting portion is released, allowing the locking portion to be displaced to the unlocked position. Box opening and closing system.

2. The front locking mechanism is a shaft portion supported rotatably relative to the front door about an axis extending in the front-rear direction; an operation knob connected to a front end of the shaft portion, the locking portion is coupled to the shaft portion and configured to engage with an engagement edge of the front opening at the locked position and not to engage with the engagement edge at the unlocked position; the first biasing member rotationally biases the locking portion toward the unlocked position, The switching mechanism is configured such that, when the slide member is in the restricted position, the tilting portion is pressed by the locking portion in the middle of rotational displacement from the unlocked position to the locked position, causing the tilting portion to tilt, thereby allowing the rotational displacement of the locking portion, and on the other hand, the tilting portion is not tilted even when pressed by the locking portion in the locked position, thereby restricting the rotational displacement of the locking portion. The box opening and closing system according to claim 1 .

3. The main body portion has a slide hole extending along the front-rear direction, The switching mechanism is a pin that is inserted into the slide hole and moves relatively in the front-rear direction within the slide hole to support the main body so that the main body can slide in the front-rear direction; a bracket attached to the inner wall of the box body and supporting the pin; The box opening and closing system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. When the slide hole is a rear slide hole, the pin is a rear pin, and the bracket is a rear bracket, the main body portion has a front slide hole located forward of the rear slide hole and extending along the front-rear direction, The switching mechanism is a front pin that is inserted into the front slide hole and moves relatively in the front-rear direction within the front slide hole to support the main body so that the main body can slide in the front-rear direction; a front bracket attached to the inner wall forward of the rear bracket and supporting the front pin. The box opening and closing system according to claim 3.

5. The slide hole has an elongated hole portion extending in the front-rear direction and a locking portion extending in a curved manner from the elongated hole portion and capable of locking the pin. The box opening and closing system according to claim 3.

6. The rear locking mechanism includes a dial lock that locks and unlocks the rear door. The box opening and closing system according to claim 1 .

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • JP1975005516U

  • Housing box and lock / unlock mechanism

    JP2014169587A

  • Home delivery box

    JP2019039181A

  • Accommodation box

    JP2019177077A

  • Delivery box

    JP3213566U