Management device

Abstract

To provide a management device capable of streamlining the management of cold storage tools used repeatedly in the pickup / delivery of packages.SOLUTION: A management device (10) is used in a pickup / delivery system (1) that picks up and delivers packages (13) that require cold storage by repeatedly using cold storage tools between a pickup / delivery base and a receiving or pickup location when picking up and delivering the packages (13) and comprises: a first temperature information acquiring unit (107) that acquires information indicating a temperature of a cold storage tool returned to the pickup / delivery base; a calculating unit (109) that calculates a required cooling period during which the cold storage tool returned to the pickup / delivery base should be cooled to a preset threshold value or less, using the information indicating the temperature of the cold storage tool returned to the pickup / delivery base; and a determination unit (110) that determines the priority order of the cold storage tools to be used for picking up and delivering the packages (13) based on the information indicating the required cooling period.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a management device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a management system that determines whether or not it is time to replace the cold storage material based on the combination of the object to be cooled and the cold storage material contained in the insulated container, and if it is time to replace the cold storage material, notifies the user that it is time to replace the cold storage material. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 203703 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present applicant has found the following problem: The management system of Patent Document 1 simply notifies users that it is time to replace the cold storage material, and is not a technology that improves the efficiency of managing cold storage devices that are used repeatedly when collecting and delivering packages.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and realizes a management device that can efficiently manage refrigerated items that are used repeatedly when collecting and delivering packages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A management device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a management device used in a collection and delivery system that collects and delivers packages that require refrigeration by repeatedly using refrigerated storage devices between a collection and delivery base and a receiving location or a collection location, a first temperature information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the temperature of the cooling device collected at the collection and delivery base; A calculation unit that calculates a required cooling period for the cooling equipment collected at the collection and delivery base to be cooled to a predetermined threshold or less using information indicating the temperature of the cooling equipment collected at the collection and delivery base; a determination unit that determines a priority order of cooling devices to be used for collecting and delivering the parcel based on the information indicating the required cooling period; Equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present disclosure makes it possible to realize a management device that can efficiently manage refrigerated items that are repeatedly used when collecting and delivering packages. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the collection and delivery system of the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram for explaining the flow of delivering a package in a collection and delivery system according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the temperature of the ice pack in the ice pack box and time. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of delivering a package in the collection and delivery system of the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of collecting a first insulated cooler box that has been delivered in the collection and delivery system of the embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram for explaining the flow of collecting a first insulated cooler box that has been delivered in the collection and delivery system of the embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Specific embodiments to which the present disclosure is applied will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. The following description and drawings have been simplified as appropriate.

[0010] The collection and delivery system of this embodiment is suitable for collecting and delivering parcels that require refrigeration by repeatedly using an insulated box between a collection and delivery base and a receiving or collection point. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system for the collection and delivery system of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the flow of parcel delivery in the collection and delivery system of this embodiment. Here, a "collection and delivery base" is, for example, a place where parcels to be delivered or collected parcels are temporarily stored. "Collection and delivery" refers, for example, to delivering or collecting parcels. A "receiving point" is, for example, a place where a sender who has requested delivery of a parcel receives the parcel. A "collection point" is, for example, a place where a parcel that a sender has requested to be collected is collected. 1 and 2, the collection and delivery system 1 of this embodiment includes a cooler box 2, a first postbox 3, a first portable terminal 4, a second postbox 5, a second portable terminal 6, a cooling device 7, a robot 8, an outside air temperature detection unit 9, a management device 10, and a database (DB) 11. The first postbox 3, the first portable terminal 4, the second postbox 5, the second portable terminal 6, the cooling device 7, the robot 8, the outside air temperature detection unit 9, the management device 10, and the DB 11 are connected via a network 12. Here, the network 12 is a wired or wireless communication line, for example, the Internet.

[0011] The refrigerated box 2 includes a box body for accommodating refrigerated luggage 13 (see FIG. 2) when the luggage 13 is collected and delivered, and a lid for sealing the box body, and as shown in FIG. 2, ice packs 21 are accommodated inside the refrigerated box 2. A tag 22 storing identification information assigned to each refrigerated box 2 is provided on the outer circumferential side of the box body of the refrigerated box 2. The tag 22 may be, for example, an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag or the like whose identification information can be read by a reading device. In this embodiment, the refrigerated box 2 is used repeatedly to collect and deliver luggage 13. The first post 3 is located at a receiving location or collection location for the package 13, and as shown in FIG. 2, is capable of accommodating a cooler box 2. The first post 3 is located, for example, at the residence of a sender 14 who has requested delivery or collection of the package 13. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first post 3 includes a frame 31, a first door 32, a second door 33, and a reading unit 34. The frame 31 is a shelf that is substantially rectangular when viewed from the front, and the front and rear of the frame 31 are open. Pairs of rails 35 are fixed to the inner surface of the frame 31 at intervals in the up-down direction of the frame 31. The pair of rails 35 extend in the front-to-rear direction of the frame 31, and support the cooler box 2 by placing flanges 23 that protrude laterally from the cooler box 2 on the rails 35.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2 , the first door 32 is provided on the front surface of the frame 31 and is disposed, for example, facing the outside of the residence of the requester 14. The first door 32 can be opened and closed, for example, under the control of the management device 10. The second door 33 is provided on the rear surface of the frame 31 and is disposed, for example, facing the inside of the residence of the requester 14. The second door 33 can be opened and closed, for example, by the requester 14. The reading unit 34 reads the identification information of the insulated box 2 from the tag 22 of the insulated box 2 supported by the pair of rails 35. For this purpose, the reading unit 34 is fixed to the frame 31, for example, for each pair of rails 35. The reading unit 34 links the read identification information of the insulated box 2 with information indicating the position of the rails 35 supporting the insulated box 2 (i.e., information indicating the position of the insulated box 2 within the first post 3), and transmits the linked information to the DB 11. In this embodiment, when receiving a package 13, the sender 14 takes the insulated box 2 containing the package 13 from the first post 3, receives the package 13 from the insulated box 2, and returns the empty insulated box 2 to the first post 3 for storage. When collecting a package 13, the sender 14 takes the empty insulated box 2 from the first post 3, places the package 13 inside the insulated box 2, and returns the empty insulated box 2 to the first post 3 for storage.

[0013] The first mobile terminal 4 is a mobile terminal owned by the sender 14, and is used to input information such as the desired time for receiving the package 13 and information indicating that the package 13 has been received by the sender 14. The second post 5 is located at a collection and delivery base and temporarily stores the refrigerated box 2. As shown in FIG. 2 , the second post 5 is equipped with a frame 52 in which multiple pairs of rails 51 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, and a reading unit 53 arranged so as to be able to read identification information of the refrigerated box 2 from the tag 22 of the refrigerated box 2 supported by the pair of rails 51. The reading unit 53 links the read identification information of the refrigerated box 2 with information indicating the position of the rails 51 supporting the refrigerated box 2 (i.e., information indicating the position of the refrigerated box 2 within the second post 5), and transmits the linked information to the DB 11. The second mobile terminal 6 is a mobile terminal owned by a worker 15 who performs work such as placing the package 13 in the refrigerated box 2 at a collection and delivery base and preparing it as a delivery item. The second mobile terminal 6 receives, for example, identification information of the refrigerated box 2 that contains the package 13. The cooling device 7 is located at the collection and delivery base and cools the ice packs 21 together with the refrigerated box 2. The cooling device 7 is large enough to accommodate multiple refrigerated boxes 2. The cooling device 7 may be any refrigerator that can cool the refrigerated box 2 to a temperature below a predetermined threshold. When the refrigerated box 2 is placed in the cooling device 7, the worker 15 may read the identification information of the refrigerated box 2 via the second mobile terminal 6 and input information indicating the position of the refrigerated box 2 within the cooling device 7. The identification information of the refrigerated box 2, linked to the information indicating the position of the refrigerated box 2 within the cooling device 7, may then be transmitted to the DB 11.

[0014] The robot 8 is a mobile object for collecting and delivering the insulated box 2 between the first postbox 3 and the second postbox 5. As shown in FIG. 2 , the robot 8 has a storage unit 81 capable of storing the insulated box 2, and is configured to store the insulated box 2 from the storage unit 81 to the first postbox 3 or the second postbox 5, or to retrieve the insulated box 2 from the first postbox 3 or the second postbox 5 to the storage unit 81, using a transport mechanism not shown. The robot 8 is configured to acquire information indicating the location of the robot 8 using a GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like. The robot 8 transmits information indicating the location of the robot 8 to a DB 11. The outside air temperature detection unit 9 detects information indicating the outside air temperature relative to the cooler box 2. The outside air temperature detection unit 9 can be placed in any location, for example, at a collection and delivery base. The outside air temperature detection unit 9 transmits information indicating the outside air temperature to DB 11. The management device 10 manages the collection and delivery of the cooler box 2. As shown in FIG. 1 , the management device 10 includes a first identification information acquisition unit 101, a second identification information acquisition unit 102, a desired time information acquisition unit 103, a receipt completion information acquisition unit 104, a journey information acquisition unit 105, a location information acquisition unit 106, a first temperature information acquisition unit 107, a second temperature information acquisition unit 108, a calculation unit 109, a determination unit 110, a control unit 111, and a notification unit 112.

[0015] The first identification information acquisition unit 101 acquires the identification information of the refrigerated box 2 read by the reading unit 34 of the first post 3 or the reading unit 53 of the second post 5. The second identification information acquisition unit 102 acquires the identification information of the package 13, including, for example, information indicating the product name and properties of the package 13, such as refrigerated, frozen, etc., and personal information such as the name, address, and contact details of the sender 14. The desired time information acquisition unit 103 acquires information indicating the desired time for receiving the package 13 and the desired time for collection of the package 13, which is input by the sender 14 via the first mobile terminal 4. The receipt completion information acquisition unit 104 acquires information indicating the completion of receipt, which is input by the sender 14 via the first mobile terminal 4 when the sender 14 receives the package 13 in the refrigerated box 2 from the first post 3. The journey information acquisition unit 105 acquires information indicating the travel route from when the refrigerated box 2 departs from the second post 5 of the collection and delivery base to when it is collected at the second post 5 of the collection and delivery base. In this case, the information indicating the travel route may include information indicating the period from when the refrigerated box 2 departs from the second post 5 of the collection and delivery base to when it is collected at the second post 5 of the collection and delivery base. The period from when the refrigerated box 2 departs from the collection and delivery base to when it is collected at the collection and delivery base may be, for example, the period from when the refrigerated box 2 departs from the second post 5 to when it is collected at the second post 5 based on the identification information of the tag 22 of the refrigerated box 2. However, the journey information acquisition unit 105 may also acquire information indicating the travel route based on information indicating the position of the robot 8, etc.

[0016] The location information acquisition unit 106 acquires information indicating the location of the robot 8. The first temperature information acquisition unit 107 acquires temperature information of the ice packs 21 in the ice pack 2 collected in the second post 5 at the collection and delivery base. The second temperature information acquisition unit 108 acquires information indicating the outside air temperature relative to the ice pack 2. Here, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the temperature of the ice pack in the ice pack and time. As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature of the ice packs 21 in the ice pack 2 continues to rise from the time the ice pack 2 leaves the collection and delivery base until the ice pack 2 is collected at the collection and delivery base. The temperature of ice packs 21 in cooler box 2 can be calculated based on, for example, the outside air temperature, the heat capacity of luggage 13 stored inside cooler box 2, the heat capacity of ice packs 21 in cooler box 2, the heat capacity transferred from the outside to the inside of cooler box 2, and the period from when cooler box 2 leaves second post 5 at the collection and delivery base to when it is collected at second post 5 at the collection and delivery base, and can be calculated using a method for estimating the temperature of a general object. First temperature information acquisition unit 107 links information indicating the temperature of ice packs 21 in cooler box 2 to identification information of cooler box 2 and transmits the information to DB 11. However, the temperature of ice packs 21 in cooler box 2 may also be detected by worker 15 using a thermograph or the like when cooler box 2 is collected at second post 5, and transmitted to DB 11 linked to identification information of cooler box 2.

[0017] Calculation unit 109 calculates the required cooling period for cooling ice pack 21 to a temperature equal to or lower than a preset threshold, based on information indicating the temperature of ice pack 21 in ice pack box 2 linked to the identification information of ice pack box 2. In detail, the required cooling period can be calculated based on the heat capacity of ice pack 21 in ice pack box 2 and the temperature inside cooling device 7, and can be calculated using a method for estimating the cooling period of a general object. Calculation unit 109 links the calculated information indicating the required cooling period to the identification information of ice pack box 2 and transmits it to DB11. The determination unit 110 determines the priority of the insulated boxes 2 to be used for collecting and delivering the packages 13 based on information indicating the required cooling period. For example, the determination unit 110 determines the priority so that, among the multiple insulated boxes 2 refrigerated inside the cooling device 7, the insulated boxes 2 are used in order of the ice packs 2 whose ice packs 21 have dropped below a preset threshold. For example, when the determination unit 110 transmits information indicating the priority of the insulated boxes 2 to the DB 11, the determination unit 110 determines the collection and delivery order of the packages 13 based on the desired receipt time and desired collection time, and further determines a combination of the package 13 and the insulated box 2 in which the package 13 will be stored based on the priority of the insulated boxes 2 and the collection and delivery order of the package 13, and transmits the identification information of the package 13 linked to the identification information of the insulated box 2 in which the package 13 will be stored to the DB 11. Here, the determination unit 110 determines the order in which the parcels 13 are collected and delivered based on the distance from the collection and delivery base to the receiving location or collection location and the time required to reach the receiving location or collection location based on the expected movement speed of the robot 8, so that the parcels 13 are collected and delivered in time for the desired receiving time or desired collection time.

[0018] The control unit 111, the details of which will be described later, controls the robot 8 and the first door 32 of the first post box 3. For example, based on the identification information of the insulated box 2 linked to the identification information of the package 13 to be collected or delivered, the control unit 111 controls the robot 8 to retrieve the insulated box 2 from the second post box 5, deliver it to the first post box 3, and return to the collection and delivery base, or controls the robot 8 to depart the collection and delivery base, retrieve the insulated box 2 from the first post box 3, and store it in the second post box 5. Furthermore, based on information indicating the position of the robot 8, the control unit 111 controls the first door 32 of the first post box 3 to open it when the robot 8 arrives at the first post box 3. The notification unit 112 transmits the identification information of the insulated box 2 linked to the identification information of the package 13 to be collected or delivered to the second mobile terminal 6. As a result, when delivering the package 13, the worker 15 takes out the insulated box 2 for storing the package 13 from the cooling device 7, places the package 13 in the insulated box 2, and stores the insulated box 2 in the second post 5. In addition, when collecting the package 13, the worker 15 takes out the insulated box 2 for collecting the package 13 from the cooling device 7 and stores it in the second post 5. DB11 stores identification information of the cooler box 2, identification information of the luggage 13, information indicating the outside air temperature relative to the cooler box 2, map information, information indicating the position of the robot 8, information indicating the desired time of receipt of the luggage 13, information indicating the completion of receipt of the luggage 13, information indicating the travel route of the cooler box 2, information indicating the temperature of the ice packs 21 in the cooler box 2, information indicating the required cooling period of the ice packs 21, information indicating the priority of the cooler box 2, and the like.

[0019] Next, the flow of delivering the package 13 in the collection and delivery system 1 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of delivering the package in the collection and delivery system of this embodiment. In the following description, it is assumed that the refrigerated box 2 has already been collected and cooled in the cooling device 7. First, the first temperature information acquisition unit 107 of the management device 10 acquires the temperature of the ice pack 21 in the refrigerated box 2 based on information indicating the travel route of the refrigerated box 2 from the time it leaves the second post 5 of the collection and delivery base until it is collected at the second post 5 of the collection and delivery base, which the travel route information acquisition unit 105 acquires from the DB 11, and information indicating the outside air temperature relative to the refrigerated box 2, which the second temperature information acquisition unit 108 acquires from the DB 11 (S1). The first temperature information acquisition unit 107 links the information indicating the temperature of the ice pack 21 in the refrigerated box 2 to the identification information of the refrigerated box 2 and transmits the information to the DB 11. Next, calculation unit 109 of management device 10 calculates a required cooling period for ice pack 21 to be below a threshold value based on information indicating the temperature of ice pack 21 in ice pack 2 linked to the identification information of ice pack 2 obtained from DB 11, and transmits the information indicating the required cooling period to DB 11 (S2). Then, determination unit 110 of management device 10 determines a priority order of ice packs 2 to be used for delivering package 13 based on the information indicating the required cooling period obtained from DB 11 (S3). For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a first ice pack 2a and a second ice pack 2b, which are representative examples of ice packs 2, are cooled by cooling device 7. As shown in FIG. 3, if the temperature of ice pack 21 in first ice pack 2a becomes below the threshold value earlier than the temperature of ice pack 21 in second ice pack 2b, the priority order is determined so that first ice pack 2a is used for delivery before second ice pack 2b.

[0020] Then, the determination unit 110 of the management device 10 links the identification information of the first refrigerator box 2a with the identification information of the first refrigerator box 2a to transmit the identification information of the package 13 that will be shipped earliest (for example, at 12:00) after the temperature of the ice pack 21 in the first refrigerator box 2a falls below the threshold, and transmits the linked information to the DB 11. Here, the shipping time of the package 13 can be set based on the information indicating the desired receiving time of the package 13 obtained from the DB 11, as described above, and the required time from the collection and delivery base to the residence of the sender 14 calculated based on the address information and map information of the sender 14 included in the identification information of the package 13 obtained from the DB 11. Next, the notification unit 112 of the management device 10 transmits to the second mobile terminal 6 the identification information of the first refrigerated box 2a, to which the identification information of the package 13 and the information indicating the position of the first refrigerated box 2a in the cooling device 7 are linked (S4). As a result, as shown in FIG. 2 , based on the identification information of the package 13 linked to the identification information of the first refrigerated box 2a and the information indicating the position of the first refrigerated box 2a in the cooling device 7, the worker 15 takes out the first refrigerated box 2 for containing the package 13 from the cooling device 7, places the package 13 in the first refrigerated box 2, and places the first refrigerated box 2 in the second post 5. At this time, the reader 53 of the second post 5 links the read identification information of the first refrigerated box 2a with the information indicating the position of the first refrigerated box 2a in the second post 5 and transmits it to the DB 11.

[0021] Next, the control unit 111 of the management device 10 controls the robot 8 based on information indicating the position of the first refrigerated box 2a in the second post 5 linked to the identification information of the first refrigerated box 2a obtained from the DB 11, and causes the robot 8 to take the first refrigerated box 2a containing the package 13 from the second post 5 and store it in the storage unit 81 of the robot 8, as shown in FIG. 2. Then, the control unit 111 generates information indicating the outbound and inbound routes between the collection and delivery base and the first post 3 based on the address information of the sender 14 and map information included in the identification information of the package 13 obtained from the DB 11. The control unit 111 of the management device 10 controls the robot 8 to move to the first post 3 based on the information indicating the generated route, and further, as shown in FIG. 2, causes the robot 8 to take out the first refrigerated box 2a from the storage unit 81 of the robot 8 and store it in the first post 3 (S5). The reading unit 34 of the first post 3 links the read identification information of the first refrigerated box 2a with information indicating the position of the first refrigerated box 2a within the first post 3 and transmits the linked information to the DB 11. At this time, when the control unit 111 of the management device 10 determines, based on the information indicating the position of the robot 8 acquired by the position information acquisition unit 106, that the robot 8 has reached the front of the first post 3, the control unit 111 controls and opens the first door 32 of the first post 3. Then, for example, when the control unit 111 determines that the reading unit 34 of the first post 3 has completed reading the identification information of the first refrigerated box 2a, the control unit 111 controls and closes the first door 32 of the first post 3.

[0022] Next, the notification unit 112 of the management device 10 generates information indicating the completion of delivery of the package 13 to the first post box 3, and transmits this information to the first mobile terminal 4 together with information indicating the position of the first refrigerated box 2a within the first post box 3, which is linked to the identification information of the first refrigerated box 2a obtained from the DB 11 (S6). This allows the sender 14 to recognize that the package 13 has been delivered to the first post box 3. Thereafter, the sender 14 opens the second door 33 of the first post 3 and, based on information indicating the position of the first insulated box 2a within the first post 3 that is linked to the identification information of the first insulated box 2a, removes the package 13 from the first insulated box 2a as shown in FIG. 2. The sender 14 then places the empty first insulated box 2a in the first post 3. At this time, the reader 34 of the first post 3 links the read identification information of the first insulated box 2a with information indicating the position of the first insulated box 2a within the first post 3 and transmits the linked information to the DB 11. When the receipt completion information acquirer 104 of the management device 10 acquires information indicating the completion of receipt that the sender 14 input via the first mobile terminal 4, the management device 10 determines that the delivery of the package 13 is complete and ends the delivery process of the package 13 (S7).

[0023] Next, the flow of collecting the first refrigerated box 2a delivered in the collection and delivery system 1 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of collecting the first refrigerated box delivered in the collection and delivery system of this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the flow of collecting the first refrigerated box delivered in the collection and delivery system of this embodiment. In the following description, it is assumed that the receipt completion information acquisition unit 104 of the management device 10 has already acquired information indicating receipt completion via the first mobile terminal 4. First, the control unit 111 of the management device 10 generates information indicating the outbound and inbound routes between the first post 3 and the collection and delivery base based on the address information and map information of the sender 14 included in the identification information of the delivered package 13 acquired from the DB 11. Next, the control unit 111 of the management device 10 controls the robot 8 to move to the first post 3 based on information indicating the generated route. Then, the control unit 111 controls the robot 8 based on information indicating the position of the first refrigerated box 2 in the first post 3 linked to the identification information of the first refrigerated box 2a linked to the identification information of the delivered package 13, and causes the robot 8 to retrieve the empty first refrigerated box 2a from the first post 3 and store it in the storage unit 81 of the robot 8, as shown in FIG. 6 (S11). At this time, when the control unit 111 of the management device 10 determines, based on the information indicating the position of the robot 8 acquired by the position information acquisition unit 106, that the robot 8 has reached the front of the first post 3, it controls the first door 32 of the first post 3 to open it. Then, for example, when the control unit 111 determines that the reading unit 34 of the first post 3 has completed reading the identification information of the first refrigerated box 2a, it controls the first door 32 of the first post 3 to close it.

[0024] Next, the control unit 111 of the management device 10 controls the robot 8 to move to the second post 5 based on the information indicating the generated route. Then, the control unit 111 controls the robot 8 to have the robot 8 take out the first refrigerated box 2a from the storage unit 81 of the robot 8 and store it in the second post 5, as shown in FIG. 6 (S12). At this time, the reading unit 53 of the second post 5 links the read identification information of the refrigerated box 2 with information indicating the position of the first refrigerated box 2a in the second post 5 and transmits the linked information to the DB 11. Next, the notification unit 112 of the management device 10 generates information indicating the completion of collection of the cooler box 2 in the second post 5, and transmits the information indicating the position of the first cooler box 2a in the second post 5 obtained from the DB 11 together with the linked identification information of the first cooler box 2a to the second mobile terminal 6 (S13). This allows the worker 15 to recognize that the first cooler box 2a has been collected. Based on the information indicating the position of the first cooler box 2a in the second post 5 linked to the identification information of the first cooler box 2a, the worker 15 removes the first cooler box 2a from the second post 5 and stores it in the cooling device 7, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0025] Then, the worker 15 reads the identification information of the first refrigerated box 2a via the second mobile terminal 6, inputs information indicating the position of the first refrigerated box 2a within the cooling device 7, and transmits the identification information of the first refrigerated box 2a linked to the information indicating the position of the first refrigerated box 2a within the cooling device 7 to the DB 11 (S14). As a result, the management device 10 determines that the collection of the first refrigerated box 2a is complete, and ends the collection process of the first refrigerated box 2a. Thereafter, the management device 10 returns to the above-mentioned package delivery process.

[0026] Here, when collecting a package 13, the robot 8 delivers the empty insulated box 2 containing the package 13 from the collection and delivery base based on the combination of the package 13 and the insulated box 2 in which the package 13 is to be stored, which is determined based on the priority of the insulated box 2 and the collection and delivery order of the package 13, and stores the empty insulated box 2 containing the package 13 in the first post 3. Then, the sender 14 takes the empty insulated box 2 from the first post 3 and stores the package 13 in the insulated box 2, and stores the insulated box 2 containing the package 13 in the first post 3. When the identification information of the insulated box 2 is transmitted again from the reader 34 of the first post 3, the robot 8 retrieves the insulated box 2 containing the package 13 and collects it at the collection and delivery base.

[0027] In this way, the management device 10 of this embodiment calculates the required cooling period for the ice packs 21 in the ice packs 2 collected at the collection and delivery base to be cooled to a preset threshold or less, and based on information indicating the required cooling period, determines the priority of the ice packs 2 to be used to collect and deliver the packages 13. In other words, the priority of the ice packs 2 to be used repeatedly is determined according to the cooling state of the ice packs 21 in the ice packs 2 collected at the collection and delivery base. This eliminates the need for the worker 15 to check successively whether the temperature of the ice pack 21 in the insulated box 2 is below a threshold when collecting and delivering the luggage 13, and makes it possible to efficiently manage the insulated boxes 2 that are used repeatedly when collecting and delivering the luggage 13, thereby enabling the luggage 13 to be collected and delivered efficiently with fewer insulated boxes 2. Furthermore, when the temperature of the ice packs 21 in the ice pack 2 is calculated based on information indicating the travel path from when the ice pack 2 leaves the second post 5 of the collection and delivery base until it is collected at the second post 5 of the collection and delivery base, the worker 15 does not need to measure the temperature of the ice packs 21 in the ice pack 2 collected at the collection and delivery base using a thermograph or the like, which makes it possible to manage the ice packs 2 more efficiently. Furthermore, when the temperature of the ice pack 21 in the ice pack box 2 collected at the collection and delivery base is calculated taking into account information indicating the outside air temperature, the temperature of the ice pack 21 can be calculated with high accuracy.

[0028] In the above embodiment, the robot 8 is used to collect and deliver the parcels 13, but the worker 15 may collect and deliver the parcels 13. Also, the second post box 5 may be omitted. Furthermore, it is preferable that the determination unit 110 of the management device 10 also takes into consideration the time required to reach the receiving point or collection point based on the distance from the collection and delivery base to the receiving point or collection point when determining the priority of the insulated boxes 2. In this case, it is preferable to give a higher priority to the insulated boxes 2 that have a longer cooling period in the cooling device 7 as the distance from the collection and delivery base to the receiving point or collection point increases. Furthermore, it is preferable that the determination unit 110 of the management device 10 determine the priority of the refrigerated boxes 2 taking into consideration the properties of the luggage 13. In this case, when the luggage 13 is frozen, the determination unit 110 may give a higher priority to the refrigerated box 2 that has a longer cooling period in the cooling device 7 than when the luggage 13 is refrigerated. Here, when the luggage 13 is refrigerated, it is preferable to use a threshold having a temperature range to determine whether the ice pack 21 in the refrigerated box 2 has fallen below the threshold so that the luggage 13 is not cooled too much inside the refrigerated box 2. In the above embodiment, the ice packs 21 are cooled together with the ice pack box 2 by the cooling device 7, but it is also possible to cool only the ice packs 21. In this case, a priority order is determined for the ice packs 21. The ice pack box 2 and the ice packs 21 may also be integrated. In other words, it is only necessary to determine a priority order for the ice packs that are delivered together with the package 13. Furthermore, before the cooling device 7 cools the ice packs 21 in the ice pack boxes 2, the calculation unit 109 of the management device 10 may calculate the required cooling period, and the determination unit 110 may determine the ice packs 2 and the luggage 13 to be stored in the ice pack boxes 2, and then the ice packs 21 in the ice pack boxes 2 may be cooled. In this case, the ice packs 2 may be arranged from top to bottom in the cooling device 7 in the order in which they are removed from the cooling device 7. For example, some or all of the above processes may be executed by a computer program. That is, the processes of the management device 10 are executed by a control computer that constitutes the processing device executing a program. The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1 Collection and delivery system, 10 Management device, 101 First identification information acquisition unit, 102 Second identification information acquisition unit, 105 Itinerary information acquisition unit, 106 Location information acquisition unit, 107 First temperature information acquisition unit, 108 Second temperature information acquisition unit, 109 Calculation unit, 110 Determination unit, 111 Control unit, 112 Notification unit, 13 Package, 14 Requester, 15 Worker

Claims

1. A management device used in a collection and delivery system that collects and delivers packages that require refrigeration by repeatedly using refrigerated equipment between a collection and delivery base and a receiving location or a collection location, a first temperature information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the temperature of the cooling device collected at the collection and delivery base; A calculation unit that calculates a required cooling period for the cooling equipment collected at the collection and delivery base to be cooled to a predetermined threshold or less using information indicating the temperature of the cooling equipment collected at the collection and delivery base; a determination unit that determines a priority order of cooling devices to be used for collecting and delivering the parcel based on the information indicating the required cooling period; a route information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a travel route from when the cooling device leaves the collection and delivery base until when the cooling device is collected at the collection and delivery base; Equipped with The first temperature information acquisition unit calculates the temperature of the cooling device collected at the collection and delivery base based on the information indicating the travel route, a management device.

2. The management device according to claim 1 , wherein the information indicating the travel route includes information indicating a period from when the cooling equipment leaves the collection and delivery base until when the cooling equipment is collected at the collection and delivery base.

3. a second temperature information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating an outside air temperature; The management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first temperature information acquisition unit calculates the temperature of the cooling device collected at the collection and delivery base, taking into account the information indicating the outside air temperature.

4. A management device used in a collection and delivery system that collects and delivers packages that require refrigeration by repeatedly using refrigerated equipment between a collection and delivery base and a receiving location or a collection location, a first temperature information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the temperature of the cooling device collected at the collection and delivery base; A calculation unit that calculates a required cooling period for the cooling equipment collected at the collection and delivery base to be cooled to a predetermined threshold or less using information indicating the temperature of the cooling equipment collected at the collection and delivery base; a determination unit that determines a priority order of cooling devices to be used for collecting and delivering the parcel based on the information indicating the required cooling period; a second temperature information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating an outside air temperature; Equipped with The first temperature information acquisition unit calculates the temperature of the cooling device collected at the collection and delivery base, taking into account information indicating the outside air temperature.

5. A management device used in a collection and delivery system that collects and delivers packages that require refrigeration by repeatedly using refrigerated equipment between a collection and delivery base and a receiving location or a collection location, a first temperature information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the temperature of the cooling device collected at the collection and delivery base; A calculation unit that calculates a required cooling period for the cooling equipment collected at the collection and delivery base to be cooled to a predetermined threshold or less using information indicating the temperature of the cooling equipment collected at the collection and delivery base; a determination unit that determines a priority order of cooling devices to be used for collecting and delivering the parcel based on the information indicating the required cooling period; an identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of the package; a notification unit that notifies a mobile terminal owned by a worker who delivers the package together with the ice pack of the ice pack to be delivered together with the package, based on identification information of the package and information indicating the priority of the ice pack; A management device comprising:

Images