Receiving facilities

Abstract

To receive a shipment from a flying body, such as a shipment transport drone, more accurately in a shorter staying time than before and secure safety.SOLUTION: A shipment receiving installation 10 includes a storage part 20 including a shipment receiving port 21 in an upper end face. The shipment receiving installation 10 further includes a shipment receiving part 30 installed in an upper end part of the storage part 20. The shipment receiving part 30 includes: a loading port from which a shipment P is loaded on one side; and a wall part on the other sides except for the one side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a receiving facility. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, a technique has become known in which packages delivered by unmanned aerial vehicles such as drones are received at a package receiving facility. The package receiving device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a vertically long casing, a platform that is exposed at the top opening of the casing and moves up and down inside the casing, a cover member that opens and closes the top opening of the casing, and a control unit that controls the operation of the platform and the cover member so that packages placed on the platform by drones can be stored inside the casing. Furthermore, the drone may be guided using wireless communication technology such as a beacon, if necessary. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6789425 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When delivering packages using unmanned aerial vehicles such as drones, ensuring safety by avoiding contact between people and the drone is a top priority. To this end, there is a need for ways to shorten the time that drones spend near package receiving devices and to enable more accurate package reception.

[0005] The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its objective is to enable accurate receipt of cargo from an aircraft such as a cargo-carrying drone in a shorter stay time than before, thereby ensuring safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 and 16, a cargo receiving facility 10, which includes a storage unit 20 having a cargo receiving opening 21 on an upper end surface for receiving cargo P delivered by a cargo carrying drone 3. and, A load receiving section 30 provided at the upper end of the storage section 20; Equipped with 、 The cargo receiving section 30 has walls on three sides in a plan view, and the remaining side is an insertion port 31 through which the cargo P is inserted horizontally from the cargo carrying drone 3. It is characterized by the fact that

[0007] According to the invention described in claim 1, the luggage P is stored in the storage unit 20 through the luggage receiving opening 21. In other words, the luggage carrying drone 3 can receive the luggage P simply by dropping the luggage P in and then flying away, so the luggage P can be received accurately in a short stay time, making it easier to avoid contact between people and the luggage carrying drone 3 and ensuring safety.

[0009] Claim 2 The invention described in the above can be implemented as follows, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 12 and 16: 1 In the receiving facility 10 described in The storage section 20 is characterized in that a lid 22 for opening and closing the loading opening 21 is provided at the upper end thereof.

[0010] Claim 2 According to the invention described above, a lid 22 for opening and closing the receiving opening 21 is provided at the upper end of the storage section 30, so that even if rain seeps in through the opening of the receiving section 30, it is possible to prevent rainwater from seeping into the storage section 20 through the receiving opening 21.

[0011] Claim 3 The invention described in claim 1 can be realized as shown in, for example, Figs. 1 to 13 and 16. or 2 In the receiving facility 30 described in The storage section 20 has a movable floor section 24 (24a to 24e) on which the luggage P stored through the luggage receiving opening 21 is placed and which can move within the storage section 20, and a luggage P removal opening 23 (23a to 23e) formed on the side.

[0012] Claim 3According to the invention described in the above, the storage unit 20 has a movable floor section 24 (24a to 24e) on which luggage P stored from the luggage receiving opening 21 can be placed and which can move within the storage unit 20, and an unloading opening 23 (23a to 23e) for luggage P formed on the side, so that luggage P stored in the storage unit 20 from the luggage receiving opening 21 can move within the storage unit 20 to the unloading opening 23 while remaining on the movable floor section 24, and the luggage P can be unloaded from the unloading opening 23. This allows the position from which luggage P is unloaded to be away from the luggage receiving unit 30, so that a distance can be maintained between people and the luggage-carrying drone 3, ensuring safety.

[0013] Claim 4 The invention described in the above can be implemented as follows, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13. 3 In the receiving facility 10 described in A plurality of the moving floor sections 24 (24a to 24e) are provided in the storage section 20, and a plurality of the take-out openings 23 (23a to 23e) are formed on the side surface of the storage section 20, The plurality of movable floor sections 24 are characterized in that their positions can be interchanged within the storage section 20.

[0014] Claim 4 According to the invention described above, a plurality of movable floor sections 24 are provided within the storage section 20, a plurality of removal openings 23 are formed on the side of the storage section 20, and the plurality of movable floor sections 24 can be swapped within the storage section 20. Therefore, even if a cargo P is placed on the movable floor section 24 closest to the cargo receiving opening 21 (for example, the fifth movable floor section 24e) and no cargo P is placed on the movable floor section 24 farthest from the cargo receiving opening 21 (for example, the first to fourth movable floor sections 24a to 24d), the movable floor sections 24 can be swapped and new cargo P can be received.

[0015] Claim 5 The invention described above can be realized by the following claims 1 to 8, 10 to 13, and 16, for example. 4 In the receiving facility 10 according to any one of the above, The storage section 20 is characterized in that it is formed longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction.

[0016] Claim 5 According to the invention described in the above, the storage section 20 is formed to be longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, so the height position of the cargo receiving section 30 can be increased. This allows for a distance between people and the cargo carrying drone 3, ensuring safety.

[0017] Claim 6 The invention described in claim 1 can be implemented as shown in FIG. 5 In the receiving facility 10 according to any one of the above, It is characterized by further comprising a communication unit for communicating with the outside world and sending and receiving information related to the luggage P delivered by the luggage carrying drone 3.

[0018] Claim 6 According to the invention described above, the cargo receiving facility 10 is further provided with a communication unit for communicating with the outside and transmitting and receiving information related to the cargo P delivered by the cargo carrying drone 3, so that, for example, it is possible to cancel the receipt of the cargo when the storage unit 20 is full, or to send information about the received cargo P to the user's smartphone to prompt the user to take out the cargo P, thereby increasing the convenience of the cargo receiving facility 10.

[0019] Claim 7 The invention described in the above can be implemented as follows, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 or and others 6 In the receiving facility 10 according to any one of the above, The loading section 30 further includes a rotation mechanism for changing the orientation of the insertion port 31 around a vertical axis of the loading section 30, The turning mechanism is characterized in that it is provided at the lower end of the storage section 20 or between the storage section 20 and the load receiving section 30. The invention described in claim 8 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, a goods receiving facility 10, A storage section 20 having a cargo receiving opening 21 on the upper end surface for receiving cargo P delivered by the cargo carrying drone 3; A cargo receiving section 30 is provided at the upper end of the storage section 20, and has one side serving as an insertion opening 31 through which cargo P is inserted, and the other sides except for the one side are wall sections; a rotation mechanism for changing the orientation of the insertion port 31 in the load receiving section 30 around a vertical axis in the load receiving section 30, A lid 22 for opening and closing the loading opening 21 is provided at the upper end of the storage section 20, The turning mechanism is characterized in that it is provided at the lower end of the storage section 20 or between the storage section 20 and the load receiving section 30.

[0020] Claim 7 and According to the invention of claim 8, the system further includes a rotation mechanism that enables the orientation of the insertion opening 31 in the load receiving unit 30 to be changed around the vertical axis of the load receiving unit 30. The rotation mechanism is provided at the lower end of the storage unit 20 or between the storage unit 20 and the load receiving unit 30. Therefore, the orientation of the insertion opening 31 in the load receiving unit 30 can be changed around the vertical axis of the load receiving unit 30 by rotating the storage unit 20 itself or by rotating the load receiving unit 30 relative to the storage unit 20. This allows the orientation of the insertion opening 31 in the load receiving unit 30 to be changed to match the direction from which the load carrying drone 3 is flying, making it easier to insert the load P. As a result, for example, there is no need to adjust the flight direction of the load carrying drone 3 near the load receiving unit 30, so that the load P can be received accurately from an air vehicle such as a load carrying drone 3 in a short stay time, thereby ensuring safety.

[0021] The invention described in claim 9 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, in the goods receiving equipment 10 described in any one of claims 1 to 8, The storage unit 20 is characterized by further comprising a running unit 50 configured to support the storage unit 20 and to be capable of running.

[0022] According to the invention of claim 9, the storage unit 20 is further provided with a running unit 50 configured to support the storage unit 20 and be capable of traveling, so that the storage unit 20 and therefore the entire goods receiving facility 10 can be moved. As a result, goods can be received anywhere as long as the running unit 50 can travel, and the orientation of the drop-in port 31 in the goods receiving unit 30 can be changed to match the direction from which the goods carrying drone 3 is approaching, which increases the convenience of the goods receiving facility 10 and ensures safety by allowing goods P to be received accurately and in a short stay time from an air vehicle such as a goods carrying drone 3. Furthermore, since the storage section 20 is supported by the running section 50, the height position of the cargo receiving section 30 can be made higher than when it is installed on the ground, so that a distance can be maintained between people and the cargo-carrying drone 3, thereby ensuring safety. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the present invention, compared to the prior art, it is possible to receive luggage from an air vehicle such as a cargo-carrying drone with high accuracy and in a short stay time, thereby ensuring safety. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mode in which a package is received from a package-carrying drone. [Figure 3] 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a manner in which received luggage is moved within the storage section. FIG. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing a building in which cargo receiving facilities have been installed. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view showing a building in which cargo receiving facilities have been installed. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the top plate. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a receiving facility for receiving large packages. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cargo receiving facility equipped with a swivel mechanism. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a receiving facility that is longer horizontally than vertically. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the moving floor unit replacement mechanism. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a form in which the movable floor section is replaced. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a form in which the movable floor section is replaced. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the moving floor section replacement mechanism. [Figure 14]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an attached state of a wire lock device to which a load hoisting wire is attached. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a wire lock device. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a cargo receiving facility equipped with a running section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are subject to various limitations that are technically preferable for implementing the present invention, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples. Note that the directions in the following embodiments and illustrated examples are set solely for the convenience of explanation.

[0026] 1 to 3, reference numeral 10 denotes a cargo receiving facility. This cargo receiving facility 10 is a facility for receiving cargo P that is delivered by being suspended by a cargo hoisting wire 3a from a cargo-carrying drone 3, which is an unmanned aerial vehicle, and includes a storage unit 20 with a cargo receiving opening on its upper end surface, and a cargo receiving unit 30 that is provided at the upper end of the storage unit 20 and opens to one side. The cargo-carrying drone 3 has a wire winding section 3b at its bottom end for letting out and winding up the cargo-hanging wire 3a. The cargo-hanging wire 3a is only let out when approaching the cargo-receiving facility 10 to prevent it from being blown around by the wind during flight from the delivery base.

[0027] In this embodiment, the storage section 20 and the goods receiving section 30 are integrally formed. In other words, the storage section 20 and the goods receiving section 30 are formed from a common housing, and are separate parts that perform their respective functions. The housing that constitutes the storage section 20 and the goods receiving section 30 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape.

[0028] The storage section 20 is formed so that it is longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. In other words, it is formed in a tower shape that rises upward from the installation location. The boundary with the goods receiving section 30 is the upper end surface of the storage section 20, and this part is the goods receiving opening 21. The upper end surface of the storage section 20 is inclined so that the edge on the rear side is at the lowest height position and the edge on the front side is at the highest height position. The receiving opening 21 of this embodiment is configured by an opening frame (not shown) attached along the inner surface of the housing of the storage section 20. That is, the upper surface of the opening frame is the upper end surface of the storage section 20, and the opening frame is inclined so that the edge on the back side is low and the edge on the front side is high.

[0029] A lid 22 is provided at the upper end of the storage section 20 to open and close the receiving opening 21. In this embodiment, the lid 22 itself fits inside the opening frame, or the lid 22 has a portion that fits inside the opening frame, so that the receiving opening 21 can be closed. The lid 22 is a foldable lid made of two plates connected by a hinge, which rises upward and folds toward the front. The lid 22 is also provided with a locking device that allows it to be opened and closed when the lock is released.

[0030] The left and right sides and the back of the storage section 20 are closed, and the front is partially open. The openings on the front function as multiple removal openings 23 (23a to 23e) for removing luggage P from inside the storage section 20. Explaining this in more detail, an opening frame divided into areas having multiple openings is attached to the position where the opening is formed on the front of the storage section 20, and each of these openings serves as one of the multiple removal openings 23 (23a to 23e). In this embodiment, there are a total of five stages of openings, namely, from bottom to top, first removal opening 23a, second removal opening 23b, third removal opening 23c, fourth removal opening 23d, and fifth removal opening 23e. A plurality of doors for opening and closing each of the access openings 23 (23a to 23e) are provided on the front portion of the storage section 20. The plurality of doors are rotating plates that are hinged at the bottom end and rotate up and down to open outward.

[0031] The storage section 20 also has a plurality of movable floor sections 24 (24a to 24e) on which luggage P stored through the luggage receiving opening 21 is placed and which can move within the storage section 20. In this embodiment, when luggage P is placed on all of the movable floor sections 24 (24a to 24e), there are a total of five floor sections, which are, in order from bottom to top, the first movable floor section 24a, the second movable floor section 24b, the third movable floor section 24c, the fourth movable floor section 24d, and the fifth movable floor section 24e. Of these multiple movable floor sections 24 (24a to 24e), the first movable floor section 24a is the first to receive cargo and is located at the lowest, so it is non-foldable. On the other hand, the second to fifth movable floor sections 24e are foldable, so they unfold from a folded state when receiving cargo P. The unfolding and folding mechanisms are assumed to be appropriately based on known mechanical mechanisms. In this embodiment, the number of the plurality of movable floor sections 24 matches the number of the plurality of take-out openings 23, but is not limited to this and can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the luggage P placed on the first movable floor section 24a does not necessarily have to be taken out from the first take-out opening 23a, but may be taken out from, for example, the fourth take-out opening 23d (or the other take-out openings 23b, 23c, 23e) which is at a height close to the height at which an adult can easily reach out (the same applies to the second to fifth movable floor sections 24e). In this embodiment, the moving floor section 24 is a floor section formed in the shape of a plate, but this is not limited to this, and the moving floor section 24 may also be configured by a multi-joint link mechanism such as a pantograph structure.

[0032] The plurality of movable floor sections 24 (24a to 24e) are each supported by a pair of dedicated rails 25 (25a to 25e) on the left and right. The pair of dedicated rails 25 (25a to 25e) are provided inside the storage section 20 near the left and right corners on the front side and the left and right corners on the rear side. The multiple dedicated rails 25 include a first dedicated rail 25 supporting the first moving floor section 24a, a second dedicated rail 25b supporting the second moving floor section 24b, a third dedicated rail 25c supporting the third moving floor section 24c, a fourth dedicated rail 25d supporting the fourth moving floor section 24d, and a fifth dedicated rail 25e supporting the fifth moving floor section 24e.

[0033] In this embodiment, a pair of left and right first dedicated rails 25a, a pair of left and right third dedicated rails 25c, and a pair of left and right fifth dedicated rails 25e are provided adjacent to each other at the left and right corners on the front side inside the storage unit 20. Of these dedicated rails 25a, 25c, and 25e, the fifth dedicated rail 25e is located closest to the front, followed by the third dedicated rail 25c, and the first dedicated rail 25a is located closest to the back. Furthermore, a pair of left and right second dedicated rails 25b and a pair of left and right fourth dedicated rails 24d are provided adjacent to each other at the left and right corners on the rear side inside the storage unit 20. Of these dedicated rails 24b, 24d, the fourth dedicated rail 25d is located closest to the rear side, and the second dedicated rail 25b is located closest to the front side.

[0034] Each dedicated rail 25 (25a to 25e) has a slider that slides along the dedicated rail 25 (25a to 25e). Each moving floor section 24 is disposed between a pair of left and right dedicated rails 25, and is connected to and supported by the slider of each dedicated rail 25. The slider can be stopped from sliding at a predetermined position by a stopper (not shown), allowing the moving floor section 24 to remain in a predetermined position. In other words, the moving floor section 24 can be made to wait directly below the receiving opening 21 at the upper end of the storage section 20 to receive luggage P, or can be made to wait at the removal opening 23 for a user to remove luggage P.

[0035] The sliders on the multiple moving floor sections 24 (24a to 24e) or multiple dedicated rails 25 (25a to 25e) are provided with weight sensors that detect when a package P is placed on the upper surface of each moving floor section 24 (24a to 24e).The control device can transmit notification data of the completion of delivery of the package P based on the information detected by the weight sensor to the communication means of the delivery side via the communication unit. Instead of or in combination with the weight sensor, other detection means such as an infrared sensor or a camera may be provided inside the storage section 20.

[0036] The lower end of the storage section 20 is an equipment storage section 26. In this embodiment, at least a control device that controls the operation of the slider and a communication section that communicates with the outside and transmits and receives information related to the package P delivered by the package-carrying drone 3 are stored in this section.

[0037] The control device can comprehensively control the operation of each unit provided in the storage unit 20 based on various programs and various data required for smooth receipt of the luggage P. The slider is connected to a wire that is driven by a drive unit (not shown), and the control device controls the drive unit to operate the wire, thereby controlling the operation of the slider. The control device can also control the opening and closing of the lid 22 of the loading opening 21 and the on / off of the locking device of the lid 22. Furthermore, the control device can also control the unfolding and folding operations of the multiple moving floor sections 24 (24b to 24e).

[0038] The communication unit may communicate with, for example, the cargo drone 3, or may communicate with a communication unit at the delivery base for the cargo P. It may also communicate with a communication unit such as an IC tag (RFID tag) attached to the cargo P. In other words, communication means are provided not only on the cargo receiving facility 10 side but also on the delivery side (the cargo drone 3, the IC tag attached to the cargo P, the facilities and equipment at the delivery base, etc.). When communicating with the cargo drone 3, it may be possible to guide the cargo drone 3 using a beacon. The control device and communication unit are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other. For example, the communication unit receives information about the approach of a cargo-carrying drone 3 or cargo P, and based on that information, the control device controls the operation of the lid 22 and the slider (i.e., the moving floor unit 24), allowing the cargo to be received smoothly.

[0039] As described above, the cargo receiving section 30 opens on one side. In this embodiment, it opens on the back side. This opening serves as an insertion port 31 through which the cargo P delivered by the cargo carrying drone 3 is inserted. In addition, the receiving section 30 in this embodiment is closed except for the rear side. In other words, the common housing constituting the storage section 20 and the receiving section 30 is not provided on the rear side of the receiving section 30. As a result, the insertion opening 31 and the receiving opening 21 communicate with each other through the internal space of the receiving section 30.

[0040] Such a load receiving section 30 has a top plate 32 arranged above the load receiving opening 21 with a gap therebetween. The top plate 32 is arranged so that the edge on the opening side (the edge on the back side) is higher than the other edges of the top plate (the edge on the front side and the left and right side edges). More specifically, the rear edge is inclined so that the edge at the rear side is the highest and the edge at the front side is the lowest. As described above, the upper end surface of the storage section 20 is also inclined so that the edge at the rear side is the lowest and the edge at the front side is the highest, so that the insertion opening 31 is formed with a wide gap between the upper and lower edges. In other words, the insertion opening 31, which is the opening of the cargo receiving section 30, is elongated in the vertical direction, widening the opening area and making it easier for cargo P to enter.

[0041] The edge portion on the opening side (edge ​​portion on the back side) of the top plate 32 consists of a first guide edge portion 32a extending from one end portion (left end portion) toward the center of the top plate, and a second guide edge portion 32b extending from the other end portion (right end portion) toward the center of the top plate. The area between the end of the first guide edge 32a on the side of the center of the top plate and the end of the second guide edge 32b on the side of the center of the top plate is a catcher guide 32c through which the load lifting wire 3a suspended from the load-carrying drone 3 is passed. The first guide edge 32a is formed in an arc extending from one end (left end) toward the center of the top plate and bulging out toward the other end. The second guide edge 32b is formed in an arc that bulges out toward the one end from the other end (right end) toward the center of the top plate. That is, the edge on the opening side (edge ​​on the back side) of the top plate 32 is formed so as to taper toward the center of the top plate. In particular, since both the first guide edge 32a and the second guide edge 32b are formed in an arc shape, they function to guide the load hoisting wire 3a toward the catcher guide 32c, and the area covering the load receiving opening 21 can be made as large as possible.

[0042] The cargo-carrying drone 3 flies in with the cargo P suspended by a cargo-hanging wire 3a, and when the cargo P is dropped into the drop-in port 31, the cargo P is positioned below the top plate 32 and the cargo-carrying drone 3 is positioned above the top plate 32. Furthermore, the load hoisting wire 3a, located between the load P and the load carrying drone 3, is arranged above and below the top plate 32. When the load carrying drone 3 drops the load P from the drop opening 31, the load hoisting wire 3a comes into contact with the edge of the top plate 32 on the opening side (the edge on the back side). When the load carrying drone 3 drops the load P from the drop opening 31, the load hoisting wire 3a moves toward the center of the top plate along either the first guide edge 32a or the second guide edge 32b. In other words, the load hoisting wire 3a reaches the catcher guide 32c (or it may reach the catcher guide 32c directly). When the cargo-carrying drone 3 attempts to fly away upward (or in a horizontal direction other than the direction toward the loading port 31) with the cargo-hanging wire 3a aligned with the catcher guide 32c, the cargo P gets caught on the underside of the top plate 32. When the cargo-carrying drone 3 flies away upward (or to the side of the loading port 31), the cargo P comes off the cargo hoisting wire 3a and is stored in the storage section 20 through the cargo receiving port 21.

[0043] Although not shown, a return portion may be formed in the first guide edge portion 32a and the second guide edge portion 32b near the catcher guide 32c to prevent the load hoisting wire 3a that has reached the catcher guide 32c from getting caught and coming loose, so that the load hoisting wire 3a will not come loose from the catcher guide 32c even if the load-carrying drone 3 tries to fly away toward the drop-in opening 31. In this way, the cargo P can be detached from the cargo hoisting wire 3a even if the cargo drone 3 flies away in any direction except downward. To prevent contact between the cargo hoisting wire 3a and the rotor, the cargo drone 3 will not fly downward when the cargo hoisting wire 3a is positioned in the catcher guide 32c section.

[0044] Next, a flow of receiving goods by the goods receiving facility 10 configured as above will be explained. First, information related to the package P is exchanged between the communication unit of the package receiving facility 10 and the communication means of the delivery side, and the operation of each part of the storage unit 20 is controlled by the control device. Information related to the package P may also be exchanged using communication means provided on the package carrying drone 3 side. The information related to the package P includes, for example, basic information about the package P, information about the scheduled delivery time, and information notifying the completion of delivery. The basic information of the package P may be, for example, information about the sender and recipient, and information about the contents of the package P (number, size, weight). When the control device of the package receiving facility 10 receives information about the contents of the package P from, for example, the communication means of the delivery side, it transmits information about the capacity of the storage unit 20 that can receive packages. If the capacity of the storage unit 20 is insufficient, the delivery center may contact the user, for example.

[0045] Information regarding the package P is exchanged between the communication unit of the package receiving equipment 10 and the communication means of the delivery side, and when the scheduled delivery time approaches (approaching information may be used), as shown in Figures 2(a) and (b), the lid 22 is first opened to open the package receiving opening 21, and the first movable floor section 24a directly below the package receiving opening 21 enters a waiting state for receiving the package.

[0046] When the cargo carrying drone 3 approaches the cargo receiving facility 10, it unwinds the cargo hoisting wire 3a from the wire winding section 3b and suspends the cargo P at a position some distance from the cargo carrying drone 3. Then, the drone 3 flies in a direction that allows it to insert the cargo P toward the insertion opening 31, with the height position of the cargo P aligned with the height position of the insertion opening 31.

[0047] As shown in Figure 2(c), when cargo P is dropped from the drop-in port 31, the cargo hoisting wire 3a reaches the catcher guide 32c either directly or along either the first guide edge 32a or the second guide edge 32b, and the cargo-carrying drone 3 is positioned above and the cargo P is positioned below the top plate 32, with the top plate 32 as the boundary. In this state, when the cargo-carrying drone 3 flies away as shown in Figure 2(d), the cargo P hits the surface of the top plate 32 and is detached from the cargo hoisting wire 3a as shown in Figure 2(e). The cargo P that has been cut off from the cargo hoisting wire 3a enters the storage section 20 through the cargo receiving opening 21 and is placed on the top surface of the first movable floor section 24a that has been waiting.

[0048] Then, the first movable floor section 24a on which the luggage P is placed is moved to the height position of one of the plurality of take-out openings 23 under the control of the control device. Note that the first movable floor section 24a may be moved to the position of the first take-out opening 23a, or may be moved to a height position determined appropriately depending on the total number of luggage P to be delivered to the luggage receiving facility 10. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the first movable floor section 24a is moved to the height position of the fourth take-out opening 23d.

[0049] The delivery completion notification is sent from the communication unit on the receiving equipment 10 side to the communication means on the delivery side based on the detection means such as the weight sensor. However, this is not limited to this, and the notification of delivery completion may also be sent from the cargo-carrying drone 3 to the delivery side's communication means based on a sensor installed on the cargo-carrying drone 3 that detects that the cargo P has been detached from the cargo-lifting wire 3a. When a delivery completion notice is sent to the delivery side's communication means, the lid 22 closes and the receiving opening 21 is blocked.

[0050] When information that the second package P will be delivered is acquired, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the second moving floor section 24b unfolds and goes into a standby state directly below the package receiving opening 21. Then, when the second package P is received by the package receiving section 30 in the same manner as the first package P, it is placed on the upper surface of the second moving floor section 24b. Then, the first moving floor section 24a is lowered to the position of the fourth take-out opening 23d, and the second moving floor section 24b is moved to the height position of the fifth take-out opening 23e. Furthermore, if the first (first) package P is removed before the second (later) package P is delivered, the second (later) package P (i.e., the same as the first package P) will be received and moved by the first moving floor section 24a.

[0051] When information that the third package P will be delivered is acquired, as shown in Figure 3(c), the second moving floor section 24b unfolds and enters a standby state directly below the package receiving opening 21. Then, after the third package P is received by the package receiving section 30 in the same manner as the first and second packages P, it is placed on the upper surface of the third moving floor section 24c. Then, the first and second moving floor sections 24a, 24b are lowered one by one, and the third moving floor section 24c is moved to the height position of the fifth take-out opening 23e. As shown in Figures 3(d) to 3(f), the fourth and fifth luggage P are received in the same manner, and the fourth and fifth moving floor sections 24d, 24e are moved in the same manner. That is, as shown in Figure 3(f), luggage P is placed on the upper surfaces of the first to fifth moving floor sections 24a to 24e, and they are lined up one above the other. Each time a package P is received by each movable floor section 24 and each movable floor section 24 carrying the package P moves to a height equal to or lower than the fifth movable floor section 24e, the lid 22 closes and the package receiving opening 21 is blocked. The lid 22 is also locked by a locking device. Then, when the next package P is to be delivered, the lid 22 opens again, but as shown in FIG. 3(f), if the storage section 20 is full and cannot receive any more packages, the lid 22 will not open even if the package P is delivered, and the package cannot be received.

[0052] When removing luggage P from storage section 20, if multiple removal openings 23a-23e face the interior of the room, the openings can be opened and closed from the interior side to freely remove luggage P. On the other hand, if multiple removal openings 23a-23e face the outdoors, locking devices are provided at multiple removal openings 23a-23e, and luggage P must be removed after unlocking the locking devices. For safety reasons, the locking is not released while moving floor sections 24a-24e are moving. Furthermore, the storage section 20 may be provided with a notification section such as a lamp that notifies which of the take-out openings 23a to 23e has the baggage P therein.

[0053] If the locking device is an electronic locking device that is linked to a communication unit, it may be communicably connected to an information terminal such as a smartphone used by the user. In other words, the locking device and the information terminal such as a smartphone work together, and the lock can be released from the information terminal such as a smartphone. If the locking device is linked to an information terminal such as a smartphone, the notification unit such as the lamp described above may not be necessary. The storage unit 20 may also be provided with a reader that reads code information such as a barcode displayed on an information terminal such as a smartphone.

[0054] The above-described receiving facility 10 can be installed in various locations in the buildings 1 and 2, as shown in FIGS.

[0055] The building 1 shown in Fig. 4 is a detached house, and the receiving facility 10 may be provided in the garden 1a or on the balcony 1b. Also, the receiving facility 10 may be provided indoors instead of outdoors.

[0056] When the receiving facility 10 is installed in the garden 1a, there are no particular requirements for installation, but it is preferable that the take-out opening 23 is installed facing the building 1. In other words, it is desirable that the take-out opening 23 does not face outside the premises. Since there are no particular requirements for installation, it is easy to install even in existing homes.

[0057] Furthermore, when the cargo receiving equipment 10 is installed on the balcony 1b, there are no particular installation requirements, so it is preferable that the take-out port 23 is installed facing the building 1, making it easy to install on the balcony of an existing house. Installing the cargo receiving equipment 10 on the balcony 1b in this way is effective when there are obstacles to flying the cargo-carrying drone 3 near the ground, such as in densely populated residential areas or narrow spaces.

[0058] When the receiving equipment 10 is installed indoors, at least the receiving portion 30 protrudes above the roof 1c, like a chimney (or a shaft or duct). When installed indoors, the receiving equipment 10 may be formed at a height extending from the floor of the lower floor to above the roof 1c as shown in FIG. 4, or may be formed at a height extending from the floor of the upper floor to above the roof 1c. Alternatively, the receiving equipment 10 may be formed at a height extending from the floor of an attic space with a low ceiling to above the roof 1c. When the cargo receiving equipment 10 is installed indoors in this way, the cargo receiving section 30 is located above the roof 1c, which allows for greater freedom in the direction in which the cargo-carrying drones 3 fly, and is also advantageous in terms of safety and noise. In addition, by forming an outlet 23 on each floor, cargo P can be removed from each floor. It can also be used as a dedicated cargo elevator to move items between floors. Furthermore, since the multiple movable floor sections 24 can be moved as needed within the range permitted by the length of the storage section 20, only one access opening 23 may be formed on each floor. For example, if there are five movable floor sections 24, then on the lower floors, one access opening 23 may be formed at the position of the highest movable floor section 24 (fifth movable floor section 24e). On the other hand, on the upper floors, there are no such conditions as on the lower floors, and the access opening 23 may be formed at any position that is easy for the user to access.

[0059] The building 2 shown in Fig. 5 is, for example, an apartment building or a multi-story building other than a residence, and has outdoor passageways 2b on each floor. In the case of the example building 2 shown in Fig. 5, the receiving equipment 10 is installed on the site 2a (garden 2a) and is formed at a height that spans the upper and lower floors. The take-out opening 23 may be formed only on the lower floor (first floor), or may be formed facing the outdoor passage 2b on each floor. Although the cargo receiving section 30 is arranged above the roof, it is not limited to this and may be arranged below the roof.

[0060] According to this embodiment, the following excellent effects are achieved. That is, the edge on the opening side of the top plate 32, which is arranged with a gap above the cargo receiving opening 21, consists of a first guide edge 32a extending from one end toward the center of the top plate, and a second guide edge 32b extending from the other end toward the center of the top plate. The area between the top plate center side end of the first guide edge 32a and the top plate center side end of the second guide edge 32b forms a catcher guide 32c through which the cargo hoisting wire 3a suspended from the cargo carrying drone 3 passes. Therefore, when cargo P suspended by the cargo hoisting wire 3a is dropped into the cargo receiving section 30 from the opening (drop-in opening 31) of the cargo receiving section 30, and the cargo hoisting wire 3a is aligned with the catcher guide 32c, when the cargo carrying drone 3 tries to fly away upward, the cargo P gets caught on the underside of the top plate 32. Then, as the cargo carrying drone 3 flies away upward, the cargo P detaches from the cargo hoisting wire 3a and is stored in the storage unit 20 through the cargo receiving opening 21. In other words, the cargo carrying drone 3 can receive the cargo P simply by dropping the cargo P into the cargo receiving unit 30 and then flying away, so the cargo P can be received accurately in a short stay time, making it easier to avoid contact between people and the cargo carrying drone 3 and ensuring safety.

[0061] Furthermore, the top plate 32 is positioned so that the edge on the opening side is higher than the other edges of the top plate 32, so the opening of the cargo receiving section 30 is longer in the vertical direction and the opening area is wider, making it easier to receive cargo P suspended by the cargo hoisting wire 3a. This allows cargo P to be received accurately from an air vehicle such as a cargo-carrying drone 3 in a short stay time, ensuring safety.

[0062] Furthermore, the upper end surface of the storage section 20 is inclined so that the edge of the upper end surface that is located below the edge of the opening side of the top panel 32 is at the lowest height, so the opening of the cargo receiving section 30 is longer in the vertical direction and has a wider opening area, making it easier to receive cargo P suspended by the cargo hoisting wire 3a. This allows cargo P to be received accurately from an air vehicle such as a cargo-carrying drone 3 in a short stay time, ensuring safety. Furthermore, a lid 22 for opening and closing the cargo receiving opening 21 is provided at the upper end of the storage section 30, so that even if rain seeps in through the opening of the cargo receiving section 30, it is possible to prevent rainwater from seeping into the storage section 20 through the cargo receiving opening 21.

[0063] Furthermore, the storage unit 20 has a movable floor section 24 (24a to 24e) on which the luggage P stored from the luggage receiving opening 21 is placed and which can move within the storage unit 20, and an unloading opening 23 (23a to 23e) for the luggage P formed on the side, so that the luggage P stored in the storage unit 20 from the luggage receiving opening 21 can move within the storage unit 20 to the unloading opening 23 while remaining on the movable floor section 24, and the luggage P can be unloaded from the unloading opening 23. This allows the position from which the luggage P is unloaded to be farther away from the luggage receiving unit 30, allowing for a greater distance between people and the luggage-carrying drone 3 and ensuring safety.

[0064] In addition, since the storage section 20 is formed to be longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, the height position of the cargo receiving section 30 can be increased. This allows for a greater distance between people and the cargo-carrying drone 3, ensuring safety.

[0065] In addition, the cargo receiving facility 10 is further equipped with a communication unit for communicating with the outside world and sending and receiving information related to the cargo P delivered by the cargo-carrying drone 3, so that, for example, it is possible to cancel the receipt of cargo when the storage unit 20 is full, or to send information about the received cargo P to the user's smartphone to prompt them to take out the cargo P, thereby increasing the convenience of the cargo receiving facility 10.

[0066] [Modification] It should be noted that the embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Modifications will be described below. The following modifications may be combined as much as possible. In each of the following modifications, elements common to the above-described embodiments will be assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted or simplified.

[0067] [Variation 1] The information regarding the cargo P exchanged between the communication unit of the cargo receiving equipment 10 and the communication means of the delivery side may include approach information informing that the cargo carrying drone 3 has approached the cargo receiving equipment 10, guidance information (signals) for guiding the cargo carrying drone 3 using communication technology such as a beacon, and image information if a camera is installed on the cargo carrying drone 3. The approach information is transmitted to the cargo receiving equipment 10 from the cargo drone 3 or from a delivery base that has acquired GPS information from the cargo drone 3. Upon receiving the approach information, the cargo receiving equipment 10 turns off the locking device of the lid 22 and opens the lid 22. It also unfolds the foldable mobile floor section 24. The above guidance information (signal) uses communication technology such as beacons, and information can be exchanged between the parent unit installed on the cargo receiving equipment 10 side and the child unit installed on the cargo carrying drone 3, allowing the child unit to be guided toward the parent unit. The image information allows confirmation of whether the lid 22 of the storage section 20 is open or whether the luggage P has been placed in the luggage receiving section 30. For this reason, it is desirable that the top panel 32 be made of a transparent (see-through) plate material.

[0068] [Variation 2] In the above embodiment, both the first guide edge portion 32a and the second guide edge portion 32b were formed in an arc shape, but in this modified example, the first guide edge portion 320a and the second guide edge portion 320b of the top plate 320 are formed in a straight line, as shown in FIG. That is, the first guide edge 320a is formed in a straight line from one end (left end) toward the center of the tabletop, and the second guide edge 320b is formed in a straight line from the other end (right end) toward the center of the tabletop. Therefore, the load hoisting wire 3a moves in a straight line toward the catcher guide 32c, which has the advantage of making it easier to guide the load hoisting wire 3a.

[0069] [Variation 3] The cargo receiving equipment 10 in the above embodiment is configured so that five upper and lower movable floor sections 24 are provided inside the storage section 20 and a total of five cargoes P can be received, but the cargo receiving equipment 10A in this modified example, as shown in Fig. 7, is configured so that three upper and lower movable floor sections 24 are provided inside the storage section 20 and a total of three cargoes P can be received. Accordingly, a total of three take-out openings 23A are also formed, each with a door.

[0070] Each take-out opening 23A is formed to have a longer vertical dimension than each take-out opening 23 in the above embodiment. Therefore, the goods receiving equipment 10A of this modified example can receive goods P with a longer vertical dimension than the goods receiving equipment 10 of the above embodiment. In other words, it can receive goods P of a larger size. The vertical dimension of the insertion opening 31 is longer than the vertical dimension of the removal opening 23, and the horizontal dimension of the insertion opening 31 is set to be approximately equal to the horizontal dimension of the removal opening 23.

[0071] In addition, since the size of the housing of the receiving equipment 10A in this modified example is the same as that of the receiving equipment 10 in the above embodiment, only the vertical dimensions of the removal opening 23 can be made longer, but the width and depth dimensions may also be set longer without making the housing size the same.

[0072] The cargo receiving equipment 10A of this modified example may be installed alone in the buildings 1 and 2, or may be installed alongside the cargo receiving equipment 10 of the above embodiment. If it is not possible to secure a site for installing two units of cargo receiving equipment 10 and 10A side by side, removal openings 23 with different vertical dimensions may be formed on the front and rear sides of a single unit of cargo receiving equipment 10 (10A). In this case, the number of cargoes P that can be received is changed as appropriate, and the operation of the moving floor unit 24 is controlled as appropriate by a control device.

[0073] Furthermore, as described above, when two receiving facilities 10, 10A, one for large items and one for normal-sized items, are installed side by side, or when one receiving facility 10 (10A) is used to handle both large items and normal-sized items, the control devices in both receiving facilities 10, 10A may be linked or integrated. The information regarding the package P transmitted from the delivery side's communication means includes information regarding the weight of the package P, and the control device at the receiving facility 10, 10A can determine which receiving facility 10, 10A is appropriate to receive the package based on the weight information. Since receiving equipment 10A for large packages can also receive normal-sized packages P, if normal-sized receiving equipment 10 is full, a decision is made to receive the package at receiving equipment 10A for large packages. On the other hand, since normal-sized receiving equipment 10 cannot receive large packages, if receiving equipment 10A for large packages is full, information that the package cannot be received is sent to the delivery side via the communication unit, and receiving of the package is put on hold. At the same time, the same information is sent to the user (recipient) to encourage them to pick up the large parcel, and redelivery will be performed when space becomes available in the storage section 20 of the parcel receiving facility 10A for large parcels.

[0074] [Variation 4] As shown in Figure 8, the goods receiving equipment 10B in this modified example is equipped with a turning mechanism that enables the orientation of the drop-in port 31 in the goods receiving section 30 to be changed around a vertical axis (a virtual axis line) in the goods receiving section 30. The turning mechanism of this modified example is provided at the lower end of the storage unit 20. That is, a turning drive unit for turning the storage unit 20 is provided inside the equipment storage unit 26, which is the part that is installed on the ground or floor, and the turning drive unit is controlled by a control device.

[0075] In this modified example, the information regarding the package P exchanged between the communication unit of the package receiving facility 10 and the communication means of the delivery side includes flight direction information indicating the direction from which the package-carrying drone 3 will arrive. The flight direction information is transmitted to the cargo receiving facility 10B from the cargo carrying drone 3 or from a delivery base that has obtained the GPS information of the cargo carrying drone 3. In the cargo receiving facility 10 that has received the flight direction information, the control device controls the rotation drive unit stored in the equipment storage unit 26 based on the position information of the cargo receiving facility 10B and the flight direction information of the cargo carrying drone 3, causing the storage unit 20 to rotate. This allows the orientation of the drop opening 31 in the cargo receiving unit 30 to be changed to match the flight direction information. The cargo receiving facility 10B then turns off the locking device of the lid 22 and opens the lid 22. The foldable moving floor unit 24 also unfolds.

[0076] In this modified example, the swivel mechanism is provided at the lower end of the storage unit 20, but this is not limiting and it may be provided between the storage unit 20 and the goods receiving unit 30. In other words, the swivel drive unit is disposed between the upper end of the storage unit 20 and the lower end of the goods receiving unit 30, avoiding the goods receiving opening 21. This allows the goods receiving unit 30 to be swiveled relative to the storage unit 20 while the storage unit 20 is fixed.

[0077] In addition, when two receiving facilities, one for large items and one for normal-sized items, are installed side by side as described above, the swivel mechanism cannot be operated if the receiving facilities are placed in abutting relation. Therefore, when two receiving facilities, one for large items and one for normal-sized items, are installed side by side, it is preferable to place the receiving facilities at a distance from each other. If both receiving facilities must be installed in abutting relation in a narrow space, the housing of one or both of the receiving facilities can be formed into a cylindrical shape so that the swivel mechanism can be operated.

[0078] According to this modification, a rotation mechanism is further provided to change the orientation of the opening in the load receiving unit 30 around the vertical axis of the load receiving unit 30. The rotation mechanism is provided at the lower end of the storage unit 20 or between the storage unit 20 and the load receiving unit 30. Therefore, the orientation of the insertion opening 31 in the load receiving unit 30 can be changed around the vertical axis of the load receiving unit 30 by rotating the storage unit 20 itself or by rotating the load receiving unit 30 relative to the storage unit 20. This allows the orientation of the insertion opening 31 in the load receiving unit 30 to be changed to match the direction from which the load carrying drone 3 is flying, making it easier to insert the load P. As a result, for example, there is no need to adjust the flight direction of the load carrying drone 3 near the load receiving unit 30, so the load P can be received accurately from an aircraft such as the load carrying drone 3 in a short stay time, thereby ensuring safety.

[0079] [Variation 5] In the goods receiving facility 10C of this modification, a storage section 20C is formed so that it is longer in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 9. In other words, the storage section 20C is arranged in a lying state. The receiving opening 21C is formed on the upper surface of one end in the length direction of the storage section 20C. A receiving section 30 is provided at the position of the receiving opening 21C.

[0080] Although not shown, the storage section 20C has a plurality of movable floor sections 24 on which the luggage P stored through the receiving opening 21 can be placed and moved within the storage section 20, and a plurality of removal openings 23 for the luggage P formed on the side. Each movable floor section 24 is positioned directly below the receiving opening 21C when waiting for the luggage P, and when the luggage P is placed on it, it lowers and slides toward the other end of the storage section 20C in the longitudinal direction. It then stops at the position of one of the multiple removal openings 23 and waits for the luggage P to be removed. Since equipment storage section 26C is provided at the lower end of storage section 20C, which is long in the horizontal direction, the storage space volume can be made larger than that of a storage section that is long in the vertical direction. Therefore, not only the control device and communication section, but also all of the mechanisms for operating multiple moving floor sections 24 may be stored within equipment storage section 26C.

[0081] The goods receiving equipment 10C of this modified example is installed so that at least the goods receiving section 30 is located in a place with little traffic. That is, for example, a partition wall is installed on a balcony, and one side of the partition wall is made into a space with little traffic by providing a locked door, etc. Then, the storage section 20C of the goods receiving equipment 10C is passed through an opening formed in the lower end of the partition wall, and the goods receiving section 30 is located in the space on one side of the partition wall. This makes it easier to avoid contact between people and the cargo-carrying drone 3 in space, thereby ensuring safety.

[0082] [Variation 6] In the above embodiment, the receiving equipment 10 sequentially loads luggage P from the first moving floor section 24a to the fifth moving floor section 24e, and the positions of the respective moving floor sections are sequentially lowered to wait for the user to retrieve the luggage P. While this type of receiving equipment 10 is unlikely to cause problems when installed in a detached house, in an apartment building occupied by multiple households, each resident retrieves their luggage P at different times, which may result in a situation where the lower moving floor section 24 cannot receive luggage unless the luggage P on the upper moving floor section 24 is retrieved. In other words, unless the luggage P on the fifth moving floor section 24e is retrieved, the fourth moving floor section 24d and the following moving floor sections 24a-24c cannot receive luggage even if there is no luggage P on them. In contrast, the cargo receiving facility 10D of this modified example is equipped with a swapping mechanism that swaps the positions of the multiple movable floor sections 24D (24Da to 24De), as shown in Figures 10 to 12. That is, the swapping mechanism allows the multiple movable floor sections 24Da to 24De to swap positions within the storage section 20D, and the movable floor section 24D that does not have any cargo P placed on it can be positioned at the top to receive cargo.

[0083] In this modified example, the first movable floor 24Da is provided via a pair of sliders SL on a pair of first dedicated rails 25Da that are spaced apart from each other on the inner surface of the rear side wall of the storage section 20D (i.e., the rear side of the housing). The second moving floor section 24Db is provided via a slider SL on a single second dedicated rail 25Db provided on the inner surface of the right wall (right side of the housing) of the storage section 20D. The third moving floor section 24Dc is provided on the inner surface of the right wall (right side of the housing) of the storage section 20D via a slider SL on a third dedicated rail 25Dc provided at a distance from the second dedicated rail 25Db. The fourth moving floor section 24Dd is provided via a slider SL on a fourth dedicated rail 25Dd provided on the inner surface of the left wall (left side of the housing) of the storage section 20D. The fifth moving floor section 24De is provided via a slider SL on a fifth dedicated rail 25De provided at a distance from the fourth dedicated rail 25Dd on the inner surface of the left wall (left side of the housing) of the storage section 20D. That is, the first moving floor section 24Da is supported at two points by a pair of first dedicated rails 25Da, and the second to fifth moving floor sections 24Db to 24De are each supported at one point by a single dedicated rail 25Db to 25De. The second to fifth moving floor sections 24Db to 24De, which are supported at one point, are designed to accommodate relatively light luggage P, and the first moving floor section 24Da, which is supported at two points, is designed to accommodate relatively heavy luggage P.

[0084] In addition, in the above-mentioned receiving equipment 10A for large luggage, the two-point supported movable floor section (a pair of dedicated rails) in this modified example is provided on each of the rear side wall section, right side wall section, and left side wall section of the storage section.

[0085] The plurality of moving floor sections 24D (24Da to 24De) in this modified example are of a foldable type that unfolds from a folded state when luggage P is received. Each movable floor section 24D (24Da to 24De) comprises a rectangular main body plate section and a protrusion that is integrally formed with one edge of the main body plate section and protrudes from that edge section toward the slider SL, with the tip of the protruding section connected to the slider SL so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.

[0086] The first moving floor section 24Da is supported at two points by the pair of first dedicated rails 25Da and therefore has two protrusions. However, the first moving floor section 24Da may not have two protrusions, and the main body plate may be connected to the slider SL so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. On the other hand, the second to fifth moving floor sections 24Db to 24De are supported at one point by one dedicated rail 25Db to 25De, and therefore each has one protrusion.

[0087] 10, the second dedicated rail 25Db and the fourth dedicated rail 25Dd are located closer to the front than the pair of first dedicated rails 25Da and the first moving floor section 24a in the folded state. This allows the first moving floor section 24a in the folded state to move up and down within the storage section 20 regardless of whether the second to fifth moving floor sections 24Db to 24De are in the folded state or in the unfolded state.

[0088] Since each protrusion on the second to fifth movable floor sections 24Db to 24De protrudes from one edge of the main plate section, when the movable floor section 24D is unfolded from the folded state, a gap 27D the length of the protrusion is formed between the surface of each dedicated rail 25D and one edge of each main plate section, as shown in Figure 11, for example. The gap 27D is designed to allow another movable floor section 24D in a folded state provided on the same side of the storage section 20D to pass through. In other words, the gap 27D functions as a space for exchanging movable floor sections 24D. 11, when the third moving floor section 24Dc is unfolded, a gap 27D is formed, which is a space for exchanging. When the luggage P is removed from the second moving floor section 24Db, which was located below the third moving floor section 24Dc, and the second moving floor section 24Db is folded up, it becomes able to pass through the gap 27D and can move above the third moving floor section 24Dc through the gap 27D. The fourth moving floor section 24Dd and the fifth moving floor section 24De can also be interchanged in the same way.

[0089] The main body plate portions of the second to fifth moving floor sections 24Db to 24De are set to a length such that, when unfolded, their tip ends (the ends opposite the dedicated rail 25D) do not reach the moving floor section 24D on the opposite side. 12 as an example, the tip ends of the second and third moving floor sections 24Db, 24Dc in the unfolded state are positioned at a sufficient distance from the fourth and fifth dedicated rails 25Dd, 25De that support the opposite fourth and fifth moving floor sections 24Dd, 24De. Therefore, a gap is also formed between the tip ends of the second and third moving floor sections 24Db, 24Dc in the unfolded state and the opposite fourth and fifth moving floor sections 24Dd, 24De in the folded state. In other words, the ends of the second and third moving floor sections 24Db, 24Dc in the unfolded state are set to a length that does not reach the fourth and fifth moving floor sections 24Dd, 24De on the opposite side in the folded state, so that the up and down movement of these fourth and fifth moving floor sections 24Dd, 24De on the opposite side is not impeded.

[0090] The width of the main body plate is set to be shorter than the distance between one dedicated rail 25D and the other dedicated rail 25D provided on the same side of the storage section 20D. 11 as an example, the main body plate of the second moving floor section 24Db supported by the second dedicated rail 25Db is set to a width dimension that does not reach the third dedicated rail 25Dc. As a result, when the second moving floor section 24Db in the folded state passes through a gap 27D formed on one edge side of the third moving floor section 24Dc in the unfolded state, the second moving floor section 24Db does not come into contact with the protruding part of the third moving floor section 24Dc, and therefore the up and down movement of the second moving floor section 24Db is not impeded.

[0091] Furthermore, if another moving floor section 24D is positioned on the rotation path of a moving floor section 24D that is moving from below to above, they will come into contact with each other and will not be able to be folded. In other words, the positions of the moving floor sections 24D cannot be swapped. Therefore, the moving floor section 24D that is about to move and the moving floor section 24D located above it are temporarily moved upward to ensure space for the moving floor section 24D to be moved and then the moving floor section 24D that is about to move is placed in the folded state. 12 as an example, when a package P is removed from the removal opening 23D, the second moving floor section 24Db, which is about to move, and the third to fifth moving floor sections 24Dc-24De located above it are moved upward to secure a folding space, and the second moving floor section 24Db is folded. The second moving floor section 24Db in the folded state moves upward through the gap 27D, which is a replacement space for the third moving floor section 24Dc on the same side. The third to fifth moving floor sections 24Dc-24De, which were located above the second moving floor section 24Db, move downward sequentially. Then, the second moving floor section 24Db, which has moved above the other moving floor sections 24D, enters a state of waiting to receive package under the control of the control device.

[0092] According to this modified example, the multiple movable floor sections 24D can be swapped within the storage section 20D, so that, for example, even if a cargo P is placed on the movable floor section 24D (fifth movable floor section 24De) closest to the cargo receiving opening 21D and no cargo P is placed on the movable floor sections 24D (first to fourth movable floor sections 24Da to 24Dd) farthest from the cargo receiving opening 21D, it is possible to swap the movable floor sections 24D and receive new cargo P.

[0093] 13 shows another example of the switching mechanism. In this example, multiple moving floor sections 240D are provided via a pair of sliders SL on a pair of dedicated rails 250D provided at intervals on the inner surfaces of the front, back, left side, and right side of the storage section 200D (i.e., the housing). More specifically, each movable floor section 240D is disposed between a pair of dedicated rails 250D, and can move up and down using the space (gap 270D) between these dedicated rails 250D for swapping. Furthermore, one dedicated rail 250D provided on one adjacent inner surface and the other dedicated rail 250D provided on the other adjacent inner surface are slightly offset in plan view, so that when a movable floor section 240D is unfolded, it does not come into contact with the other dedicated rail 250D provided on the adjacent inner surface. In other words, it is possible to prevent the unfolding and folding operation of one movable floor section 240D from being hindered by the other movable floor section 240D or dedicated rail 250D. In addition, since the pair of dedicated rails 250D on each inner surface are spaced apart from each other, removal of the luggage P from the removal opening 230D is less likely to be obstructed.

[0094] [Variation 7] 14 and 15, the communication means on the delivery side in this modified example includes a delivery module 40 that is attached to the package P and to which the load-hanging wire 3a of the load-carrying drone 3 is connected. This delivery module 40 is configured to be able to communicate with the communication unit of the package receiving facility 10 and the communication means of the delivery base.

[0095] The necessary functions of the delivery module 40 are housed inside a housing 41. The housing 41 is formed in a rectangular shape in a plan cross-sectional view and has a first side surface 41a, a second side surface 41b that is perpendicular to the first side surface 41a, a third side surface 41c that is perpendicular to the second side surface 41b and parallel to the first side surface 41a, and a fourth side surface 41d that is perpendicular to the first side surface 41a and the third side surface 41c and parallel to the second side surface 41b. The housing 41 accommodates a first belt winder 42, a second belt winder 43, a control unit 44, a battery 45, and a wire lock unit 46 inside.

[0096] The first belt winding part 42 is for winding and unwinding the first fixing belt 42a, and is disposed inside the first side surface 41a of the housing 41. A slit through which the first fixing belt 42a passes is formed in the first side surface 41a of the housing 41, and the tip end 42b of the first fixing belt 42a always protrudes from the slit. The tip end 42b can be pinched with fingers to pull out the first fixing belt 42a. A slit through which the tip 42b of the first fixing belt 42a passes is formed in the third side surface 41c of the housing 41, and a belt locking portion is provided inside the slit. That is, the first fixing belt 42a is arranged from the first side surface 41a toward the third side surface 41c of the housing 41, and the tip 42b can be locked to the housing 41. 15(b), a recess is formed on the bottom surface of the housing 41 on the side of the third side surface 41c, and a belt release button 42c constituting the belt locking portion is provided at the position of the recess so as to protrude downward. By pressing the belt release button 42c upward, the tip end 42b is released from the belt locking portion, and the first fixing belt 42a is wound up by the first belt winding portion 42.

[0097] The second belt winding part 43 is for winding and unwinding the second fixing belt 43a, and is disposed inside the second side surface 41b of the housing 41. A slit through which the second fixing belt 43a passes is formed in the second side surface 41b of the housing 41, and the tip end 43b of the second fixing belt 43a always protrudes from the slit. The tip end 43b can be pinched with fingers to pull out the second fixing belt 43a. A slit through which the tip 43b of the second fixing belt 43a passes is formed in the fourth side surface 41d of the housing 41, and a belt locking portion is provided inside the slit. That is, the second fixing belt 43a is arranged from the second side surface 41b toward the fourth side surface 41d of the housing 41, and the tip 43b can be locked to the housing 41. In addition, by pressing a belt release button (not shown), the tip 43b is released from the belt locking portion, and the second fixing belt 43a is taken up by the second belt retractor 43.

[0098] The first fixed belt 42a is arranged from the first side 41a of the housing 41 toward the third side 41c, and the second fixed belt 43a is arranged from the second side 41b of the housing 41 toward the fourth side 41d, so that if the delivery module 40 is placed at the center of the top surface of the luggage P, the luggage P can be held by the first fixed belt 42a and the second fixed belt 43a. Furthermore, since the first fixing belt 42a and the second fixing belt 43a are always wound up by the first belt winding section 42 and the second belt winding section 43, even if the size or shape of the luggage P is not fixed, it can be held within the range allowed by the length of each fixing belt 42a, 43a.

[0099] The control unit 44 is disposed inside the third side surface 41c of the housing 41. Such a control unit 44 has a communication unit for communicating with the communication unit of the receiving facility 10 and the communication means of the delivery base, and can control the communication unit, for example, by communicating with the receiving facility 10 when approaching the receiving facility 10, or by communicating with the delivery base when the wire lock unit 46 is released.

[0100] The battery 45 is disposed inside the fourth side surface 41d of the housing 41. Such a battery 45 is intended to supply the power required for control and communication by the control unit 44, as well as the power required to perform other functions.

[0101] The wire lock portion 46 has a clamping portion 47 that clamps the lower end of the load hoisting wire 3a, and a holding portion 48 into which the clamping portion 47 is inserted to hold the clamping portion 47 and the lower end of the load hoisting wire 3a.

[0102] The clamping portion 47 includes a shaft portion 47a, a head portion 47b, a wire-through hole 47c, and a locking portion 47d. The head portion 47b is disposed above the upper surface of the housing 41. An opening is formed in the upper surface of the housing 41, through which the shaft portion 47a passes.

[0103] The shaft 47a has approximately the same diameter at its upper end and lower end before being inserted into the insertion hole 48a of the holder 48. Once inserted into the insertion hole 48a of the holder 48, the shaft 47a deforms so as to gradually become thinner toward the lower end. In other words, the shaft 47a is elastic.

[0104] The head portion 47b is integrally formed with the shaft portion 47a and has a larger diameter than the shaft portion 47a. The head portion 47b does not necessarily have to be elastic.

[0105] The wire-through hole 47c is formed penetrating from the lower end surface of the shaft portion 47a to the upper end surface of the head portion 47b, and the load-lifting wire 3a is passed through it. In this modified example, it is formed as a through-hole, but it may be formed as a through-hole in the head portion 47b and as a slit in the shaft portion 47a. Note that a fastener is integrally formed at the lower end of the load-lifting wire 3a, and has a diameter larger than the diameter of the load-lifting wire 3a but smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the wire-through hole 47c.

[0106] The locking portion 47d is a claw-shaped portion integrally formed on the side surface of the shaft portion 47a, and is inserted into a groove portion 48b formed in the insertion hole 48a of the holding portion 48.

[0107] The holding portion 48 includes an insertion hole 48a into which the clamping portion 47 is inserted, and a groove 48b formed on the inner surface of the insertion hole 48a. The holding portion 48 is disposed at the center inside the housing 41.

[0108] Insertion hole 48a is formed to gradually taper toward the bottom end, and shaft portion 47a of clamping portion 47 is inserted into insertion hole 48a. Because shaft portion 47a has elasticity as described above, when inserted into insertion hole 48a, it deforms to gradually taper toward the bottom end.

[0109] Groove 48b is formed on the inner surface of insertion hole 48a, and locking portion 47d of shaft 47a is inserted into groove 48b. In this modified example, groove 48b is formed so as not to penetrate the upper surface of holding portion 48, and locking portion 47d is adapted to be caught in groove 48b. However, this is not limiting, and groove 48b may penetrate the upper surface of holding portion 48. In that case, locking portion 47d will be caught on the upper surface of housing 41. The locking portion 47d is inserted into the groove portion 48b, thereby preventing the shaft portion 47a from slipping out of the insertion hole 48a.

[0110] An annular abutment portion 41e is integrally formed on the top surface of the housing 41, where the load-hanging wire 3a fits into the catcher guide 32c and abuts against the underside of the top plate 32 when the load-carrying drone 3 tries to fly away. An opening through which the shaft 47a of the clamping part 47 passes is located at the bottom of a hole formed in the center of the annular contact part 41e, and a head 47b is provided in the hole. The clamping portion 47 is set so that the height of its upper end when the locking portion 47d is caught on the upper end of the groove 48b does not exceed the height of the upper end of the annular abutment portion 41e. Therefore, if the load-carrying drone 3 attempts to fly away after the annular abutment portion 41e abuts against the underside of the top plate 32, the shaft portion 47a of the clamping portion 47 will come out of the insertion hole 48a of the holding portion 48. At that time, the shaft portion 47a returns to its original state before deformation, opening the wire-through hole 47c and allowing the fastening portion of the load-lifting wire 3a to slip out. This allows the load P to be separated from the load-lifting wire 3a.

[0111] Return address information for the delivery module 40 is printed on the underside of the housing 41. The return address information may be code information such as a barcode, or may include an address or other information. This allows the delivery module 40 to be returned simply by removing it from the package P and dropping it into a mailbox.

[0112] In addition, in this modified example, by attaching the delivery module 40 to the package P, the package P can be given communication functionality, but the package may also be delivered using a foldable dedicated container that has approximately the same functions as the delivery module 40. The top surface of the special container is provided with the functions of an annular contact portion 41e and a wire lock portion 46, and return address information is printed on the surface. It also has a control unit 44 and a battery 45 as appropriate. However, it does not have the functions related to the belt winding portions 42, 43 and the fixed belts 42a, 43a.

[0113] It should be noted that, although wire lock unit 46 in this modified example is configured to include clamping portion 47 and holding portion 48, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a metal piece that is attracted to a magnet may be attached to the lower end of hoisting wire 3a, and wire lock unit 46 may be configured as an electromagnet, so that a structure in which power supply from battery 45 is controlled by control unit 44 may be used as the wire lock unit.

[0114] [Variation 8] As shown in Fig. 16, the receiving equipment 10 of this modified example includes a running section 50 that is configured to support the storage section 20 and be able to run. In this modified example, the storage section 20 is placed on the upper surface of the running section 50 and is connected to it. The traveling unit 50 has front wheels 51 and rear wheels 52 (i.e., wheels), a drive unit (not shown) that drives at least one of the front wheels 51 and the rear wheels 52, and a control unit (not shown) that controls and operates the operation of the drive unit and the steering of the front wheels 51. As a result, the traveling unit 50 is configured to be capable of autonomous traveling. The control unit may also have a communication function for communicating with an external operation terminal, which allows the traveling unit 50 to be remotely controlled from the external operation terminal.

[0115] The traveling unit 50 configured as described above can move the storage unit 20 and thus the entire receiving facility 10. Therefore, the receiving facility 10 can be moved to various locations within the site (yard) to receive goods, and can also be used to receive goods outside the site. Therefore, for example, one receiving facility 10 may be shared by a region.

[0116] In this modified example, the running unit 50 is provided with wheels 51 and 52, but is not limited to this and may be provided with caterpillars. This is preferable because it increases the options for where the running unit 50 can travel.

[0117] In this modified example, the storage unit 20 may be configured to be detachable from the running unit 50. That is, the storage unit 20 in this modified example is detachably connected to the running unit 50. However, this is not limiting, and the storage unit 20 and the running unit 50 may be formed integrally.

[0118] According to this modification, the cargo receiving equipment 10 is equipped with a running unit 50 that supports the storage unit 20 and is configured to be able to run, so that the storage unit 20 and, ultimately, the entire cargo receiving equipment 10 can be moved. This allows cargo to be received anywhere as long as the running unit 50 can run, and the orientation of the opening in the cargo receiving unit 30 can be changed to match the direction from which the cargo-carrying drone 3 is approaching, which increases the convenience of the cargo receiving equipment 10 and ensures safety by allowing cargo P to be received accurately and in a short stay time from an air vehicle such as a cargo-carrying drone 3. Furthermore, since the storage section 20 is supported by the running section 50, the height position of the cargo receiving section 30 can be made higher than when it is installed on the ground, so that a distance can be maintained between people and the cargo-carrying drone 3, thereby ensuring safety. [Explanation of symbols]

[0119] P Luggage 3. Cargo Drones 3a Load sling wire 3b Wire winding section 10 Receiving facilities 20 Storage area 21 Receiving entrance 22 Lid 23 Outlet 23a First outlet 23b Second outlet 23c Third outlet 23d Fourth outlet 23e Fifth outlet 24 Moving floor section 24a First moving floor section 24b Second moving floor section 24c Third moving floor section 24d Fourth moving floor section 24e Fifth moving floor section 25 Dedicated rail 25a First dedicated rail 25b Second dedicated rail 25c third dedicated rail 25d Fourth dedicated rail 25e Fifth dedicated rail 26 Equipment storage area 30 Receiving section 31 Inlet 32 Top plate 32a First guide edge 32b Second guide edge 32c Catcher's Guide

Claims

1. a storage section having a receiving port on an upper end surface for receiving luggage delivered by the luggage-carrying drone; a load receiving section provided at an upper end of the storage section, The cargo receiving area is characterized in that, when viewed in a plane, it has walls on three sides and the remaining side is an opening through which cargo is dropped horizontally from a cargo-carrying drone.

2. The receiving facility according to claim 1, A cargo receiving facility characterized in that a lid for opening and closing the cargo receiving opening is provided at the upper end of the storage section.

3. The receiving facility according to claim 1 or 2, The storage section is characterized by having a movable floor section on which luggage stored through the luggage receiving opening can be placed and moved within the storage section, and a luggage removal opening formed on the side.

4. The receiving facility according to claim 3, A plurality of the movable floor sections are provided in the storage section, and a plurality of the removal ports are formed on the side surfaces of the storage section, A cargo receiving facility characterized in that the multiple movable floor sections are capable of being swapped in position within the storage section.

5. The receiving facility according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The cargo receiving facility is characterized in that the storage section is formed to be longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction.

6. The receiving facility according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A cargo receiving facility characterized by further comprising a communication unit for communicating with the outside world and sending and receiving information related to cargo delivered by the cargo carrying drone.

7. The receiving facility according to any one of claims 2 to 6, The loading device further includes a rotation mechanism for changing the orientation of the insertion opening in the load receiving section around a vertical axis of the load receiving section, The cargo receiving facility is characterized in that the swivel mechanism is provided at the lower end of the storage section or between the storage section and the cargo receiving section.

8. A storage section having a cargo receiving port on an upper end surface for receiving cargo delivered by the cargo-carrying drone; a receiving section provided at an upper end of the storage section, one side of which is an insertion opening for inserting luggage, and the other sides except for the one side are wall sections; a rotation mechanism for changing the orientation of the insertion opening in the load receiving section around a vertical axis in the load receiving section, A lid for opening and closing the loading port is provided at the upper end of the storage section, The cargo receiving facility is characterized in that the swivel mechanism is provided at the lower end of the storage section or between the storage section and the cargo receiving section.

9. The receiving facility according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The cargo receiving facility further comprises a running section configured to support the storage section and to be able to run.

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