An elevator and a method to deliver packages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing delivery methods for packages in multi-story buildings with elevators are inefficient and costly, as they require significant personnel and resources, and unmanned drone delivery is not feasible due to safety concerns and access limitations.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a flying drone system with an elevator that has a transfer area accessible via a second path, allowing packages to be delivered to the transfer area on the elevator's ceiling or side openings, with safety features like a lowerable ceiling and lockable transfer containers to prevent unauthorized access and ensure safe delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packages are delivered manually to multi-story buildings, then delivery can be made to recipients, but personnel and cost expenditure increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an elevator system as an intermediary between the ground level and recipients in multi-story buildings. The elevator car with lateral openings serves as a mediator that receives packages from the ground and delivers them to recipients on different floors, eliminating the need for manual carrying up stairs and significantly reducing personnel expenditure.
2Quantity of substance
If drones are used for package delivery, then personnel costs are reduced, but delivery to multi-story buildings with elevators cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges drone technology with the elevator system. Drones deliver packages to the elevator car through lateral openings, and the elevator car transports these packages to the appropriate floors. This combination allows unmanned delivery to multi-story buildings by integrating the vertical transport capability of elevators with the autonomous delivery capability of drones.
3Ease of operation
If a transfer area is made accessible for package delivery, then package retrieval is enabled, but unauthorized access and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic access control system for the transfer area. The lateral openings in the elevator car are selectively openable and closable, allowing the system to adapt its state based on operational needs. During package delivery, openings are accessible to authorized recipients; during normal operation, they remain closed to prevent unauthorized access, thus balancing ease of operation with safety.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the elevator car is made accessible from multiple routes, then package delivery flexibility increases, but safety control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a control system that monitors and manages access to the transfer area through multiple lateral openings. The system provides feedback control by tracking which openings are open or closed and coordinating with the elevator's movement and positioning. This ensures that packages can be delivered through appropriate routes while maintaining safety control through centralized monitoring and coordinated access management.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an elevator (1) for delivering objects such as packages (7) and the like, having an elevator car (3) and an elevator shaft (2) having a plurality of lateral openings (6), via which cargo can be introduced into the elevator car (3) via a first path, wherein the elevator car (3) can be moved in the elevator shaft (2). In order to achieve particularly economical transport of objects into a building having a plurality of stories, in which building the elevator (1) is arranged, a transfer region (10) is provided according to the invention, into which transfer region an object such as a package (7) or the like can be transported via a second path, in particular by means of a drone (8), wherein an object located in the transfer region (10) can be removed from the transfer region (10) from an interior of the elevator car (3) and/or from one of the lateral openings (6). The invention further relates to a method for delivering an object, in particular a package (7), into a building having an elevator (1), which has an elevator car (3) and an elevator shaft (2), which has a plurality of lateral openings (6), via which cargo can be introduced into the elevator car (3) via a first path, wherein the elevator car (3) can be moved in the elevator shaft (2).