US 12,014,312 B2
Assembly for delivering a shipment
Thomas Ogilvie, Bonn (DE); Matthäus Pruski, Troisdorf (DE); and Ramin Benz, Bonn (DE)
Assigned to Deutsche Post AG, Bonn (DE)
Filed by Deutsche Post AG, Bonn (DE)
Filed on Jun. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/890,030.
Application 16/890,030 is a division of application No. 15/303,319, abandoned, previously published as PCT/EP2015/057149, filed on Apr. 1, 2015.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2014 105 196.3 (DE), filed on Apr. 11, 2014; and application No. 10 2014 105 583.7 (DE), filed on Apr. 17, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2020/0293980 A1, Sep. 17, 2020
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/083 (2023.01); A47G 29/14 (2006.01); B60L 53/00 (2019.01); B60L 53/51 (2019.01); B60L 53/57 (2019.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64D 1/22 (2006.01); B64D 45/08 (2006.01); B64F 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 67/00 (2006.01); B65G 67/24 (2006.01); B66C 1/02 (2006.01); B66F 9/02 (2006.01); G06Q 10/08 (2023.01); G06Q 10/0832 (2023.01); G07F 17/12 (2006.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01)
CPC G06Q 10/083 (2013.01) [A47G 29/14 (2013.01); A47G 29/141 (2013.01); B60L 53/00 (2019.02); B60L 53/51 (2019.02); B60L 53/57 (2019.02); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 1/22 (2013.01); B64D 45/08 (2013.01); B64F 1/04 (2013.01); B65G 67/00 (2013.01); B65G 67/24 (2013.01); B66C 1/02 (2013.01); B66F 9/02 (2013.01); G06Q 10/08 (2013.01); G06Q 10/0832 (2013.01); G07F 17/13 (2020.05); A47G 2029/145 (2013.01); A47G 2029/149 (2013.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly transferring a shipment, the assembly comprising:
an unmanned transport device designed to fly and adapted to transport and deliver the shipment, wherein the transport device comprises a receiving device for receiving the shipment, wherein the receiving device is formed from a rigid foam material, can be closed and has at least two chambers each adapted to receive at least one shipment;
a receiving container comprising a container interior adapted to contain the shipment and a closable opening adapted to receive the shipment, wherein the receiving container is selected from the group comprising a letterbox, parcel box, a combination letter and parcel box, and drop-off and pickup station, and wherein the receiving device is constructed and arranged to land on the receiving container with the receiving device contacting the receiving container before the unmanned transport device contacts the receiving container if the unmanned transport device lands on the receiving container; and
a transfer device arranged on and beneath the unmanned transport device, wherein the transfer device is adapted to extend through the closable opening and within the container interior, wherein the transfer device is adapted to transfer the shipment from the flying unmanned transport device to the container interior;
wherein the transfer device is adapted to lower the shipment from the unmanned transport device to the receiving container, to lift the shipment from the receiving container to the transport device and to transfer the shipment between the transport device and the receiving container, wherein the transfer device is adapted to guide the shipment from the unmanned transport device to the receiving container in each case,
wherein the transfer device is operable over a distance of at least 0.5 m and is adapted to deliver the shipment to the receiving container and to lift the shipment from the receiving container while the unmanned transport device remains flying, and
wherein the transfer device is embodied as a vertically and/or horizontally adjustable gripper arm.