ASSEMBLY FOR DELIVERING A SHIPMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising an unmanned transport device for delivering a shipment and a transfer device, said transfer device being designed to lower the shipment from the unmanned transport device to a receiving container, to lift the shipment from the receiving container to the transport device and/or to transfer said shipment between the transport device and the receiving container, the shipment being guided in each case by the transfer device.

Claims

1. An assembly transferring a shipment, the assembly comprising: an unmanned transport device adapted to transport and deliver the 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, letter and parcel box and drop-off and pickup station; and a transfer device arranged within the container interior, wherein the transfer device is adapted to extend through the closable opening and wherein the transfer device is adapted to transfer the shipment from the 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.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is embodied as a suction device adapted to apply suction to the shipment and to also lower and/or lift the shipment.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device further comprises a guide device adapted to guide the shipment during the lowering, lifting and/or transfer of the shipment.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transport device has a receiving device selected from the group consisting of a box and a case, for receiving the shipment and the transfer device is designed to transfer the shipment into the receiving device and/or transfer the shipment from the receiving device.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the receiving device has at least two levels and/or chambers each adapted to receive at least one shipment, and the transfer device is designed to transfer the shipment in all levels and/or chambers.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transport device and the transfer device further comprise an electronic acknowledgement device adapted to acknowledge a transfer of the shipment by a person, wherein the acknowledgement device is arranged on the transfer device such that the acknowledgement device can be lowered away from the transport device and/or can be lifted towards the transport device.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is embodied as a vertically and/or horizontally adjustable gripper arm.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is embodied as a suction device for suctioning and also for lowering and/or lifting the shipment.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device has a guide device designed to guide the shipment during the lowering, lifting and/or transfer of the shipment.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transport device has a receiving device selected from the group consisting of a box and a case, for receiving the shipment and the transfer device is designed to transfer the shipment into the and/or from the receiving device.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the receiving device has at least two levels and/or chambers for each receiving at least one shipment, and the transfer device is designed to transfer the shipment in all levels and/or chambers.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the receiving device is arranged on the transport device such that the transport device can fly and land on the receiving container with contact.

13. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned transport device is embodied as a flying machine selected from the group consisting of an aircraft, a UAV, a drone, a parcelcopter, a helicopter, a multicopter, a quadcopter, a tiltwing aircraft, a vehicle, and a floating object.

14. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transport device and the transfer device has an electronic acknowledgement device for acknowledging a transfer of the shipment by a person, wherein the acknowledgement device is arranged on the transfer device in such a way that the acknowledgement device can be lowered away from the transport device and/or can be lifted towards the transport device.

15. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is operable over a distance of at least 0.5 m.

16. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is operable over a distance of at least 1 m.

17. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is adapted to lift the shipment from the receiving container when the unmanned transport device is flying at a distance of 1 m above the receiving container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the assembly in accordance with a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an assembly in accordance with a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprising an unmanned transport device 1, which in the present case is formed as a flying transport apparatus, i.e. as a drone or parcelcopter. The transport device 1 is designed to deliver a shipment 2, in the present case a parcel shipment, to a receiving container 3, which in the present case is formed as a parcel box.

[0036] In order to transfer the shipment 2, a transfer device 4 is provided, which in accordance with the present exemplary embodiment is arranged on the transport device 1. The transfer device 4 is designed to transfer the shipment 2 to the receiving container 3 by lowering said shipment from the transport device 1 to the receiving container 3, wherein the shipment 2 is guided by the transfer device 4 during the transfer. For guidance, a guide device 5 embodied as a rail is provided, which guides the shipment 2 with contact along the guide device 5 during the lowering of the shipment 2 from the transport device 1 to the receiving container 3.

[0037] The transfer device 4 is formed in the present case as a gripper arm, which is arranged beneath the flying transport apparatus 1 on a construction consisting of x- and y-axes and is movable in the x- and y-directions. The gripper arm 4 can be moved in the z-direction, i.e. towards the receiving container 3 and also in the direction of the transport device 1, by means of a mechanical-hydraulic drive via a cable winch. The shipment 2 can thus be lowered from the transport device 1 to the receiving container 3, and for example can be deposited in a container interior 7 of the receiving container 3 through a closable opening 6 of the receiving container 3.

[0038] The transport device 4 also comprises a receiving device 8, which in the present case is formed as a box for receiving the shipment 2 so that the shipment 2 is protected against weather effects during transport by means of the transport device 1. A number of levels 9 or chambers 9 are provided in the receiving device 8, such that a number of shipments 2 of different sizes can be conveyed in the receiving device 8. The dimensioning of the receiving device 8 is selected in such a way that the flying transport apparatus 1 can land on the receiving container 3 with the receiving device 8 touching down first, wherein the receiving device 8 is shorter lengthwise than the x- and y-axis construction and the gripper arm 4 fastened to the receiving device 8.

[0039] Lastly, the transfer device 4 also has an acknowledgement device 10, which is formed as a touchpad, such that an addressee of the shipment or customer who ordered the shipment 2 can acknowledge receipt of the shipment 2 on the touchpad by means of a signature. The acknowledgement device 10 can be lowered away from the transport device 4 or can be lifted towards the transport device 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0040] transport device 1

[0041] shipment 2

[0042] receiving container 3

[0043] transfer device 4

[0044] guide device 5

[0045] opening 6

[0046] container interior 7

[0047] receiving device 8

[0048] level, chamber 9

[0049] acknowledgment device 10