Temperature-controlled delivery vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10525865-B2
Application number	US-201816033033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2018
Priority date	Jun 1, 2016
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to temperature-controlled delivery of items. A conveyor mechanism disposed within a temperature-controlled compartment of a delivery vehicle can provide easy access to items within the compartment. In some embodiments, the conveyor mechanism can be operated by a control circuit to convey items within the compartment to position the items adjacent to the access door according to various inputs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile storage compartment, the mobile storage compartment comprising:
a door providing access to the mobile storage compartment;
one or more containers disposed within the mobile storage compartment;
a conveyor mechanism disposed at least partially within the mobile storage compartment and configured to convey the one or more containers about a continuous path in a horizontal plane with respect to the mobile storage compartment within the mobile storage compartment such that the containers are accessible through the door; and
a control circuit configured to:
receive, from a positional sensing mechanism, positional data for the mobile storage compartment;
determine, based on the positional data for the mobile storage compartment, a location of the mobile storage compartment;
determine, based on the location of the mobile storage compartment, a next location;
determine, based on the next location, a particular container, wherein the particular container is associated with the next location;
determine a location of the particular container within the mobile storage compartment; and
control operation of the conveyor mechanism such that the particular container is moved adjacent to the door.

2. The mobile storage compartment of claim 1 , wherein the next location is associated with a delivery of the particular container.

3. The mobile storage compartment of claim 2 , wherein the determination of the next location is further based on delivery route information.

4. The mobile storage compartment of claim 1 , wherein the mobile storage compartment is temperature-controlled.

5. The mobile storage compartment of claim 4 , wherein the mobile storage compartment comprises three compartments and the conveyor mechanism comprises three conveyor mechanisms, the three compartments including a freezer compartment, a refrigerated compartment, and a room temperature compartment, each of the three compartments having an associated conveyor mechanism.

6. The mobile storage compartment of claim 5 , wherein the three compartments are arranged in a stacked configuration with the refrigerated compartment disposed between the freezer compartment and the room temperature compartment.

7. The mobile storage compartment of claim 5 , wherein the door comprises three doors, one for each of the three compartments.

8. The mobile storage compartment of claim 1 , wherein the mobile storage compartment is configured to be mounted on a frame of a delivery vehicle.

9. The mobile storage compartment of claim 1 , further comprising a switch device disposed adjacent to the conveyor and a light coupled to the switch device, the switch device configured to be activated by a container positioned adjacent to the door and illuminate the light to provide a visual indication that the particular container is adjacent to the door.

10. The mobile storage compartment of claim 1 , further comprising:
an engine, wherein the engine is configured to propel the mobile storage compartment; and
one or more wheels, wherein the one or more wheels are configured to be driven by the engine.

11. The mobile storage compartment of claim 1 , wherein the mobile storage compartment includes a plurality of layers, wherein the conveyor mechanism includes a plurality of conveyors, wherein each of the plurality of conveyors is located in one of the plurality of layers and forms a continuous path about the one of the plurality of layers, wherein the door includes a plurality of doors, and wherein each of the plurality of doors is associated with one of the plurality of layers.

12. A method for use with a mobile storage compartment, the method comprising:
receiving, from a positional sensing mechanism, positional data for the mobile storage compartment;
determining, based on the positional data for the mobile storage compartment, a location of the mobile storage compartment, wherein the mobile storage compartment includes one or more containers stored therein, a door providing access to the mobile storage compartment, and a conveyor mechanism disposed at least partially within the mobile storage compartment and configured to convey the one or more containers about a continuous path in a horizontal plane with respect to the mobile storage compartment within the mobile storage compartment;
determining, based on the location of the mobile storage compartment, a next location;
determining, based on the next location from the one or more containers, a particular container, wherein the particular container is associated with the next location;
determining a location of the particular container within the mobile storage compartment; and
operating the conveyor mechanism with a control circuit to move the particular container to a position adjacent to the door.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the next location is associated with a delivery of the particular container.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the determining the next location is further based on delivery route information.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the mobile storage compartment is temperature-controlled.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mobile storage compartment comprises three compartments and the conveyor mechanism comprises three conveyor mechanisms, the three compartments including a freezer compartment, a refrigerated compartment, and a room temperature compartment, each of the three compartments having an associated conveyor mechanism.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the three compartments are arranged in a stacked configuration with the refrigerated compartment disposed between the freezer compartment and the room temperature compartment.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the door comprises three doors, one for each of the three compartments.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the mobile storage compartment is configured to be mounted on a frame of a delivery vehicle.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
illuminating a light coupled to a switch device, wherein the illuminating the light occurs when the particular container is adjacent to the door.

21. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
driving, by an engine, one or more wheels associated with the mobile storage compartment.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the mobile storage compartment includes a plurality of layers, wherein the conveyor mechanism includes a plurality of conveyors, wherein each of the plurality of conveyors is located in one of the plurality of layers and forms a continuous path about the one of the plurality of layers, wherein the door includes a plurality of doors, and wherein each of the plurality of doors is associated with one of the plurality of layers.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Wilkinson Bruce W
• Evans Jr Bobby J
• Mattingly Todd D

Classifications

• B60P1/38 Primary

  forming the main load-transporting element or part thereof {(B60P1/365 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60P3/20 Primary

  Refrigerated goods vehicles (air treatment of goods space B60H; {air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048}) · CPC title

• B60P1/40

  using screw conveyors thereon · CPC title

• G06Q10/0832

  Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods · CPC title

• B60H1/3226

  Self-contained devices, i.e. including own drive motor · CPC title