Delivery retrieval station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10986951-B2
Application number	US-201916583637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2019
Priority date	Sep 26, 2019
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A delivery retrieval station, as provided herein, may include a delivery base and a destination container. The delivery base may include a receiving platform and a conditioning assembly in thermal communication with the receiving platform. The conditioning assembly may be disposed within a mechanical compartment beneath the receiving platform. The destination container may be selectively mounted to the base station. The destination container may include a base wall and sidewall defining a storage chamber. The base wall may be selectively supported on the receiving platform in a delivered position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A delivery retrieval station comprising:
a delivery base comprising a receiving platform and a conditioning assembly in thermal communication with the receiving platform, the conditioning assembly being disposed within a mechanical compartment beneath the receiving platform;
a destination container selectively mounted to the delivery base, the destination container comprising a base wall and sidewall defining a storage chamber above the mechanical compartment, the base wall being selectively supported on the receiving platform in a delivered position; and
a station lock in mechanical communication between the delivery base and the destination container, the container lock selectively joining the delivery base to the destination container in the delivered position,
wherein the mechanical compartment defines an air exhaust passage extending through the mechanical compartment to an ambient environment in fluid isolation with the storage chamber to release heat to the ambient environment.

2. The delivery retrieval station of claim 1 , wherein the destination container further comprises a container lid and a container lock, the container lid movably mounted to the sidewall to selectively permit access to the storage chamber, the container lock selectively holding the container lid to the sidewall and restricting access to the storage chamber.

3. The delivery retrieval station of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall encloses an insulation.

4. The delivery retrieval station of claim 3 , wherein the insulation comprises a phase change material.

5. The delivery retrieval station of claim 4 , wherein the base wall comprises a conductive plate.

6. The delivery retrieval station of claim 1 , wherein the conditioning assembly comprises a sealed cooling circuit.

7. The delivery retrieval station of claim 6 , wherein the sealed cooling circuit comprises an evaporator mounted to an underside of the receiving platform.

8. The delivery retrieval station of claim 1 , wherein the receiving platform defines an air exchange passage extending from the mechanical compartment, wherein the delivery base further comprises an exchange door selectively movable between a closed position restricting air through the air exchange passage and an open position permitting air movement through the air exchange passage between the mechanical compartment and the storage chamber.

9. The delivery retrieval station of claim 8 , wherein the air exchange passage is a first air exchange passage, and wherein the receiving platform further defines a second air exchange passage spaced apart from the first air exchange passage.

10. The delivery retrieval station of claim 9 , wherein the destination container further comprises an internal door aligned with the air exchange passage in the delivered position, wherein the internal door is selectively movable between a closed position restricting air through the air exchange passage and an open position permitting air movement through the air exchange passage between the mechanical compartment and the storage chamber.

11. A delivery retrieval station comprising:
a delivery base comprising a receiving platform and a conditioning assembly in thermal communication with the receiving platform, the conditioning assembly being disposed within a mechanical compartment beneath the receiving platform; and
a destination container selectively mounted to the delivery base, the destination container comprising a base wall and sidewall defining a storage chamber above the mechanical compartment, the base wall being selectively supported on the receiving platform in a delivered position,
wherein the receiving platform defines an air exchange passage extending from the mechanical compartment, wherein the delivery base further comprises an exchange door selectively movable between a closed position restricting air through the air exchange passage and an open position permitting air movement through the air exchange passage between the mechanical compartment and the storage chamber,
wherein the mechanical compartment defines an air exhaust passage extending through the mechanical compartment to an ambient environment in fluid isolation with the storage chamber to release heat to the ambient environment.

12. The delivery retrieval station of claim 11 , wherein the destination container further comprises a container lid and a container lock, the container lid movably mounted to the sidewall to selectively permit access to the storage chamber, the container lock selectively holding the container lid to the sidewall and restricting access to the storage chamber.

13. The delivery retrieval station of claim 11 , wherein the sidewall encloses an insulation.

14. The delivery retrieval station of claim 13 , wherein the insulation comprises a phase change material.

15. The delivery retrieval station of claim 13 , wherein the base wall comprises a conductive plate.

16. The delivery retrieval station of claim 11 , wherein the conditioning assembly comprises a sealed cooling circuit.

17. The delivery retrieval station of claim 11 , wherein the air exchange passage is a first air exchange passage, and wherein the receiving platform further defines a second air exchange passage spaced apart from the first air exchange passage.

18. The delivery retrieval station of claim 11 , wherein the destination container further comprises an internal door aligned with the air exchange passage in the delivered position, wherein the internal door is selectively movable between a closed position restricting air through the air exchange passage and an open position permitting air movement through the air exchange passage between the mechanical compartment and the storage chamber.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Mitchell Alan Joseph
• Vijayan Vineeth
• Hunter Matthew

Classifications

• G07F17/12

  comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned · CPC title

• A47G2029/147

  the receptacle comprising heating or cooling means · CPC title

• A47G2029/144

  the receptacle being transportable and attachable to a building · CPC title

• A47G29/141 Primary

  comprising electronically controlled locking means · CPC title

• B66F9/07

  Floor-to-roof stacking devices, e.g. "stacker cranes", "retrievers" · CPC title