Method for operating a temperature controlled delivery box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11026532-B2
Application number	US-201816171545-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2018
Priority date	Oct 26, 2018
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A temperature controlled delivery appliance and a method of operating the same are provided. The temperature controlled delivery appliance includes a storage container, a climate control system for regulating the temperature within the storage container, and a controller for implementing a pre-conditioning method, which includes maintaining the storage container at a preconditioning temperature until a delivery notification is received, and operating the climate control system to regulate the container temperature to a target temperature upon receiving the delivery notification.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of pre-conditioning a temperature controlled delivery appliance, the temperature controlled delivery appliance comprising a storage container and a climate control system, the method comprising:
obtaining a first target temperature;
operating the climate control system to maintain the storage container at the first target temperature defining a preconditioning temperature;
receiving a delivery notification;
obtaining a second target temperature;
operating the climate control system to regulate the storage container to the second target temperature defining a storage temperature for a delivered item; and
wherein the first target temperature is about halfway between an ambient temperature and the second target temperature, or wherein the first target temperature is determined as a function of a regulation capacity of the climate control system, the second target temperature, and an estimated delivery delay time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein maintaining the storage container at the first target temperature comprises:
obtaining the container temperature using a temperature sensor positioned within the storage container; and
operating the climate control system to regulate the container temperature to be substantially equivalent to the first target temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
returning the storage container to the first target temperature after the delivered item is removed from the storage container.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature controlled delivery appliance is in operative communication with a remote network, and wherein the delivery notification is transmitted through the remote network.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the remote network comprises a wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the climate control system comprises a heating device in thermal communication with the storage container, and wherein operating the climate control system to regulate the container temperature to the second target temperature comprises:
heating the storage container using the heating device if the second target temperature is greater than the container temperature.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the climate control system comprises:
a sealed system comprising a condenser and an evaporator; and
a compressor operably coupled to the sealed system and being configured for urging a flow of refrigerant through the condenser and the evaporator.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature controlled delivery appliance comprises a plurality of storage containers positioned within a cabinet, and wherein each of the plurality of storage containers may have a different first target temperature and a different second target temperature.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the climate control system comprises a plurality of evaporators, each of the plurality of evaporators being thermally coupled to one of the plurality of storage containers, the method further comprising:
regulating the flow of refrigerant between the plurality of evaporators using a refrigerant control valve.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second target temperature is provided with the delivery notification.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Jessie Jeffrey Lynn

Classifications

• G06Q10/0832 Primary

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

• A47G2029/146

  the receptacle comprising identification means, e.g. a bar code · CPC title

• A47G29/14

  Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk {, or large parcels}; Similar receptacles for {food or} large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles {, i.e. food or large parcels} · CPC title

• G05D23/19

  characterised by the use of electric means {(G05D23/1393 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F25D29/00

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title