Technical field:

The invention is related to an unmanned cargo station which reduces the need for employees in branch offices of cargo companies by realizing cargo receiving and sending processes automatically in an unmanned manner, that extends courier services to all hours of the day and enables opportunity to work with many different cargo companies.

State of the Art:

The cargo companies have a significant role in transporting the products, goods, various documents from one location to another location both in our country and in the entire world. Cargo, courier and logistics services which is a very young sector having a brief background in Turkey as 25-30 years has gained speed and has become an irreplaceable solution partner to the real economy.

80 thousand people are employed within the sector, serves at 10 thousand established centers with 25 thousand vehicles according to the Turkish Cargo Courier and Logistics Enterprises. Rate of growth has increased in the cargo sector together with the increase in e-commerce, online shopping.

In the state of the art, the firms in the cargo sector generally serve as branches. There are branches at various points based on the sizes of the residential areas. Most of the customers deliver their cargo packages by visiting these branches. The cargo packages which are gathered in the branches are generally brought to the transferring centers and they are classified according to the destination of the packages. The packages are transported to the branches in the relevant residential areas from this point. The package is delivered to the cargo receiver address by visiting thereof from these branches. The cargo fees are paid when the package is delivered to the branch by the cargo sender or when the delivery officer delivers the package to the receiver at the door .

However, the main cargo procedures performed in the state of the art embodies some limitations and expenses. Particularly, the cargo sender is required to visit the branch personally or the cargo sender is required to find an appropriate time for an appointment if he/she delivers the cargo by means of appointment method. The employees who work during the day are required to get permission, take a break from their works in order to deliver their cargo packages to the branches because cargo branches serves generally until 18:00 p.m. In services based on appointment method, additional costs may be incurred. Another disadvantage is that the delivery officer goes door to door while the cargos are delivered to the receivers. Unfortunately, this process leads to additional expenses to the owners of the cargo.

Moreover, in some cases, the cargo receiver may not be available at the delivery address. In this case, the delivery officer brings this cargo back to the branch at the end of the day, and then the cargo receiver is required to visit the branch within 2 days to take the cargo.

Aim of the Invention :

The present invention subject to the registration aims to reduce the need for employees in branch offices of cargo companies by performing cargo receiving and sending processes automatically in an unmanned manner, extend courier services to all hours of the day and promote the cargos services by means of providing opportunity to work with many different cargo companies.

Description of Figures: The figures of the improved unmanned cargo stations are as follows.

Figure 1. is a perspective view of the unmanned cargo station

Figure 2. is a frontal view of the unmanned cargo station Figure 3. is a top view of the unmanned cargo station

Figure 4. is the view of the internal structure of the unmanned cargo station

Figure 5. is a perspective view of the three-axis robotic cargo conveyor Figure 6. is a perspective view of the cargo rack

Description of the References in Figures:

The relevant reference numbers shown in the figures are given herein below. 1. Main body

1.1. Support frame

1.2. Transport holes

1.3. Folding front panel

1.4. Cantilever 1 .5 . Advertisement area

2. User unit 2.1. Safety camera

2.2. User display

2.3. Payment point

2.4. Password unit 2.5. Card placement section

2.6. Cargo delivery area

2.7. Label printing unit

2.8. Barcode reader

3. Cargo control unit 3.1. Cargo volumetric reader

3.2. Cargo barcode reader

3.3. Cargo gravimeter

4. Three-axis robotic cargo conveyor 4.1. Cargo conveyor upper table 4.2. Cargo conveyor lower table

4.3. Cargo carrier foot

4.4. Cargo carrier rotation driving servo motor

4.5. Cargo carrier reciprocation driving servo motor

4.6. Reciprocation axis guide rail 4.7. Magnetic retainer

4.8. Cargo carrier up-down motion driving servo motor

4.9. Up-down motion axis guide rail

4.10. Up-down motion axis carrying block

4.11. Control sensor 5. Cargo storage rack 5.1. Storage rack upper table

5.2. Storage rack lower table

5.3. Storage rack foot

5.4. Rack guides

5.5. Rack lock

5.6. Rack barrier K. Cargo

T. Tray Description of the Invention:

The invention is an unmanned cargo station which decreases the need for employees in cargo agents by realizing cargo receiving and sending processes automatically in an unmanned manner, that extends courier services to all hours of the day and enables opportunity to work with many different cargo companies, characterized in that, it comprises the following;

- A main body (1) with an orthogonal form disposed on the support frame (1.1),

- Transport holes (1.2) which is in the middle of the support frame (1.1) and through which the forklift arms pass which enables carrying the invention safely from one place to another,

- a folding front panel (1.3) which is located on any side of the main body (1) in the ortogonal form, has a user unit (2) on it and enables entering into the main body (1) in any situations such as maintenance, repair, intervention etc.,

- a cantilever (1.4) which protects the cargo owner and the devices in the payment area from undesirable conditions such as the sunlight, rain, snow etc. and is located on the user unit (2),

- an advertisement area (1.5) which is located on the external surface of the main body (1) in orthogonal form, is used for the activities such as presentation, advertisement, promotion etc.,

- a user unit (2) which is located on the surface of the folding front panel (1.3) facing outwardly and in which the cargo owner performs the processes in respect to his/her cargo (K),

- a safety camera (2.1) which is located on the user unit (2) and where the movements of the cargo (K) and the cargo owner are recorded continuously for security purposes ,

- a user display (2.2) which is located on the user unit (2) and directs the user during cargo (K) receiving and delivery processes and gives the required information concerning the performed processes,

- a payment point (2.3) which is located on the user unit (2) and where the required payment corresponding to the cargo (K) receiving and delivering processes is performed,

- a password unit (2.4) which is located on the user unit (2) and to which the password that belongs to the payment made in relation to the cargo (K) receiving and delivering processes is entered,

- a card placement section (2.5) which is located on the user unit (2) and where the credit card to be used for the payment made in relation to the cargo (K) receiving and delivering processes is placed,

- a cargo delivery area (2.6) which is located on the user unit (2) and is the area where the cargo (K) is delivered and received, - a label printing unit (2.7) which is located on the user unit (2) and from which the label which is formed by the system after the user introduces his/her cargo (K) to the system, is given to the user to be adhered on the cargo (K),

- a barcode reader (2.8) which is located on the user unit (2) and where the user identifies cargo request to the system,

- a cargo control unit (3) which is located on the inwardly facing surface of the folding front panel (1.3) and makes measurements related to the received cargo (K) such as weight, volume etc.

- a cargo volumetric reader (3.1) which measures the volume of the cargo (K) left to the cargo delivery area (2.6) in order to calculate the cargo (K) fee and to determine to which cargo storage rack (5) the cargo (K) will be placed,

- a cargo barcode reader (3.2) which accesses the identity information of the cargo (K) by reading the barcode on the cargo (K) which is left to the cargo delivery area (2.6),

- a cargo gravimeter (3.3) which measures the weight of the cargo (K) that is left to the cargo delivery area (2.6) in order to calculate the cargo (K) fee,

- a three-axis robotic cargo conveyor (4) which is located in the center of the main body (1) located on the support frame (1.1) and can rotate around its own axis and carries the cargo (K) between the cargo delivery area (2.6) and the cargo storage rack (5),

- a cargo carrier rotation driving servo motor (4.4) which enables the three-axis robotic cargo conveyor (4) around its own axis, - an up-down motion axis carrying block (4.10) which enables up-down motion of the cargo (K) in the three- axis robotic cargo conveyor (4),

- an up-down motion axis guide rail (4.9) on which the up-down motion axis carrier block (4.10) proceeds,

- a cargo carrier up-down motion driving servo motor (4.8) which enables the up-down motion axis carrier block (4.10) proceed on the up down motion axis guide rain (4.9),

- A magnetic retainer (4.7) which performs a reciprocation on the up-down motion axis carrier block (4.10)

- A reciprocation axis guide rail (4.6) on which the magnetic retainer (4.7) proceeds

- A cargo carrier reciprocation driving servo motor (4.5) which enables the magnetic retainer (4.7) proceed on the reciprocation axis guide rail (4.6),

- control sensors (4.11) which detects the possible negative conditions such as falling, overturn of the cargo (K) during transportation of the cargo (K) in the robotic cargo carrier (4) in rectangular prism form by means of controlling the internal portion and surrounding of the robotic cargo carrier (4),

- a cargo storage rack (5) in rectangular prism form where cargos (K) are placed,

- rack guides (5.4) on which the trays (T) in which the cargos (K) are carried and is located within the cargo storage rack (5),

- rack locks (5.5) which lock the trays (T) to the rack guides (5.4) where the trays (T) are placed for preventing from falling down.

Three-axis robotic cargo conveyor (4) has a rectangular prism form created as a result of connecting the cargo conveyor upper table (4.1) with a rectangular form and the cargo conveyor lower table (4.2) with a square form from their edges by means of four cargo carrier feet (4.3). The cargo (K) is moved by means of being pulled into the three-axis robotic cargo conveyor (4) with rectangular prism form. The cargo conveyor upper table (4.1) and the cargo conveyor lower table (4.2) and the cargo carrier feet (4.3) hold each other together .

Magnetic retainer (4.7) holds the trays (T) where the cargos (K) are carried in a magnetic manner, not the cargos (K). The magnetic retainer (4.7) transports the cargos (K) to the relevant point by means of holding the trays (T) located on the cargo delivery area (2.6) or arranged on the cargo storage shelves (5). There are sensors on the magnetic retainer (4.7) which controls whether retaining, picking, releasing and transporting processes are performed properly or not.

Cargo storage rack (5) has a rectangular prism form created as a result of combining the storage rack upper table (5.1) with square form and the storage rack lower table (5.2) with square form from their edges by four storage rack feet (5.3). The cargo (K) is placed in the cargo storage rack (5) in rectangular prism form. The cargo storage rack (5) is positioned to the support frame (1.1) through the storage rack lower table (5.2) and fixed. There are seven cargo storage racks (5) within the main body (1) with the orthogonal form.

One surface of the cargo storage rack (5) in rectangular prism form is open in order to introduce the cargo (K). There are rack barriers (5.6) on the opposite portion to the open portion in order to prevent the cargo (K) from falling down. The other surface of the cargo storage rack (5) is closed.

Rack guides (5.4) enable the cargo (K) received by the three- axis robotic cargo conveyor to be aligned with proper intervals. The distance between the rack guides (5.4) is adjusted to the estimated smallest cargo package size. The unmanned cargo station calculates the rack guide interval automatically to which the delivered cargo (K) can fit and leaves the cargo (K) in the tray (T) to the appropriate rack guide (5.4).

The rack lock (5.6) is a mechanical driven mechanism which prevents the trays (T) left to the rack guides (5.4) from falling off the cargo storage racks (5) due to conditions such as a possible quake, external impact etc.

Rack guides (5.4) are inclined at least 1 degree downwardly from inward to outward in order to prevent the trays (T) on them from falling through the open surface of the cargo storage rack (5).

The invention has a main body (1) which is in the orthogonal form. Said main body (1) may have other forms such as circle, square, hexagon etc. However, the structure with which the area is used in the most effective manner is the octagonal form. There is a folding front panel (1.3) on one side of the main body (1) with said ortogonal form which enables entering inside in any situations such as maintenance, repair, intervention etc.

There is a user unit (2) on the outwardly facing surface of the folding front panel (1.3) where the user performs the processes related to the cargo (K).

There are the following elements on the user unit (2), a safety camera (2.1) where the movements of the cargo (K) and the cargo owner are recorded continuously for security purposes, a user display (2.2) which directs the user during cargo (K) receiving and delivery processes and gives the required information concerning the performed processes, a payment point (2.3) where the required payment corresponding to the cargo (K) receiving and delivering processes, a password unit (2.4) to which the password that belongs to the payment made in relation to the cargo (K) receiving and delivering processes is entered, a card placement section (2.5) where the credit card to be used for the payment made in relation to the cargo (K) receiving and delivering processes is placed, a cargo delivery area (2.6) which is the area where the cargo (K) is delivered and received, a label printing unit (2.7) from which the label which is formed by the system after the user introduces his/her cargo (K) to the system, is given to the user to be adhered on the cargo (K), and a barcode reader (2.8) where the user identifies cargo request to the system.

There is a cargo control unit (3) on the inwardly facing surface of the folding front panel (1.3) which makes measurements related to the received cargo (K) such as weight, volume etc.

The cargo control unit (3) is the unit which determines the suitability of the cargo (K) to the system, on which cargo storage rack (5) will be left, how much fee the user is required to pay by means of controlling the volume of the cargo (K) by the cargo volumetric reader (3.1) and the label of the cargo (K) by the cargo barcode reader (3.2) and the weight of the cargo (K) by the cargo gravimeter (3.3).

In the cargo control unit (3) there are the following elements; a cargo volumetric reader (3.1) which measures the volume of the cargo (K) left to the cargo delivery area (2.6) in order to calculate the cargo (K) fee and to determine to which cargo storage rack (5) the cargo (K) will be placed, cargo barcode reader (3.2) which accesses the identity information of the cargo (K) by reading the barcode on the cargo (K) which is left to the cargo delivery area (2.6), and a cargo gravimeter (3.3) which measures the weight of the cargo (K) that is left to the cargo delivery area (2.6) in order to calculate the cargo (K) fee.

The cargo delivery area (2.6) is the area where the cargos (K) to be received by the unmanned cargo stations or to be delivered to the station are placed by the user. There is a movable cover on the folding front panel (1.3) which protects the cargo delivery area (2.6). This cover is opened when an action is received from the barcode reader (2.8). There is always an empty tray (T) in the cargo delivery area (2.6) and this tray (T) fits on the cargo gravimeter (3.3).

The cargo (K) weight is calculated automatically when the user leaves his/her cargo (K) on this tray (T). There are dimensional and mass limits of the cargo (K) to be left to the cargo delivery area (2.6) and the cargo control unit (3) is used for controlling these limits. When these limits are exceeded, the system does not receive the cargo (K). Moreover, as soon as the cargo (K) is left to the system, the relation of the cargo (K) is interrupted from the external environment and the user by the folding cover. Thus, the external interventions to the operations are prevented.

The barcode reader (2.8) is the first activating unit for the system in order to send or receive cargo (K). The user can interact directly with the system by a barcode which will be read from his/her smart phone or watch. The barcode reader (2.8) has laser barcode scanning equipment and embedded software. The information obtained from here activates the movable cover, user display (2.2) and the cargo control unit (3).

When the user requires to send a cargo (K), he/she leaves his/her cargo (K) on the cargo delivery area (2.6) and completes the required processes and the system makes the required measurements and controls. Then, a label which contains the sending information is created by the system in an automatic manner.

Said label is delivered to the user through a label printing unit (2.7) via a label printer in order to stick the label on the cargo (K) by the user. In case no label is attached on the cargo (K), the cargo control unit (3) detects this and warns the user.

There is a cantilever (1.4) on the user unit (2) which protects the cargo owner and the devices in the payment area from undesired conditions such as the sunlight, rain, snow etc.

The main body (1) is located on a support frame (1.1). The support frame (1.1) is a structure which consists of steel profiles that hold the unmanned cargo station as a whole.

There are support brackets on the lower portion of the support frame (1.1) which enables the invention to stay in a stable manner. Moreover, there are transport holes (1.2) in the middle of the support frame (1.1) through which the forklift arms pass which enables transportation of the invention from one place to another in a safe manner.

There is a roof made of metal sheet on the cargo station in order to protect the unmanned cargo station from the physical effects that may come from the natural events and the external environment such as rain, snow etc. Said roof provides a motion point for the drone to be used in cargo (K) transportation process.

Applicability of the Invention to the Industry:

The invention can be used instead of cargo branches in many areas such as cafe, shopping centers etc. and can be produced easily .