IP Library Granted Patent US 12,372,290
Granted Patent B2
US 12,372,290 · App. 17/679,585 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Control device, transportation machine, control method, and transportation system

Inventor: Toshiaki Tazume (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
F25D11/02A47G29/141A47G2029/142A47G2029/147A47G2029/149B60P9/00F25D11/003F25D25/04G06Q10/08G06Q10/0832
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,372,290
App. No.
17/679,585
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The UGV 1 is configured to move the article stored in the storing chamber B 1 to the storing chamber B 2 and perform the temperature control for the storing chamber B 2 in a case where it is determined that the predetermined condition regarding the article stored in the storing chamber B 1 among the plurality of storing chambers B is satisfied.

Claims (41)

1. A control device configured to control a transportation machine including a plurality of compartments each capable of storing an article, the control device comprising:

at least one memory configured to store program code; and

at least one processor configured to access the program code and operate as instructed by the program code, the program code including:

determination code configured to cause the at least one processor to determine whether a predetermined condition regarding an article stored in a first compartment among the plurality of compartments is satisfied in accordance with temperature management information associated with the article, wherein the temperature management information specifies a predetermined time period for maintaining a quality of the article in the first compartment in which a temperature of the first compartment is not controlled,

article movement control code configured to cause the at least one processor to move, based on determining the predetermined condition is satisfied, the article from the first compartment to a second compartment among the plurality of compartments, the second compartment having a temperature that is controllable; and

temperature control code configured to cause the at least one processor to perform temperature control for the second compartment.

2. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that the article requires temperature management.

3. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that the article has not been received by a recipient.

4. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that an elapsed time period from start of transportation of the article exceeds a predetermined time period associated with the article.

5. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of compartments include a plurality of first compartments, and

the article movement control code causes the at least one processor to move the article stored in each of the first compartments to the second compartment.

6. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control code causes the at least one processor to start the temperature control for the second compartment before the article moves from the first compartment to the second compartment after start of transportation of the article.

7. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control code causes the at least one processor to start the temperature control for the second compartment when start time of the temperature control comes after start of transportation of the article.

8. The control device according to claim 7 , wherein the start time of the temperature control is determined on a basis of a time period during which temperature of the first compartment is kept in a temperature range in which quality of the article in the first compartment is preservable due to a temperature keeping effect of the first compartment.

9. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control code causes the at least one processor to stop the temperature control for the second compartment when the article is not present in either the first compartment or the second compartment by being received by a recipient after start of transportation of the article.

10. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control code causes the at least one processor to perform the temperature control for cooling an inside of the second compartment.

11. A transportation machine configured to include a plurality of compartments each capable of storing an article, the transportation machine comprising:

an actuator configured to move, in response to a control command output based on determining that a predetermined condition is satisfied, a door such that an article stored in a first compartment among the plurality of compartments moves to a second compartment among the plurality compartments,

wherein a temperature of the second compartment is controllable,

wherein a temperature of the first compartment is not controlled,

wherein whether the predetermined condition is satisfied is in accordance with temperature management information associated with the article, and

wherein the temperature management information specifies a predetermined time period for maintaining a quality of the article in the first compartment.

12. The transportation machine according to claim 11 , further comprising an actuator configured to lock a door of the second compartment to make it impossible for a recipient at a transportation destination of the article to receive the article from the second compartment and unlock a door of the first compartment to make it possible for the recipient to receive the article from the first compartment.

13. The transportation machine according to claim 11 , wherein

the compartments are provided in a plurality of stages in a vertical direction,

the actuator is configured to move the article stored in the first compartment located at an upper stage to the second compartment located at a lower stage by opening a bottom portion of the first compartment.

14. The transportation machine according to claim 13 , wherein

the plurality of compartments include a plurality of first compartments provided in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction,

the actuator is configured to move the article stored in a first compartment of the plurality of first compartments located at an upper stage to a first compartment of the plurality of first compartments located at a lower stage by opening a bottom portion of the first compartment located at the upper stage.

15. A control method executed by a computer that controls a transportation machine including a plurality of compartments each capable of storing an article, the control method including:

determining whether a predetermined condition regarding an article stored in a first compartment among the plurality of compartments is satisfied in accordance with temperature management information associated with the article, wherein the temperature management information specifies a predetermined time period for maintaining a quality of the article in the first compartment in which a temperature of the first compartment is not controlled,

moving, based on determining the predetermined condition is satisfied, the article from the first compartment to a second compartment among the plurality of compartments, the second compartment having a temperature that is controllable; and

performing temperature control for the second compartment.

16. A transportation system comprising:

a transportation machine including a plurality of compartments each capable of storing an article;

an actuator configured to move, in response to a control command output based on determining that a predetermined condition is satisfied, a door such that an article stored in a first compartment among the plurality of compartments moves to a second compartment among the plurality of compartments; and

a temperature control unit configured to perform temperature control for the second compartment,

wherein a temperature of the first compartment is not controlled,

wherein whether the predetermined condition is satisfied is in accordance with temperature management information associated with the article, and

wherein the temperature management information specifies a predetermined time period for maintaining a quality of the article in the first compartment.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2022
From: TAZUME, TOSHIAKI
To: RAKUTEN GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 059091/0738 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220275990A1 · Sep 1, 2022
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