Automated mailbox
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsSuhas E. Chelian, Allison Thackston, Douglas Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus for an automated mailbox system. The automated mailbox system includes a personal device configured to manage a robot. The robot includes a base that forms a foundation for the robot and is coupled to a post. The robot includes a mailbox having a door. The mailbox is configured to receive documents when in the open position. The robot includes a transportation component that moves the robot in multiple directions among multiple locations. The transportation component is configured to move the robot in a first direction to a first location.
Claims19
An automated mailbox, comprising:
- an enclosure having:
- a door that is configured to move between an open position and a closed position,
- a first portion that is configured to receive a plurality of documents when the door is in the open position and where the plurality of received documents are placed,
- a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion and that has a plurality of bins for storing the plurality of received documents, the plurality of bins including a first bin that is configured to store at least one document of the plurality of received documents, and
- a letter sorting device that is configured to sort and move the at least one document from the first portion into the first bin in the second portion;
- and
- a transportation component that is connected to the enclosure and configured to move in a plurality of directions.
A method for sorting and delivering mail, comprising:
- obtaining, within a first portion of an enclosure of an automated mailbox at a first location, one or more pieces of mail, the one or more pieces of mail including a piece of mail being of a first type or a second type;
- capturing, by a processor using a camera within the enclosure, one or more images of the piece of mail;
- determining, by the processor, whether the piece of mail is of the first type or the second type based on the one or more images of the piece of mail;
- and
- moving, using a letter sorting device within the enclosure, the piece of mail from the first portion of the enclosure to a first bin in a second portion of the enclosure if the piece of mail is of the first type;
- determining, by the processor, that at least one piece of mail is in the first bin;
- and
- transporting, using a transportation component connected to the enclosure, the at least one piece of mail from the first location to a second location.
An automated mailbox robot, comprising:
- a base that foil is a foundation for the automated mailbox robot;
- a mailbox connected to the base and having:
- a door that is configured to move between an open position and a closed position, the mailbox configured to receive a document when the door is in the open position, and
- a processor configured to determine that the document is of a particular type;
- and
- a transportation component that is connected to the base and moves in a plurality of directions among a plurality of locations based on the particular type of the document that is received within the mailbox.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.