# US 10,117,536 B2 · Automatic door closing device for secure locker system

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- Number: US 10,117,536 B2
- Document ID: US10117536B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/354,859
- Filed: 2016-11-17
- Published: 2017-05-25
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-19
- Assignees: Neopost Technologies
- Applicants: Neopost Technologies
- Inventors: Christophe Peynet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117536B2

## CPC

- A47G 29/141: {comprising electronically controlled locking means}
- A47G 29/30: Accessories, e.g. signalling devices, lamps, means for leaving messages
- E05F 15/79: using time control
- G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
- G06Q 10/0836: Recipient pick-ups
- G06Q 10/08365: {Deliveries to storage lockers}
- G07F 17/13: {the containers being a postal pick-up locker}
- A47G 2029/145: {the receptacle comprising means for identifying a deposit; Deposits carrying identification means, e.g. a bar code}
- A47G 2029/149: {with central server link}
- E05F 2017/008: {for swinging wings}
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

An automatic built-in closing apparatus includes at least one common pivoting shaft that is driven by a unique motor, intermediate gear wheels and a clutch coupled to control doors of a series of lockable compartments pertaining to a same block of an electronic locker unit and a set of freewheels and overload clutch which is mounted on the common pivoting shaft as a hinge for each door of the series of lockable compartments.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of securely controlling retrieval of a package stored in at least one of a plurality of lockable compartments of an electronic locker unit by a user, the electronic locker unit connected to a managing distribution center through a communication network, the method comprising:
entering by the user of an identification code corresponding to the package, the user entering the identification code into the electronic locker unit manually via a keypad in electronic communication with a controller of the electronic locker unit or wirelessly via at least one of a transponder coupled to the package that transmits a signal to the controller or a phone in wireless communication with the controller of the electronic locker unit;
opening by the user of a door of the at least one lockable compartment of the electronic locker unit;
withdrawing by the user of the package from the at least one lockable compartment;
checking with a processing module and a weight or presence detector located inside the at least one lockable compartment to determine whether the at least one lockable compartment is empty, the checking including the controller in electronic communication with the weight or presence detector, the controller receiving a signal from one of the weight or presence detector corresponding to the at least one lockable compartment being empty after the user withdraws the package from the at least one lockable compartment; and
closing the door of the at least one lockable compartment, the closing including driving by a motor of the electronic locker unit at least one pivoting shaft common to a door of each of the plurality of lockable compartments, including the door of the at least one lockable compartment, to simultaneously close any open doors of empty at least one lockable compartments, wherein closed doors of the plurality of lockable compartments remain closed during rotation of the pivoting shaft,
wherein said closing is performed automatically by the controller which activates the motor if the at least one lockable compartment remains open after a timeout period.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said closing is performed after emitting an alert in the form of at least one of a visible message, an audible beep, or a flashing sign to prompt the user to carry out a manual closing operation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising: automatically transmitting an error or warning message to the managing distribution center in response to at least one door of the plurality of lockable compartments remaining open after the timeout period.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising after closing the at least one lockable compartment:
transmitting information corresponding to the at least one lockable compartment being empty and locked to the managing distribution center.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein closing the at least one lockable compartment includes the closing performed automatically by the controller which activates the motor if the at least one lockable compartment remains open after the timeout period, wherein the timeout period is between thirty seconds and sixty seconds.

### Claim 6

A closing apparatus for an electronic locker unit, comprising:
at least one pivoting shaft that is driven by a motor, gear wheels and a first clutch, the at least one pivoting shaft controlling opening and closing of each door of a series of lockable compartments of a plurality of lockable compartments of the electronic locker unit; and
a plurality of freewheel and second clutch pairs which are mounted on the pivoting shaft, each freewheel and second clutch pair operating as a hinge for a corresponding door of each of the series of lockable compartments.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The closing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first clutch is one of the following types: electromagnetic, gear, friction, plate, ratchet and cone.

### Claim 8

A method of securely controlling retrieval of a package stored in at least one of a plurality of lockable compartments of an electronic locker unit by a user, the electronic locker unit connected to a managing distribution center through a communication network, the method comprising:
receiving an identification code by a controller of the electronic locker unit, the identification code corresponding to the package and at least one of: entered manually via a keypad by a user or received wirelessly via a transponder coupled to the package or via a phone;
unlocking a door of the at least one lockable compartment of the electronic locker unit based on the received identification code;
checking with a processing module and a weight or presence detector located inside the at least one lockable compartment to determine whether the at least one lockable compartment is empty, the checking including the controller in electronic communication with the weight or presence detector, the controller receiving a signal from one of the weight or presence detector corresponding to the at least one lockable compartment being empty after the user withdraws the package from the at least one lockable compartment; and
closing the door of the at least one lockable compartment, the closing including driving by a motor of the electronic locker unit at least one pivoting shaft common to a door of each of the plurality of lockable compartments, including the door of the at least one lockable compartment, to simultaneously close any open doors of empty ones of the at least one lockable compartments, wherein closed doors of the plurality of lockable compartments remain closed during rotation of the pivoting shaft,
wherein said closing is performed automatically by the controller which activates the motor if the at least one lockable compartment remains open after a timeout period.