# US 2023/0054968 A1 · Delivery of mobile locker cabinets loaded with postal items and col-lection of empty mobile locker cabinets > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0054968 A1 - Document ID: US20230054968A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/821,056 - Filed: 2022-08-19 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-20 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Bas van den Heuvel; Mark Gijbels; Dwi Gross; Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230054968A1 ## CPC - B60P 3/007: {for delivery of small articles, e.g. milk, frozen articles} - B60P 1/6427: {the load-transporting element being shifted horizontally in a fore and aft direction, combined or not with a vertical displacement} - B60P 1/649: {Guiding means for the load-transporting element} - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) ## Abstract The invention relates to a method for delivering mobile locker cabinets loaded with postal items to automatic parcel stations and for collecting empty mobile locker cabinets from automatic parcel stations by means of a delivery vehicle having a cargo space. In order to reduce the outlay associated with logistics of locker cabinets and thus to reduce the associated costs of logistics, depending on a delivery route, the locker cabinets loaded with postal items are arranged in a delivery sequence within the cargo space in such a way that a locker cabinet which forms a start of the delivery sequence and a locker cabinet which forms an end of the delivery sequence are accessible directly via a rear loading/unloading opening (8) of the cargo space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Method for delivering mobile locker cabinets loaded with postal items to automatic parcel stations and for collecting empty mobile locker cabinets from automatic parcel stations by means of a delivery vehicle having a cargo space, comprising: depending on a delivery route, loading the locker cabinets with postal items are arranged in a delivery sequence within the cargo space in such a way that a locker cabinet which forms a start of the delivery sequence and a locker cabinet which forms an end of the delivery sequence are accessible directly via a rear loading/unloading opening of the cargo space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, further comprising: after removal of a locker cabinet to be delivered immediately from the cargo space, moving in the cargo space the remaining locker cabinets located in the cargo space in such a way, while maintaining the delivery sequence, that the locker cabinet to be delivered next assumes a removal position within the cargo space, which is accessible directly via the loading/unloading opening and from which the locker cabinet to be delivered immediately has been removed from the cargo space. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Method according to claim 2, further comprising: arranging an empty locker cabinet in such a way in the cargo space, at a loading position within the cargo space which has become free as a result of the movement of the remaining locker cabinets located in the cargo space, while maintaining the delivery sequence, and which is accessible directly via the loading/unloading opening, that the delivery sequence is extended at the end by the empty locker cabinet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, comprising: arranging the locker cabinets loaded with postal items in a U-shaped delivery sequence within the cargo space. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, comprising at least one of: moving within the cargo space the locker cabinets by means of a mobile transport unit; removing from the cargo space the locker cabinets by means of a mobile transport unit; or inserting into the cargo space the locker cabinets by means of a mobile transport unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, comprising: moving the locker cabinets within the cargo space by means of their own running wheels and by means of their own travel drive; removing the locker cabinets from the cargo space by means of their own running wheels and by means of their own travel drive; or inserting the locker cabinets into the cargo space by means of their own running wheels and by means of their own travel drive. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, comprising: moving the locker cabinets within the cargo space manually; removing the locker cabinets from the cargo space manually; or inserting the locker cabinets into the cargo space manually. ### Claim 8 A system for delivering mobile locker cabinets loaded with postal items to automatic parcel stations and for collecting empty mobile locker cabinets from automatic parcel stations, comprising: at least one delivery vehicle having a cargo space for accommodating mobile locker cabinets; and a plurality of mobile locker cabinets for accommodating postal items, wherein the system is designed to carry out the method according to any of the preceding claims. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) System according to claim 8, comprising: at least one mobile transport unit for moving the locker cabinets within the cargo space and/or for removing in each case one locker cabinet from the cargo space and/or for inserting in each case one locker cabinet into the cargo space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) System according to claim 8, comprising: the delivery vehicle has a rear lift gate and/or a front lateral cargo space access door.