Patents Assigned to Deutsche Post AG
  • Patent number: 9969554
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a chute for articles, in particular packages and/or consignments, having a chute base for the article to slide down and comprising at least two chute-base sections is described, wherein the at least two chute-base sections form a height offset between one another, wherein at least one guiding device is provided between the at least two chute-base sections in order to guide the article from one chute-base section to the next chute-base section, wherein the at least one guiding device has a vertically adjustable free end that points in the direction of the next chute-base section, and wherein the guiding device has, transversely to the chute base, a plurality of finger elements that are arranged alongside one another and are at least in part vertically adjustable independently of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Wolfram Grafe
  • Patent number: 9959692
    Abstract: Provided is a locking unit for a housing, comprising at least two doors for locking each housing opening. The locking unit has a locking element module for each of the doors, and the module has at least one locking body and a locking drive for actuating the locking body. The locking drive has a common drive element for the locking element modules, which drive element can be moved about a displacement path, and which, in a first displacement position, brings the locking body, for only one of the doors or only a first group of doors, of the doors into an unlocking position, and in a second displacement position, brings the locking body for all doors into an unlocking position. The invention also relates to a housing comprising a locking unit of this type, and to a method for unlocking one or more doors of a housing of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Horst Hild, Ramin Benz, Christoph Dautz, Christian Carstens
  • Publication number: 20180114422
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a method for averting a danger performed by a control apparatus. The method involves a step of obtaining a plurality of pieces of sensor information. At least partially depending on the obtained pieces of sensor information, it is determined whether a danger exists. A support offer request message is transmitted if it is determined that the danger exists. At least one first support offer message is received from a first support apparatus in response to the support offer request message. At least partially depending on the received first support offer message, it is determined whether a first support measure of the first support apparatus is suitable for averting the danger. The first support measure is then prompted if it is determined that the first support measure is suitable for averting the danger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Ralph Wiechers, Christian Ibach
  • Patent number: 9950344
    Abstract: An apparatus receives data from at least one detection device which regularly detects single items on a sorting surface of a conveying system. Here, a separately actuatable drive element is assigned in each case to a plurality of partial surfaces of the sorting surface. The device regularly determines a region on the sorting surface taken up by the respective single item on the basis of the obtained data by means of triangulations for as long as the single item is situated on the sorting surface. The device determines control commands for actuating the drive elements, which are assigned to a partial surface and correspond to a specific region on the sorting surface taken up by the respective single item, on the basis of a destination at the sorting surface provided for the respective single item. Then, the device actuates the drive elements with the determined control commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Ingo Tzschichholtz
  • Publication number: 20180099641
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to, inter alia, a method for checking the authorization to open a receiving compartment of an unmanned vehicle. A step of the method includes obtaining a request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle and first proof of authorization information. A position of the unmanned vehicle and at least one environmental parameter dependent on the position of the unmanned vehicle is captured. The authorization of the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is checked in dependence on the obtained first proof of authorization information, the captured position of the unmanned vehicle, and the captured environmental parameter. The receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is opened or caused to open only when the checking reveals that the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is authorized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Ralph Wiechers, Christian Ibach
  • Patent number: 9940768
    Abstract: Provided is a method for access control, performed by an access control apparatus, including obtaining access authorization information that is communicated to the access control apparatus having at least one access authorization parameter and first check information; using at least the communicated access authorization parameters, the communicated first check information and a second key from a key pair, which second key is stored in the access control apparatus, to perform a first check on whether the communicated first check information has been produced by performing cryptographic operations by means of access authorization parameters corresponding to the communicated access authorization parameters using at least one first key from the key pair, and deciding whether access can be granted, based on the first check delivers a positive result and it is established that at least one predefined set of the communicated access authorization parameters respectively provides access authorization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Christian Carstens, Christoph Dautz, Jochen Jansen, Ramin Benz, Alexandra Dmitrienko, Stanislav Bulygin, Marcus Lippert
  • Publication number: 20180075680
    Abstract: The disclosure relates particularly to a method for providing security for a transfer point for at least one receiving apparatus, performed by one or more apparatuses, the method comprising: receiving state information at least characteristic for the presence of at least one person and/or at least one object at the transfer point; checking whether the state information meets a security requirement; and outputting or causing outputting of an activation signal only if the state information meets the security requirement. Further, the disclosure relates to a vehicle for use as a transfer apparatus for at least one transfer point, to a transfer point and to a system and a computer program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Martin Sommer, Tobias Augspurger, Marco Bellof
  • Patent number: 9916558
    Abstract: A method for autonomously delivering and/or collecting at least one shipment using at least one distribution vehicle is described, in which a distribution vehicle approaches a customer vehicle at least partially autonomously and at least partially via the public road traffic, in which the distribution vehicle at least partially autonomously causes opening of a closure unit of the customer vehicle, in which, when the closure unit is open, the distribution vehicle at least partially autonomously places a shipment into the customer vehicle and/or at least partially autonomously removes a shipment from the customer vehicle, which, after placing and/or removing the shipment, the distribution vehicle at least partially autonomously causes closing of the closure unit of the customer vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Ralph Wiechers
  • Patent number: 9878854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for the singulation of packages, especially for the singulation of parcels. The invention is based on the assumption that the parcels are initially present as a bulk flow. The packages are transported in the form of a package flow on fifteen different transport means at different transport speeds, whereby the transport direction is deflected at least once by approximately 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: DEUTSCHE POST AG, TRANSNORM SYSTEM GmbH
    Inventors: Detlef Walter, Sidy Diop, Arnd Kraemer, Kai Ventz, Karl Warnecke, Stefan Huke, Tillmann Eid, Bernd Hartmann
  • Patent number: 9876642
    Abstract: A method is provided for securely transmitting a digital message that is transmitted by means of an electronic letter service. A user of the service has a computer with a functioning browser and an Internet connection, and the electronic letter service makes use of a TrustCenter. The user creates a password using his/her browser. A user password verifier is cryptographically derived from the password. The user password verifier is transmitted to the electronic letter service and stored on a storage medium. A user secret is generated from the password by means of a cryptographic derivation. The user secret constitutes the symmetrical key for the encryption of a user-specific user master secret. The user secret is encrypted using the public key of the TrustCenter and the encrypted user secret is transmitted to the electronic letter service, from where it is then forwarded to the TrustCenter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: DEUTSCHE POST AG
    Inventors: Mike Bobinski, Jürgen Pabel
  • Publication number: 20170362036
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method which comprises determining first geometry information of a first object stream of a plurality of objects, which are transported on a first conveyor. The method also comprises determining second geometry information of a second object stream of a plurality of objects which are transported on a second conveyor. The first conveyor is configured to transport objects at a first speed, and the second conveyor is configured to transport objects at a second speed. The first conveyor and the second conveyor are arranged in such a way that the objects which are transported by the first conveyor move onto the second conveyor. The method also comprises adjusting the first speed of the first conveyor and/or adjusting the second speed of the second conveyor on the basis of the determined first geometry information and/or the determined second geometry information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicants: Deutsche Post AG, Transnorm System GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Ali Özyigit, Kai-Ulrich Ventz, René Schällig
  • Publication number: 20170357919
    Abstract: The invention relates to a delivery vehicle for delivering consignments at different locations on a delivery route, having at least one receiving device for receiving the consignment, having at least one sensor device for separately capturing delivery information for the consignments received via the receiving device, having at least one storage device for storing the received consignments during the delivery of other consignments, and having at least one conveying device for conveying the received consignments from the receiving device to storage positions in the storage device and from the storage positions in the storage device to a dispensing device for dispensing the consignments at the particular location for delivery of the consignments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Heike Bischoff, Sandra Drees, Boris Trendafilov, Holger Schneebeck, Antje Huber
  • Publication number: 20170333952
    Abstract: A singulation conveyor for conveying and separating piece goods, in particular packages and/or consignments, along at least one transport track bearing the piece goods items is described, wherein in the transport track, in some sections, finger elements adjustable between a lower setting and an upper setting are provided, and wherein the free ends of the finger elements in the upper setting are arranged in an upper position above an adjoining region of the transport track in such a way as to manipulate the motional direction and/or the motional speed of respectively individual piece goods items independently of other piece goods items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Wolfram Grafe
  • Publication number: 20170334647
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chute for articles, in particular packages and/or consignments, having a chute base for the article to slide down, having at least one storage installation, preferably assigned to the lower end of the chute, for the articles that have slid down along the chute base, wherein the storage installation is configured to be adjustable, in particular pivotable, from an upper receiving position for receiving the articles sliding down the chute into a lower discharging position for discharging the received articles, and back again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Wolfram Grafe
  • Publication number: 20170334648
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a chute for articles, in particular packages and/or consignments, having a chute base for the article to slide down and comprising at least two chute-base sections is described, wherein the at least two chute-base sections form a height offset between one another, wherein at least one guiding device is provided between the at least two chute-base sections in order to guide the article from one chute-base section to the next chute-base section, wherein the at least one guiding device has a vertically adjustable free end that points in the direction of the next chute-base section, and wherein the guiding device has, transversely to the chute base, a plurality of finger elements that are arranged alongside one another and are at least in part vertically adjustable independently of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Wolfram Grafe
  • Patent number: 9811796
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for delivering a shipment by an unmanned transport device to a receiving container for said shipment, the method comprising the following and additional steps: moving the unmanned transport device into a destination area associated with the receiving container, on the basis of geographical co-ordinates; once the unmanned transport device has reached the destination area, pairing of the transport device with the receiving container and exchanging electronic authorization information between the receiving container and the unmanned transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Thomas Ogilvie, Matthäus Pruski, Ramin Benz
  • Patent number: 9802733
    Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for automatically securing at least one mail item on a transport tray, the assembly including the mail item and the transport tray, on which the mail item can be placed, and a fixing arrangement designed to secure the mail item on the transport tray, wherein the assembly for lowering and raising the transport tray in a height-adjusting manner is designed in such a way that, by lowering the transport tray into a loading position, the distance between the fixing arrangement and the transport tray is increased in such a way that, in the loading position, the mail item can be placed on the transport tray between said transport tray and the fixing arrangement, and is designed in such a way that, by raising the transport tray from the loading position, the distance between the fixing arrangement and the transport tray is reduced in such a way that the fixing arrangement comes to rest on the mail item in order to secure the mail item against falling off from the transport tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Peter Wendt, Mark Veasey, Frank Steinert, Mike Renoth, Ingo Kleilein
  • Patent number: 9790039
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shipment loading system for loading shipments into an unit load device, comprising a conveyer, a platform and a cargo space for placing the unit load device on a static rack, whereby the conveyer is provided on a ground floor and tiltable across its longitudinal axis, the conveyer comprises an extendo extending the conveyer along the longitudinal extension of the conveyer, the extendo is movable between a retracted position and an extracted position, in the extracted position the extendo faces the cargo space, the platform is movable between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal extension of the conveyer, in the first position the platform faces the cargo space and at least in one of the first and second positions the platform is arranged between the ground floor and the conveyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Jason Laib, Daniel Schlake, Dean Terrell, Andrew Willis, Chad Fitzpatrick
  • Publication number: 20170291766
    Abstract: Delivery vehicle is described and depicted which serves for delivery, in particular autonomously, of consignments to different sites along a delivery route, with a loading space comprising a shelf system for shelves containing consignments. In order to save time and cost for delivery or hand-over of consignments along a delivery route, it is provided that the shelf system is configured to receive shelves in a plurality of storage positions for provision of the shelves and in at least one extraction position for extraction of consignments from the shelves, and that the shelf system has at least one adjustment device for adjusting, in particular moving, the shelves of the shelf system between several storage positions and the at least one extraction position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Felix Orth, Fabian Schmitt, Martin Sommer, Uwe Kessels
  • Publication number: 20170287244
    Abstract: Provided is a method involving obtaining an identifier at a control unit of a compartment system having compartments provided with respective locks and respective lock control units that are configured to communicate with the control unit; obtaining information indicating that one compartment has been closed, and causing storing of the identifier in the lock control unit assigned to the compartment. Also provided is a method comprising detecting, at a lock control unit assigned to a compartment of a compartment system comprising a control unit and compartments provided with respective locks and lock control units configured to communicate with the control unit, that the compartment has been closed; transmitting a piece of information identifying the lock control unit to the control unit if it has been detected that the compartment has been closed; obtaining an identifier from the control unit; and storing the identifier in the lock control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Jochen Jansen, Ramin Benz, Christoph Dautz, Christian Carstens, Dirk Schusdziara, Erwin Hirtreiter, Franz A. Schießl, Christian Eisenhart, Stanislav Bulygin