Locker system

Abstract

A system for secure delivery or collection of goods includes at least one lockable storage space, in which the temperature of the at least one storage space is independently controllable to provide any one of: ambient temperature; or chilled temperature; or frozen temperature on an as needed basis. Access to the storage space may be remotely programmable. A controller may be configured to set a temperature set point for the storage space based upon goods in a customer order that will be stored in the storage space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A method of securely storing items for pickup, comprising:
 (1) utilizing an assembly of lockable storage spaces, wherein the assembly comprises:
 a) at least three storage compartments each closeable by a remotely programmable insulated lockable door; and 
 b) at least one common distribution system comprising a refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant is arranged to be in cooperation with a refrigeration system, said at least one common distribution system distributing the refrigerant to exchange heat with the compartments; 
 c) at least one heating system for providing heat to each of the compartments; and 
 d) a controller for controlling the common distribution system and the heating system, the controller configured to prepare the compartments to store items from a customer order by defining a temperature set point for each compartment, wherein the controller is configured to control the common distribution system and the heating system to achieve the temperature set point of each compartment, wherein, for each of the compartments, the temperature set point can be selectively defined and controlled to be within each of the following ranges as needed:
 i) an ambient storage temperature range between 4° C. to 21° C.; 
 ii) a chilled temperature range below the ambient temperature range and above freezing; and 
 iii) a frozen temperature range at or below freezing. 
 
   (2) the controller operating to define the temperature set point of each compartment based on required temperature needs of the items to be stored.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 (3) the controller receiving the customer order, including multiple items to be stored in the chilled temperature range and multiple items to be stored in the frozen temperature range;   (4) the controller:
 i) defining a first temperature set point of a first one of the three compartments to be within the chilled temperature range and controlling the common distribution system and the heating system to achieve the first temperature set point in preparation for storage of items from the order; 
 iii) defining a second temperature set point of a second one of the three compartments to be within the ambient temperature range and controlling the common distribution system and the heating system, if needed, to achieve the second temperature set point in preparation for storage of items from the order. 
   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the customer order includes multiple items to be stored in the ambient storage temperature range, and the method includes the controller:
 iii) defining a third temperature set point of a third one of the three compartments to be within the ambient temperature range and controlling the common distribution system and the heating system to achieve the third temperature set point in preparation for storage of items from the order.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein each remotely programmable insulated lockable door includes at least one insulating panel detachably secured to the door by a snap-on fixture or at least one magnet, wherein each insulating panel carries at least one sealing member for sealing around one compartment 
     
     
         61 . An assembly of storage spaces, comprising:
 a) three or more storage spaces, each of the three or more storage spaces comprising one or more compartments; wherein each of the three or more storage spaces comprises a remotely programmable insulated lockable door; and   b) at least one common distribution system comprising a refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant is arranged to be in cooperation with a refrigeration system, said at least one common distribution system distributing the refrigerant to exchange heat with the one or more compartments in the each of the three or more storage spaces;   c) a heating system for providing heat to each of the compartments; and   d) a controller for controlling the common distribution system and the heating system, the controller configured to define, for each of the one or more compartments of each storage space, a temperature set point, wherein the controller is configured to control the common distribution system and the heating system to achieve the temperature set point defined for each compartment, wherein the controller is configured such that, for each of the one or more compartments, the temperature set point can be selectively defined and controlled to be each of the following, as needed:
 i) an ambient storage temperature having a temperature range between 4° C. to 21° C.; 
 ii) a chilled temperature below the temperature range and above freezing; and 
 iii) a frozen temperature at or below freezing. 
   
     
     
         62 . The assembly of  claim 61 , wherein each one of the three of more storage spaces comprises a plurality of compartments, and the remotely programmable insulated lockable door of each storage space closes and opens access to all of the compartments of the storage space. 
     
     
         63 . The assembly of  claim 61 , wherein each of the compartments comprises:
 a) a cavity;   b) an insulating layer exterior of the cavity;   c) at least one heat exchanger for cooperation with the refrigeration system, said at least one heat exchanger being mounted to at least one wall of the cavity and partially embedded within the insulation layer.   
     
     
         64 . The assembly of  claim 61 , wherein the assembly of storage spaces comprises a housing having a cavity with internal frontal dimensions defining a common height for each storage space, wherein at least one of the storage spaces is defined by first and second compartments that together collectively have an external height dimension matched to the common height, wherein an external height dimension of the second compartment greater than an external height dimension of the first compartment, and the external height dimension of the second compartment is an integer multiple of the external height dimension of the first compartment. 
     
     
         65 . The assembly of  claim 61 , wherein the refrigeration system is located remotely to the assembly of storage spaces; and wherein the refrigeration system is in cooperation with the at least one common distribution system. 
     
     
         66 . The assembly of claim of  claim 61 , wherein each of the compartments comprises a heat exchanger and a quantity of heat transferred to the refrigerant by each compartment is separately varied through the heat exchangers. 
     
     
         67 . The assembly of  claim 66 , wherein the quantity of heat transferred is varied by varying a duration of time the refrigerant passes to the compartments or through the heat exchanger and/or wherein the quantity of heat transferred is varied by varying the quantity of refrigerant to the compartments. 
     
     
         68 . The assembly of  claim 61 , wherein the assembly comprises a chiller unit in cooperation with the refrigeration system so as to dissipate heat from the refrigerant; the chiller unit is a separate chiller refrigeration unit, said chiller unit is in cooperation with the refrigeration system by a separate distribution system for distributing a heat transfer fluid to exchange heat with the refrigerant in the refrigeration system, wherein said chiller unit is located downstream, in a direction of flow of the refrigerant, of a condenser of the refrigeration system and upstream of the compartments. 
     
     
         69 . The assembly of  claim 68 , wherein the refrigeration system of the assembly is a primary refrigeration system and said separate distribution system distributes the heat transfer fluid to exchange heat with refrigerant from a plurality of primary refrigeration systems. 
     
     
         70 . The assembly of  claim 61 , wherein each compartment comprises at least one fan for varying the quantity of heat transfer between the refrigerant and the compartment. 
     
     
         71 . The assembly of any of  claim 61 , wherein the each of the compartments are modular. 
     
     
         72 . The assembly of any of  claim 61 , wherein, for each of the compartments, one or more sealing members are provided to effect individual sealing of the compartment from the atmosphere and wherein the one or more sealing members of each compartment are provided on the remotely programmable insulated lockable door associated with the compartment, in or adjacent the compartment or both on the remotely programmable insulated lockable door associated with the compartment and in or adjacent the compartment. 
     
     
         73 . The assembly of  claim 61 , wherein each remotely programmable insulated lockable door includes at least one insulating panel detachably secured to the door by means of a snap-on fixture or at least one magnet, wherein each insulating panel carries at least one sealing member for sealing around one compartment. 
     
     
         74 . A method of storing items from for pickup, comprising:
 (1) utilizing an assembly of lockable storage spaces, wherein the assembly comprises:
 a) at least three storage compartments each closeable by a remotely programmable insulated lockable door; and 
 b) at least one common distribution system comprising a refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant is arranged to be in cooperation with a refrigeration system, said at least one common distribution system distributing the refrigerant to exchange heat with the compartments; 
 c) at least one heating system for providing heat to each of the compartments; and 
 d) a controller for controlling the common distribution system and the heating system, the controller configured to define a temperature set point for each compartment, wherein the controller is configured to control the common distribution system and the heating system to achieve the temperature set point of each compartment, wherein, for each of the compartments, the temperature set point can be selectively defined and controlled to be within each of the following ranges as needed:
 i) an ambient storage temperature range between 4° C. to 21° C.; or 
 ii) a chilled temperature range below the ambient temperature range and above freezing; and 
 iii) a frozen temperature range at or below freezing. 
 
   (2) the controller receiving a customer order and preparing the compartments to store items from the customer order by:
 i) defining the temperature set point of each compartment based on required temperature needs of the items in the customer order; 
   (3) controlling the common distribution system and the heating system to achieve the temperature set point of each compartment prior to receiving the items from the customer order.   
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , further comprising:
 (3) the controller receiving the customer order, including multiple items to be stored in the chilled temperature range and multiple items to be stored in the frozen temperature range;   (4) the controller:
 i) defining a first temperature set point of a first one of the three compartments to be within the chilled temperature range and controlling the common distribution system and the heating system to achieve the first temperature set point in preparation for storage of items from the order; 
 iii) defining a second temperature set point of a second one of the three compartments to be within the ambient temperature range and controlling the common distribution system and the heating system, if needed, to achieve the second temperature set point in preparation for storage of items from the order. 
   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the customer order includes multiple items to be stored in the ambient storage temperature range, and the method includes the controller:
 iii) defining a third temperature set point of a third one of the three compartments to be within the ambient temperature range and controlling the common distribution system and the heating system to achieve the third temperature set point in preparation for storage of items from the order.