WO2022074408A1

WO2022074408A1 - Security box for receiving a parcel

Info

Publication number: WO2022074408A1
Application number: PCT/HU2021/050011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Éva SZOBOSZLAI; Attila DR. PINTÉR
Original assignee: Szoboszlai Eva; Dr Pinter Attila
Priority date: 2020-10-05
Filing date: 2021-02-05
Publication date: 2022-04-14
Also published as: HU5728U

Abstract

The invention relates to a security box for receiving a parcel having a box body and a lid connected to it in an openable and closable manner, and having an internal space defined by the box body and the lid in the closed position of the lid. The box comprises a power supply, an electrically operable locking device for locking the lid, which is connectable to the power supply via a first controllable switch, at least one control unit operatively associated with the first controllable switch, an external code reader sensor connected to the at least one control unit, and an internal parcel detecting sensor connected to the at least one control unit, and the at least one control unit is configured to activate the code reader sensor, receive and process the signal read by the code reader sensor, and depending on the result of the processing, actuate the first controllable switch to control the locking device to open, and activate the parcel detecting sensor after opening the locking device, and receive and process a signal read by the parcel detecting sensor. The invention further relates to a method for receiving a parcel by operating the security box according to the invention.

Description

Security box for receiving a parcel

The present invention relates to a security box for receiving a parcel comprising a box body and a lid being openably and closably connected to the box body and together defining an internal space in the closed position of the lid for accommodating a parcel.

The invention further relates to a method of receiving a parcel with such a security box.

Nowadays, shopping via the Internet is becoming more and more important, and so is parcel delivery by courier service. However, this poses a serious challenge to both courier services and recipients, as parcels larger than the size of a letter envelope require personal collection.

Parcel collection points offer a solution to this problem, where the parcel can be delivered even if the recipient is not at home. There are lockers that can be opened with a number code at the parcel collection point, and the recipients will be notified by SMS or e-mail about the arrival of the parcel and the number code. The disadvantage of this solution is that the recipient still has to go to pick up the parcel at the parcel collection point. A further disadvantage is that different web shops may deliver to different parcel collection points belonging to different service providers, so the recipient may have to collect his parcels from several places, even if they arrive on the same day.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a security box and method which are free from the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a security box and method which makes it possible to deliver the parcel safely to the addressee's address even when the addressee is not there.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a security box according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 15.

Some preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. Further details of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary security box according to the invention in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary security box according to the invention in the open position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the components on the inside of the lid of an exemplary security box according to the invention wherein the locking device is in its locked state;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the electrically controlled open position of the locking device of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the mechanically controlled open position of the locking device of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective side view showing the main components of an exemplary control console; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective top view of the main components of the control console of Fig. 6 seen from the internal side of the lid.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a security box 10 according to the invention in the closed and open positions, respectively. The security box 10 has a box body 12 and a lid 14 connected to it in an openable and closable manner. The connection can be provided, for example, by means of a known hinge. The box 10 has an interior space 16 for receiving parcels, which is delimited by the box body 12 and the lid 14 in the closed position of the lid 14, but for the sake of illustration the interior space 16 is shown in Fig. 2 in the open position of the lid 14. By using box bodies 12 of different sizes, boxes 10 with different volumes of interior space 16 can be provided even with the same lid size 14.

Note that although the figures show embodiments in which the lid 14 is horizontal in the closed position and closes the box body 12 from above, other embodiments are conceivable in which the lid 14 is in a vertical position and closes the box body 12 from the side.

Preferably, there is a water and dust seal (not shown) between the box body 12 and the lid 14.

In a preferred embodiment, the walls of the box body 12 and the lid 14 are thermally insulated.

In the present embodiment, brackets 20 are connected to an upper rim 18 of the box body 12, whereby the box 10 can be mounted on a wall, fence, gate or other object.

A power supply 22 of the box 12, a lock box 24 containing a locking device 40 of the box 12 and an electronic box 26 for receiving electronic components involved in the operation of the box 12 can be observed in Fig. 2. The locking device 40 and the electronic elements are described in connection with Figs. 3 to 8.

The power supply 22 preferably comprises a rechargeable battery. Of course, other types of power supply 22 may be used, such as a power supply 22 containing a non-rechargeable battery. An embodiment is also conceivable in which the power supply comes from an external source, such as an electrical network, in which case the electrical network plug is considered to be a power supply 22.

In the present embodiment, these components are arranged on the inside of the lid 14, but of course other locations are conceivable. A design is also conceivable in which the locking device 40 and the electronic components are arranged in a common box or are otherwise arranged in a manner protected from the user.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the locking device 40 arranged on the inside of the lid 14 is able to engage a closure body 28 projecting from the upper rim 18 of the box body 12 in the closed position of the lid 14. In the present embodiment, the closure body 28 is formed as a plate with a bore 29, the function of which will be described later.

Between the box body 12 and the lid 14 there is preferably a mechanism for forcing the lid 14 to the open position, for example, a gas spring 30 is provided, which in the present embodiment is hinged to fastening straps 31 , 31 'fixed to the inside of the rim 18 of the box body 12 and to the inside of the lid 14.

The box 10 according to the invention has an external code reader sensor, by which is meant that the code reader sensor is arranged at the external side of the box 10 so as to be able to detect a code generated outside of the box 10. In a preferred embodiment, the code reader sensor is an optical sensor, such as a barcode reader, or a camera 32 shown in Fig. 1 , the objective lens 33 of which faces the outside of the box 10. In the case of an optical sensor, the box 10 preferably also includes a light source 34 for illuminating the environment of the optical code reader sensor.

Other types of code reader sensors can be used as well, such as a radio frequency code reader sensor, including, for example, an RFID (radio-frequency identification) reader or an NFC (near field communication) reader.

Preferably, a solar cell 36 is further provided on the outside of the lid 14, which preferably charges the power supply 22 containing the rechargeable battery.

The power supply 22 provides electrical power to the electronic components. The box 10 preferably also has an external switch, in this case a power button 38, by pressing I touching the button 38 the electronic components can be activated, so that they do not consume electrical energy on a permanent basis. The power button 38 may be a push button, a touch button, a rotary button, and so on. The power button 38 can also be used to switch off the electronic components of the box 10, but this is not necessary and can be switched off automatically.

The locking device 40 for closing the lid 14 may be electrically controlled, but it is preferably also openable with a key. For this purpose, a keyhole 41 is provided on the outside of the box 10, in this case on top of the lid 14.

The structure and operation of the locking device 40 will now be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5.

The locking device 40 includes a lock tongue 42, an electrically controllable actuating unit for moving the lock tongue 42, and an element for forcing the lock tongue 42 into the closed position of the locking device 40, in the present embodiment a spring 44 resting on an operating member 43 attached to the lock tongue 42. In the locked position of the locking device 40, the lock tongue 42 engages the closure body 28 and locks the lid 14 in the closed state, i.e. the lid 14 cannot be opened in the locked position of the locking device 40. In the present embodiment, this is achieved by the spring 44 which forces the rod-shaped lock tongue 42 through the bore 29 in the closure body 28 preventing the lid 14 of the box 10 from being opened. In the present embodiment, the free end of the lock tongue 42 runs in a guide sleeve 46 which is held in place by screws 48.

In the present embodiment, the actuating unit is a solenoid coil 50 and the lock tongue 42 is connected to an iron core 52 extending into the solenoid coil 50, for example by means of a pin 54. By applying voltage to the solenoid coil 50, the resulting magnetic field retracts the iron core 52 and with it the lock tongue 42 while the spring 44 is compressed, as shown in Fig. 4. Meanwhile, the free end of the lock tongue 42 comes out of the bore 29 of the closure body 28, so that the lid 14 can be opened or it opens automatically in case a gas spring 30 or other automatic opening mechanism is used.

Preferably, the locking device 40 comprises an auxiliary locking device 60 for moving the lock tongue 42, which can be operated mechanically with a key. The auxiliary locking device 60 comprises an auxiliary lock tongue 62 which can be mechanically rotated by means of a key inserted through the keyhole 41 provided on the outside of the lid 14. The auxiliary lock 60 has an open and a closed position each corresponding to one end position of the auxiliary lock tongue 62, and the auxiliary lock tongue 62 can be rotated between these two end positions around the lock axis 63 of the auxiliary locking device 60 with a key that is compatible with the auxiliary locking device 60. In the open position shown in Fig. 5, the auxiliary lock tongue 62 abuts the actuating member 43 and holds the lock tongue 42 in the open position of the locking device 40 against the forcing element (spring 44). In this case, the spring 44 is compressed. In the closed position of the auxiliary locking device 60, the auxiliary lock tongue 62 is arranged so that the spring 44 can push the lock tongue 42 together with the actuating member 43 into the locked position of the locking device 40.

In a preferred embodiment, the power supply 22 is preferably removably arranged in a power supply holder 23, and the auxiliary locking device 60 also includes a second auxiliary lock tongue 64 rotatable about the lock axis 63 which locks the power supply 22 in the power supply holder 23 in the closed position of the auxiliary locking device 60 (Fig. 3). In the open position, the auxiliary lock 60 allows the power supply 22 to be removed from the power supply holder 23 (Fig. 5). The second auxiliary lock tongue 64 is preferably rigidly connected to the auxiliary lock tongue 62 and, when the key of the auxiliary locking device 60 is rotated, rotates together with the auxiliary lock tongue 62 about the lock axis 63.

An other embodiment is also conceivable in which the power supply 22 is secured in the power supply holder 23 independently of the auxiliary locking device 60. The securing can be released by a key or without the use of a key.

In a preferred embodiment, the power supply holder 23 is also the charger of the power supply 22. In the present embodiment, the power supply of the power supply holder 23 is provided by the solar cell 36 via an electrical line 37 which connects the solar cell 36 to the power supply holder 23.

The locking device 40 preferably comprises an end position sensor 66 for detecting the closed position of the lid 14. In an exemplary embodiment, the end position sensor 66 includes a button 68 arranged so that when the lid 14 of the box 10 is closed, the upper rim 18 of the box body 12 automatically depresses the button 68. The end position sensor 66 detects the closed end position of the lid 14 of the box 10 when the button 68 is pressed.

Figure 3 shows the main electronic components of the security box 10, between which lines indicated by reference numeral 70 schematically illustrate the main connections providing the electrical current and I or data and I or control signal connection. Some of the lines representing connections 70 end in an arrow, in which case the arrow points from the controlling element to the controlled element.

In the present embodiment, the box 10 includes first, second and third controllable switches 72a, 72b, 72c.

The locking device 40 can be connected to the power supply 22 via the first controllable switch 72a. The first controllable switch 72a is controlled by the first control unit 74 indicated by the dashed line in FIG.

The control unit 74 may be, for example, a microcontroller or other minicomputer (e.g., Raspberry Pi).

In the present embodiment, a DC / DC converter 76 is also connected between the first controllable switch 72a and the locking device 40, which converts the voltage of the power supply 22 to the voltage required by the solenoid coil 50. For example, using a 5V battery as the power supply 22 and a 6V solenoid coil 50, the direct current (DC-DC) voltage converter 76 is used to convert 5V to 6V. If the solenoid coil 50 requires a voltage equal to that provided by the power supply 22, then of course no voltage converter 76 is required. Instead of the DC-DC voltage converter 76, the voltage required for the electrical control of the electrically controllable locking device 40 can be provided in other known ways.

Preferably, the first control unit 74 is not connected directly to the power supply 22 but through the second controllable switch 72b, whereby the power supply to the control unit 74 can be interrupted when not in use, so that the battery-powered power supply 22 is drained less fast. If a second controllable switch 72b is not used, the power supply 22 may need to be charged or replaced more frequently.

In the present embodiment, a second control unit 74' is also used, which is preferably also not connected directly to the power supply 22, but via a third controllable switch 72c, so that the power supply to the control unit 74' can also be interrupted when not in use.

The second and third controllable switches 72b, 72c can preferably be switched to a position by means of the power button 38 providing electrical power connection between the control units 74 and 74' and the power supply 22, respectively. The power button 38 can also be used to turn off the security box 10, in which case the power button 38 can be used to switch the controllable switches 72b, 72c to the power cut-off position. There are a number of other options for turning off the security box 10, for example, the control unit 74 and/or 74' may send a control signal to the controllable switches 72b and 72c to turn the power off by switching to the open position. For example, when the button 68 of the end position sensor 66 is pressed, the end position sensor 66 may send a signal to the control unit 74 and/or 74', which may be configured to open the corresponding or both controllable switches 72b, 72c. Another possibility is, for example, to open the controllable switches 72b, 72c and thus disconnect the power supply with a timer switch.

The controllable switches 72a, 72b, 72c, the control units 74, 74' and the voltage converter 76 are arranged on a panel 80, which is shown separately in Figs. 6 and 7 in two views.

It can be seen in Fig. 6 that the external code reader sensor 32 and the light source 34 are integrated with the first control unit 74.

The security box 10 further includes an internal parcel detecting sensor arranged at the inner side of the box 10 for detecting a parcel placed in the internal space 16 of the box 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the internal parcel detecting sensor is another inwardly facing camera 32' integrated with the second control unit 74'. The control unit 74 'is arranged on the panel 80 such that the camera's 32' objective lens 33' faces the internal space 16 of the box 10 in the open or in the closed position of the lid 14. The camera 32' preferably also has a light source 34' for illuminating the environment of the camera 32', this is particularly important if the camera 32' is arranged so that the objective lens 33' faces the internal space 16 of the box 10 in the closed position of the lid 14, and it is used for image capture in this position. However, the use of the light source 34' is also advantageous if the camera 32' is arranged such that the objective lens 33' faces the internal space 16 in the open position of the lid 14 and it is used in this position for image capture since the ambient light is not necessarily sufficient to illuminate the internal space 16 of the box 10. Alternatively, the camera 32' may be arranged in the oblique position shown in Fig. 6, whereby the objective lens 33' can be used to capture images of the internal space 16 both in the open and in the closed position of the lid 14.

Other types of parcel detecting sensors can be used. For example, the presence of parcels can be detected by an RFID sensor. Another possibility for detecting the presence of parcels is a weight sensor or pressure sensor built into the bottom of the box body 12.

In the present embodiment, the parcel detecting sensor (camera 32') is integrated with the second control unit 74' and is also operated by the second control unit 74'. However, an embodiment is conceivable in which there is no second control unit 74', instead the parcel detecting sensor is connected to the first control unit 74 and its operation is also controlled by the first control unit 74.

Preferably, both control units 74, 74' are provided with a communication unit 78 and 78', respectively, which may be a WIFI module and/or a GSM module. Other embodiments are also conceivable wherein only one of the control units 74 or 74' has a communication unit 78 or 78', and optionally the signal received from the other control unit 74' or 74 is also transmitted by this control unit 74 or 74' using the communication unit 78 or 78', respectively.

A 82 beeper can be observed on the panel 80 for providing sound feedback to the user. The beeper 82 may be controlled by one or both of the control units 74, 74', but the operation of other components may provide an activation signal to the beeper 82 as well, such as the power button 38, the end position sensor 66, one or both cameras 32, 32', or the power supply 22, for example, to indicate discharge. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the beeper 82 is coupled to the first control unit 74.

The operation of the security box 10 according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7.

The security box 10 of the present invention has, as previously described, at least one control unit 74 configured to activate the code reader sensor, to receive and process the signal read by the code reader sensor, and depending on the result of the processing to operate the first controllable switch 72a to thereby open the locking device 40, and after opening the locking device 40, to activate the parcel detecting sensor and to receive and process the signal read by the parcel detecting sensor, and after processing, preferably to transmit it to a predetermined address by the communication unit 78 or 78'. In the case of several control units 74, 74 ', the described functions are divided between the two (or even more) control units 74, 74' and are thus jointly configured to perform these tasks.

In the present embodiment, the user activates the security box 10 by pressing the power button 38. When the power button 38 is pressed, the second and third controllable switches 72b, 72c are closed and thus provide an electrical connection between the control units 74, 74' and the power supply 22. After pressing the power button 38, the user holds a visual code in front of the camera 32. The visual code may be, for example, a barcode, QR code, number and I or letter code, etc., which the user may display on, for example, a smartphone or tablet display, or any other medium suitable for displaying a visual code. If there is a non-optical code reader sensor in the box 10, the user provides a code corresponding to the type of sensor used in the code reader sensor. For example, in the case of an NFC code reader sensor the user holds his smartphone or tablet in front of the code reader sensor, which smartphone or tablet transmits a code generated according to the NFC standard.

The first control unit 74 is configured to activate the code reader sensor upon power-up, i.e. , to turn on the camera 32 and thereby record the environment of the camera 32. For better image quality, the control unit 74 also turns on the light source 34 and then turns it off after image capture.

The control unit 74 then receives and processes the signal read by the code reader sensor. In the present embodiment, this is an image captured by the camera 32 of the visual code held in front of the objective lens 33 of the camera 32.

In a preferred embodiment, one (or more) lid opening codes are generated in advance, for example, on an external computer or server, which is sent to the control unit 74, for example via the communication unit 78. The lid opening code is stored in the control unit 74, and when processing the signal read by the code reading sensor (camera 32), the processed signal is compared with the lid opening code stored by the control unit 74. In the event of a match, the locking device 40 is opened by the control unit 74. In the present embodiment, the control unit 74 closes the first controllable switch 72a, thereby providing an electrical connection between the power supply 22 and the solenoid coil 50 of the locking device 40 (optionally via a voltage converter 76 and additional circuit elements). The solenoid coil 50 retracts the iron core 52 and with it the lock tongue 42 as a result of the applied voltage. Thereby, the free end of the lock tongue 42 is released from the bore 29 of the closure body 28 and the locking connection between the box body 12 and the lid 14 ceases. As the lid 14 is no longer locked, the gas spring 30 opens the lid 14.

The user (e.g., a courier) then places the parcel into the internal space 16 of the box 10 and closes the lid 14. When the lid 14 is closed, the rim 18 of the box body 12 presses the button 68 of the end position sensor 66. As a result, the end position sensor 66 sends a lid closure signal to the first and second control units 74, 74'.

In the present embodiment, the lid closure signal activates the second control unit 74', which activates the light source 34', and uses the camera 32' to record the internal space 16 of the box 10 into which the parcel has been placed. The second control unit 74' preferably provides appropriate illumination by switching on the light source 34', which is also switched off after the recording, i.e. the light source 34' is preferably used in flash mode. The image of the internal space 16 is preferably transmitted by the control unit 74' to a predetermined address by the communication unit 78'. For example, the image may be sent for verification to a predetermined address (e.g., e-mail address) of the owner of the box 10 and/or a predetermined address (e.g., e-mail address) of the courier service, e.g., via WIFI or GSM. An embodiment is also conceivable in which the recording is not transmitted but stored in a data storage of the control unit 74'. For example, the data storage may be a removable micro SD card, which can be removed if necessary and its contents can be read by an IT device (e.g. a computer) equipped with a suitable card reader.

If there is no separate second control unit 74', the described steps can be performed with the first control unit 74.

As already mentioned above, an embodiment is conceivable in which the second camera 32' is arranged so that the objective 33' faces the internal space 16 of the box body 12 when the lid 14 is open. In this embodiment, the second camera 32' is activated after the lid 14 has been opened, but before it is closed, and the light source 33' can be used for better illumination. In this embodiment, the parcel detecting sensor may advantageously be supplemented with a pressure sensor built into the bottom of the box body 12, and the control unit 74' activates the camera 32' based on a signal received from the pressure sensor. When the user (e.g., a courier) places the parcel in the internal space 16 of the box body 12, the pressure sensor sends a pressure change signal to the control unit 74', which, as a result of the pressure change signal, captures an image of the internal space 16 using the camera 32'. There are also other ways to record with the camera 32' at a time when the parcel has entered the internal space 16 of the box body 12. For example, the insertion of the parcel can be detected by a photocell arranged at the rim 18 of the box body 12.

As a result of the lid closure signal, the first control unit 74 opens the first controllable switch 72a, whereby power is cut off to the solenoid coil 50 of the locking device 40, thereby eliminating the magnetic field inside and thus the force acting on the iron core 50. The spring 44 pushes the lock tongue 42 through the bore 29 of the closure body 28 by the actuating member 43, thereby locking the lid 14 in the closed position.

Other embodiments are also conceivable in which the closing of the locking device 40 is performed by the second control unit 74' by controlling the first controllable switch 72a.

In a preferred embodiment, after closing the lid 14, the controllable switches 72b and 72c interrupt the power supply to the control units 74, 74' in order not to allow the control units 74, 74' to drain the power supply 22 when not in use. The controllable switches 72b and 72c may be controlled by any of the control units 74, 74' after the parcel detecting sensor signal has been processed, optionally transmitted, and the locking device 40 has been locked.

The power supply 22 is preferably charged from the solar cell 36. However, it may not be possible to charge the power supply 22 at a suitable rate during cloudy weather, therefore, in the illustrated embodiment the power supply 22 can be removed and charged outside of the box 10 using a suitable charger, for example from mains voltage.

For security reasons, the power supply 22 is preferably only removable with a key. In the illustrated embodiment, the power supply 22 cannot be removed until the second auxiliary lock tongue 64 of the auxiliary lock device 60 is turned to the position shown in Fig 5. This also rotates the first lock tongue 62, which, by means of the actuating member 43, displaces the lock tongue 42 of the locking device 40 serving to lock the lid 14, whereby it exits the bore 29 of the closing body 28 and the lid 14 opens. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a code to remove the power supply 22, which makes it easier for the user (e.g., the owner) to externally charge the power supply 22.

The second auxiliary locking device 60 also has an operational safety function: the lid 14 of the box 10 can be opened even when the power supply 22 is completely discharged, and therefore the control unit 74 cannot open the electrically controllable locking device 40. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that alternative solutions to other embodiments presented herein may be devised, but which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A security box for receiving a parcel having a box body and a lid connected to it in an openable and closable manner, and having an internal space defined by the box body and the lid in the closed position of the lid, characterised by comprising a power supply, an electrically operable locking device for locking the lid, which is connectable to the power supply via a first controllable switch, at least one control unit operatively associated with the first controllable switch, an external code reader sensor connected to the at least one control unit, and an internal parcel detecting sensor connected to the at least one control unit, and the at least one control unit is configured to activate the code reader sensor, receive and process the signal read by the code reader sensor, and depending on the result of the processing, actuate the first controllable switch to control the locking device to open, and activate the parcel detecting sensor after opening the locking device, and receive and process a signal read by the parcel detecting sensor.

2. The security box according to claim 1 , characterised in that the parcel detecting sensor is a security camera arranged on the internal side of the lid, and optionally the box comprises a light source which can be controlled by the at least one control unit for illuminating environment of the security camera.

3. The security box according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the locking device comprises a locking tongue, an electrically controllable first actuating unit for displacing the locking tongue and a member, preferably a spring, for forcing the locking tongue into a locked position and the locking device further comprises a key-operated auxiliary locking device for moving the locking tongue.

4. The security box according to claim 3, characterised in that the first actuating unit comprises a solenoid coil which retracts the locking tongue in the closed position of the first controllable switch against the forcing member in an open position of the locking device.

5. The security box according to claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the actuating member is attached to the locking tongue and the auxiliary locking device comprises a key-operated mechanically rotatable auxiliary locking tongue arranged such that in the open position of the auxiliary locking device the auxiliary locking tongue abuts the actuating member and holds the locking tongue in the open position of the locking device against the force of the forcing member, and in the locked position of the auxiliary locking device the auxiliary locking tongue is arranged to allow the locking tongue of the locking device to be displaced to its locked position.

6. The security box according to claim 5, characterised in that the power supply is removably arranged in a power supply holder, and the auxiliary lock device comprises a second auxiliary lock tongue which locks the power supply in the power supply holder in the locked position of the auxiliary lock device.

7. The security box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the at least one control unit is connected to the power supply via a second controllable switch, and an external switch for activating the second controllable switch is arranged on the outer side of the box.

8. The security box according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the power supply is a rechargeable battery, and a solar cell connected to the power supply is arranged on the outer surface of the lid of the box.

9. The security box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that a gas spring is arranged between the lid and the box body such as to open the lid in the open position of the locking device. - 15 -

10. The security box according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the code reader sensor is selected from a group comprising a barcode reader, a camera, an NFC reader, an RFID reader.

11 . The security box according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the code reader sensor is an optical code reader sensor, and the box includes a light source controllable by the at least one control unit for illuminating the environment of the optical code reader sensor.

12. The security box according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , characterised in that the at least one control unit has a communication unit adapted for data transmission, preferably a WIFI module and/or a GSM module, and the at least one control unit is configured to transmit the signal read by the parcel detecting sensor by the communication unit after processing.

13. The security box according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the locking device comprises an end position sensor in data communication connection with the at least one control unit for detecting the closed position of the lid, and the at least one control unit is configured to receive and process the signal of the end position sensor, and to lock the locking device by actuating the first controllable switch when detecting the closed position of the lid following opening of the lid.

14. The security box according to claim 13, characterised in that the at least one control unit is configured to activate the parcel detecting sensor after following the opening the locking device the closed position of the lid is detected.

15. A method of receiving a parcel by operating a security box having a box body and a lid connected to it in an openable and closable manner, and having an internal space defined by the box body and the lid in the closed position of the lid, the box further comprising a power supply, an electrically operable locking device for locking the lid, which is connectable to the power supply via a first controllable switch, at least one control unit operatively associated with the first controllable - 16 - switch, and an external code reader sensor and an internal parcel detecting sensor coupled to the at least one control unit, and activating the code reader sensor connected to the at least one control unit, receiving and processing the signal read by the code reader sensor by the at least one control unit, depending on the result of the processing, actuating the first controllable switch with the at least one control unit to open the locking device, activating the parcel detecting sensor connected to the at least one control unit following opening of the lid, and receiving and processing the signal read by the parcel detecting sensor by the at least one control unit.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterised in that the parcel detecting sensor is a security camera arranged on the internal side of the lid, and following opening of the locking device and, optionally after closing the lid, capturing an image of the internal space with the security camera.

17. The method according to claims 15 or 16, characterised by providing the at least one control unit with a communication unit adapted for data transmission, preferably a WIFI module and/or a GSM module, and transmitting the signal read by the parcel detecting sensor by the communication unit after processing.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterised by generating a lid opening code and storing the lid opening code in the at least one control unit, and when processing the signal read by the code reading sensor with the at least one control unit, comparing the processed signal with the lid opening code, and opening the locking device with the at least one control unit in case of correspondence.