JP2010286879A - Service device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To constitute a system for reliably presenting an electronic album as well as a recording medium, when the electronic album is ordered. <P>SOLUTION: The service device C is constituted to deliver a recording medium P corresponding to identification information, from a discharge unit, when acquiring the identification information. The service device C stores the recording medium P corresponding to the identification information, when acquiring the identification information from a receipt R in the service device C, discharges the recording medium P when the order corresponding to the identification information includes information on a request for preparing the electronic album, and starts writing an image data into a medium M in an album preparing unit F, to be delivered to a slot 102 when finishing the writing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a storage unit having a plurality of storage spaces in which a recording medium is stored, a discharge unit for sending out a recording medium of a specified order from the storage space, and acquiring identification information for specifying the order. The present invention relates to a delivery apparatus including a control unit that controls a discharge unit to discharge a recording medium corresponding to identification information from the accommodation space.

  As a delivery device configured as described above, in Patent Document 1, DP bags containing recording media are stored in a plurality of racks of a storage unit, and specific information for specifying a customer is acquired by a fixed reader. In the case, a configuration is described in which the corresponding DP bag is pushed out from the housing portion to the outside of the housing.

  In Patent Document 1, when receiving an order, specific information including a barcode is printed and a voucher is handed over to a customer. The image data of the order is printed on a recording medium and stored in a DP bag. Bar code information associated with the order is attached to the DP bag. When the DP bag is stored in the storage unit, the barcode information and the rack position are stored in association with each other. A fixed reader is provided on the front of the apparatus, and when the barcode of the customer's exchange certificate is read with the fixed reader, the position of the rack in which the DP bag of the corresponding order is accommodated is specified, and the DP bag is the apparatus. Sent from the front. As a result, the operator does not need to be present when the print medium on which the order image data is printed is delivered to the customer.

JP 2008-210002 A

  As described above, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a favorable aspect that an operator does not need to be present even when a print medium on which order image data is printed is delivered to a customer.

  With the widespread use of digital cameras, there are many requests for creating electronic albums by writing image data to a medium such as a CD-R in addition to a request for printing image data on a recording medium as processing at a DP store. When there is a request to create an electronic album together with the printing of image data, the delivery device described in Patent Document 1 uses the recording medium on which the image data is printed together with the electronic album created on a CD-R or the like as a DP bag. It is necessary to fit in. The electronic album is set on a personal computer in a general home so that the image data written on the medium is displayed on a display and can be viewed. The image data is often written in a general JPEG format, and a viewer for displaying the image data as a slide show on a personal computer is often written together.

  However, at the DP store, the operator creates an electronic album by human work, which is time-consuming, and when an electronic album is created, the work of collating DP bags and the like to store the electronic album There was room for improvement.

  In the case where the image data of the order is printed on the recording medium and then stored in the DP bag or the like and then stored in the storage space like the one shown in Patent Document 1, this storage work requires time and effort. To do. In view of this, a configuration has been proposed in which a delivery device is provided with a printer, and a recording medium on which image data is printed by the printer is automatically sent to the accommodation space. In the case where the printer is provided as described above, it is ideal that the recording medium on which the image data is printed is accommodated in the bags. However, the recording medium may be accommodated in the accommodating unit in units of orders without being accommodated in the bags. .

  In order to cope with an order that requires creation of an electronic album in the proposed delivery device, a configuration in which an electronic album creation unit is provided inside the device and the created electronic album is inserted into the accommodation space described above is also considered. However, a device having a configuration for inserting the electronic album into the accommodation space requires a mechanism for realizing the insertion, and the complexity of the structure is unavoidable and the feasibility is low.

  An object of the present invention is to configure an apparatus that can reliably deliver an electronic album when a recording medium is delivered, even if the order requires an electronic album.

A feature of the present invention is that a storage unit having a plurality of storage spaces in which a recording medium is stored, a discharge unit that sends out a recording medium of a specified order from the storage space, and identification information for specifying the order are acquired. And a control unit that controls the discharge unit to discharge the recording medium corresponding to the identification information from the storage space,
There is an album creation unit that creates electronic albums by writing image data to media and allows them to be received by customers,
When the identification information is acquired, a recording medium of an order corresponding to the identification information is accommodated in the accommodation unit, and information requesting creation of an electronic album is stored in the order corresponding to the identification information Is provided with album creating means for ejecting the recording medium from the storage unit by the ejecting unit and controlling the album creating unit to create an electronic album.

According to this configuration, when the identification information is acquired, the recording medium of the order corresponding to the identification information is accommodated in the accommodating unit, and information requesting creation of the electronic album is stored in the order corresponding to the identification information In this case, the control unit controls the discharge unit to discharge the recording medium corresponding to the identification information, and the album creating unit controls the album creating unit to create the electronic album.
As a result, even an order that requires an electronic album can be created at the time of delivery, rather than creating an electronic album in advance, so there is no need to provide a media storage location or media transport route. A delivery device that can reliably deliver an electronic album at the time of delivery of a recording medium has been configured.

The present invention includes a monitor for displaying information, and when the creation of an electronic album is started in the album creation unit by the control of the album creation means, information indicating that the electronic album is being created is displayed on the monitor. Information output means for displaying the information may be provided.
According to this, even if it takes time to complete the creation of the electronic album after the recording medium has been ejected, the customer can be aware that the electronic album has been created and receive the electronic album reliably. be able to.

The present invention includes a printer that prints image data on the recording medium, and an insertion unit that inserts the recording medium sent out from the printer into any of the plurality of housing spaces of the housing unit. Image data conversion means for converting image data to be printed into image data written on the medium may be provided.
According to this, for example, the image data acquired at the reception terminal can be converted by the image data conversion means of the delivery device without performing the process of converting the data to be written into the electronic album at the reception terminal. Can reduce the burden on the terminal and other devices.

It is a perspective view which shows the whole delivery system. It is a perspective view of a reception device. It is a perspective view of a delivery apparatus and an album creation unit. It is a vertical side view of a delivery apparatus. It is a vertical front view of a delivery apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an insertion unit. It is a perspective view which shows a knit with accommodation, a discharge unit, and the like. It is a block circuit diagram which shows the control structure of a reception system. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a system.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
〔overall structure〕
As shown in FIG. 1, a receiving apparatus A for receiving an order from a customer and a silver salt printer B for printing image data on a recording medium P made of silver salt type photographic paper are provided. Based on this, it is possible to print on a recording medium P (see FIGS. 3 to 5) made of non-photosensitive printing paper, accommodate the recording medium P, and deliver the accommodated recording medium P to the customer. The delivery system is configured to include a delivery device C, and an album creation unit F that writes and discharges image data on a disc-type medium M such as a CD-R.

  In this delivery system, a counter table D in which an operator of the system faces an order to receive an order and a delivery rack E are used together. The album creation unit F is effective in that the configuration provided inside the housing of the delivery device C can be delivered reliably. In this embodiment, the album creation unit F is shown adjacent to the delivery device C.

  In this delivery system, the receiving device A, the silver halide printer B, the delivery device C, and the album creating unit F are connected by a relay H and a communication cable L so that information can be transmitted to each other. It is assumed that communication is performed by a wired LAN technology using a communication cable L in order to transmit information, but an intranet technology or a wireless communication technology may be used.

  This delivery system is installed in relatively large DP stores, large electronics stores, etc., and the accepting device A has a customer set media such as a flash memory storing image data, prints, electronic albums, etc. It is possible to accept orders. The silver halide printer B has a function similar to what is conventionally called a minilab, and print processing based on information received by the receiving device A, print processing based on photographic film received from a customer, etc. Is possible. In this electronic album, image data and a viewer are written on a medium such as a CD-R or DVD-R, and the image data written on the medium is displayed by the viewer by being set on a personal computer in a general home. It is displayed on the screen to enable viewing.

  In particular, in this delivery system, the control form of the entire system is set so that the management information of the order in which the recording medium P is accommodated in the delivery device C is displayed on the work monitor 23 of the silver halide printer B. A management device such as a dedicated computer that acquires management information from each delivery device C and displays it on a monitor or the like may be provided.

  The delivery device C acquires the order data and the image data received by the receiving device A, and prints the image data on the recording medium P by the built-in printer Ca (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The process of accommodating the recording medium P in the accommodation space of the unit Cb can be automatically performed. Thereafter, the customer presents the exchange certificate R (see FIGS. 2 and 3) on which the identification information is printed. It is possible to automatically perform processing for sending out the corresponding order of the recording medium P and delivering it to the customer.

  In particular, even after the DP store is closed, or even when there are no personnel to manage, the customer is identified from the identification information printed on the exchange certificate R, and the recording medium P and electronic album of the customer's order are provided to the customer. You may install the delivery apparatus C and the album creation unit F in the part which faces the outer wall surface or passage of a store so that delivery can be performed.

[Reception device]
As shown in FIG. 2, the accepting device A is composed of an upper accepting terminal AU and a lower fee accepting terminal AD. The reception terminal AU obtains shooting data from the front surface of the main body 1 from a semiconductor type medium (not shown) composed of a flash memory such as a compact flash (trademark), an SD card (trademark), or a memory stick (trademark). A disk drive 3 for acquiring image data (photographed data) from a disk type medium (not shown) such as a floppy disk (trademark), MO, CD-R, etc. Is provided with an exchange certificate printer 4 for printing and discharging. The upper surface of the main body 1 is provided with a connector 5 that is connected to a camera-equipped mobile phone and realizes acquisition of image data (photographed data), and a liquid crystal display having a touch panel 6 formed on the display surface so as to display necessary data 7 is provided. In addition, the main body 1 includes an acceptance control unit 8 that processes received information and sends it out via the communication cable L.

  The fee receiving terminal AD includes a coin receiver 11 that receives coins from a coin insertion hole 11A at an upper position of the vertically long case 10, and a bill receiver 12 that receives banknotes from a bill insertion hole 12A. A change dispenser 13 for discharging change from the change discharge port 13A is provided at the position.

  In the reception device A, in the reception terminal AU, when the customer sets a medium in the semiconductor drive 2 or the disk drive 3 or the mobile phone is connected to the connector 5, the customer follows the guidance displayed on the display 7. By performing an operation of bringing a finger into contact with the touch panel 6, image data is acquired from a medium or a mobile phone, and order data necessary for print processing or the like is acquired.

  Processing in which information necessary for print processing is confirmed in the accepting apparatus A is referred to as an order. In this delivery system, a customer pays a fee required for processing at the fee receiving terminal AD when the order is acquired. As a result, the delivery system acquires order information (including order data and image data), and proceeds to print processing.

[Silver printer]
As shown in FIG. 1, the silver halide printer B includes a housing 20 having a dark box structure, a film scanner 22 on the upper surface of the console 21 at the end of the housing 20, a work monitor 23 for displaying information, and a drive unit 24. And a main control unit 26 for performing processing necessary for printing.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the housing 20 includes an exposure unit that exposes the recording medium P made of photographic paper, a phenomenon processing unit that performs development processing of the recording medium P after exposure, and recording after development processing. A drying unit for drying the medium P. The outside of the housing 20 is provided with a conveying belt 27 to which the recording medium P after drying is sent out, and a sorter 28 for sorting the recording medium P from the conveying belt 27 in order units.

  The silver halide printer B performs the printing process inside the housing 20 by the operator's operation based on the image data and the order data transmitted from the receiving device A, and the drive unit 24 performs the CD-R. It is also possible to create an electronic album that records image data on a medium such as The printed recording medium P or the like is inserted into a DP bag or the like with identification information and stored in a handing rack E.

  In particular, the main control unit 26 also functions as a computer for managing the delivery system. In the main control unit 26, the order in which the recording medium P is accommodated in the delivery device C and the recording stored in the delivery rack E. It also has a function of managing the order of the medium P. In this delivery system, a processing device such as a dedicated computer may be provided to manage these orders.

[Delivery device]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the delivery device C includes a housing having a main body portion 30 and a door portion 31 that is supported on a front surface of the main body portion 30 through a hinge so as to be opened and closed. . A monitor 33 is provided in the upper part of the front surface of the door portion 31, and four discharge ports 34 for discharging the recording medium P are formed at a lower position of the monitor 33, and a bar code for reading the identification information from the exchange certificate R on the lower side. A reader 35 and a speaker 36 are provided. The exchange certificate R may be one in which identification information is recorded magnetically. In this case, a magnetic reader for reading the identification information is provided.

  A printer Ca is provided in the lower part of the main body 30 (housing), and two housing units Cb are supported on the upper part of the main body 30 so as to be movable up and down. The main body 30 is provided with a transport unit Cd for sending the recording medium P on which the image data is printed by the printer Ca upward, and the recording medium P sent from the transport unit Cd is sent upward to receive the storage unit Cb. The insertion unit Ce is inserted into the storage space S. Furthermore, four discharge units Cf for discharging four recording media P in the storage space S of the storage unit Cb from the discharge ports 34 are provided at the upper position inside the main body 30. The four outlets 34 are provided with shutter units 37 that open and close.

  Inside the main body 30 (inside the main body), two stockers Cg that receive the recording medium P sent from the transport unit Cd in a stacked state, and a slide plate that supports the two stockers Cg so as to be movable in the left-right direction. 38. By arranging one of the two stockers Cg at a position where the recording medium P is sent out from the transport unit Cd by adjusting the position of the slide plate 38, the recording medium P can be accommodated in a state of being stacked on the arranged stocker Cg. Yes. A control unit Ch having a microprocessor for controlling them is provided in the upper part inside the housing.

[Delivery device: printer]
The printer Ca includes a roll-shaped recording medium P made of recording paper at two locations inside a printer main body 41 having a caster 40 at the lower end, and a plurality of pressure rollers 42 that convey these recording media P are arranged. The transport path is formed. A print head 43 that ejects ink while reciprocating in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium P is disposed above the print position of the conveyance path, and a negative pressure is applied to the recording medium P below the print position. A suction mechanism 44 is disposed along the flat reference surface. A cutter 45 that cuts the recording medium P on which the image data is printed by the print head 43 into a print size is provided in the transport path, and a cut piece generated by the cutting by the cutter 45 is collected below the cutter 45. And a print control unit 47 for controlling them.

  In this printer Ca, the print control unit 47 controls the pressure roller 42, the print head 43, the cutter 45, etc. based on the image data and the order data transmitted from the receiving device A, and prints the image data on the recording medium P. In addition, the control to cut and send to the print size is realized. The printer Ca is provided with a plurality of position sensors (not shown) for detecting the position of the recording medium P during control, and detection signals from these position sensors are input to the print control unit 47.

  Further, since the printer Ca is provided with the caster 40 at the lower end as described above, the printer Ca can be pulled forward by opening the door portion 31 of the housing. In addition to this, it is possible to collect the cut pieces of the trash box 46. The printer Ca can cope with a plurality of print sizes having different widths by selecting the width of the recording medium set in two places. Although not shown in the drawing, when the printer Ca is pulled out and returned to the original position, the reference portion of the printer Ca contacts the guide portion (not shown) of the delivery device C. Thus, the relative positional relationship between the printer Ca and the main body 30 is determined, and the unloading position of the recording medium P in the printer Ca and the transport start end position of the transport unit Cd are the optimal positional relationship for transporting the recording medium P. .

  The printer Ca is not limited to the ink jet type, and a sublimation type printer, a thermal transfer type printer, an electrostatic printer, or the like can be used.

[Delivery device: accommodation unit]
The accommodation unit Cb includes the outer wall 50 and a plurality of support plates 51 arranged in a horizontal shape in a shelf shape, thereby dividing the space of the accommodation unit Cb to form a plurality of accommodation spaces S. Further, the two accommodation units Cb are arranged in parallel on the left and right, and each of them is provided with two rows of support plates 51. As a result, there are a large number of storage units Cb in the vertical direction, and four rows of storage spaces are arranged in the horizontal direction. Note that the vertical spacing of the support plates 51 in two of the four rows is set to a standard spacing, and the number of recording media P that can be stored is set by setting the other two rows to a spacing larger than the standard. There are many.

  In these two accommodating units Cb, when the one of the two accommodation units Cb is raised by the vertical position adjusting mechanism 52, an elevation form is adopted in which the other is lowered. The vertical position adjusting mechanism 52 includes an endless chain 52C wound around a sprocket provided on the upper and lower rotating shafts 52S, and a position adjusting motor 52M that drives the rotating shaft 52S. In particular, by adopting an operation mode in which one of the two storage units Cb is raised and the other is lowered, the phenomenon that the position of the center of gravity is increased is avoided and the weight balance is maintained well.

  The height of the accommodation space S as the accommodation target is set to the insertion height by the insertion unit Ce by the vertical position adjusting mechanism 52, or the height of the accommodation space S as the ejection target is set to the discharge height by the discharge unit Cf. It becomes possible to set. This height is detected by a sensor (not shown).

[Delivery device: transport unit]
The transport unit Cd includes a drive roller 56 and a driven roller 57 that press the recording medium P sent from the printer Ca, and a plurality of press-type transport rollers 58 that press and transport the recording medium P inside the transport case 55. I have.

  In the transport unit Cd, the recording medium P sent out from the printer Ca is transported by being compressed by the driving roller 56 and the driven roller 57, and the rear end of the recording medium P is bonded by the driving roller 56 and the driven roller 57. When reaching the part, the rotation is stopped, and the rear end of the recording medium P is switched to an upward direction by rotating 90 degrees around the drive axis of the drive roller 56, and then the drive roller 56 is rotated in the reverse direction. As a result, the recording medium P is delivered to the conveying roller 58, and the conveying roller 58 conveys the recording medium P upward from the rear end side.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the transport unit Cd includes a motor that drives the drive roller 56 and the plurality of transport rollers 58 and includes a sensor that detects the position of the recording medium P. Further, as described above, the recording medium P is transported by being reversed at the portion of the driving roller 56, whereby the transport unit Cd unloads the recording medium P from the transport end position with the print surface facing upward.

[Delivery device: Insertion unit]
The insertion unit Ce includes a shift unit 60 that receives the recording medium P delivered from the transport unit Cd in a stacked state and lifts it upward, and four insertion units 80 that insert the lifted recording medium into the storage unit Cb. ing.

  The shift unit 60 includes a pair of vertically long vertical rails 61 provided on the left and right inner walls of the main body 30, a horizontal frame 62 that moves up and down with both ends guided by the pair of vertical rails 61, And an elevating drive mechanism 63 to be operated. The shift unit 60 further includes a left guide rail 64 provided on the upper surface of the horizontal frame 62 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, and a right guide rail 65 provided in a posture parallel to the left guide rail 65 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. The left operating mechanism 66 that operates the left guide rail 64 in the lateral direction and the right operating mechanism 67 that operates the right guide rail 65 in the lateral direction are provided. The shift unit 60 includes a position sensor (not shown) that detects the position of the horizontal frame 62, the position of the left guide rail 64, and the position of the right guide rail 65.

  The lifting drive mechanism 63 has a lifting motor 63M and an endless belt type lifting belt 63B driven by the lifting motor 63M. The left operating mechanism 66 includes a left operating motor 66M and an endless belt-type left belt 66B driven by the left operating motor 66M. The right operating mechanism 67 is a right operating motor similar to the left operating mechanism 66. 67M and an endless belt type right belt 67B driven by the right operation motor 67M.

  Further, the shift unit 60 has a plate-like fixed stopper 71 and a plate-like variable stopper arranged at a position facing the plate-like fixed stopper 71 so as to determine the position of the recording medium P received by the left guide rail 64 and the right guide rail 65. 72. In other words, the support frame 73 is provided on the upper surface of the slide plate 38, the fixed stopper 71 and the variable stopper 72 are supported on the support frame 73, and the position adjusting mechanism 74 for adjusting the position of the variable stopper 72 is provided.

  The fixed stopper 71 is fixed at a position that determines the upstream position of the recording medium P transported from the transport unit Cd. The variable stopper 72 corresponds to the size of the recording medium P and the recording medium P transported from the transport unit. The position is adjustable so as to determine the position on the downstream side. The position adjustment mechanism 74 includes a position adjustment motor 74M and an endless belt type position adjustment belt 74B driven by the position adjustment motor 74M.

  The insertion portion 80 includes four members having the same structure corresponding to the housing spaces S formed in four rows in total for the two housing units Cb. Each insertion portion 80 includes a pressing piece 81 that presses the recording medium P lifted upward by the shift portion 60, an insertion motor 83, and an endless belt type insertion belt 84 that is driven by the insertion motor 83. The pressing piece 81 is connected to the insertion belt 84.

  When the recording medium P is inserted into the accommodation space S by the insertion unit Ce, the fixed stopper 71 and the variable stopper 72 are arranged at a position where the recording medium P is unloaded from the transport unit Cd by the slide operation of the slide plate 38. Then, the distance between the fixed stopper 71 and the variable stopper 72 is set to a value corresponding to the length of the recording medium P (dimension in the transport direction) under the control of the position adjusting mechanism 74. Further, the distance between the left guide rail 64 and the right guide rail 65 is set to a value corresponding to the width of the recording medium P (dimension in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction) by the control of the left operation mechanism 66 and the right operation mechanism 67. Then, the left guide rail 64 and the right guide rail 65 are integrated with the horizontal frame 62 by driving of the elevating drive mechanism 63 so as to receive the recording medium P transported from the transport unit Cd.

  Thus, the position of the recording medium P sent out from the transport unit Cd in the length direction is regulated by the fixed stopper 71 and the variable stopper 72, and the position is regulated in the width direction by the left guide rail 64 and the right guide rail 65. The left guide rail 64 and the right guide rail 65 are stacked and received until the set number is reached. Thereafter, the left guide rail 64 and the right guide rail 65 are raised integrally with the horizontal frame 62 under the control of the elevating drive mechanism 63, and the left guide rail is controlled under the control of the left operating mechanism 66 and the right operating mechanism 67 during this ascent. 64 and the right guide rail 65 are moved in the horizontal direction to the row where the accommodation space S to be inserted is present.

  During the raising operation of the horizontal frame 62, the accommodation space S that is the insertion target of the accommodation unit Cb is set to a height at which the recording medium P can be inserted by the insertion portion 80 by the control of the vertical position adjustment mechanism 52. In this state, when the horizontal frame 62 reaches a height that can be inserted by the insertion portion 80, the pressing piece 81 is operated forward by the control of the insertion motor 83, and the stacked recording medium P is pressed by the pressing piece 81. It accommodates in the accommodation space S which is an insertion target.

[Delivery device: discharge unit]
The discharge units Cf are provided with four units having the same structure corresponding to the four rows of storage spaces S, and have a function of sending out the recording medium P of the specified order from the storage space S. Each discharge unit Cf is driven by a contact plate 90 that contacts the recording medium P stored in the storage space S, an arm body 91 connected to the contact plate 90, a discharge motor 93, and the discharge motor 93. An endless belt type discharge belt 94 is provided, and an arm body 91 is connected to the discharge belt 94.

  When the recording medium P is discharged by the discharge unit Cf, the storage unit Sb is moved up and down by the control of the vertical position adjusting mechanism 52, and the storage space S in which the recording medium P targeted for discharge is stored by the discharge unit Cf. Set to a level at which discharge is possible. In this state, by controlling the discharge motor 93 of the row in which the recording medium P targeted for discharge is controlled, the contact plate 90 is operated forward, and the recording medium P is sent out from the discharge port 34 by the contact plate 90. In this way, when the recording medium P is discharged, the corresponding shutter unit 37 is opened, and the recording medium P is discharged in such an amount that the customer can grasp and pull it out in the length direction.

  Four shutter units 37 are provided so as to open and close the four discharge ports 34. Although not shown in the drawing, each shutter unit 37 is opened and closed by an electric motor.

[Delivery device: Stocker]
The stocker Cg corresponds to a so-called “L size” or “E size”, which has a relatively high frequency of printing, and has a rectangular frame 96 opened upward. A bottom plate 97 spring-biased upward is provided. As described above, the two stockers Cg are supported by the slide plate 38, and the slide plate 38 is slid by the slide drive mechanism 98. The slide drive mechanism 98 includes a slide drive motor 98M and an endless belt type slide belt 98B that is operated by the drive force of the slide drive motor 98M.

  When the recording medium P is accommodated in the stocker Cg in a stacked form, the stocker Cg having a size corresponding to the recording medium P is located at a position where the recording medium P sent from the transport unit Cd is received by the slide operation of the slide plate 38. Place. As a result, the recording medium is accommodated in the stocker Cg in a stacked state, and the bottom plate 97 descends against the biasing force of the spring due to the weight of the recording medium P.

  In this delivery device C, it is possible to store more than several hundred recording media P with respect to the stocker Cg. When this storage is performed, the operator appropriately opens the door 31 and stores it in the stocker Cg. The recording medium P is artificially taken out and stored in a DP bag or the like and stored artificially in the above-described handing rack E. In particular, when the recording medium P is accommodated in the stocker Cg, it is possible to accommodate not only one order recording medium P but also a plurality of order recording media P. Thus, a plurality of order recording media P can be accommodated. Is stored on the recording medium P to add information to the end of the recording medium P so that the order can be specified in order to clarify the division of the order.

[Delivery device: Control unit]
As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit Ch forms an information access system for the monitor 33, the barcode reader 35, the speaker 36, and the shutter unit 37, as well as the printer Ca, the housing unit Cb, the transport unit Cd, and the insertion unit. An access system for control information for Ce and discharge unit Cf is formed. The control unit Ch is controlled by a program set in the control management unit 110. The control management unit 110 includes a print management unit 111, a storage management unit 112, a discharge management unit 113, An order management unit 114, an information output unit 115, and an image data conversion unit 116 are provided.

  The print management unit 111 manages printing of image data by the printer Ca. The accommodation management means 112 manages the raising / lowering operation of the accommodation unit Cb. The discharge management unit 113 manages the discharge of the recording medium P by the discharge unit Cf. The order management unit 114 manages the recording medium P accommodated in the delivery device C for each order. The information output means 115 outputs information to the monitor 33 and the speaker 36. The image data conversion unit 116 generates image data to be recorded on the medium M from the image data for printing.

  The print management unit 111, the storage management unit 112, the discharge management unit 113, the order management unit 114, the information output unit 115, and the image data conversion unit 116 are configured by a program (software). These may be constituted by hardware other than software, or may be constituted by a combination of software and hardware.

[Album creation unit]
As shown in FIG. 3, the album creating unit F includes a monitor 101 in the upper part of the front surface of the case 100, forms an outlet 102 in the center of the front surface of the case 100, and a media supply unit 103 in the case 100. A media drive 104 and a unit controller 105.

  This album creating unit F writes a plurality of image data and a viewer for displaying the image data on a personal computer in a general home on a CD-R or DVD-RAM medium M, etc., and discharges it to the outlet 102. It has a function. When creating an electronic album, one of a large number of media M stored in the media supply unit 103 is supplied to the media drive 104, and the image data specified in the order and the viewer are written. The medium M is taken out to the outlet 102.

  In this album creating unit F, the size of the image data to be written on the medium M is preset, and this unit data is acquired from the delivery device C by the unit controller 105 via the communication cable L, and this unit controller 105 Controls the media drive 104 to realize writing to the media M.

[Overview of control configuration]
As a control configuration of this system, the control unit Ch of the delivery device C can access information to the reception device A, the silver halide printer B, and the album creation unit F via the relay device H and the communication cable L, respectively. A monitor 33, a barcode reader 35, a speaker 36, and a shutter unit 37 are connected to the control unit Ch, and a printer Ca, a storage unit Cb, a transport unit Cd, an insertion unit Ce, and a discharge unit Cf are connected to the control unit Ch. Connected to be controllable.

  In the album creating unit F, the monitor 101, the media supply unit 103, and the media drive 104 are connected to the unit control unit 105 in a controllable manner.

[Delivery processing procedure]
A flowchart of FIG. 9 shows an outline of a processing flow when a recording medium P is created using the system configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 and the recording medium P is delivered to a customer.
That is, the reception process is executed when the customer sets the medium on which the image data is recorded on the reception terminal AU of the reception apparatus A and places an order (step # 101).

  More specifically, when an order is started by an operation in which a customer touches icons displayed on the display 7 with the finger or the like in the accepting apparatus A, the accepting control unit 8 assigns an order number and is necessary for print processing. Order data such as the print size and the number of prints is acquired, and image data corresponding to the order data is acquired.

  When these data are acquired, the size is a size that can be automatically processed in the delivery device C. If the data can be accommodated in the delivery device C, the process proceeds to the processing in the delivery device C, and any one of these processes is performed. If it is impossible, the processing at the silver halide printer B is set (steps # 102 to # 104).

  In this process, whether or not it can be accommodated in the delivery device C is determined by communicating between the acceptance control unit 8 of the acceptance device A and the control unit Ch of each of the plurality of delivery devices C to determine the print size. A determination is made from the order data including the number of prints based on the availability of the accommodation space S of the accommodation unit Cb and the accommodation status in the stocker Cg. As described above, the availability of the accommodation space S and the accommodation status of the stocker Cg are determined based on the information from the order management means 114 of the control unit Ch.

  Next, when the fee is received at the reception device A, the reception control unit 8 generates identification information, and the identification information, the receipt amount, the finishing date and time, and whether or not the delivery device C can deliver the fee. Is issued (printed) by the exchange certificate printer 4 to the exchange certificate R. The identification information is printed as a bar code, the receipt amount and the finish date and time are printed as characters, and the acceptance process ends (step # 105).

  Incidentally, the recording medium P having a size called a service size such as L size or E size is basically delivered by the delivery device C. However, if the number of the recording media P is large, the stocker Cg is transferred to the stocker Cg in a stocker mode to be described later. Since it is accommodated, the counter table D is delivered facing the operator. In addition, since a large-sized print is also delivered to the operator in a face-to-face manner, information on whether or not delivery by the delivery device C is possible is printed on the exchange certificate R.

  If processing can be performed by the delivery device C, processing by the delivery device C is performed (step # 106). As a process in this step, printing is performed by the printer Ca of the delivery device C, and is conveyed by the conveyance unit Cd. The recording medium P thus conveyed is inserted into the accommodation space S of the accommodation unit Cb by the insertion unit Ce. Accommodate. These processes are realized by the above-described print management unit 111 and the accommodation management unit 112 based on information from the order management unit 114.

  When the order received by the receiving apparatus A includes a request for creating an electronic album, the image data conversion unit 116 generates image data to be printed on the recording medium P based on information from the order management unit 114. The image data is converted into an optimum size (optimum data amount) for writing in the electronic album, and the order identification information is added to the converted image data and transmitted to the album creating unit F.

  When the identification information of the exchange certificate R is acquired by the barcode reader 35 of the delivery device C, the order management unit 114 determines whether or not the corresponding recording medium P is accommodated (steps # 107 and # 108). . If it is stored, the order management means 114 of the control unit Ch transmits the album creation request information to the album creation unit F only when there is a request for creation of the electronic album, and this request information is transmitted to the album creation unit F. The received album creating unit F starts the process of writing the already transmitted image data into the medium M (steps # 109 and # 110).

  Further, in the delivery device C, when the discharge management means 113 discharges the recording medium P of the order corresponding to the identification information from the accommodation space S and an electronic album is created, this indicates that the electronic album is being created. The message is displayed on the monitor 33 and output from the speaker 36 by voice (step # 111).

  In particular, in the album creation unit F, when writing of image data to the medium M is started, identification information for identifying the order and a message indicating that an electronic album is being created are displayed on the monitor 101. To do. Since the process of writing the image data to the medium M requires about several minutes, the monitor 101 displays the time until the completion of writing in numbers, and the time until the completion is displayed in a bar graph. To display.

  Further, when the recording medium P corresponding to the acquired identification information is not accommodated in the delivery device C, the order management means 114 searches for the location of the recording medium P corresponding to the identification information and sends it to the handing rack E. When it is determined that the information is present, information indicating that the operator needs to respond is displayed on the monitor 33 and this information is output from the speaker 36 by voice. (Steps # 112 to # 113).

  Orders stored in the delivery rack E are orders with a large number of prints or orders that are printed with the silver halide printer B because of the large size that cannot be printed with the delivery device C. It is stored in the delivery rack E in a state of being inserted into a DP bag or the like.

[Processing at the delivery device]
In the delivery device C, one of the three modes of the insertion mode, the distribution mode, and the stocker mode is set based on the number of prints of the order acquired by the reception device A, and the recording medium is set in the set mode. P is printed and stored. Specifically, the insertion mode is set when the number of printed sheets is less than about 50 sheets, the distribution mode is set when the number exceeds about 150 sheets, and the stocker mode is set when the number exceeds about 150 sheets. Is set.

  In the insertion mode, control is performed to insert all the recording media P in one order into one accommodation space. Further, in the distribution mode, control is performed in which one order of the recording medium P is divided into a plurality of storage units that are less than the set number, and the storage units are distributed and stored in the plurality of storage spaces S. In this distribution mode, the number of accommodation units is set to be smaller than the number that can be accommodated in the accommodation space S, for example, less than 50. In the stocker mode, the recording medium P is accommodated while being stacked on the stocker Cg.

  In particular, in the insertion mode, image data is printed on the recording medium P in the printer Ca, cut into a long recording medium P print size, and sent out from the transport unit Cd. Further, a fixed stopper 71 and a variable stopper 72 are arranged at a position where the recording medium P is sent out, and the left guide rail is controlled by the elevating drive mechanism 63, the left operating mechanism 66, and the right operating mechanism 67. 64 and the right guide rail 65 are arranged, and the number of recording media P corresponding to one order is received in a stacked state. When the recording medium P is printed in this way, the accommodation space S that is the insertion target of the recording medium P is set to the insertion level of the insertion portion 80 by the control of the vertical position adjusting mechanism 52.

  Thereafter, the shift unit 60 moves up the left guide rail 64 and the right guide rail 65 integrally with the lateral frame 62 under the control of the elevating drive mechanism 63. And the left guide rail 64 and the right guide rail 65 are moved to the position of the accommodation space S as an insertion target and stopped. By controlling the insertion motor 83 of the insertion portion 80 in this state, the recording medium P for one order placed on the left guide rail 64 and the right guide rail 65 is accommodated in the accommodation space S that is the insertion target.

  In the distribution mode, a plurality of storage spaces S to be inserted are set, and one order recording medium P is divided into storage units less than the set number, and each storage unit is stored in a plurality of storage spaces S. The operation during the accommodation is basically the same as the operation in the insertion mode.

  In the stock mode, the position adjusting mechanism 74 controls the two stockers Cg corresponding to the print size at the position where the recording medium P is sent out from the transport unit Cd, and receives the recording medium P by the stocker Cg. It will be accommodated in a state where it is simply laminated.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the delivery device C, the operator inserts the recording medium P into the housing unit Cb from the printing of the recording medium P by the printer Ca without the operator performing a manual operation, or the housing unit. Control for distributing and storing the recording medium P in the plurality of storage spaces S of Cb or control for storing the recording medium P with respect to the stocker Cg can be performed, thereby reducing the amount of work for the operator.

  When the customer receives the recording medium P, the delivery device C specified by the specific information recorded on the exchange certificate R causes the barcode reader 35 to read the identification information of the exchange certificate R, thereby delivering the delivery device. The recording medium P can be received immediately from C. As described above, when the customer receives the recording medium P, if the order includes creation of an electronic album, creation of the electronic album is started in the album creation unit F, and the created electronic album is stored in the album creation unit F. Therefore, the customer can also receive an electronic album.

  Since the album creation unit F requires some time to write image data to the medium M, the exchange card R presented by the customer is read by the barcode reader 35 and the recording medium P is discharged from the delivery device C. In this case, a message prompting the user to receive the electronic album is displayed on the monitor 33, and the message is output from the speaker 36 by voice so that the electronic album can be received without forgetting.

  In this system, the process of delivering the recording medium P to the customer by the delivery device C is completed in a very short time. On the other hand, since it takes some time to complete the creation of the electronic album in the album creation unit F, this album creation unit F needs to complete the creation of the electronic album for the monitor 101. And the current status of creation, etc. are displayed so that customers do not forget.

  Although the delivery system of the present embodiment includes a single delivery device C, a plurality of delivery devices C may be provided. In this way, even when a plurality of delivery devices C are provided, it is possible to configure a system with a single album creation unit F. Further, the delivery system may be configured without the silver halide printer B. In this case, by providing the silver halide printer B and the ink jet printer in a form separated from the system, it is possible to print an order of a size that cannot be printed by the delivery device C by a printer independent of the system.

  Particularly in the present invention, as the delivery device C, a structure in which a recording medium P on which image data is printed is inserted into a DP bag or the like and the DP bag is artificially accommodated in the accommodation space, as described in Patent Document 1. You may apply to. Even in the delivery device C having such a configuration, the album creation unit F creates an electronic album when the recording medium P is delivered, thereby realizing control for reliably delivering the electronic album to the customer.

  The present invention can be configured and used so that image data is written in a medium made of a nonvolatile semiconductor such as a flash memory in an album creating unit.

33 Monitor 114 Order management means 115 Information output means 116 Image data conversion means F Album creation unit M Media P Recording medium S Storage space Ca Printer Cb Storage unit Ce Insertion unit Cf Discharge unit Ch Control unit

Claims (3)

A storage unit having a plurality of storage spaces in which a recording medium is stored, a discharge unit for sending out a recording medium of a specified order from the storage space, and controlling the discharge unit by acquiring identification information for specifying the order And a control unit that discharges the recording medium corresponding to the identification information from the accommodation space,
There is an album creation unit that creates electronic albums by writing image data to media and allows them to be received by customers,
When the identification information is acquired, a recording medium of an order corresponding to the identification information is accommodated in the accommodating unit, and information requesting creation of an electronic album is stored in the order corresponding to the identification information Is a delivery device comprising order management means for discharging the recording medium from the storage unit by the discharge unit and controlling the album creation unit to create an electronic album.   A monitor for displaying information, and when the creation of the electronic album is started in the album creation unit under the control of the order management means, information indicating that the electronic album is being created is displayed on the monitor The delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising output means.   An image to be printed on the recording medium, including: a printer that prints image data on the recording medium; and an insertion unit that inserts the recording medium sent from the printer into any of the plurality of housing spaces of the housing unit. 3. A delivery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image data conversion means for converting data into image data to be written on the medium.

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