JP4962799B2 - Delivery system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a delivery system for delivering an image print relating to an order received from a customer.

  With recent advances in photographic processing equipment, photographic processing equipment is becoming smaller and less expensive. For this reason, photo print stores install photo processing equipment called minilabs in their stores and process orders from customers in the minilabs, thereby shortening the time required to deliver photo prints to customers. In addition to improving convenience, the company aims to differentiate itself from other stores by creating highly unique print images.

  In addition, there are an increasing number of stores where reception devices capable of inputting photo print orders are installed in stores so that customers can input image data for photo prints and order information such as the number of photo prints. By using such a reception device, labor saving of the store is achieved.

  Furthermore, installation of a delivery machine is also progressing in order to omit the photo prints when delivering them to customers and to improve customer convenience. For example, the print system of Patent Document 1 includes an order receiving device that receives an order, a printing device that performs photo printing related to the order, and a delivery device that delivers photo prints. The receiving device relates to delivery when an order is confirmed. Information is displayed.

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, information regarding a photo print delivery method, a delivery device installation location, and the like is presented to a customer when an order is confirmed. Thereby, the customer can receive a photographic print without the help of the store clerk.

JP 2007-249827 (paragraph number 0006-0008, FIG. 6)

  In the delivery device of Patent Document 1, since the settlement is completed at the time of acceptance, the customer can receive a photographic print simply by inputting information necessary for delivery. Therefore, when multiple customers come to receive photo prints, information necessary for delivery is input continuously, and photo prints of multiple customers are continuously discharged from the delivery device. Mistakes can occur. In particular, the above-mentioned problem may occur when the device for inputting information necessary for delivery and the device to which photo prints are discharged are not integrated, or when multiple devices to which photo prints are discharged are installed. Becomes higher.

  In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a delivery system capable of preventing delivery mistakes even when delivering to a plurality of customers continuously.

  In order to solve the above problems, a delivery system according to the present invention is a delivery system for delivering an image print relating to an order received from a customer to the customer, the accommodation unit accommodating the image print for each order, and the order An order specifying information acquisition unit that acquires order specifying information that is information that can be specified, and a sending unit that sends the image print corresponding to the acquired order specifying information from the storage unit to a delivery port, The order specifying information acquisition unit stops acquiring the order specifying information until a predetermined time elapses after the sending unit sends the image print.

  In this configuration, when the customer inputs information that can specify the order of the image print to be received (hereinafter referred to as order specifying information) in order to receive the image print, the sending unit delivers the image print corresponding to the order specifying information. Sent to the mouth. At this time, the order specifying information acquisition unit stops acquiring the next order specifying information until a predetermined time elapses after the image print is sent by the sending unit. This restricts different customers from entering order specific information continuously at short time intervals, preventing image prints from being sent out continuously at short time intervals and preventing erroneous delivery of image prints. can do.

  The delivery system of the present invention is a delivery system that delivers an image print related to an order received from a customer to the customer, a storage unit that stores the image print for each order, and information that can specify the order. An order specifying information acquisition unit that acquires certain order specifying information, an order specifying information storage unit that stores the acquired order specifying information, and one order specifying information from the order specifying information storage unit are sequentially acquired, A sending unit that sends out the image print corresponding to the order specifying information from the storage unit, and when the order specifying information other than the one order specifying information is stored in the order specifying information storage unit, The sending unit acquires the next order specifying information from the order specifying information storage unit until a predetermined time has elapsed after sending the image print. To stop.

  In this configuration, since the order specification information acquired by the order specification information acquisition unit is temporarily stored in the order specification information storage unit, the customer continuously inputs the order specification information and requests delivery of image prints. Can do. On the other hand, the sending unit sequentially acquires one piece of order specifying information from the order specifying information storage unit, and sends out an image print corresponding to the order specifying information. At this time, even if order specifying information other than the order specifying information acquired in the order specifying information storage unit is stored, the sending unit does not specify the next order specifying until a predetermined time elapses after sending the image print. By canceling the acquisition of information, sending out image prints of other customers is stopped. As a result, it is possible to prevent image prints from being sent out continuously at short time intervals, and to prevent erroneous delivery of image prints. Note that it is preferable that the order of inputting the order specifying information is the same as the order of sending out the image prints, so that delivery mistakes can be prevented more accurately.

  In order to prevent erroneous delivery more accurately, it is desirable to send out the subsequent image print after the previous image print is received. Therefore, in one preferred embodiment of the delivery system of the present invention, the delivery port is provided with a delivery detection unit that detects completion of delivery of the image print, and the predetermined time is delivered by the delivery detection unit. This is the time until completion is detected.

  In this configuration, a time until the image print sent out by the sending unit is taken out from the delivery port, that is, the completion of delivery is set as a predetermined time by the delivery detection unit provided in the delivery port. .

  The detection that the image print has been taken out can be realized by determining whether or not a hand is inserted into the delivery port. Therefore, in one preferred embodiment of the delivery system of the present invention, the delivery detection unit includes hand detection means for detecting the customer's hand, and the delivery detection unit is detected by the hand by the hand detection means. The delivery completion is detected when the hand is no longer detected. In this configuration, it is possible to detect the removal of the image print by detecting the behavior of the hand with respect to the delivery port.

  It can also be detected that an image print has been taken out by determining whether there is an image print at the delivery port. Therefore, in one preferred embodiment of the delivery system of the present invention, the delivery detection unit includes an image print detection unit that detects that the image print is present at the delivery port, and the delivery detection unit includes the When the image print is no longer detected after the image print is sent out by the sending unit, the completion of delivery is detected. In this configuration, since the image print detection means detects whether or not there is an image print at the delivery port, it is possible to accurately detect the completion of taking out the image print.

  In addition, in a delivery system provided with a plurality of delivery ports, when image prints corresponding to one order specifying information are sent from a plurality of delivery ports, the timing at which the image prints are taken out from the delivery ports is shifted. There is a high possibility that an image print delivery error will occur.

  Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the delivery system of the present invention, when a plurality of delivery ports are provided and the image print corresponding to one order specifying information is sent from the plurality of delivery ports, The predetermined time is a time until the delivery detection unit of all the delivery ports to which the image print has been sent detects delivery completion.

  In this configuration, when image prints corresponding to one order specifying information are sent to a plurality of delivery ports, the time required to complete delivery at all delivery ports to which the image prints are sent is a predetermined time. , Can accurately prevent delivery mistakes.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a delivery system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
〔System configuration〕
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system in which the delivery system according to the present embodiment is connected to a reception print system (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as a reception / delivery system).

  The delivery system includes a delivery acceptance terminal F that accepts an image print delivery request from a customer, and a first delivery device E1, a second delivery device E2, and a third delivery device E3 that deliver the image print to the customer (particularly need to be distinguished). If not, it is generally referred to as a delivery device E).

  On the other hand, the reception print system includes a reception device A that receives orders from customers, a silver salt printer B that forms an image on an image forming medium P made of silver salt type photographic paper based on information from the reception device A, and prints the image. An inkjet printer C that prints image data on an image forming medium P made of recording paper and an envelope D that encloses the printed image forming medium P in a processing bag Q are configured.

  The reception terminal A, the silver halide printer B, the ink jet printer C, and the delivery device E are connected to each other via a communication network L. In this embodiment, the communication network L uses a wired LAN, but a wireless LAN or other communication technology may be used. In the present embodiment, the first delivery device E1 and the second delivery device E2 are connected to an inkjet printer C and an envelope D, and the envelope D is an inkjet printer enclosed in a processing bag Q as will be described later. It has a function of automatically loading the image forming medium P printed by C into the corresponding accommodation unit 46 of the delivery device E (an example of the accommodation unit in the present invention).

  On the other hand, the third delivery device E3 is not connected to the inkjet printer C and the envelope D, and the image forming medium P printed by the silver halide printer B is enclosed in the processing bag Q by an artificial operation, and the accommodation unit. 46 is configured to be loaded.

[Reception device]
As shown in FIG. 2, the accepting device A includes an upper accepting terminal AU and a lower fee accepting terminal AD. The reception terminal AU includes a semiconductor drive 2 for acquiring image data from various semiconductor recording media including a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, a disk drive 3 for acquiring image data from a disk-type recording medium such as a CD-R, and a reception The receipt certificate printer 4 that prints and discharges the certificate R (see FIG. 5), the connector 5 that is connected to a device such as a camera-equipped mobile phone, and obtains image data, and various displays and enables input from the customer A display 7 having a touch panel 6 formed on the display surface is provided. The main body 1 includes a reception control unit 8 (see FIG. 6) that performs various controls using a microprocessor as a core member.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the reception control unit 8 includes a reception unit 8A that performs an order reception process from a customer, an order specification information generation unit 8B that generates information that can specify the received order, and an image related to the order. A delivery device specifying information generating unit 8C that generates information (hereinafter referred to as delivery device specifying information) that can specify the delivery device E that delivers the processing bag Q enclosing the print, order specifying information, delivery device specifying information, and the like. And a receipt creation unit 8D for creating a receipt R on which information necessary for delivery is printed. In the present embodiment, the receiving unit 8A, the order specifying information generating unit 8B, the delivery device specifying information generating unit 8C, and the receipt creating unit 8D are configured by software, but may be configured by hardware or software. And hardware may cooperate.

  In the present embodiment, the order specifying information uses numbers assigned exclusively for each order, and the delivery device specifying information uses numbers assigned exclusively to each delivery device E. You may use.

  On the other hand, the fee receiving terminal AD is provided at an upper position of the vertically long case 10, and includes a coin receiver 11 having a coin insertion hole 11A for receiving coins, and a banknote receiver having a bill insertion hole 12A for receiving banknotes. 12 and a change dispenser 13 provided at a lower position of the case 10 and provided with a change discharge port 13A for discharging change.

[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 for acquiring image data from a film on an upper surface of a console 21 at an end of the housing 20, and a display 23 for displaying various information. A disk drive 24, a keyboard 25, a microprocessor are used as core members, and a main control unit 26 (see FIG. 6) for performing various processes necessary for image printing is provided.

  Further, inside the housing 20, an exposure unit (not shown) for exposing the image forming medium P made of photographic paper, a developing unit (not shown) for developing the image forming medium P after exposure, and A drying unit (not shown) for drying the image forming medium P after the development processing is provided. On the other hand, outside the housing 20 are provided a transport belt 27 that transports the image forming medium P after drying, and a sorter 28 that sorts the image forming medium P transported by the transport belt 27 in units of orders.

[Inkjet printer]
As shown in FIG. 3, the inkjet printer C is formed with a conveyance path in which a plurality of pressure rollers 31 are arranged so as to convey an image forming medium P made of recording paper wound up in a roll shape. An image is formed by the printer head 32 and the printer head 32 that discharge ink while reciprocating in the direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) with respect to the image forming medium P conveyed along A cutter 33 that cuts the image forming medium P into a print size and a print control unit 34 (see FIG. 6) that controls the operation of the microprocessor as a core member are provided.

[Envelope]
As shown in FIG. 3, the developer D stacks and temporarily stores the image forming media P printed by the ink jet printer C, and encloses the stored image forming media P in the processing bag Q in units of orders. The processing bag Q in which the image forming medium P is enclosed by the enclosing unit 36 is placed, lifted to the insertion height, and moved in the horizontal direction to be set at the insertion position, and placed at the shift mechanism 37 at the insertion position. A pusher 38 for inserting the processing bag Q placed in the delivery device E, and a sealing control unit 39 (see FIG. 6) for controlling the operation of the microprocessor as a core member.

  In the enveloper D, the enclosure control unit 39 inserts the image forming medium P continuously sent from the ink jet printer C into the processing bag Q of a predetermined size in order units, and closes the insertion port of the processing bag Q to thereby form the image forming medium. P is sealed, and control is performed for insertion into the accommodation space S of the delivery device E.

  In the present embodiment, the developer D is configured to enclose the image forming medium P in the processing bag Q. However, instead of the processing bag Q, the envelope D is sealed in a box-shaped container, or an image without using the processing bag is used. It can also be set as the structure packaged by winding a resin sheet around the formation medium P. FIG.

[Delivery acceptance device]
As shown in FIG. 1, the delivery acceptance device F includes a touch panel 51 that enables input from a customer or the like on a display screen, a display 52 that displays various information, and a barcode reader 53 that reads order specifying information from a receipt R. The speaker 54 and the microprocessor are the core members, and a delivery acceptance control unit 55 (see FIG. 8) for controlling these operations is provided. The order specifying information read by the bar code reader 53 is transmitted to the delivery device E, and the processing bag Q enclosing the image print corresponding to the order specifying information is sent out and delivered to the customer. The touch panel 51 is installed on the surface of the display 52.
[Delivery device]
As shown in FIG. 1, the delivery device E includes a touch panel 42 that enables input from a customer or the like on a display screen, a display 43 that displays various information to the customer, and a speaker 45 that emits a message or warning sound to the customer. Is provided. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, a delivery port 44 for delivering the image forming medium P enclosed in the processing bag Q to the customer is formed in the lower part of the housing 41, and An inlet 41H for receiving the processing bag Q sent from the enveloper D is formed. The touch panel 42 is installed on the surface of the display 43.

  Inside the housing 41 are provided two storage units 46 that move up and down, and an electric lift motor 46M that lifts and lowers the storage unit 46. At the rear of the housing 41, there is a feed plate 47 that feeds out the processing bag Q accommodated in the accommodation space S of the accommodation unit 46, and an electric type that drives the withdrawal plate 47 (an example of the delivery portion in the present invention) to be moved back and forth. An exit / retreat motor 47M is provided. Inside the housing 41, a delivery control unit 48 configured by a microprocessor and controlling these operations is provided.

  The accommodation unit 46 includes a plurality of support plates 46 </ b> A so as to partition the inside of the accommodation unit 46 and is configured as a rack in which a plurality of accommodation spaces S are formed. The two storage units 46 are arranged in parallel on the left and right, one of which is provided with two rows of support plates 46A and the other of which is provided with a row of support plates 46A.

  The housing unit 46 moves up and down along a guide rail (not shown) when the driving force from the lifting motor 46M is transmitted through the chain. Further, at the time of raising and lowering, the two housing units 46 are configured to move up and down in directions opposite to each other, thereby balancing the weight balance.

  Moreover, the raising / lowering position of the accommodation unit 46 is acquired by a sensor (not shown), and the delivery control unit 48 is in a positional relationship between each accommodation space S and the delivery plate 47 and between each accommodation space S and the introduction port 41H. It is the composition which can grasp. Furthermore, the delivery control unit 48 also manages the relationship between the storage space S, the processing bag Q stored therein, and the order specifying information.

  With this configuration, when receiving the processing bag Q enclosing the image forming medium P from the developer D, the storage space S in which the processing bag Q is not stored is moved up and down to the position of the introduction port 41H. The accommodation space S in which the processing bag Q to be delivered is accommodated can be moved up and down to the position of the delivery plate 47.

[Reception, printing process]
Next, the flow of reception and printing processing in this embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  When the customer inserts a semiconductor recording medium, a disk-type recording medium or a mobile phone on which image data to be printed is inserted into the semiconductor drive 2 or the disk drive 3 of the receiving terminal AU or is connected to the connector 5, the receiving unit 8A The recorded image data is acquired, and a thumbnail image of the acquired image data is displayed on the display 7. At this time, if the image data is in a format that includes a thumbnail image such as an EXIF (EXchangeable Image File) format, the receiving unit 8A uses the thumbnail image and includes a thumbnail image such as a RAW format. If the format is not, a thumbnail image is generated from the image data.

  While viewing the displayed thumbnail image, the customer selects an image to be printed via the touch panel 6 and inputs order information such as the number of prints. The input order information is acquired by the receiving unit 8A (# 01).

  The reception control unit 8 holds a basic charge (hereinafter referred to as a charge table) necessary for image print size, image print unit price for each type of image forming medium P to be used, album print, and the like. Is acquired based on the charge table, the charge required for the print processing of the acquired order information is calculated, and the charge is displayed on the display 7. When the customer performs a fee payment process for the displayed fee from the fee receiving terminal AD (# 02), the order specifying information generating unit 8B generates the order specifying information of the accepted order (# 03). Further, the delivery device specifying information generation unit 8C, based on the print size of the order information, the type of the image forming medium P, and the like, the delivery device specifying information of the delivery device E that accommodates the image forming medium P on which the image of this order is printed. Is generated (# 04). In the subsequent processing, the order specifying information and the delivery device specifying information are included in the order information.

  The receipt creation unit 8D creates a receipt image in which the order identification information, the reception device identification information, the scheduled date and time of completion, the contents of the order, the receipt amount, and the like are described. R (see FIG. 5) is created and discharged (# 05).

  Next, the reception control unit 8 determines whether or not the delivery device E specified by the delivery device specifying information includes the inkjet printer C, and when the delivery device E includes the inkjet printer C (# Yes branch of 06, in this embodiment, the first delivery device E1 or the second delivery device E2), with respect to the print control unit 34 of the inkjet printer C provided in the delivery device E specified from the reception control unit 8 Image data and order information are sent (# 07).

  In the ink jet printer C that has acquired the image data and the order information, the print control unit 34 controls each part of the ink jet printer C based on the order information, converts the image data into print data used for printing, and forms an image made of recording paper. An image is printed by forming an image on the medium P (# 08).

  The printed image forming medium P is sequentially sent to the developer D. Note that the print control unit 34 informs the enclosure control unit 39 that the order identification information and the start of image printing are started prior to the start of image printing related to one order when the image printing of the order is completed. Notify completion and order information.

  The enclosing control unit 39 of the enveloper D that has acquired the order information from the print control unit 34 obtains the image forming medium P sent from the acquisition of the image print start notification until the completion notification is acquired, as a processing bag. Enclose in Q (# 09). When the enclosure is completed, the enclosure control unit 39 notifies the delivery control unit 48 of the delivery apparatus E of the fact and the order information.

  The delivery control unit 48 that has received the notification that the enclosing process has been completed identifies the accommodation space S in which the processing bag Q is not loaded (# 10), the order identification information, the identified accommodation space S, the number of orders, delivery The number is stored in association with the number (# 11).

  Further, the delivery control unit 48 controls the elevating motor 46M so that the specified accommodation space S is positioned at the introduction port 41H. When the lifting / lowering operation is completed, the delivery control unit 48 notifies the enclosure control unit 39 to that effect and the position information of the accommodation space S, and the enclosure control unit 39 moves the shift mechanism 37 to the corresponding inlet 41H based on the position information. Then, the pusher 38 is operated to load the processing bag Q into the accommodation space S (# 12).

  On the other hand, when the delivery device E specified by the delivery device identification information does not include the inkjet printer C (No branch of # 06, the third delivery device E3 in the present embodiment), the reception control unit 8 to the main control unit 26, image data and order information are sent (# 13).

  The main control unit 26 that has acquired the image data and the order information controls each part of the silver halide printer B based on the order information, and forms an image on the image forming medium P made of photographic paper, thereby printing an image. (# 14). Also in the silver halide printer B, an image is printed on the image forming medium P after conversion from image data to print data, as in the printing process in the inkjet printer C.

  When the image printing is completed by the silver halide printer B, it is enclosed in the processing bag Q by human operation (# 15) and loaded into the accommodation space S of the third delivery device E3 (# 16). At this time, the operator operates the touch panel 42 and inputs the order specifying information of the processing bag Q to be loaded. Further, the delivery control unit 48 stores the storage space S in which the processing bag Q is loaded and the order specifying information in association with each other (# 17).

[First Embodiment]
Below, 1st Embodiment of the delivery system in this embodiment is described using figures. As described above, the delivery system in the present embodiment includes the delivery acceptance terminal F and the delivery device E. As shown in FIG. 8, the delivery acceptance apparatus F includes a delivery acceptance control unit 55 that performs various controls using a microprocessor as a core member. The delivery acceptance control unit 55 includes a delivery acceptance management unit 55A that manages whether or not a delivery acceptance operation by a customer can be performed, and an order specification information acquisition unit 55B that obtains order specification information read by the barcode reader 53. . In the present embodiment, the delivery acceptance management unit 55A and the order specification information acquisition unit 55B are configured by software, but may be configured by hardware, or may be configured such that software and hardware cooperate. .

  The delivery control unit 48 of the delivery device E is provided with a delivery detection unit 48A that detects that the processing bag Q delivered to the delivery port 44 has been delivered to the customer. In the present embodiment, the delivery detection unit 48A is configured by software, but may be configured by hardware, or may be configured such that software and hardware cooperate. In the present embodiment, the following method is used to detect that the processing bag Q has been delivered to the customer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other methods may be used.

[Delivery detection method 1]
In the first method of detecting that the processing bag Q has been delivered to the customer, as shown in FIG. 9, a hand detection sensor 61 for detecting the customer's hand is provided at the delivery port 44 of the delivery device E (the hand detection of the present invention). Examples of means) are provided. In the present embodiment, the hand detection sensor 61 includes an infrared light emitting unit 63A and an infrared light receiving unit 63B, and a signal from the infrared light receiving unit 63B is sent to the delivery detecting unit 48A. In addition, the hand detection sensor 61 is not limited to this, You may use another sensor. Further, it is desirable that the position of the hand detection sensor 61 is a position where the influence of the sent processing bag Q is small, for example, the side surface of the delivery port 44 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of delivery detection processing according to the first method. First, when the processing bag Q is sent to the delivery port 44 by the delivery process described later (# 21), it is detected whether or not the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 63A is received by the infrared light receiving unit 63B. When the part 48A determines, hand sensing is performed (# 22). At this time, when the customer inserts his / her hand into the delivery port 44, the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 63 </ b> A is blocked by his / her hand. (# 23). Hand sensing is continued as it is (# 24), and when the customer picks up the processing bag Q and hands out from the delivery port 44, the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 63A is received by the infrared light receiving unit 63B. At this time, the delivery detection unit 48A determines that the hand has been pulled out (# 25), and detects that the delivery has been completed (# 26).
[Delivery detection method 2]
In the second method of detecting that the processing bag Q has been delivered to the customer, as shown in FIG. 11, the image print detection sensor 62 (this book) detects the sent processing bag Q at the delivery port 44 of the delivery device E. An example of image print detecting means of the invention is provided. In the present embodiment, the image print detection sensor 62 includes an infrared light emitting unit 63A and an infrared light receiving unit 63B, and a signal from the infrared light receiving unit 63B is sent to the delivery detection unit 48A. The image print detection sensor 62 is not limited to this, and other sensors may be used. Further, it is desirable that the image print detection sensor 62 is disposed at a position where the sent processing bag Q can be accurately detected, for example, the bottom surface and ceiling surface of the delivery port 44 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of delivery detection processing according to the second method. First, when the processing bag Q is sent to the delivery port 44 by the delivery process described later (# 31), it is detected whether or not the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 63A is received by the infrared light receiving unit 63B. The processing bag Q is sensed by the determination of the part 48A (# 32). At this time, since the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 63A is blocked by the processing bag, the infrared light receiving unit 63B cannot receive the infrared light. When the customer takes out the processing bag Q from the delivery port 44, the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 63A is received by the infrared light receiving unit 63B. At this time, the delivery detection unit 48A determines that the processing bag Q has been taken out (# 33), and detects that delivery has been completed (# 34).
[Delivery processing]
Below, the flow of the delivery process in this embodiment is demonstrated using the flowchart of FIG.

  When the customer holds the barcode described on the receipt R over the barcode reader 53 of the delivery acceptance device F, the data acquired by the barcode reader 53 is acquired by the order specification information acquisition unit 55B as the order specification information. (# 41). As a result, an image print delivery request relating to the order of the order specifying information indicated by the barcode is accepted.

  The acquired order specifying information is sent from the order specifying information acquiring unit 55B to the delivery control unit 48, and the delivery control unit 48 specifies the accommodation space S associated with the acquired order specifying information (# 42). Further, the delivery control unit 48 controls the lift motor 46M to move the specified accommodation space S to the position of the delivery plate 47 (# 43), and controls the exit / retreat motor 47M to drive the delivery plate 47. Thus, the processing bag Q accommodated in the accommodation space S is sent out (# 44).

  When the processing bag Q is sent out, the delivery control unit 48 notifies the delivery acceptance management unit 55A to that effect. At this time, the delivery acceptance management unit 55A causes the order specifying information acquisition unit 55B to stop acquiring the next order specifying information (# 45). At this time, it is preferable to display on the display 52 a message indicating that the delivery acceptance process has been stopped.

  When the customer takes out the processing bag of the delivery port 44, the delivery detection unit 48A detects delivery completion by the method described above (Yes branch of # 46), and notifies the delivery acceptance management unit 55A to that effect. Upon receipt of the delivery completion notification (# 47), the delivery detection unit 48A resumes obtaining the order specifying information (# 48). At this time, it is preferable to display a message on the display 52 indicating that the order specifying information can be input (delivery acceptance).

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of the delivery system in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the delivery acceptance device F receives the order specification information stored in the order specification information storage unit 55C and the order specification information storage unit 55C that temporarily stores the order specification information acquired by the order specification information acquisition unit 55B. It differs from the first embodiment in that an order specifying information management unit 55D to be managed is provided, and the delivery device E acquires order specifying information via the order specifying information management unit 55D. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same function part, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the order specifying information management unit 55D is configured by software, but may be configured by hardware, or may be configured such that software and hardware cooperate. The order specifying information storage unit 55C is configured by a semiconductor memory or the like. Note that it is desirable that the order of obtaining the order specification information and the order of the order specification information corresponding to the image print to be sent are the same, because delivery errors are reduced. Therefore, in this embodiment, the order specification information management unit 55D manages the order specification information with the order specification information storage unit 55C as a FIFO (First In First Out) type data structure.

  Next, the processing flow of this embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. First, when the customer holds the barcode of the receipt R over the barcode reader 53, the order specifying information is acquired by the order specifying information acquiring unit 55B (# 51). The acquired order specifying information is stored in the order specifying information storage unit 55C via the order specifying information management unit 55D (# 52).

  In the present embodiment, the acquisition and storage of the order specifying information is performed regardless of the image print delivery operation. Therefore, the processes of # 51 and # 52 are repeated independently of the process of the delivery device E.

If the delivery device E is ready to send an image print (Yes branch of # 53), the order specification information management unit 55D acquires one order specification information from the order specification information storage unit 55C and sends it to the delivery control unit 48. The order specifying information is deleted from the order specifying information storage unit 55C, and a flag (hereinafter referred to as a flag) indicating whether or not the delivery device E can send an image print is set to false (# 54). ).

  In the present embodiment, the delivery device E being in an image print ready state is a state in which no image print has been sent since the system was started, or a state in which delivery of the sent image print has been completed. Further, the order specifying information management unit 55D manages whether or not the delivery device E is ready to send an image print. Specifically, when the system is activated, a flag indicating that the delivery device E can send image prints is set to true, and when the order specifying information is transmitted to the delivery device E, the flag is set to false. Further, when the delivery completion notification is received by the delivery detection unit 48A, the flag is set to true.

  On the other hand, when the delivery device E is not ready to send an image print, that is, when the flag is false (No branch of # 53), it waits until the flag becomes true.

  In the delivery device E that has acquired the order specifying information, the storage space S in which the processing bag Q in which the image print corresponding to the order specifying information is enclosed is stored, as in the processes of # 42 to # 44 of the first embodiment. Is specified, and the processing bag Q accommodated in the accommodation space S is sent out (# 55 to # 57).

  Thereafter, when delivery completion is detected by the delivery detection unit 48A (Yes branch of # 58), this is notified to the order specifying information management unit 55D. Receiving the delivery completion notification (# 59), the order identification information managing unit 55D sets the flag to true (# 60). Thereafter, the above process is repeated.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the acquisition of the order specification information from the customer, that is, the acceptance of the delivery is sequentially performed. However, until the delivery of the image print corresponding to the previously received order identification information is completed, it is accepted later. The transmission of the image print corresponding to the order specifying information is stopped. Thereby, it is possible to prevent an image print delivery error.

  In the present embodiment, the order specifying information storage unit 55C and the order specifying information management unit 55D are provided in the delivery receiving device F, but may be provided in the delivery device E.

[Third Embodiment]
Below, 3rd Embodiment of the delivery apparatus by this invention is described. In the above-described embodiment, one processing bag Q corresponds to one order specifying information. However, in this embodiment, a plurality of processing bags Q correspond to one order specifying information. That is, when one piece of order specifying information is acquired in the delivery acceptance device F, a plurality of processing bags Q are sent out from the delivery device E. In this case, if there are a plurality of delivery devices E as in the above-described embodiment, the processing bag Q may be sent from different delivery devices E, and there is a high possibility that a delivery error will occur. In the present embodiment, processing for avoiding a delivery error in such a case is performed.

  The functional unit configuration of the delivery system in this embodiment is the same as that in the above-described embodiment, but the delivery completion detection process is different. In the above-described embodiment, it is determined that the image print has been delivered to the customer based on the delivery completion notification from one delivery device E. However, in this embodiment, the completion of delivery is determined by the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. is doing. That is, the processes of # 47 in FIG. 13 and # 59 in FIG. 15 are replaced with the processes in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the delivery acceptance control unit 55 is associated with the order specification information and the delivery device specification information, and is recorded in a magnetic recording device such as a hard disk or a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. When the customer causes the barcode reader 53 of the delivery acceptance device to read the order identification information, the delivery device identification information is retrieved using the order identification information as a key, and the order identification is made to the delivery device E corresponding to the retrieved delivery device identification information. Send information. As described above, when a plurality of delivery device specifying information is associated with one order specifying information, the order specifying information is transmitted to a plurality of delivery devices E.

  Each delivery device E that has acquired the order specifying information performs the above-described processes of # 42 to # 44, sends out the processing bag Q corresponding to the order specifying information, and the processing bag Q is sent to the customer by any of the methods described above. Determine that it has been delivered. Thereafter, the delivery acceptance control unit 55 performs the following processing.

  When the delivery acceptance control unit 55 receives a delivery completion notification from one delivery device E (# 71), it determines whether delivery completion notifications have been accepted from all delivery devices E that have transmitted the order identification information (#). 72). If there is a delivery device E that has not accepted the delivery completion notification (No branch at # 72), the delivery device E is on standby until a delivery completion notification is sent. On the other hand, when the delivery completion notification is received from the delivery device E that has transmitted the order identification information (Yes branch of # 72), it is determined that delivery of all delivery devices E is completed (# 73), and the next customer Can be delivered (# 48 or # 60).

  When processing bags Q are sent out from a plurality of delivery devices E, it is preferable to indicate on the display 52 of the delivery acceptance device F that there are a plurality of delivery devices E to be sent out, the positions of the delivery devices E, and the like. It is. Further, by issuing a message or a warning sound from the speaker 45 of the delivery device E to which the processing bag Q has been sent, it is possible to make the customer perceive the delivery device E to which the processing bag Q has been sent. In this case, when the processing bag Q is delivered, the sound from the speaker 45 is stopped.

  Furthermore, when the processing bag Q is delivered from one delivery device E, and there is another delivery device E to which the processing bag Q is sent, the display 43 of the delivery device E that delivered the processing bag Q is displayed. It is also desirable to display a message or the like indicating that there is a processing bag Q on other delivery devices E as well.

When the processing bag Q is sent out from a plurality of delivery devices E, it is possible to prevent the customer from forgetting to remove the processing bag Q by alerting the customer by the above-described processing.
[Another embodiment]
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the delivery system of the present invention is composed of the delivery acceptance device F and a plurality of delivery devices E provided with one delivery port 44, but is not limited thereto. As long as the object of the present invention is achieved, such as a configuration in which the function unit of the delivery acceptance terminal F is provided in the delivery device E and the delivery acceptance device F is not required, and each delivery device E is provided with a plurality of delivery ports 44. The configuration can be changed.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, the delivery detection unit 48A of the delivery device E detects the delivery of the processing bag Q enclosing the image print, thereby determining the predetermined time. The time determination method is not limited to this, and other methods may be used. For example, it is possible to set a predetermined time as a fixed time. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the delivery detection unit 48A, but the delivery device E or the delivery acceptance device F includes a timer, and the elapsed time since the processing bag Q is sent out or the order specifying information is acquired. Is counted by a timer, and when the elapsed time reaches a set fixed time, the reception of the order specifying information or the transmission processing of the next image print is started.

  (3) In addition to the above-described embodiment, if a password input is requested at the time of delivery, it is possible to further prevent delivery mistakes. In this case, when inputting information related to the order of image printing in the accepting apparatus A, the customer sets a password, and the set password is associated with the order specifying information and managed by the delivery control unit 48. . At the time of delivery, after the customer reads the order specification information and inputs the password via the touch panel 51 of the delivery acceptance device F or the touch panel provided in the delivery device E, an image print corresponding to the order specification information is transmitted. It becomes the composition to be.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the image print related to the order is delivered to the customer. However, the delivered product is not limited to the image print, and other products such as a CD-R on which the corrected image data is recorded. It doesn't matter.

The perspective view showing the whole structure of the acceptance delivery system in embodiment of this invention The perspective view of the reception apparatus in embodiment of this invention 1 is a cross-sectional view of an inkjet printer, an enveloper, and a delivery device in an embodiment of the present invention The perspective view showing the outline | summary of a structure of the delivery apparatus in embodiment of this invention. The figure showing the receipt in embodiment of this invention The functional block diagram showing the functional element of the reception printing system in embodiment of this invention The flowchart showing the flow of reception and print processing in the embodiment of the present invention The functional block diagram showing the functional element of the delivery system in 1st Embodiment of this invention The figure showing the hand detection sensor with which the opening part of the delivery apparatus in embodiment of this invention was equipped. The flowchart showing the flow of the detection process of the delivery completion using the hand detection sensor in embodiment of this invention The figure showing the image print detection sensor with which the opening part of the delivery apparatus in embodiment of this invention was equipped. The flowchart showing the flow of the detection process of the completion of delivery using the image print detection sensor in embodiment of this invention The flowchart showing the flow of the delivery process in 1st Embodiment of this invention. The functional block diagram showing the functional element of the delivery system in 2nd Embodiment of this invention The flowchart showing the flow of the delivery process in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart showing the flow of the process of delivery completion determination in 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

E, E1, E2, E3: Delivery device 48: Delivery control unit 48A: Delivery detection unit 61: Hand detection sensor (hand detection means)
62: Image print detection sensor (image print detection means)
63A: Infrared light emitting unit 63B: Infrared light receiving unit 44: Delivery port 46: Accommodating unit (accommodating unit)
47: Delivery plate (sending part)
F: Delivery reception device 55: Delivery reception control unit 55A: Delivery reception management unit 55B: Order specification information acquisition unit 55C: Order specification information storage unit 55D: Order specification information management unit

Claims (6)

A delivery system for delivering an image print related to an order received from a customer to the customer,
A storage section for storing the image prints for each order;
An order specifying information acquisition unit for acquiring order specifying information which is information capable of specifying the order;
A sending unit that sends the image print corresponding to the acquired order specifying information from the storage unit to a delivery port;
The delivery system, wherein the order specifying information acquisition unit stops acquiring the order specifying information until a predetermined time elapses after the sending unit sends the image print. A delivery system for delivering an image print related to an order received from a customer to the customer,
A storage section for storing the image prints for each order;
An order specifying information acquisition unit for acquiring order specifying information which is information capable of specifying the order;
An order specification information storage unit for storing the acquired order specification information;
A transmission unit that sequentially obtains one of the order identification information from the order identification information storage unit and sends out the image print corresponding to the order identification information from the storage unit;
When order specifying information other than the one order specifying information is stored in the order specifying information storage unit, the sending unit waits until a predetermined time elapses after sending the image print. A delivery system, wherein acquisition of the next order specifying information from the storage unit is stopped. The delivery port includes a delivery detection unit that detects completion of delivery of the image print,
The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a time until completion of delivery is detected by the delivery detection unit. The delivery detection unit includes hand detection means for detecting the customer's hand,
4. The delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the delivery detection unit detects completion of delivery when the hand is not detected after the hand is detected by the hand detection means. The delivery detection unit includes an image print detection means for detecting that the image print is present at the delivery port,
4. The delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the delivery detection unit detects completion of delivery when the image print is no longer detected after the image print is sent by the sending unit. A plurality of delivery ports are provided,
When the image print corresponding to one order specifying information is sent out from a plurality of delivery ports,
The said predetermined time is a time until the said delivery detection part of all the said delivery ports from which the said image print was sent detects delivery completion, The any one of Claim 3 to 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. Delivery system.

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