JPH0451635B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a safe deposit box system, and in particular, a plurality of customers can obtain storage boxes that they have contracted for without human intervention, and store them on the shelf in the original safe after use. This relates to an automatic safe deposit box system that can automatically store items.

When considering an automatic safe deposit box system in which storage boxes are automatically taken out to the customer, who is a contractor, and automatically returned to the shelf after being used, for example, U.S. Patent No.
3526326 and other patents and documents, a so-called automatic hangar is placed in a vault, and customers (in some cases, staff as workers)
It is conceivable that the person can automatically obtain his or her own storage box by operating a key on the operation panel. In this case, in order to prevent someone else's storage box from being taken out by random key operations on the operation panel, the contractor is given a so-called ID card with a recognition code attached, and the operation panel is equipped with an ID card code reading device. A storage device is provided that stores a combination of the ID card recognition code and the corresponding keyboard number, such as a storage box number or identification number (hereinafter referred to as a recitation number), and the stored contents are combined with the actual readout. The set of the received recognition code and the entered password number may be compared, and when the two match, the operation of taking out the storage box of the subscriber may be started. An example of such an automatic safe deposit box system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 106695/1983.

However, in such a safe deposit box system,
A person who obtains his/her own book storage box through the take-out/return opening of the automatic take-out/storage unit (in the above-mentioned JP-A-Sho Publication, the opening provided in the wall of the vault) must take the box and move it to another location. Must be. Opening the lid of the storage box on the spot would be exposing personal secrets. Furthermore, if one person occupies the take-out/return port, other customers may not be able to use it.

In order to solve these drawbacks, the present invention has the following features:
Customers can take out, handle, and return their own storage boxes in a private room without being seen by others.
Moreover, even if multiple customers arrive at the same time, the present invention aims to provide a safe deposit box system that reduces waiting time by allowing each customer to obtain, take out, handle, and return their own storage boxes using separate private rooms. .

In order to achieve the above object, the safe deposit box system of the present invention arranges and stores storage boxes for safe deposit boxes on a shelf in a safe room, selects a customer's storage box from the shelf, and delivers it to the customer. An automatic safe deposit box system in which the storage boxes are returned to the shelf after being taken out and used, the shelf having storage locations for the storage boxes arranged in a matrix, the storage box take-out and return port provided at one end of the shelf; A conveyance table that can be moved vertically and horizontally along the front surface of the shelf and transports the storage boxes by moving between each storage box storage location and the storage box take-out/return port; An automatic storage box retrieval/storage unit having a storage box gripping means for transferring the storage box to and from a storage box storage location; a plurality of private rooms; a customer input device provided inside each of the plurality of private rooms for inputting a retrieval command containing information necessary for the customer to obtain his/her own storage box and inputting a post-use storage command; ; A transport device for transporting storage boxes between the storage box take-out and return port and the private rooms, the device being a transport device that extends to the vicinity of the storage box take-out and return port of the storage box automatic take-out and storage unit and the plurality of private rooms; A main conveyance path for books, a plurality of sub-conveyance paths connecting the one main conveyance path and the plurality of individual rooms, and a plurality of sub-conveyance paths arranged at the intersections of the main conveyance path and each of the sub-conveyance paths. and a transfer device that transfers storage boxes to and from each of the sub-transport paths; and a transfer device that transfers storage boxes to and from each of the sub-transport paths; a control system that controls the storage operation and the operation of the conveyance device; the control system includes:
The storage box is transferred to the sub-conveyance path regardless of the input of the customer input device in the other private room, and the storage box is kept on the sub-conveyance path until the operation based on the input of the preceding customer input device is completed. The feature is that the storage box is kept on standby, so that by simply operating the customer input device in the private room, the customer can carry out the storage box borrowed by the customer from the shelf to the private room and transfer it to the private room. It is designed to be stored from there to the shelf.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated apparatus is configured to provide storage bin storage locations within a vault 2 surrounded by a wall 1 (only a portion of which is shown), such as a fireproof wall, for example. External customer private room 3 (here, 3a,
Two locations 3b are provided. ), a door 4, such as a fireproof door, provided on the wall 1 is automatically opened and closed to automatically carry out the storage box requested by the customer to the customer's private room, and automatically store it after use. It is a device. Inside the vault 2, there is installed a storage box automatic take-out/storage unit 5 that automatically takes out storage boxes from the shelves and stores them on the shelves. As such an automatic retrieval/storage unit, for example, a conventionally well-known automatic storage unit such as the one disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,526,326 can be used. That is, this storage unit includes a storage shelf 6 in which storage locations are arranged in a matrix, a storage box that moves along the front surface of the shelf 6, a storage box in each storage location 7 of the storage shelf, and a take-out/return system provided at one end of the storage shelf. A transport platform 9 is used to transport the storage box between the opening (shown here as having a platform 8), and the storage box is transferred between the transport platform 9 and the storage area 7 or the take-out and return platform 8. article gripping means 10 for changing;
(In this case, two shelves are installed facing each other, and the conveyor table 9 is moved between them.) By inputting the code indicating the storage location of the target storage box and the information of the retrieval command, the transport platform 9 is moved under the control of the control circuit.
is moved to the desired storage location, and the article gripping means 10
operates to pull out the storage box onto the transport table 9, and then the transport table 9 moves to the take-out and return table 8, where the article gripping means 10 operates to transfer the storage box to the take-out and return table 8. In the case of return storage, by inputting the storage location code of the storage box to be returned and return command information, the transport platform 9 moves to the take-out and return platform 8 under the control of the control circuit, and the storage box is removed. The article gripping means 10 transfers the storage box onto the conveyance table 9, and then the conveyance table 9 moves to a target storage location, where the article gripping means 10 operates to store the storage box in the storage place.

For detailed configuration and operation of the storage unit, please refer to
Since this is well known as described above, further illustration and explanation will be omitted here.

The safe 2 has an internal conveyance device 12 that connects the takeout/return table 8 and the entrance/exit 11 of the safe 2 closed by the door 4 . Here, the conveyance device includes a horizontal conveyor 12a installed horizontally on the floor;
It consists of an elevator 12b vertically connecting the pick-up and return table 8 to one end of the horizontal conveyor 12a, and a conveyor section 12c of the pick-up and return table 8 that sends articles from the pick-up and return table 8 into the elevator 12b.

Each of the private rooms 3a and 3b has a handling table 13 inside.
and storage box number or storage location code,
An operation panel 14 is provided that includes a keyboard for inputting information such as instructions for carrying out and carrying in, an ID card code reader, a display, and the like. An article passing port 15 is provided in the back wall of each of the private rooms 3a and 3b, and the doorway 11 of the vault 2 passes through the article passing port 15.
An external conveying device 16 is provided to connect the handling table 13 and the handling table 13. When the door 4 is closed, this external conveyance device 16 moves away from the entrance/exit 11, and when the door 4 is closed, it moves to the entrance/exit 11 and is connected to the horizontal conveyor 12a of the internal conveyance device 12. a movable conveyor section 16a, a main conveyor 16b connected to the movable conveyor section 16a, and a sub-conveyor 16c extending to the handling table 13 through each article passage port 15 branched from the main conveyor 16b. , 16d. The movable conveyor 16a is of a flip-up type, which is supported at one end of the main conveyor 16b so as to be rotatable up and down, and is rotated up and down by a motor (not shown).

Next, the control system will be explained with reference to FIG. In the figure, the operation panels 14 of each private room 3a, 3b are connected to a main controller 17. The main controller 17 generates control signals for controlling the operations of the automatic take-out/storage unit 5, the door 4, the internal transport device 12, and the external transport device 16 in accordance with input information from the operation panel 14. A control circuit 18 for the automatic take-out and storage unit 5, a control circuit 19 for the door 4, and a control circuit 20 for the internal and external conveyance devices 12 and 16 are connected to the main control device 17.

The main control device 17 includes a storage device 21, which stores the above-mentioned identification code of the subscriber's ID card, password number, and storage box storage number.

The main controller 17 also includes a business input device 22.
and a recording device 23 are connected, and both are placed on a management table 24. Business input device 22
This is a command to write or rewrite the ID card recognition code and password number described above in the storage device 21, set the initial state of the system at the start and end of the day's work, stop the system, etc. The recording device 23 records the work of the system, and records the year, month, date and time, and whether storage boxes have been brought in or taken out.

To start the safe deposit box business, predetermined items such as date, time, and operator code are input from the business input device 22. Next, enter the identification number assigned to the operator. This information is sent to the main controller 17 and compared with the contents of the storage device 21, and if there is no abnormality, the main controller 17
control circuits 18, 19, 20 for the automatic take-out/storage unit 5, door 4, and internal and external conveyance devices 12, 16;
Sends a command signal to set the initial state.

When the storage unit control circuit 18 receives the initial state setting signal and the storage location code, it controls the respective drive units (representatively indicated by 25) of the conveyance table 9 and the article gripping means 10 to move them into a predetermined manner. The main controller 17 then moves to the initial position and sends an initial state setting completion signal to the main controller 17.

On the other hand, upon receiving the initial state setting signal, the door control circuit 19 operates, for example, a drive motor 26 for opening and closing the door, thereby opening the door 4. When door 4 is opened,
The door control circuit 19 sends a signal indicating that the door has been opened (a door opening completion signal) to the main controller 17.

When the main control device 17 receives the door opening completion signal, the main control device 17 moves the movable conveyor 16a to the transfer device control circuit 20.
signal to move the item to the article entrance/exit 11 (connection signal)
is sent as an initial state setting signal, which causes the motor 27 to operate, move the movable conveyor 16a to the article entrance 11, and transfer the inner and outer horizontal conveyors 1.
2a and main conveyor 16b are connected. When this work is completed, a signal indicating the completion of connection is sent from the transport device control circuit 20 to the main control device 17.

When the main control device 17 receives this connection completion signal and the initial state setting end signal from the storage unit control circuit 18 described above, it causes the display on the business input device 22 to display the end of the initial state setting, and the recording device 23 to record in a predetermined format,
On the other hand, it enters a standby state for the storage box removal operation.

After the start of business, the visiting safe deposit box user enters an empty private room among the private rooms 3a and 3b set at a plurality of locations. Now, on the operation panel 14 of the private room 3a, the customer first inserts his or her ID card into the code reader 28, and while looking at the display 29 operates the keyboard 30 to input a code number. Upon receiving the read output from the code reading device 28 and the key-in output from the keyboard 30, the main control device 17 compares this combination with the contents of the storage device 21, and if both combinations do not exist, the display 29 Displays invalidity for a certain period of time, and then stops further operations.
When there is a combination of both, the display 29 displays an unloading operation, and a code indicating the storage box storage location of the customer and a retrieval command are sent to the storage unit control circuit 18.

When the storage unit control circuit 18 is given the retrieval command signal and the storage location code, it controls the respective drive units 25 of the transport platform 9 and the article gripping means 10 to start the aforementioned storage box retrieval operation,
The target storage box is taken out onto the take-out and return table 8.
At this time, a signal indicating this (extraction completion signal) is sent to the main controller 17.

When the main controller 17 receives this removal completion signal, it generates a transport operation command signal to the transport device control circuit 20. As a result, the transport device control circuit 2
0 starts and controls the operation of the inner and outer conveying devices 12 and 16. That is, the take-out/return table conveyor drive motor 31 is operated, and the elevator 12 is operated.
Then, the elevator drive motor 32 is operated to lower the storage box onto the horizontal conveyor 12a, and then the drive motors (33 (representatively shown) is operated to send the storage box to the handling table 13 in the private room 3a. When this operation is completed, an unloading completion signal is sent to the main controller 17. Main control device 1
7 thereby performs the task of carrying out or returning the storage box requested from another private room (described later).

In addition, since there are a plurality of private rooms (two in this embodiment), in the case of carrying out the storage box, the secondary conveyor 16c or 16 of the private room requested to carry out is
In order to transfer the articles to d, the main conveyor 16
A vertically movable stopper plate, article detecting means, and article moving means are provided at the intersections of conveyors 16c and 16d. That is, in FIG. 1, the main conveyor 16b and the sub conveyor 16c
to stop conveying the articles in the direction of flow of the main conveyor 16b, as shown at the intersection with
A stopper plate 34 is raised to project upward from the main conveyor 16b and extends in the length direction of the conveyor roller 35 of the main conveyor 16b, passing between them at a level higher than the surface of the conveyor roller. The belt conveyor 36 is raised from below to the main conveyor 1.
6b and the sub-conveyor 16d, a detector 37 (for example, a micro switch, a photoelectric switch, etc.) for detecting the presence of an article on the intersection is provided at each intersection. In addition, these are indicated by adding a suffix "a" to the one located at the intersection of the sub-conveyor 16c corresponding to the private room 3a and a suffix "b" to the one corresponding to the private room 3b.

The vertical movement of the stopper plate 34 and the vertical movement and conveyance operation of the belt conveyor 36 are performed under the control of the main controller 17. At this time, the output of the detector 37 is also connected to the main control device 17 and used to control the belt conveyor 36. That is, with reference to FIG. 3, when a request for carrying out is received from the private room 3a, for example,
In addition to the aforementioned carrying-out operation, the stopper plate 34a is raised by driving the drive motor 38a of the stopper plate 34a at the intersection of the sub-conveyor 16c and the main conveyor 16b of the corresponding private room 3a. After that, when there is a detection output from the detector 37a, the vertical movement motor and conveyance drive motor of the belt conveyor 36a (both shown as 39a)
is driven to raise the belt conveyor 36a and carry out the conveyance operation. Therefore, the articles at the intersection are transferred from the main conveyor 16b to the sub-conveyor 16c, and conveyed by the sub-conveyor 16c to the handling table 13 in the requested compartment 3a. After that, when the unloading is completed, the motor 38
a, 39a are reversed, and the stopper plate 3
4a and belt conveyor 36a are lowered. Similarly, when ordering to carry out from the private room 3b,
The stopper plate 34b at the intersection with the corresponding sub-conveyor 16d and the belt conveyor (not shown) are operated. These drive motors are
In the figure, they are shown as 38b and 39b.

When storing storage boxes, for example, in private room 3a.
Then, the storage operation is started by operating the keyboard 30 and inputting a carry-in command signal (along with the storage location code to be stored, if necessary).

Upon receiving the code and carry-in command signal from the operation panel 14, the main controller 17 controls the transport device control circuit 20.
A carry-in operation command signal is sent to , and the carry-in operation is started. That is, the transport device control circuit 2
0 operates the elevator drive motor 26 to lower the elevator 12b, while the sub conveyor 16c, the main conveyor 16b, and the movable conveyor 1
6a and the horizontal conveyor 12a are rotated in the carrying direction, and from the handling table 13,
The storage box is transported to the elevator 12b and sent into the lowered elevator 12b. Next, the elevator drive motor 32 is operated, and the elevator 1
2b is raised. When the elevator 12b comes to the take-out and return port position, the take-out and return stand conveyor 1
The drive motor 31 of 2c is operated, and the storage box is moved from inside the elevator 12b onto the take-out and return table 8. At this time, the transport device control circuit 20 sends a transport completion signal to the main controller 17. This results in
The main controller 17 transmits the storage location code read from the storage device 21 (or input via the operation panel 14) and the storage command signal to the storage unit control circuit 18. The storage unit control circuit 18 is
As a result, the drive motor 25 and the like are operated to cause the transport table 9 and the article gripping means 10 to perform a storing operation, and the storage box on the take-out/return table 8 is stored in the storage location of the shelf designated by the code. When the storage operation is completed, a storage completion signal is sent from the storage unit control circuit 18 to the main controller 17. Thereby, the main controller 17 executes the requested operation from the next private room.

At the end of the day's work, the person in charge enters the information necessary for the end of the work on the work input device 2, just as at the beginning of the work.
Enter from step 2. In the main control device 17, if there is no abnormality in the input information, the transfer device control circuit 20
Sends a recovery signal to. Transfer device control circuit 20
This causes the motor 24 to rotate in the opposite direction, and when this operation is completed, a conveyor movement end signal is sent to the main controller 17. This results in
The main controller 17 and the door control circuit 19 are connected to the motor 26
Rotate in the opposite direction to close door 4. When the door 4 is closed, a door closing completion signal is sent to the main controller 17, and the system enters a stopped state.

FIG. 4 shows the outline of the layout of this system in a perspective view, and also shows the flow of the storage box 40 with thick solid line arrows and the flow of signals with dotted lines. The above description of operation will be better understood with reference to FIG.

Now, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the storage box passage opening 15 of each private room was left open, but a fireproof door such as an iron door (indicated by 41 in FIG. 4) was slid up and down here. It is best to open it only when goods are passing through. For example, a motor for opening and closing the door is provided, and when carrying out the storage box, the sub conveyor 1 corresponding to the private room to which the storage box corresponds, for example 3a, is installed.
A detector such as a micro switch is provided to detect that the storage box 40 has been transferred to the handling table 13, and the detection output drives a motor to open the door 41. When the storage box 40 is transferred to the handling table 13, the above-mentioned transfer is completed. The motor is reversed by the signal to close the door 41. On the other hand, when carrying in the storage box 40, the motor is driven to open the door 41 in response to the input of the carry-in command, and when the storage box 40 is transferred from the handling table 13 to the sub-conveyor 16c, it is detected by the above-mentioned detection output. The door 41 may be closed by driving the motor in reverse. It is preferable that the opening and closing control of this door 41 is also performed entirely from the main controller 17.

Note that when inputs from multiple private rooms overlap, the operation corresponding to the earlier input is performed, and the main controller 17 completes the operation corresponding to the later input. hold until However, in response to a carry-in command, the main controller 17 causes the transfer from the private room to the sub-conveyors 16c, 16d, etc. to be performed regardless of inputs from other private rooms, and the sub-conveyor continues until the operation by the preceding input is completed. 16
Control is performed so that the storage box 40 is placed on standby above c and 16d. This prevents the customer from having to stay in the private room for a long time until the storage box 40 is removed from the private room.

In the above embodiment, the private room was provided outside the safe, but in some cases it may be provided inside the safe. In this case, the opening/closing of the door 4 and therefore the movable conveyor become unnecessary, and a single continuous conveyor from the take-out/return port to the sub-conveyor is constructed, and control becomes simple.

Of course, the conveyance device is not limited to the conveyor type shown in the embodiment.
It goes without saying that other known conveying devices can be used.

As described above, according to the present invention, a customer can obtain his or her own storage box by simply operating the operation panel in a private room, and can also handle the storage box on the spot without being seen by others. To provide an extremely safe safe deposit box system in which one's own safe deposit box can be stored in the safe by simply operating the operation panel again after use.

Furthermore, since a plurality of private rooms are provided, even when multiple customers overlap, each customer can use the private room without waiting. In addition, the single-line conveyor line from the automatic pick-up/storage unit to the private room performs reciprocating motion to accommodate loading and unloading, and since it is shared by multiple private rooms with the exception of the sub-conveyor, the conveyor line is Significant space and equipment savings can be achieved.

Furthermore, the storage box is transferred to the sub-transport path regardless of the input from the customer input device in other private rooms, and the storage box is transferred to the sub-transport path until the operation based on the input from the preceding customer input device is completed. Since the storage box is kept on standby, the customer does not have to stay in the private room for a long time until the storage box is removed from the private room.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are schematic perspective views showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a view seen from the rear of the device, and FIG. 2 being a view seen from the front side. FIG. 3 shows a control system diagram. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the layout of the system. 1... Fireproof wall, 2... Vault, 3a, 3b...
Private room, 4...Fireproof door, 5...Automatic take-out/storage unit, 11...Goods entrance/exit, 12a...Horizontal conveyor, 12b...Elevator, 12c...Take-out/return table conveyor, 13...Goods handling table, 14...
...Operation panel, 16a...Movable conveyor, 16b
...Main conveyor, 16c, 16d...Sub conveyor, 17...Main control device, 21...Storage device, 2
2... Business input device, 28... Code reading device,
30...keyboard, 34a, 34b...stopper plate, 35...conveyor roller, 36
a... Belt conveyor, 37a, 37b... Detector, 40... Storage box, 41... Door.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic lending system in which storage boxes for safe deposit boxes are arranged and stored on a shelf in a vault, a customer's storage box is selected from the shelf, carried out to the customer, and returned to the shelf after use. In the safe system, the above-mentioned shelf has the above-mentioned storage box storage locations arranged in a matrix, the storage box take-out/return port provided at one end of the shelf, and each storage box movable vertically and horizontally along the front surface of the shelf. A transport platform that transports the storage box by moving between the box storage location and the storage box take-out/return port, and a delivery platform for transferring the storage box between the transportation platform and the storage box storage location on the shelf. a storage box automatic take-out/storage unit having a storage box gripping means; a plurality of private rooms for customers located at a location apart from the storage box automatic take-out/storage unit; provided inside each of the plurality of private rooms; An input device for customers to input a retrieval command containing the information necessary to obtain their own storage box, as well as a storage command after use; storage between the storage box retrieval and return opening and the private room. A transporting device for transporting boxes, comprising a main transport path extending from the storage box take-out/return port of the storage box automatic take-out/storage unit to the vicinity of the private room; A plurality of sub-conveyance paths connecting a plurality of private rooms,
the conveyance device comprising a transfer device disposed at the intersection of the main conveyance path and each sub-conveyance path and transfers storage boxes between the main conveyance path and each sub-conveyance path; and a control system that controls the storage box retrieval and storage operations of the automatic retrieval and storage unit and the operation of the transport device in accordance with input from the customer input device; The storage box is transferred to the sub-transport path regardless of the input from the customer input device in other private rooms, and is stored on the sub-transport path until the operation based on the input from the preceding customer input device is completed. The system is characterized in that the boxes are kept on standby, and the customer simply operates the customer input device in the private room to carry out the storage box borrowed by the customer from the shelf to the private room and store it from the private room to the shelf. Automatic safe deposit box system.