EP0065605B1 - Locker system controlled by a microprocessor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a storage device comprising a plurality of compartments arranged in several columns, each column comprising several superimposed compartments, a control unit comprising a microprocessor connected by an electronic input / output system to locks for opening and der closing of electrically operated lockers, buttons, indicator lights, a ticket dispenser equipped with a cutter, a money changer, and a safety deposit box. Such a device is known from document EP-A-0 006 403.

• 1) Faible cout d'investissement: le prix de l'appareil, qui est destiné à être installé en grande quantité doit être très faible.
• 2) Faible cout d'exploitation: le coût de l'exploitation doit être réduit au minimum. Les interventions de rechargement des monnayeurs, les interventions de relevé de caisse, les interventions nécessaires lors de la perte de clefs doivent être réduites au minimum.
• 3) Facilite d'utilisation: il est fondamental qui les habitudes et les réflexes de l'usager soient préservés, en particulier:
  • a- c'est l'usager qui doit choisir son casier (et non le système qui choisit pour l'usager). En effet, en fonction de la taille de ses bagages, en fonction de la taille de l'usager lui-même, ce dernier choisira instinctivement le casier qui lui demandera le moins d'effort pour déposer ses biens. Pour les systèmes dans lesquels le processeur de commande attribue son casier à l'usager, la simulation a montré que celui-ci est totalement désorienté et que sa première opération est de déposer ses bagages dans un casier qui n'est jamais celui que le processeur lui indiquera.
  • b- Les opérations de dépôt et d'ouverture de casier doivent être rapides. En effet, en particulier dans le cas des consignes de gare, l'usager est toujours pressé de récupérer son bien avant le départ d'un train. La simulation a montré que les systèmes à serveur unique desservant un grand nombre de casiers (type 2 ci-dessous) conduisent à la création de files d'attente devant l'appareil, induisant des situations conflictuelles entre usagers ou des réflexes d'anxiété pour les usages désirant retirer rapidement leur bien et se trouvant bloqués dans une file d'attente. Il est donc impératif que le système évite la création de files d'attente..
  • c- Les opérations de dépôt et de retrait des biens doivent être très simples et aussi proches que possible des systèmes de type 1 ci-dessous.

The problem posed consists in guaranteeing for a given period of time and against a certain sum of money, the security of goods deposited by a user in a locker, and to return them to him when he wishes. The technical achievements enabling this problem to be resolved must take into account 3 important parameters:

• 1) Low investment cost: the price of the device, which is intended to be installed in large quantities must be very low.
• 2) Low operating cost: the operating cost should be kept to a minimum. Interventions of recharging of coin acceptors, interventions of cash register, interventions necessary during the loss of keys must be reduced to the minimum.
• 3) Ease of use: it is essential that the habits and reflexes of the user are preserved, in particular:
  • a- it is the user who must choose his locker (and not the system which chooses for the user). Indeed, depending on the size of his luggage, depending on the size of the user himself, the latter will instinctively choose the locker that will require the least effort to deposit his goods. For systems in which the control processor assigns its locker to the user, the simulation has shown that the latter is completely disoriented and that his first operation is to deposit his luggage in a locker which is never the one that the processor will tell him.
  • b- The deposit and opening of locker operations must be rapid. Indeed, in particular in the case of station instructions, the user is always in a hurry to recover his property before the departure of a train. The simulation showed that single server systems serving a large number of lockers (type 2 below) lead to the creation of queues in front of the device, leading to conflicting situations between users or anxiety reflexes for uses wishing to quickly withdraw their property and being blocked in a queue. It is therefore imperative that the system avoids the creation of queues.
  • c- The operations for depositing and withdrawing goods must be very simple and as close as possible to the type 1 systems below.

The devices known to date are of two types.

Type 1-Lockable locker system, by vertical module of 4 lockers whose locking is ensured by a key security lock, each lock having a unique variation and a unique key. These systems respect the interests of the investor and those of the user, but not those of the operator. In fact, at the end of the allocated occupation period, if the customer has not removed his goods himself, the goods are removed by an attendant who must then change the lock. It is the same if the customer misplaces his key. However, single variance security locks are very expensive devices. This results in exorbitant operating costs.

Type 2-System of lockable lockers controlled by a centralized process ensuring the functions of deposit and withdrawal of goods, issuing tickets with magnetic strip, or magnetic badges as a key, and serving a large number of lockers (documents DE- A-2,700,631 and EP-A-0 006 403).

• 1) ils sont basés sur le principe des serveurs uniques ce qui engendre des files d'attente anxiogènes,
• 2) ils imposent à l'usager l'utilisation d'un casier choisi par le processeur selon un algorithme qui ne peut tenir compte des paramètres anthropomorphiques de l'usager,
• 3) ils imposent une séquence d'opérations totalement inhabituelles pour l'usager.

However type 2 devices do not respect the interest of users, because

• 1) they are based on the principle of single servers which generates anxiety-provoking queues,
• 2) they impose on the user the use of a locker chosen by the processor according to an algorithm which cannot take account of the anthropomorphic parameters of the user,
• 3) they impose a completely unusual sequence of operations for the user.

The invention has been studied to solve the problem while preserving the interests of the investor, the operator and the user. According to the invention, the storage device described at the beginning of the presentation comprises as many control units as columns of lockers, each locker comprising an indicator light for viewing are free or occupied state and a button to allow its selection by a user, in that said ticket dispenser comprises a printer for printing data on the tickets, in that each control unit comprises coding wheels for identifying each locker in relation to the other lockers of the column and to all the lockers of the others columns, an alpha-numeric keyboard with keys allowing the user to send data in the control unit for the opening of the locker once it has been filled, and in that the device for storage also includes a burglar alarm.

Advantageously, the coding wheels are arranged to send to the control unit a predetermined identification number of the column in question, the control unit being arranged to generate a unique series of identification numbers of the lockers of the column from said column identification number.

Advantageously, each locker has a push button with incorporated indicator light providing the above viewing and selection functions.

Advantageously, each control unit includes an alpha-digital display.

Advantageously, the device comprises a switch for sending into the control unit from said alpha-numeric keyboard, in one case a datum authorizing the opening of a locker, and in another case a datum allowing the selection of a maintenance function provided in the control unit.

It is a decentralized and modular system allowing the user to choose his locker himself, to pay a certain amount of money indicated by the automation using a coin mechanism, to put his goods safely in a locker that is locked by the microprocessor by an electric strike system, to receive a paper ticket on which are clearly printed the place, date and time of deposit, the locker number chosen by the user , a unique secret code which will be used for withdrawal, various other information of an advertising or promotional nature and the user manual of the system; then during the withdrawal, the system allows the user to enter his secret code on a keyboard and, if recognized, to open his locker to recover his goods.

The system is in the form of a column of 4 metal compartments with which are associated, on the right side of the front panel, the devices allowing the operations indicated above to be carried out. The modular design of the system allows it to be installed in large quantities in one place and eliminates any possibility of creating a queue.

The system is furthermore equipped with microprograms which only a maintenance person can call using the aforementioned keypad, and which are used for the operations of locking the locker, opening for police checks, opening emergency, cash register and statistics, price change and self diagnosis.

• Figure 1: ce dessin montre l'aspect général d'une colonne de 4 casiers.
• Figure 2: ce dessin détaille le panneau de contrôle disponible à l'usager
• Figure 3: ce dessin montre le diagramme général de l'électriquement de commande à microprocesseur.

The drawings in Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the exterior and interior appearance of the lockable locker system:

• Figure 1: this drawing shows the general appearance of a column of 4 compartments.
• Figure 2: this drawing details the control panel available to the user
• Figure 3: this drawing shows the general diagram of the electric control microprocessor.

• Voyant éteint=casier indisponible
• Voyant allumé=casier libre
• Voyant clignotant=casier ayant dépassé la période d'utilisation permise.

The system, as shown in Figure 1, consists of a metal cabinet offering four lockers of the same or different size (1) intended to house the client's goods. A push button with incorporated colored indicator light (2) is associated with each locker. This indicator light indicates the condition of the locker:

• LED off = locker not available
• LED on = free locker
• Flashing light = locker that has exceeded the permitted use period.

The push buttons (2) are used by the user to express his desire to use a locker and indicate to the microprocessor which locker has been chosen. A user who comes for a deposit of goods, therefore locates a free locker by examining the indicator lights and presses the corresponding button. At this time, an indication appears on the alpha-numeric display (5): it is the price to pay to obtain the locking of the chosen locker. The user then introduces his coins into the slot (4) of the coin mechanism (13). The alpha-numeric display (5) decrements by the value of the coin, thus indicating the balance to be paid and so on until this balance is zero. If the user enters more money than necessary, the alpha-numeric display (5) then indicates the overpayment which is returned to the customer. The currency introduced is sequestrated until the balance is zero. At any time, the user can change his mind, cancel his operations and recover his money by pressing the cancel button (3). Likewise, the microprocessor will cancel operations by itself and will give change if there is more than 30 seconds between 2 introductions of coins in the slot (4).

As soon as the balance to be paid has become zero, the microprocessor activates the electric lock of the selected locker, the customer can then open the door (1) to deposit his luggage, if it is not already done, and close it by pressing fully , which locks it permanently. At the same time, the microprocessor (21) prints a paper or cardboard receipt (16), using a printer (14) located behind the service panel. On this ticket, which is automatically cut by a cutter (15), are printed in clear, the name of the place, the time and date of deposit of the goods, the number of the locker chosen, as well as a unique code. This ticket falls into a bowl (11) with, if necessary the overpayment of money, while the indicator (6) starts to flash reminding the user that he must take his ticket and his money. The microprocessor then switches off the indicator light (2) corresponding to the locker now locked.

The code mentioned above is generated using the date, the time maintained by the microprocessor and other information obtained by a mathematical algorithm. It contains a variable number of digits, the last of which is a control key. It is stored in the microprocessor. This completes a deposit operation.

• 1 ) Ce retrait s'effectue dans la "periode", c'est-à-dire dans la tranche de temps maximale permise. Dans ce cas, le voyant lunineux (2) est éteint. Le client frappe le code qui lui a été donné sur son ticket à l'aide du clavier (9) mis à sa disposition sur le panneau de service. Pour éviter les erreurs, chaque touche frappée est affichée aussitôt sur l'afficheuralpha-numérique (5). Cependant, en cas d'erreur, l'usager peut appuyer sur la touche spéciale (10) qui permet d'annuler l'entrée du code, et recommencer l'opération. Si le code est reconnu par le micro-ordinateur, ce dernier déverrouille la gâche électrique. La porte peut alors être ouverte pour le retrait des biens. En même temps, un voyant (7) s'allume, indiquant à l'usager qu'il' peut retirer ses biens. Le microprocesseur rallume le bouton lumineux (2) correspondant au casier libéré.
  • Si le code n'est pas reconnu, le voyant lumineux (8) se met à clignoter, indiquant au client de s'adresser au préposé, car soit il s'agit d'une tentative de retrait illicite, soit le casier a été vidé par le préposé à l'expiration de la période et réoccupé depuis par un autre client, soit une panne s'est déclarée dans le système.
• 2) Ce retrait s'effectue après la "periode". Dans ce cas, à l'expiration de la période, le voyant lumineux (2) s'est mis à clignoter. Le préposé doit alors vider la casier et déposer les biens au consignage manuel.
  • S'il ne le fait pas, le voyant lumineux (2) reste clignotant. Un client qui tente de frapper son code au clavier est alors dirigé sur le préposé à l'aide du voyant lumineux (8). Le client peut à tout moment annuler la frappe de son code à l'aide de la touche d'annulation (10). De même le microprocesseur annulera automatiquement l'opération s'il s'écoule plus de 10 secondes entre la frappe de 2 touches. Ceci termine une opération de retrait.

When a user wishes to withdraw his goods, two situations can arise:

• 1) This withdrawal takes place in the "period", that is to say in the maximum permitted time period. In this case, the light indicator (2) is off. The customer enters the code given to him on his ticket using the keyboard (9) available to him on the service panel. To avoid errors, each key pressed is immediately displayed on the alpha-digital display (5). However, in the event of an error, the user can press the special key (10) which cancels the entry of the code, and try the operation again. If the code is recognized by the microcomputer, the latter unlocks the electric strike. The door can then be opened for the removal of goods. At the same time, an indicator (7) lights up, indicating to the user that he can withdraw his goods. The microprocessor turns on the light button (2) corresponding to the released locker.
  • If the code is not recognized, the indicator light (8) starts to flash, indicating to the customer to contact the attendant, because either it is an attempted illegal withdrawal or the locker has been emptied by the agent at the end of the period and since reoccupied by another client, a breakdown has been declared in the system.
• 2) This withdrawal takes place after the "period". In this case, at the end of the period, the indicator light (2) started to flash. The attendant must then empty the locker and deposit the goods in the manual lockout.
  • If it does not, the indicator light (2) remains flashing. A customer who tries to key in his code on the keyboard is then directed to the agent using the indicator light (8). The customer can cancel the keystroke at any time using the cancel key (10). Likewise, the microprocessor will automatically cancel the operation if there is more than 10 seconds between the typing of 2 keys. This completes a removal operation.

Figure 1 also shows the safety box (12) into which the coins fall and which the attendant can periodically pick up.

Figure 2 shows the details of the devices for user use on the service panel. We recognize the four luminous selection pushbuttons (2), the coin insertion slot (4), the payment canceller (3), the alpha-digital display (5), the indicator lights (6- 7-8), the keyboard (9), the cancel button (10), the reimbursement and issue ticket holder (11).

Figure 3 shows the diagram of the system control electronics. We distinguish the microprocessor (21) of the type with integrated ROM memory, containing the software necessary for the realization of the functionality claimed in the present invention, the keypad for entering the codes (9), the alpha-numeric displays (5). , the interface of the coin mechanism (13), the control interface of the printer (14) and of the cutter (15), the power interface (17) allowing the control of the indicator lights and the electric strikes (18), a V 24 standard synchronous or asynchronous telecommunication interface (19), allowing this system to be connected to other computer systems through the telephone lines (20), and coding wheels (22) making it possible to display a number N specific to the column of lockers allowing the microprocessor to generate unique numbers of lockers 1 according to the formula: 4N + I, 1 = 1, 2, 3 or 4.

With 2 hexadecimal coding wheels, it is thus possible to install 16x16x4 = 1,024 compartments in the same place.

The general input / output bus (23) of the microprocessor allows easy extension of the system.

The system can be used by maintenance workers to perform specific operations. In this case, the attendant must switch a switch (24) placed inside the control panel (and therefore inaccessible to customers). As soon as the microcomputer has recognized this changeover, all dialogue with the attendant is done using the keyboard. This one, hits a number on the keyboard, number corresponding to the desired service. The microcomputer has been programmed to provide the following services.

• Touche 1=Condamnation d'un casier,
• Touche 2=Vidage d'un casier et remise en service,
• Touche 3=Ouverture d'un casier puis referme- ture,
• Touche 4=Ouverture generale d'une colonne et remise en service des 4 casiers,
• Touche 5=Releve de caisse et statistiques,
• Touche 6=Changement de tarification,
• Touche 7=Mise a Îa date et a l'heure.

All 0 = Self-test, series of programs which link together and successively test the indicator lights, alphanumeric displays, coin mechanism, printer, cutter, coding wheels,

• Key 1 = Locking a locker,
• Key 2 = Emptying a locker and putting it back into service,
• Key 3 = Opening a locker then closing it,
• Key 4 = General opening of a column and return to service of the 4 compartments,
• Key 5 = Cash register and statistics,
• Key 6 = Change in pricing,
• Key 7 = Date and time setting.

The system will remain in "attendant" mode until the switch has been returned to the normal service position.

During functions number 2 Emptying a locker and putting it back into service, and number 4 General opening the system delivers to the attendant a ticket identical to that issued to the customer when depositing his goods. Thus the goods of the user remain identified. When the user goes to the manual locker to collect his goods, the attendant can compare the two tickets, which must be identical, thus avoiding any risk of theft or fraud or malicious acts.

Similarly, during operation number 4 Cash register and statistics, the system issues a printed ticket indicating the theoretical accumulation of the cash register for accounting purposes, as well as a certain number of statistics on the numbers and time of occupation. lockers since the last survey. These statistics make it possible to optimize the number of lockers according to the frequentation of the place of installation, and therefore to reduce the investments required while maximizing the turnover.

The microcomputer can be programmed to communicate through the telecommunication interface (19), with a computer (or a microcomputer) through telephone lines. It can therefore behave like a computer peripheral. This is particularly useful in the case where a large number of lockers are installed in the same place; you can then monitor the entire locker fleet from a central point, and obtain information in real time on the contents of the boxes, occupancy statistics, etc., or carry out remote monitoring.

It is also possible, using multipoint telephone lines, to connect the systems to one another in networks and have them monitor each other.

The lockable locker system controlled by an integrated microprocessor can be used in all cases where it is necessary to put goods in a safe place for a certain period of time against the payment of a fee. This concerns in particular the lockout systems in railway stations, airports, sports grounds, gymnasiums, swimming pools, shopping centers, department stores, strip stores, factories etc.

Claims (5)

1. Racking device comprising a plurality of lockers (1) arranged over several columns, each column comprising several superimposed lockers, a control unit comprising a micro-processor connected via an electronic entry/exit system to the opening and closing locks for the lockers by electrical control, to buttons (2), to indicators (6, 7, 8), to a ticket distributor (14) provided with a cutter (15), to a cash checking unit (13) and to a safe box (12), characterised in that it comprises as many control units as there are columns of lockers, each locker comprising an indicator to show its free or used state and a button to permit its selection by a user, in that the said ticket distributor comprises a printer for printing data on the tickets, in that each control unit comprises code wheels (22) for identifying each locker with respect to the other lockers of the column and to all of the lockers of the other columns, an alphanumeric touch key pad (9) permitting the user to input data into the control unit with a view to opening the locker once this has been filled, and in that the racking device comprises in addition an anti-burglar alarm device.

2. Device according to claim 1 in which the code wheels (22) are arranged to feed into the control unit a predetermined identity number for the column in question, the control unit being arranged to generate a unique sequence of identification numbers of the lockers in the column starting from said identification number of the column.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which each locker comprises a push button (2) with an incorporated luminous indicator ensuring the above mentioned functions of visualisation and selection.

4. Device according to anyone of the preceding claims in which each control unit comprises an alphanumeric display (5).

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises a switch (24) to send to the control unit starting from the said alphanumeric keyboard (9) in one case data authorising the opening of a locker and in another case data permitting the selection of a maintenance function provided in the control unit.

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