EP0871942B1 - Process for removing items from a cupboard and cupboard for implementing the process - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for removing items from a cupboard, in which a given item is first selected and then removed from the cupboard. Information on the selected and removed items is recorded by means of a plug-in storage medium and also in the cupboard. The invention also relates to a cupboard for implementing the process having a device for storing items, apertures for their removal and locking devices for the apertures. There are recording devices on the cupboard for providing information on the items selected or removed, where such information can be displayed by a control device on a storage medium inserted into an aperture and in the cupboard.

Description

The invention relates to a method for removing articles from a cabinet genus defined by the preamble of claim 1 and a cabinet Execution of this procedure.

There are different types of cabinets or procedures for removing items from these cabinets known, which can be found in particular in the hotel industry.

For example, simple refrigerators are installed in hotel guest rooms, which ones After opening the refrigerator door, all items in the refrigerator are removed can be. However, this has the disadvantage that when an article is removed from the fridge by a guest no immediate control or billing option given is. Furthermore, the refilling of the refrigerator is after the departure of the hotel guest requires a lot of personnel, because first of all in the fridge existing articles must be recounted and removed articles must be replenished. Furthermore, with this type of extraction process it is to be feared that not all of the Cabinet removed items are paid. For example, Item simply stolen be or already empty beverage bottles are refilled with water to feigning a full bottle of drinks.

There is also a method for removing articles from the compartments of a cabinet known, a cabinet has a larger number of lockable individual compartments. The Individual doors of the compartments or the items in the compartments are electronic connected to a central billing system of the hotel. So when opening the Safe deposit or removal of the item an automatic booking via the hotel accounting system on the guest bill.

However, it proves disadvantageous here that all refrigerators are connected to the accounting system must be connected, which entails very high installation costs. Furthermore, the space required for such a cabinet is relatively large, since one Larger number of lockable individual compartments also require as many individual doors are, which in turn must be provided with sensors.

From DE-A-26 23 941 is a vending machine with separate, locked Known subjects, the locking mechanism of the vending machine by a kind Credit card can be released. Holes appear when items are removed punched into the card by means of an embossing or punching stamp. By The credit card returned will be sent to staff via the refillable compartments informed. However, the mechanical structure of this machine is very complicated.

Furthermore, from FR-A-2 620 842 a vending machine emerges, in which information about an removed article, in this case a video cassette, in an electronic Memory of the machine can be saved; although the customer must have an insertable Storage medium, use a kind of code card, but only for the assignment of access authorization serves and contains, for example, a subscriber number.

DE-A-37 41 053 shows an automatic dispenser with a slot for a check card, on the information about a removed item, namely its price, at least stored until this amount is overwritten by the next accumulated amount becomes.

To use the vending machine according to US-A-4,508,812, the customer gives an identification number one, either via the keyboard provided for this purpose or with With the help of an identification card, which can be further personalized at the customer's request can be used to prevent card misuse after card loss. Furthermore are different records in a computer of this vending machine made that refer to the customers, the items or sales.

A method for removing items from a cabinet according to the preamble of Claim 1 finally emerges from US-A-4,108,363. This will be a shopping card inserted into a slot in a cabinet to access the inside of the cabinet through a door Get cabinet cabinet. When the door is closed, automatic information appears stored on the shopping card about the removed items.

In addition, a "computor" is provided in this goods sales system, with a Libra is connected, on which the items to be sold are in the closet are located. From the difference in the weight of the goods before or after removal the computor 21 the sales weight and thus the sales price of this item calculate so that the relevant information is recorded on the shopping card can.

However, this system is suitable for fitting such a cabinet in a hotel room not suitable, because on the one hand the "computor" is not necessary and therefore unnecessary and on the other hand the simple and economical filling of the cabinet after removal objects, such as bottles or chocolate, is not detached.

It is the object of the present invention, a method for removing articles from compartments of a cabinet of the specified type as well as a cabinet for the implementation propose the method, which does not have the disadvantages described above exhibit. In particular, a method should be carried out which is relatively inexpensive can be proposed, as well as a closet, which is a comparative has a simple structure.

This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1 and a cabinet according to claim 9 solved.

Appropriate embodiments result from those defined in the subclaims Characteristics.

The advantages achieved with the invention are based on the following mode of operation: Registration of the information about the selected or removed articles on a insertable customer storage medium, in particular a chip card or magnetic card, it is relatively easy for the operator of the cabinet to remove the ones removed from the cabinet Determine and bill items based on this customer storage medium. To do this For example, only the chip or magnetic card presented at the hotel reception where the information contained on it is read and compiled for billing become.

In addition, it is easier to refill the cabinet after removing items, since the information that comes from the Cabinet were removed. This information, for example from room service, be rewritten on a service memory card so that you can recognize immediately can, which and how many articles have been removed and therefore no replenishment Problems.

The storage medium is particularly preferably inserted into the cabinet, so that the Operation of the cabinet is clearer.

The articles can preferably be removed from individual compartments of the cabinet, because this simplifies the control of the cabinet contents.

The information about the extracted Article, i.e. consumption is registered on the service storage medium and in the cabinet. In order to an exact list of the removed articles can easily be created, which leads to one is advantageous when creating an invoice and the other is refilling the Cabinet significantly simplified, since it can also be determined directly on the cabinet, when certain items in the closet are no longer in stock. The is preferred Frequency of opening each compartment on the storage medium and in the cabinet registered so that B. also evaluable overviews over a longer period of time receives and so z. B. can determine which drink and which brand of this drink preferably be removed.

On the plug-in storage medium information is saved which enables certain subjects of the Cabinet to take a certain number of certain items. Saving this The type of information on the storage medium has the advantage that it Card must be purchased first to remove certain items from the closet can. This can prevent abuse, since it is no longer possible First remove a large number of items from the cupboard with a card and then "lose" the card so that it can no longer be identified can know which items have been removed from the cabinet.

The compartments with the articles are particularly preferably arranged in such a way that they can be operated the customer can be turned past the removal opening so that the Customer can first look at all items before opting for a specific item decides.

A selected subject can expediently be operated by the customer or user are released so that the article contained in this subject is removed can be.

With certain sensors, e.g. Pressure sensors, light barriers, etc. Information about the items removed from the closet can be obtained so that it is not necessary to provide compartments in the cupboard and the individual items thus e.g. after opening the cabinet door after release by the inserted storage medium can be easily removed, the relevant information then be registered on the storage medium.

It is advantageously indicated on the cabinet by means of a suitable display device that whether items have been removed from the cabinet. Thus can be determined at a glance whether the cabinet needs to be refilled.

The information registered in the cabinet about the removed information can be particularly preferred Articles are registered on an additional storage medium, which the Operating personnel are plugged into the cabinet when the operating personnel checks whether Items have been removed from the closet. The information contained in the cabinet the removed articles are then written to this storage medium so that For example, to fill up multiple cabinets, only a single storage medium in each These cabinets must be plugged in and the information on this storage medium about the type and number of all items to be refilled. With This storage medium can therefore relatively easily determine the exact number of articles required can be determined so that it is no longer necessary to refill these items To keep stock.

According to the invention is a device for receiving the storage medium for the cabinet provided, which does not necessarily have to be arranged on the cabinet itself, but for Example can also be arranged at a central point in the room. So it would be also possible, the storage medium not only to operate the cabinet, but also e.g. to operate a hotel's own pay TV system. Furthermore, the Cabinet designed according to the invention, a control device with which information on the selected or removed article on the storage medium and can be recorded in the closet.

Cooling units are particularly preferably arranged in the cabinet, so that in this Items contained in the cabinet can be refrigerated and thus kept fresh longer. Also Such cooling units are useful for cooling beverages.

In a further preferred embodiment, the compartments of the cabinet are on one rotatable pad arranged so that the different items of each subject can be selected by rotating the pad.

Viewing windows are particularly preferably arranged on the cabinet, so that the customer can view items in the cabinet before deciding on an item.

In a preferred embodiment, two rotatable disks are provided thereon Compartments arranged one above the other so that the customer has a large selection of articles can be presented.

The control device of the cabinet is particularly preferably designed such that it is a Record chip card and record information on it.

The cabinet preferably has sensors which provide information about those in the cabinet contained and / or removed items from the cabinet.

A display device for displaying those recorded in the cabinet is advantageous Information provided on the cabinet so that, for example, without additional aids It can be determined which and how many items have been removed from the cabinet are.

It is also advantageous to provide two lamps of different colors on the cabinet, which indicate whether items have been removed from the cabinet at all. In particular, it is advantageous to provide a green lamp on the cabinet, which indicates that no items have been removed from the cupboard, and also a red one Provide lamp that indicates that at least one item has been removed from the cabinet has been.

In the cabinet, a control device is provided with which the Information recorded in the cabinet on a storage medium to be inserted into the cabinet can be written. It must be done by a person holding the cabinet refills, just insert a suitable card into the cabinet; the control device in the closet can see that this is not the one described above Storage medium for removing articles from the closet, after which the Control device the stored information about the removed items on this Storage medium can be transferred. It can also provide information to identify this Cabinets with be transferred to the storage medium, so that with the filling of the Cabinets entrusted to a person simply insert this storage medium into several cabinets can, so then, for example, in the warehouse using this storage medium and the information recorded on it the exact number of different required Items can be brought back to the cabinets from which items have been removed replenish.

Fig. 1

eine Vorderansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Schrankes;

Fig. 2

einen vertikalen Schnitt durch den Schrank nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf den Schrank nach Fig. 1; und

Fig. 4

ein Flußdiagramm eines Teils des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

The invention is explained in detail using a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a front view of the cabinet according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a vertical section through the cabinet of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

a plan view of the cabinet of FIG. 1; and

Fig. 4

a flowchart of part of the method according to the invention.

The cabinet 1 shown in FIG. 1 has two viewing windows 11a and 11b on its front side through which the customer can view the items in the cabinet can. The viewing windows are interrupted in the middle by openings 2a and 2b which flaps 17a and 17b are arranged. The flaps 17a and 17b are through Locking devices 5a and 5b locked and can be opened after unlocking so that the customer through the openings 2a and 2b of the viewing window 11a and 11b reach into the cabinet 1 and remove the desired item. The cupboard 1 also has a receiving opening 4 for a chip card and a control panel 6. Of course, it is also possible that the receiving opening 4 for the chip card and the control panel 6 are arranged separately from the cabinet. The control panel 6 consists of three Keys with which the selection of the desired articles to be removed from the cabinet 1 can be made. To do this, first turn the inside of the Cabinet lying and not shown rotatable discs 7 rotated so that the desired Article to be removed is behind one of the flaps 17a and 17b. Subsequently can with the release buttons 6a and 6b, the upper flap 17a and the lower flap 17b released by appropriate control of the locking devices 5a and 5b become. The position of the disk 7 can be used to determine which article is selected or was removed, so that this information on the inserted storage medium and can be registered in the closet.

As shown in Fig. 2, two rotatable discs 7 are one above the other in the interior of the cabinet arranged. Through the centers of the two discs 7 is in the vertical direction guided an axis 12 which is rotatably mounted in the cabinet 1. The axis 12 points on its underside a gear 15, which via a V-belt 13 with a Drive motor 14 is connected. The drive motor 14 can by means of those described above Rotary button 6c are controlled so that the axis 12 is rotated by the drive motor 14 as long as button 6c is pressed. Of course, it is also conceivable for the drive motor To be interpreted so that the axis 12 with each press of the rotary button 6c only by so much is rotated that the disc 7 is rotated only a little so that an adjacent compartment the compartment originally behind the removal opening 2a or 2b is now behind this The removal opening is located. Of course, there are other ways of controlling the drive motor 14 conceivable, e.g. two separate buttons for turning left or right. The cabinet 1 has on its back a cooling unit 8 and is on the top and bottom Insulations 16 provided.

The cabinet 1 has a green lamp 18a and a red one at its upper right corner Lamp 18b on. If the cabinet 1 is filled, only the green lamp 18a lights up. Becomes An article removed from the cabinet 1, the green lamp 18a and the red go out Lamp 18b lights up.

The receiving opening 4 below the lamps 18a and 18b also serves for Inclusion of chip cards for the transmission in the control device of the cabinet 1 stored information on the type and number of items removed on this Smart card.

In Fig. 3 the rotatable disc 7 can be seen, which has compartments 3 on the edge, in which the articles can be placed. The front part 10 of the cabinet 1 is pivotable stored so that they can be used to fill the compartments 3 or for other service work can be opened. The chip card holder 4 is on the pivotable front part 10 arranged together with the control electronics 9.

FIG. 4 shows a flow or flow chart of part of the method according to the invention. Here it is first checked whether a storage medium is in the cabinet 1 or the receptacle 4 has been introduced. If no storage medium has been inserted, this check will be performed repeated. However, if a storage medium has been introduced, the first step is checks whether this is a valid customer card. If this is the case, then checked whether cabinet 1 was opened. In this case, the green one Lamp 18a switched to red lamp 18b. Furthermore, the information about the items taken from cabinet 1 written on the customer card. Finally this information is also stored on an internal memory of the cabinet 1 written. The process then returns to the starting point.

Should be determined in the previous step of checking the storage medium If it is that it is not a valid customer card, it is checked whether it is is a valid service card. If this is not the case, the process returns the initial state.

However, if a valid service card has been introduced, the cabinet code will be and / or the data is written from the internal memory of the cabinet 1 to the service card. The process then returns to its original state.

When billing, the customer card is e.g. presented at the reception and the on it read information contained, so that a quick and easy accounting of Item taken from the closet can be done.

A person entrusted with refilling the cabinet can either use the service card Go to other closets for more information on those from those others Store items removed from cabinets on this service card, or can be in go to a central warehouse to use the service card to determine which items are for which cabinets are needed to fill them up again.

Claims (19)

1. A process for removing items from a cupboard (1), comprising:

   a) a customer data storage medium being inserted into a device (4) for receiving said customer data storage medium;

   b) specific items being selected;

   c) the selected items being removed from the cupboard (1);

   d) said information about the selected or removed items being registered on the customer data storage medium; and

   e) said information being additionally evaluated in said cupboard (1),

   characterized in that

   f) said information being additionally stored in said cupboard (1) and

   g) said information being transferred onto a service storage medium in conjunction with the restocking of said cupboard (1), and

   h) said storage medium containing information defining how often specific compartments (3) may be opened.
2. The process as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that each storage medium is inserted into said cupboard (1).
3. The process as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said items are removed from the compartments (3) of said cupboard (1).
4. The process as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that information about said items removed, in particular, as regards how often each compartment (3) has been opened, is registered on said service storage medium.
5. The process as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said compartments (3) are arranged on a rotary platform (7) and can be rotated by means of a selection device (6c).
6. The process as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a compartment (3) is opened by means of a release device (6a, 6b).
7. The process as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that information about said items removed from said cupboard (1) is established by sensors.
8. The process as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a display device displays whether items have been removed from said cupboard (1).
9. A cupboard comprising:

   a) a device for accommodating items;

   b) at least one opening (2a, 2b) for removing an item;

   c) a closure device (5a, 5b, 17a, 17b);

   d) a registering means for establishing information about items selected or removed;

   e) a device (4) for receiving a storage medium; and

   f) a control device (9) for registering, on said storage medium, information about selected or removed items;

       characterized in that

   g) an additional device (9a) is provided in said cupboard (1) for registering said information about selected or removed items,

   h) said device (9a) being capable of transferring said information onto said service storage medium, and

   i) said device (9a) defining, in dependence on the information read from said storage medium, a specific number of opening operations for specific compartments.
10. The cupboard as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that said cupboard (1) comprises a cooling assembly (8).
11. The cupboard as set forth in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said cupboard (1) comprises compartments (3).
12. The cupboard as set forth in any of the claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said compartments (3) are arranged on at least one rotary platform (7).
13. The cupboard as set forth in any of the claims 9 to 12, characterized in that viewing windows (11a, 11b) are arranged in said cupboard (1).
14. The cupboard as set forth in claim 12 or claim 13, characterized in that two rotary platforms (7) are arranged one above the other in said cupboard (1).
15. The cupboard as set forth in any of the claims 9 to 14, characterized in that said control device (9) is suitable for registering information on a service chip card.
16. The cupboard as set forth in any of the claims 9 to 15, characterized in that sensors are arranged in said cupboard (1) which provide information about items contained in or removed from said cupboard (1).
17. The cupboard as set forth in any of the claims 9 to 16, characterized in that a display device is provided on said cupboard for displaying information recorded in said cupboard.
18. The cupboard as set forth in any of the claims 9 to 17, characterized in that said display device consists of a red lamp for indicating that items have been removed, and a green lamp indicating that no items have been removed.
19. The cupboard as set forth in any of the claims 9 to 18, characterized in that a control device is provided in said cupboard by means of which information recorded in said cupboard can be written onto said service storage medium.

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