FR3051067A3 - DISTRIBUTOR OF KEYS OR OTHER ELEMENTS FOR VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles, characterized in that it comprises: an external touch screen located outside the dispenser (1) to allow interaction with the customer; an electronic module (2) which comprises: - at least one radio frequency identification reader (6) for identifying each key when it is stored in the dispenser (1) by maintenance personnel; a computer (7) programmed for managing the dispenser; - A hopper (11) where is deposited the released key; a key module (3) which comprises: - a plurality of support means (8) for the keys or other elements useful for renting and driving a vehicle; at least one motor (9) acting on the support means (8) for the automatic release of each key; a plurality of presence sensors, each being associated with a support means (8); the distributor (1) having separation means (12) for isolating the key module (3) from the electronic module (2).

Description

DISTRIBUTOR OF KEYS OR OTHER ELEMENTS FOR VEHICLES PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dispensing device, more particularly and preferably, of the type of key distributors and other elements that allow a user to rent a vehicle, and comprising identification means for automatically returning the correct key. . The object of the invention is to provide an economical dispensing device which, without the presence of a robot, allows the delivery of keys or other items that allow the user to access the vehicle he has rented in the fastest and most comfortable way possible, providing 24/7 customer service 365 days a year.

Essentially, the key dispenser includes an RFID sensor that will be used by maintenance personnel to identify the coded key that will be received in the dispenser and will be ready for delivery, and a touch screen in the outer casing through which the key The user will identify the previously performed rental transaction to receive the appropriate key.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, there are various types of devices that make it easy to rent a car. By way of example, there are known devices which comprise an automatic vehicle rental system in which the storage of each of the correctly coded keys takes place in individual compartments or individual cassettes. Thus, the client communicates with a control unit that asks him to identify his reservation in order to assign him the key of a vehicle and provide him with the number of the box he must access to recover the key of the rented vehicle.

The main disadvantage presented by these distributors is that they imply, necessarily, the permanent presence of a person in the control center that responds to requests from customers to allow access to the correct compartment.

Another known example relates to key distributors which comprise two separate modules, a module formed by a plurality of safety boxes where each box houses a key, and another separate module that houses the electronic means that interact with the customer and control the system. opening of a box for automatic access by the customer for the recovery of the key.

These key distributors have among their drawbacks the need to have, in each safety box, an identification means that determines the coded key that houses. In addition, the need to understand a plurality of boxes, each in combination with high-resistance equipment to house the key of a car with a minimum guarantee of safety, implies a high economic cost of these distributors, being very bulky and thus becoming virtually inaccessible for their manufacture.

Thus, to date, it is not known, in the state of the art, economic key distributors that include in the same module as well the keys of rental vehicles that electronic elements, without the need to understand a locker for each key and / or robot that removes the appropriate key.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The dispenser according to the invention is intended to hand over both vehicle keys, so as to ensure the realization preferably of renting a car, as the delivery of other accessories that may be useful for the driver while driving vehicle, such as a GPS device.

In particular, the key distributor and other accessories for vehicles comprises two clearly distinct modules: a module in which are stored the keys to be distributed, called key module, and an electronic module that includes all the electronic components that allow the automatic delivery of the correct key requested by the customer.

Thus, the customer actuates the device according to the invention from the outside through a touch screen in which he will identify and identify the reservation to receive the key requested.

While the maintenance operator of the car rental company will have access to the inside of the device in order to hand over the keys to distribute and remove them in a controlled manner (with consistency and registration in the system) and even to perform various maintenance operations.

In order to offer an automatic key delivery from an order made by the customer, the distributor electronics module comprises the following elements: at least one radio frequency identification reader, allowing the identification of each key when it is stored in the distributor by a maintenance staff, either through RFID (English abbreviation for radio frequency identification) or NFC (acronym in English for near-field communication); a computer programmed for the management of the distributor; a hopper, where the released key is deposited.

While the key module includes the following: a plurality of support means for keys or other items useful for renting and driving a car; at least one motor acting on the support means for the automatic release of each key; a plurality of presence sensors each associated with a support means.

Thus, the distributor contains a separation means for isolating the key module from the electronic module. The presence of this separating means, preferably a door-type panel, makes it possible to keep the keys in a safe place to which only the said appropriately identified and authorized user has access.

Optionally, the hopper includes a presence sensor to confirm the output of the key requested by the customer.

Optionally, the electronic module comprises a touch screen located inside the dispenser, preferably at a height which facilitates easy access for the maintenance operator.

In addition, the device may include a mechanism for locking the opening of the hopper which prevents access to the interior of the hopper. In particular, this security mechanism is released only when the hopper opening instruction runs from the program installed in the computer. This is of great use to prevent, for example, a client access to it in a case in which he wants to return a key through this channel. From the elements mentioned, the maintenance operator of the dispenser will open the device to access the touch screen located inside it, through which it continues the operation, as to have access to the key module. At this point, maintenance personnel identify each key, preferably via an RFID tag in the key that is read into an RFID reader, although optionally the key may also be identified through the license plate of the vehicle. Thus, the information is received by the program installed in the ororidator to then indicate to the maintenance personnel the particular means of support for positioning the key. On the other hand, when a customer identifies his reservation, using the touch screen located outside the distributor, this information is received by the program installed in the computer to then offer the customer different vehicle models available in according to the reservation made. Once the customer has selected the vehicle to recover, said program identifies the position of the key assigned to the selection made and allows to automatically operate the engine that releases the key of the corresponding support means.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention allows the delivery of keys automatically without the need to understand a security compartment for each key to store, offering a key distributor construction simple and economically interesting.

In addition, and in order to provide a safer device, the separation means comprises a steel enclosure of at least 4 mm and a safety closure to provide additional anti-vandalism means.

Optionally, the device according to the invention may comprise in its base a lifting system to facilitate its movement. In particular, the lifting system is composed of a support in the base of the device with wheels and a mechanical lifting system.

In addition, the key distributor could allow a customer to return the key after the rental of the vehicle. For this, the electronic module of the device is provided with at least one seocnd RFID reader to identify the key to return, estimating the date and time of return. The device, in this additional embodiment, comprises an additional storage or compartment where the returned keys are stored. Other optional components that can be included in the electronic module of the dispenser according to the invention, in order to provide superior performance, are an uninterrupted power supply system (ASI) and / or a printer for generating printed supporting documents and / or issue a reduced printed copy of the contract.

Finally, other optional components that may include the distributor are: a camera, for example biometric, to capture the customer's face and increase the security of the operation; an external reader for reading codes, such as barcodes, QRs, etc. to identify the reservation when the customer has a printed copy of the reservation or to scan the customer's reservation, if this is the key obtained; a validator scanner for identifying customer documents, and / or, a card payment module; a telephone terminal for communication with the operator that can help the customer; a card dispenser for, for example, issuing parking tickets.

Optionally, and in order to attract the customer's attention, are included lighting devices, preferably LEDs, in each element located outside the device.

Thus, when, for example, the customer has to retrieve the contract, the associated LED of the printer will be lit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the description which will be made next and in order to help a better understanding of the features of the present invention, in accordance with a practical preferred embodiment thereof, is appended as an integral part of said description, a game. Figures for illustrative and not limiting, which shows the following: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the interior of the dispensing device; Figure 2 shows the outside of the dispensing device of the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the key module; and Figure 4 is a detail view of the key support means or other elements in the key module.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In Figure 1 is shown the assembly of the invention with its doors completely open, consisting of the key distributor 1 and other elements for vehicles, preferably for rental cars, which comprises two clearly distinct modules.

An electronic module 2 which comprises electronic components that allow the correct delivery of keys and a key module 3 where the keys to be distributed are stored.

In particular, the maintenance personnel identifies themselves in the external screen 4, once it is verified that it is authorized, the door of the device 1 allows its opening and the maintenance personnel can access the key module 3 through a security key.

An RFID reader 6 allows the identification of each key when it is stored in the dispenser 1 by the maintenance personnel. This operation is continued from the internal touch screen 5.

Figure 1 also shows a computer 7, programmed for the automatic management of the distributor, and a plurality of motors 9, so that each is associated with a support means 8, allowing the automatic release of the key of the support means 8 corresponding. Optionally, the key module comprises LEDs in each support means (not shown in the Figure), in order to indicate the state of each support means - free, busy or faulty - via the lighting in different colours.

Figure 2 shows the outside of the dispensing device 1, comprising an external touch screen 4 which allows interaction with the customer, and a hopper 11 up to which the key released from the key module 3 arrives so that the customer can recover it. In the figures is not indicated the internal channel which carries the key of the key module 3 to the hopper 11.

Figures 3 and 4 show perspective and detail views, respectively, of the key module 3 in which there is a plurality of support means 8 for positioning keys or other elements useful for rental and driving a vehicle, and a plurality of presence sensors 10, each being associated with a support means 8, which will indicate to the device the presence or absence of an object in the support means.

The dispenser 1 contains a separating means 12, preferably an inner door, for isolating the key module 3 from the electronic module 2, in order to allow access to the key module 3 only to the users identified and duly authorized in the application. external touch screen 4.

Finally, it should be noted that in Figure 1 is in the base of the device a lifting system 13 to facilitate the movement of the dispenser.

Claims (15)

1. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles, characterized in that it comprises: an external touch screen (4) located outside the distributor (1) to allow interaction with the customer, an electronic module (2) which comprises: at least one radio frequency identification reader (6) for identifying each key when it is stored in the dispenser (1) by a maintenance person, a computer (7) programmed for the management of the dispenser, a hopper (11) where the released key is deposited, a key module (3) which comprises: a plurality of support means (8) for the keys or other elements useful for renting and driving a vehicle, at least one motor (9) acting on the support means (8) for the automatic release of each key, a plurality of presence sensors (10) each associated with a support means (8), the dispenser (1) having a separating means n (12) for isolating the key module (3) from the electronic module (2). 2. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic module (2) has an internal touch screen (5). 3. Dispenser (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating means (12) has a steel enclosure of at least 4 mm and a safety closure to provide a additional anti-vandalism means. 4. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the distributor (1) comprises in its base a lifting system (13) to facilitate its movement. 5. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic module comprises at least one RFID reader (6) for identifying the keys to return, estimating the date and the time of return and an additional storage or compartment that collects the returned keys. 6. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic module (2) comprises an ASI. 7. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic module (2) comprises a printer for generating printed supporting documents and reduced copies of contract. 8. Dispenser (1) keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the hopper (11) comprises a presence sensor in the hopper to confirm the output of the requested key. 9. Dispenser (1) keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the hopper (11) has a locking mechanism of the opening thereof. 10. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the distributor (1) comprises a camera. 11. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the distributor (1) comprises an external reader code reading. 12. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispenser (1) comprises a validator scanner for the identification of customer documents. 13. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispenser (1) comprises a card payment module. 14. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the distributor (1) comprises a telephone terminal. 15. Distributor (1) of keys or other elements for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispenser (1) comprises a card dispenser.