JP2002180711A - Key management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely manage a key, to centrally and collectively manage key utilization states in key boxes on the remote center host side and to minimally lighten the burdens of managers for each key box. SOLUTION: A lending key in a type that a key can be detached from a key cylinder in case of locking but the key is held to the key cylinder in the case of unlocking is used. A large number of the key cylinders 11 and selector switches 24 are disposed on the front panel surface 22 of the key box 20, key detecting control mechanisms 30 detecting the presence of the installation of the key while permitting and controlling the rotation of the key are incorporated at every key cylinder in the key box, and a card reader section 32 reading the data of use cards is mounted. The turn-on of the selector switches is permitted to adequate use and the corresponding key can be lent, and the key is returned by fitting to the key cylinders of the key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for automatically managing the use of a large number of keys. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system for locking and unlocking a key used for a rental item from a key box. The present invention relates to a key management system for attaching and detaching a key. This system is not particularly limited, but is useful, for example, for renting out a key for a shared bicycle in an apartment or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the increase in the number of bicycles possessed by each house, it has become difficult to secure a bicycle parking space especially in apartment houses such as condominiums. Bicycles that could not be accommodated in the bicycle parking lot and overflowed onto the road were a serious problem from the viewpoint of disaster prevention as well as the deterioration of the scenery. As a method for solving this problem, a shared bicycle system has been proposed. If you put a shared bicycle in a part of the apartment's bicycle parking area and make it available at any time,
It is based on the idea that the required bicycle parking space can be reduced and at the same time residents who use bicycles less frequently do not need to purchase bicycles individually.

[0003] When a key manager (a condominium manager or the like) is resident, it is possible to cope with the rental of shared bicycles to some extent, but some condominiums do not have a resident manager. It is difficult to always respond even if they are resident. Therefore, it is necessary to automatically and automatically transfer keys.

[0004] As a key management system for such a rental bicycle (shared bicycle), several configurations have been proposed and some of them have been put into practical use. A typical example is
There is a key box that can be opened and closed. A large number of bicycle keys are suspended and arranged in a ring in a key box, and the user can read a usage card (magnetic card) or
Alternatively, the door of the key box is opened by inputting a personal identification number, necessary keys are taken out, and the door is closed. When returning, open the key box door in the same way, return the key,
Close the door. With this configuration, the usage time of the user can be obtained from the time interval for opening and closing the door. Therefore, there is a printer in which a printer is mounted on a key box so that the usage time of each user can be printed out.

There is also a configuration in which such a key box and a bicycle parking machine are combined. Remove the bicycle parking device with the key removed from the key box and take out the bicycle. When returning, put the bicycle in the bicycle parking device, lock it with the key, and return the key to the key box. This configuration has the advantage that the actual usage of each bicycle can be managed by the bicycle parking device.

[0006]

However, the conventional key box cannot accurately grasp the actual use status of the rental bicycle. Although the opening and closing of the key box door can be controlled, it does not prevent the same user from taking multiple keys at the same time and preventing unauthorized use, such as which key is being removed and whether the key has been returned securely. Because it cannot be strictly checked, key management cannot be performed reliably.

[0007] If a bicycle parking device with a locking device is installed, it is possible to detect the use status of each rental bicycle. However, since each bicycle parking device is expensive, it is economical to install many bicycles. This is a heavy burden and it is difficult to introduce equipment. Moreover, if the key box itself is not improved, key management is insufficient. There is a possibility that a mismatch between the rental / storage key in the key box as described above and the removal / locking bicycle by the bicycle parking machine may occur.For example, even though the bicycle is put in the bicycle parking machine, the key is not stored in the key box. A situation such as not being stored may also occur.

An object of the present invention is to provide a key management system capable of performing key management reliably. Another object of the present invention is to allow a person having a valid use card to use only one key, and to manage a key such as which key is lent by which use card and when it is returned. It is to provide a key management system that can be performed reliably. Still another object of the present invention is to centrally manage the key usage status of a large number of distributed key boxes on a remote center host side, and minimize the burden on the administrator of each key box. To provide a key management system that can

[0009]

According to the present invention, a key is releasable from a key cylinder at the time of locking, but a key is held by the key cylinder at the time of unlocking. A plurality of key cylinders are arranged so that their key insertion surfaces are exposed, and a selection switch corresponding to each key cylinder is arranged. A key detection control mechanism that permits and regulates movement is incorporated for each key cylinder, and a card reader that reads data from the card used is installed. By turning on the switch, the corresponding key can be rented out, and the key is returned by attaching the lent key to the key cylinder. It is a key management system that was so.

As described above, according to the present invention, the key is detached from the key box by using the locking / unlocking operation by the key used for the rental article.
There is a characteristic in that respect. This key management system is not particularly limited, but is useful, for example, for renting a key for a shared bicycle in an apartment or the like. In this case, for example, as a rental key, a wire lock key or a ring lock key that is passed through the rear wheel of the shared bicycle and locked in a ring shape is used, and the wire lock or the ring lock is located near the saddle of the shared bicycle. Is preferable. Of course, the present invention can be applied to key management of any article other than the shared bicycle. For example, a system for sharing a small electric vehicle has recently been proposed from the viewpoints of pollution prevention and effective use of a parking space, like a shared bicycle. The key management system of the present invention is also effective in such a case. Alternatively, it can be used for a key management system of a special common facility such as a media room.

The present invention further comprises a key lending / returning status storage means in the key box and an external communication means, and the key lending / returning means stored in the storage means in each key box by the communication means. This is a key management system configured to transmit status data to a center host, collectively and centrally manage the status data, and notify a key box administrator of information on the aggregated key usage status.

As a key detection control mechanism in the key management system of the present invention, a cam disposed so as to face a plunger protruding and retracting from the rear end face of the key cylinder with the rotation of the key, and an electromagnetic control for controlling the rotation of the cam. A solenoid and a spring, and a micro switch for detecting the rotation position of the cam are provided. The micro switch detects the presence or absence of a key, and the key is turned by an electromagnetic solenoid which is energized in response to the turning on of a selection switch. There is a structure that allows movement and restricts key rotation when the spring is contracted and deformed.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a front panel surface showing an embodiment of a key box used in a key management system according to the present invention, which is an example applied to a shared bicycle system (a rental bicycle system) for an apartment or the like. . The key box is installed in a place that is not exposed to the weather, such as the entrance to a bicycle parking lot. The commercial power supply AC100V can be used and communication is possible (for example, P
(Where HS can be used).

First, the key to be managed will be described. In the present invention, a rental key is used in which the key can be detached from the key cylinder at the time of locking, but the key is held (fixed) by the key cylinder at the time of unlocking. For example, a commercially available bicycle wire lock key as schematically shown in FIG. 6 can be used as it is. This wire lock 10
Is provided with a cylinder holder 12 that wraps and holds the key cylinder 11, an engaging portion 13, and a wire (or a chain or the like) 14 of an appropriate length connected therebetween. A concave portion 15 is provided at the rear end portion of the key cylinder, and the engaging portion 13 has a structure having a bulging distal end portion 13a that fits into the concave portion 15. The key cylinder 12 has a circumferential groove 16 and a notch 17 formed on the front surface (see FIG. 6B), and the tip of the key 18 can be inserted into the circumferential groove 16 and the notch 17.

FIG. 6A shows a locked state. Engaging part 1
3 with the recess 15 of the cylinder holder 12
Insert the key 18 to a suitable angle (for example, 180 degrees).
Degree), the plunger 19 moves from the key cylinder 11
The key 18 projects and is locked, and the key 18 can be removed from the key cylinder 11. C in FIG. 6 represents the time of unlocking. Key 18
Into the key cylinder 11 at an appropriate angle (here, 1
When the plunger 19 rotates, the plunger 19 enters the key cylinder 17 and is unlocked.
a can be extracted from the concave portion 15 of the cylinder holder 12, but the key 18 is held by the key cylinder 11 (since the position of the projection 18a at the tip of the key is different from the position of the notch 17 of the key cylinder 11 by 180 degrees). It cannot be removed.

Since there are many kinds of cylinder keys of this kind (usually 100 kinds or more), different keys can be installed in a key box in which several tens of key cylinders are arranged. There is no inconvenience such as mounting at a position, which is preferable in key management. In addition,
At the time of installation, a part of the wire is fixed to the bicycle with a mounting bracket or the like so that the wire lock cannot be separated from the bicycle. In order to facilitate locking and unlocking operations, it is preferable to fix the device near the saddle so that the rear wheel can be locked through a wire. In the case of a ring lock, the fixed side is originally attached to the bicycle and the arc-shaped movable part protrudes and retracts, so when the movable part comes out and forms a ring as a whole, the wheel is locked. Become.

According to the present invention, a key that can be released from the key cylinder when locking is used, but a key that is held by the key cylinder when unlocking is used.
The feature of the present invention resides in that the key itself is directly managed such that the key is a wire lock key and at the same time is inserted and held in a key cylinder of a key box.

Returning to FIG. 1, as shown at A, a large number of key cylinders 11 are arranged on the front panel surface 22 of the key box 20 so that the key insertion surface (front end surface) is exposed. Selection switch (yellow lighting type lending switch) 24 corresponding to each key cylinder 11
And a rental indicator light (red light) 26 is provided. Here, four rows of key control units 28 in five rows and two columns are arranged in parallel so that a total of 40 keys can be managed.
By changing the number of units at the time of production, it is possible to easily cope with an increase or decrease in the number of keys to be managed. As shown in FIG. 1C, a key detection control mechanism 30 that detects the presence or absence of the key 18 and permits and restricts the key rotation is incorporated in each key cylinder inside the key box. In addition, a card reader unit 32 for reading data of a use card carried by the user is provided. Here, an IC card is adopted,
Data can be read in a non-contact manner simply by holding the card over the card reader unit 32. Further, in the vicinity of the card reader section 32 on the front panel surface 22, a "READY" lamp 33 which is always lit when the card can be used, an "OK" lamp 34 which indicates that the lending by the use card is valid, and an "NG" which indicates invalid. The lamp 35 is installed.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an internal block of the key box.
Shown in As described above, the key box has N pieces (N is 1
Each of the key control units 28 is provided with M (M is an integer of 2 or more) key attachment / detachment / detection units 36. The key attaching / detaching / detecting unit 36 includes a set of a key cylinder 11, a key detection control mechanism 30, a selection switch 24, and an indicator light 26 in FIG. They are CPU (microprocessor) 3
8 is controlled. In addition, the card reader unit 32 and “RE
The "ADY" lamp 33, the "OK" lamp 34, the "NG" lamp 35 and the like are also controlled by the CPU 38. Also, a key lending / returning status storage means 40 in a key box,
An external communication means (for example, a PHS modem or the like) 42 is provided. In addition, a key box error occurs (for example,
An abnormality detecting means (such as a microswitch) 44 and an alarm generating mechanism (such as a buzzer) 46 for detecting the opening of a box panel) are also controlled by the CPU 38. The communication unit 42 is configured to transmit key lending / return status data stored in the storage unit 40 to the center host.

The panel display shown in FIG. 1 is operated as follows by the CPU 38 inside the key box. "READ
The “Y” lamp 33 is always lit when the key box is available. The “OK” lamp 34 lights up when the held use card is valid. After lighting, any one of the selection switches 24 for a predetermined time (for example, about 10 seconds)
When the selection switch 24 is not pressed even after 10 seconds have elapsed, the light is turned off and the process is canceled.
The “NG” lamp 35 lights up when the held use card is not valid, such as when the card expires. Indicator light (red) 26
Turns on when the key 18 is lent, and changes to a blinking state when the preset available time has elapsed without returning the key 18. In addition, during key lending, the same use card becomes NG, and control is performed so that double lending is prohibited.

The key box 20 incorporates an abnormal alarm system for crime prevention or the like. For example, when a key is removed by a function other than the normal operation, the alarm detection mechanism (buzzer) 46 operates by the function of the key detection mechanism. When the door (front panel surface 22) of the key box 20 is opened, an abnormality detecting means (micro switch) attached to the door is also provided.
An alarm is issued by the signal of 44. These abnormal occurrences are
It is sent from the key box to the center host and displayed on the computer display.

FIG. 3 shows an operation mode of this shared bicycle system.
Shown in The administrator notifies the center host of necessary data such as a user list and requests the card to be issued. The center host creates a usage card based on the data and sends it to the manager. On the center host side, when creating a use card, register the card data in the computer, transfer the data to the corresponding key box, write it to the storage means, and set the key box so that the use card can be used . When renting a bicycle, the administrator can arbitrarily set the maximum use time that can be used at one time. When the administrator notifies the center host, the use time is set by registering the center host with the computer and transferring it to the key box. Data transfer from the center host to the key box is PH
It is performed directly using S radio waves.

When a user of a rental bicycle receives a use card from the manager, the user can use the shared bicycle. The data on the usage status in the key box is sent to the computer on the center host side by PHS communication. This data is used as a reference when the center host prepares a report to be sent to the apartment manager. Each month, the condominium manager can receive necessary information on the usage status (total for each user and total for each bicycle) in the form of a report from the center host. The total for each user is a total of the use card number, the number of times of use, the time of use, the number of times of excess, the excess time, and the like, and the use status of the individual can be understood. The total for each bicycle is obtained by totaling the bicycle number, the number of uses, the use time, and the like, so that it is possible to know which bicycle is used frequently. Further, if necessary, a final history list can be obtained, and when the bicycle is not returned, it is possible to know who used the bicycle last.

The lending operation (procedure) using the key box is as follows. The user can use the “READY” lamp 33
Confirm that is lit, and hold the usage card over the card reader unit 32. Then, the data is read, and if the card is valid, the “OK” lamp 34 is turned on. "O
Within 10 seconds after the "K" lamp 34 is turned on, the indicator lamp 26
The selection switch 24 of the place where is not lit (the place where the indicator light is lit is under lending) is pressed. After 10 seconds have elapsed, the process is canceled. In this case, the user's card is held over the card reader 32 again. When the selection switch 24 is pressed, the lamp of the selection switch is turned on, and the rotation of the corresponding key 18 is permitted. Therefore,
When the key 18 is turned 180 degrees counterclockwise, it can be taken out of the key cylinder 11. At this time, the indicator light 26 at that location lights up, and the CPU starts measuring the lending time inside the key box. The key lock 18 is used to release the wire lock of the corresponding bicycle in the bicycle parking lot.

The return operation is performed as follows. Return the bicycle to the parking lot, lock the wire, insert the key 18 into the key cylinder 11 at the corresponding position of the key box 2, and turn it 180 degrees clockwise. The indicator light 26 at that location is turned off, and the key 18 is fixed to the key cylinder 11 again. The measurement of the lending time is completed inside the key box, and the data is left. There is no need to hold the card when returning the card.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a key box arrangement situation. When the number of shared bicycles installed in an apartment is small, one key box is sufficient, but when the number of shared bicycles is large, one key box is not enough and a plurality of key boxes must be arranged side by side. Also, when the bicycle parking lots are dispersed, it is necessary to provide a plurality of key boxes. Further, such a shared bicycle system is provided in various places. Therefore, the center host 48 can centrally manage them collectively. Each key box 20 includes the PHS communication means as described above, and directly exchanges data with the center host. For example, once a day, at a preset time, data on the key lending / returning status stored in the key box is transmitted to the center host. The center host rewrites data in the key box as needed. The administrator and the center host communicate by mail or facsimile and send reports.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a key detection control mechanism incorporated in a key box. The key detection control mechanism is incorporated in each key cylinder, and has a function of detecting whether or not a key is mounted and permitting / restricting key rotation. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the key is being returned, and FIG. 5B shows a state in which the key is being lent. As described above, the key cylinder 11 is fixed by the mounting bracket 50 so that the key insertion surface (key cylinder tip surface) is exposed on the front panel surface 22 of the key box. This is a structure in which the plunger 19 appears and disappears.

A cam 52 is supported near the rear end face of the key cylinder. An electromagnetic solenoid 54 and a coil spring 56 for controlling the rotation of the cam 52 are provided. The pin 58 is set up at a position eccentric from the center axis of the cam 52, and the link 60
With this, it is connected to the movable rod 62 of the electromagnetic solenoid 54. An L-shaped arm 64 is fixed to the side surface of the cam 52, and a coil spring 56 is stretched between the tip and the front panel surface. Therefore, the movable rod 62 of the electromagnetic solenoid 54
Is retracted, the coil spring 56 expands,
Conversely, the electromagnetic solenoid 54 and the coil spring 56 are arranged substantially linearly such that the movable rod 62 of the electromagnetic solenoid 54 projects when the coil spring 56 contracts. On the other hand, facing the cam 52, the microswitch 66
The movable piece 68 swings by contact with the cam surface and turns on and off.

In the state in which the key is being returned as shown in FIG. 5A, the coil spring 56 contracts due to its resilient force, and the cam 52 rotates to make the circumferential surface extremely close to the rear end surface of the key cylinder. Because it is located near the key cylinder 11
Is in a state where the plunger is prevented from projecting. Therefore, the key 18 does not turn even if the user tries to turn the key 18, and the key 18 does not fall out of the key cylinder 11. Also, the cam 52
Is located at a position facing the movable piece 68 of the microswitch 66, the microswitch 66 is off.

When the selection switch 24 is pressed, as shown in FIG. 5B, the electromagnetic solenoid 54 is urged, and the movable rod 62 is retracted against the resilience of the coil spring 56, and the cam 52 rotates. I do. Then, the cam surface (notch surface)
Face the rear end face of the key cylinder, and a certain gap is generated.
That is, a space is created in which the plunger 19 of the key cylinder 11 can protrude, and the key 18 can be turned.
When the key 18 is turned 180 degrees in this state, the key cylinder 1
One plunger 19 protrudes. Then, since the cam 52 cannot rotate, this state is maintained even when the power supply to the electromagnetic solenoid 54 is stopped. At this time, the circumferential surface of the cam 52 presses the movable piece 68 of the micro switch 66,
The micro switch 66 switches to the ON state. This is the state in which the key is being lent.

Insert the key 18 into the key cylinder 11
When turned by 80 degrees, the plunger 19 of the key cylinder 11 is retracted. Then, the coil spring 56 is contracted by the elastic force of the coil spring 56 (the movable rod 62 of the electromagnetic solenoid 54 which is free is drawn out), and the cam 52 rotates. As a result, the key 18 is fixed to the key cylinder 11 as shown in FIG.

As described above, the presence or absence of the key 18 is detected by the micro switch 66, and the electromagnetic solenoid 54 is activated in response to the turning on of the selection switch 24.
Accordingly, the rotation of the key is permitted, and the rotation of the key is restricted when the spring 56 is contracted and deformed. As described above, the output signal from the microswitch is sent to the CPU, and the control of the selection switch and the indicator light is also performed by the CPU.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to only such a configuration. The key management system of the present invention can be used not only for renting bicycles but also for renting any other rental articles, and is not limited to the wire lock type, but can be applied to any lock type. Further, the configuration of each part, the members used, and the like may be appropriately changed. For example, although a contactless IC card is used as a use card, a magnetic card or the like may be used. The key may have another structure. Communication with the center host can also be performed over a normal telephone line. In the key detection control mechanism,
Although a combination of an electromagnetic solenoid and a spring is used to fulfill the function of permitting and restricting the key rotation, a configuration in which a cam is rotated using a motor or the like is also possible. The card can be used not only as a means of verifying the identity but also as a method of charging according to the time of use (prepaid type, postpaid type, etc.). The present invention has a high degree of freedom and a very wide range of use.

[0034]

As described above, the present invention is a key management system for attaching and detaching a key from a key box by using a locking / unlocking operation of a key used for a rental article or the like, so that key management is ensured. Can be done. In addition, a key detection control mechanism that detects the presence / absence of a key and allows / restricts key rotation is installed inside the key box, and a card reader that reads data from the card used is installed.
Allowing the appropriate user to turn on the selection switch, turning on any selection switch allows the corresponding key to be lent, and mounting the lent key to the key cylinder allows the key to be returned. The key management system is designed so that only those who have a valid usage card can use only one key and ensure key management such as which key was borrowed by whom and when it was returned. Can be done.

According to the present invention, the key use condition storage means and the external communication means are provided in the key box, and the key use condition data stored in the storage means in each key box is stored by the communication means. Since the key management system is transmitted to the center host, key lending / returning status of a large number of distributed key boxes can be centrally managed collectively on the remote center host.
The burden on the key box administrator can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a front panel surface showing an embodiment of a key box used in a key management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an internal block of a key box.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation mode of the shared bicycle system.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a key box arrangement situation.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a key detection control mechanism incorporated in a key box.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a wire lock.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 key cylinder 18 key 20 key box 22 front panel surface 24 selection switch 26 indicator light 28 key control unit 30 key detection control mechanism 32 card reader unit 33 "READY" lamp 34 "OK" lamp 35 "NG" lamp

Claims (4)

[Claims] A key can be released from a key cylinder when locked, but a key is held by the key cylinder when unlocked, and a plurality of key cylinders are inserted into a front panel surface of a key box using a lent key. A key switch is provided so that the surface is exposed, and a selection switch corresponding to each key cylinder is provided. On the other hand, key detection detects whether a key is mounted inside the key box, and permits and restricts key rotation. A control mechanism is incorporated in each key cylinder, and a card reader for reading the data of the used card is installed. For proper use, the selection switch is allowed to be turned on, and any selection switch is turned on. The key can be taken out, and the key can be returned by attaching the lent key to the key cylinder. Key management system. 2. The key management system according to claim 1, wherein the rental key is a wire lock key or a ring lock key which is fixed in the vicinity of a saddle of the rental bicycle and is locked in a ring shape through the rear wheel. 3. A key lending / return status storing means in a key box, and a communication means for communicating with the outside, and the key lending / returning status data stored in the storage means in each key box by the communication means. 3. The key management system according to claim 1, wherein the key management system periodically transmits the information to the center host, collectively manages the information at the center host, and notifies the key box administrator of information on the total key usage. 4. A key detection control mechanism comprising: a cam disposed so as to face a plunger protruding and retracting from a rear end face of a key cylinder with rotation of a key; an electromagnetic solenoid and a spring for controlling rotation of the cam; A micro switch for detecting a rotation position of the cam, the micro switch detects the presence or absence of a key, and the cam is rotated by an electromagnetic solenoid that is energized in response to the turning on of a selection switch, and the key is turned. The key management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a space allowing movement is provided, and the cam is reversely rotated when the spring is contracted and deformed to close the space and restrict key rotation.