JP2003301663A - Automatic safe-deposit box system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic safe-deposit box system capable of affording every facility in case that a user forgets about going to store an article in the safe-deposit box and stores an article unnecessary to be stored therein, and wants to use a plurality of contracted safe-deposit boxes. <P>SOLUTION: When an exit from a room (opening and shutting of a door) is not detected even though a little time passes after the user has touched a return-button of the safe-deposit box, and the safe-deposit box is not returned to the former position of a housing cabinet, a message whether or not the safe-deposit box is used again is indicated on a display. When the user wants to use it again, even if the user does not need to go out of an operation booth in each time, the user can call the safe-deposit box back to the operation booth only by making an indoor reader read a card and inputting an identification number of the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic safe deposit box system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of automatic safe deposit box systems, there is a unit type (compact type) in which one hangar and one operation booth are set. In this unit type safe deposit box system, the operation booth has a door with an electric lock, and if you pass the card through the outdoor reader installed outside the door, you will be verified and you will be able to enter the operation booth. ing.

In addition, inside the operation booth, an indoor reader and an operation panel (touch panel) that also serves as a display are arranged, and a predetermined operation such as re-inserting the card into the indoor reader and then entering a password on the operation panel. When you do, the safe box that the customer has borrowed will appear on the table in the operation booth.

When the goods are put in and taken out of the safe box, the lid is closed and locked, and then the return button is pushed, the safe box is automatically hidden inside the table and returned to a predetermined place in the hangar by the transfer mechanism. To be done.

Conventionally, a series of work from the reading of the card by the outdoor reader to the pressing of the return button is one cycle, and the customer enters the safe box one time by entering the operation booth once. You will have to take it in and out.

[0006]

When a customer places an item in or out of a safe box in an operation booth, he or she forgets to store the item in the safe box and presses the return button, or mistakes an item that should not be stored. There is a case where the user stores the product and presses the return button, or when it is desired to reconfirm the contents of the stored product.

In this case, conventionally, it was necessary to go out of the operation booth once and then perform a series of operations starting from the reading of the card by the outdoor reader, which lacked user friendliness. .

In addition, one customer may have a contract for a plurality of safe boxes, but if he / she wants to use a plurality of safe boxes, the operation starting from the reading of the card by the outdoor reader is performed for each safe box. It had to be redone, and in this case too, the customer was sometimes bothered and uncomfortable.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a current situation.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a hangar capable of storing a large number of safe boxes, an operation booth with a door for a customer to put an article in and out of the safe box, and a hangar and an operation booth are provided. The safe box is provided with a transfer means and a control means, and the control means continuously re-uses the safe box so that the customer can use the safe box multiple times before entering and leaving the operation booth. It has a usage mode.

A second aspect of the present invention is a concrete application of the first aspect of the invention to a unit type automatic safe deposit box system. The present invention opens and closes the door of the operation booth or allows the customer to enter and leave the operation booth. If a certain amount of time has passed since the customer pressed the return button on the safe box and the door sensor did not detect the opening or leaving of the room, a message confirming the intention of reuse is displayed on the display. Controlled to be displayed.

The invention of claim 3 is also a concrete application of the invention of claim 1 to a unit type safe deposit box system. In this invention, after the customer pushes the return button of the safe box, the transport means opens the safe box. It is controlled so that a message confirming the customer's intention to reuse can be displayed on the display until it is returned to the storage location of the hangar and when the door sensor does not detect opening or leaving. It

[0013]

According to the present invention, since it is possible to use the safe box a plurality of times without entering the operation booth and then leaving the operation booth, forgetting to store the articles in the safe box. Automatic lending without the customer's trouble, if you store it when you should not store it, if you want to review the contents of the stored items, or if you want to use multiple safe boxes under contract. It is possible to improve satisfaction with the safe system.

By the way, when the customer has already left the operation booth, it is not necessary to display an indication on the display or the like as to the intention of reuse. If you forget to store an item in the safe box, or if you accidentally store it in a safe box when it is not necessary, or if you want to use another safe box, remember that you forget to store it as a property of a person. , Customers tend to remain in the operating booth and find ways to reuse.

Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to confirm the intention of reuse with respect to a person who has a high demand for reuse. There is an advantage that it is possible to prevent the troublesomeness of pressing the button to the effect.

When the safe box is returned to the hangar, it takes time to take it out again, so that the time loss becomes large. However, when the same safe box is used again, the hangar is reused. There is an advantage that the safe box can be immediately returned to the operation booth on the way to the customer to promptly provide it to the customer.

Unlike the inventions of claims 2 and 3, a message for confirming the intention of reuse is displayed on the display immediately after the safe box is returned, or a reuse button is permanently installed. You may keep it.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

(1). Outline of Hardware First, an outline of hardware will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 is an external perspective view of the whole, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view, and FIG.
(A) and (B) are schematic perspective views of the inside of the operation booth.

The automatic safe deposit box system comprises a hangar 1 surrounded by an antitheft wall and an operation booth 2 provided integrally therewith. In the hangar 1, two shelving units 4 capable of storing a large number of safe boxes 3 aligned vertically and horizontally are arranged so as to face each other, and between the two shelving units 4, a stacker which constitutes a part of a transport mechanism. A crane (not shown) is arranged.

The operation booth 2 is provided with a door 5, and an outdoor reader 6 is provided on the surface of the door 5 (the outdoor leader 6 may be provided on the outer wall of the operation booth 2). Further, the door 5 is unlocked by an electric lock (not shown). Further, the operation booth 2 is provided with a door sensor (not shown) such as a limit switch type in order to detect opening / closing of the door 5.

Inside the operation booth 2, an operation table 6 surrounded by an upper surface and a front surface is arranged, and the table 7 is provided with an operation port 9 which is opened and closed by a horizontally movable shutter 8. The safe box 3 is transported between the shelf device 3 and a portion below the shutter 8 by the transport means including the stacker crane, the conveyor means, and the lift means described above.

When the shutter 8 is automatically opened while the safe box 2 is conveyed to a position right below the shutter 8,
The safe box 3 can be used. The safe box 3 is provided with a lid 10 with a lock, and the lid 9 is opened to take out and put in an article.

Inside the operation booth 2, an indoor reader 11 is installed.
And a display 12 that also serves as a touch panel. Although not shown, the automatic safe deposit box system includes a computer for control, and a control program is installed in the computer. This computer may be built into the automatic safe deposit box system, or it may be installed in a place different from the automatic safe deposit box system (for example, a central control room of a bank), and it may be remotely controlled by the automatic safe deposit box system and a communication line. Alternatively, it may be a dual system of a computer for centralized management and a computer individually provided for each automatic safe deposit box system.

(2). Basic Usage Mode Next, FIG. 4 shows an outline of an example of a basic flow when the customer leaves the operation booth 2 using only one safe box 3.

The customer first passes the card through the outdoor reader 6.
Then, the recorded contents of the card and the records recorded in the computer of the system are collated to determine whether or not the user is an authorized contractor. If the authorized contractor is used, the electric lock is unlocked.

When the door 5 is opened within a predetermined time (for example, several seconds to 10 seconds) after the card is read by the outdoor reader 6, the door sensor detects the door opening, and then a drive start signal is sent to the stacker crane. Then, the stacker crane starts taking out the safe box 3 (it is possible to issue a traveling start signal to the stacker crane when the card is read by the outdoor reader 6, but the customer enters the operation booth 2 for some reason. If you go home without doing it, the work of the stacker crane will be wasted, and if other customers are waiting, the waiting time of subsequent customers will be long).

If the sensor does not detect the opening of the door within the predetermined time even if the card is read by the outdoor reader 6, it is judged that the use is stopped and the program is reset.

A customer who enters the operation booth 2 passes the card through the indoor reader 11. Then, it is verified whether or not the customer is the same person as the customer who has passed the card through the outdoor reader 6, and when it is confirmed that the customer is the same person, the message “Please enter the password” is displayed on the display 12. Then, when the customer inputs the correct recitation number, a work continuation signal is transmitted to the conveying means and the shutter drive mechanism.

The indoor reader 11 of this embodiment is
In addition to the function of checking the customer's card, it also has the function of recording the usage history. As the record form of the history, magnetic data recorded on the card may be stored, or the card may be visually recorded by a digital camera. In the latter case, as the card, it is preferable to use a pin pad card in which characters are displayed in a concavo-convex pattern (because the individualization of each card is easy to see).

In some cases, the safe box 3 has already been conveyed to a position right below the shutter 8 in a state where it has been confirmed that the recitation number is valid. In this case, the recitation number 8
The shutter 8 is opened by the confirmation signal.

When the safe box 3 is being conveyed while it is confirmed that the secret code number is proper, the shutter 8 is opened after the safe box 3 is continuously conveyed.

After the articles are put in and taken out of the safe box 3, the lid 10 is closed and locked, and then the display 1 is displayed.
Press (touch) the "Return" button displayed in 2. Then, after the shutter 8 is closed, the transport means is driven and the safe box 3 is returned to the original storage location.

When the customer presses the return button, the customer leaves the operation booth 2 as it is. The door 5 can be freely opened from the inside, and its opening and closing is detected by the door sensor. The time from when the customer presses the return button to when he / she finishes leaving the operation booth 2 and the time when the safe box 3 is returned to the original storage location do not always match, and before the safe box 3 is returned. Customers may leave the room.

In this case, even if the transport mechanism is in operation, the use program of the next customer is proceeding at the same time. Therefore, the next customer can open the door 5 and enter the operation booth 2. The next customer will call and use the safe box 3 that he / she has contracted for, following the same procedure as above.

There is a case where the safe box 3 has been returned to its original location but the customer has not left the operation booth 2 for some reason. In that case, the next customer cannot enter the safe box. At the same time, transmission of the take-out instruction signal to the conveying means is on standby. When the previous customer leaves the room and the next customer enters the room, the signal for opening and closing the door 5 is 2
After continuing, the stacker crane travels to retrieve the next customer's safe box.

(3). Reuse of the same safe box FIG. 5 shows a flow in which one safe box 3 can be continuously reused.

After using one safe box,
After a certain amount of time (for example, the approximate time required for a customer who has no intention of reuse to press the return button and immediately exit the room), it is determined whether the door sensor has detected whether the door 5 has been opened or closed. Then, when the door 5 is not opened and closed and the safe box 3 is not returned to the original storage location (when the return confirmation signal is not input to the computer), the display 12 displays, for example, “Safe box before Will be reused? "Is displayed.

When the user intends to reuse and touches the "reuse" button, a command for returning the safe box 3 to the transport means is issued, and an exemption command for signal confirmation by the outdoor reader 6 is sent to the computer. Is entered. Therefore, the customer checks the card on the indoor reader 11 and displays it on the display 1.
By inputting the recitation number in 2, the safe box 3 can be used again.

In this case, since the safe box 3 is returned during the return process, it takes a short time to reach the customer.

When the return button is touched after the second use is finished, the second use becomes impossible and the safe box 3 is returned to the original storage location. Then, even if the customer has not left the room, the system is reset by the return completion signal from the stacker crane, and the outdoor reader 6 can read the card of the next customer.

Therefore, the previous customer is forced to leave the operation booth 2. It is possible to take out three times or more in succession, but continuous use of three times or more is unnatural and it may be a nuisance to subsequent customers. It is preferable to stop it.

It is to be noted that a time longer than a certain amount (for example, 5
If the user does not leave the operating booth 2 after 10 minutes), there is a high risk of fraudulent activity such as theft, so it is set to automatically notify the administrator or security company of an abnormal situation. May be.

(4). When using separate safe boxes When a customer has a contract for a plurality of safe boxes 3 in one automatic safe deposit system, the fact is stored in the computer of the control device. , After the customer who has contracted for more than one safe box has finished using one safe box 3, a message such as "Do you want to continue using other safe boxes?" Is displayed on the display 12. Just set it to be displayed.

The display timing of the message may be such that it is displayed immediately when the return button is touched after the use of the safe box 3 is finished, or the return button is touched for a certain period of time (for example, 5 to 5). It may be set to be displayed under the AND condition in which the opening and closing of the door 5 is not detected by the door sensor after 10 seconds).

The flow in the case of continuously using different safe boxes 3 is basically the same as that in FIG. If you have contracted for three or more safe boxes, distinguish them by numbers etc.
Display a message that customers can choose from.

(5). Others Although the display is also used as the touch panel in the above embodiment, it goes without saying that the display and the buttons may be provided separately. Various types of cards such as magnetic cards and IC cards can be used as the card. Further, the method of confirming the person is not limited to the input of the card or the recitation number, but may be replaced with the fingerprint or the retina verification.

Instead of the sensor for detecting the opening and closing of the door, for example, a person detecting sensor for detecting the heat ray of a person may be provided on the ceiling surface of the operation booth, and this person detecting sensor may be incorporated in the control system. Even if you open the door, it is possible that you may return home without entering the room.In this case, the safe box cannot be reset until a certain amount of time has passed after it has been transported to just below the shutter. However, if a human detection sensor is provided, such a problem does not occur.

Whether the same safe box is reused or different safe boxes are continuously used, since it has already been confirmed that the user is the person himself, the reading of the card by the indoor reader and the input of the recitation number are performed. It is possible to abolish either one of and.

Even if there is a customer in the operation booth, a state where the succeeding customer can access the outdoor reader by the card is ensured, and if the succeeding customer passes the card through the outdoor reader, the customer in the operation booth Can be set so that it cannot be used continuously. That is, depending on the presence or absence of the card reading signal of the subsequent user,
It is also possible to set the control mode to switch between the reusable mode and the non-reusable mode.

In the case of the unit type automatic safe deposit box system as in the present embodiment, since there is often only one operation booth, customers may line up. If so, it is preferable for one customer to use for a long time. May not be. In view of such peculiarities of the unit type automatic safe deposit box system, it is preferable from the viewpoint of all the customers to provide a function of restricting the continuous reuse of the same person as necessary.

When the mode is switched to the non-reusable mode, one safe box is used and the return button is touched, and the display says, "Since other customers are waiting, you cannot continue using it." You can set it to display such a message. Also,
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied not only to the unit type but also to an automatic safe deposit box system in which a plurality of operation booths are arranged in parallel.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an entire unit-type automatic safe deposit box system.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the inside of an operation booth.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a basic mode of use of the automatic safe deposit system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of control in the case of reusing one safe box.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 hangar 2 operation booth 3 safe box 4 shelving equipment 5 doors 6 outdoor leader 7 table 8 shutters 9 operation port 11 Indoor leader 12 display

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hangar capable of storing a large number of safe boxes, an operation booth with a door for a customer to put an article in and out of the safe box, a transfer means for transferring the safe box between the hangar and the operation booth, and control. And a control means having a continuous reuse mode that allows a customer to use the safe box multiple times before entering and leaving the operation booth. . 2. A unit type automatic safe deposit box system in which one operation booth is set in one hangar, and a door sensor for detecting opening / closing of a door of the operation booth or entry / exit of a customer to / from the operation booth. It is equipped with a control to display a message confirming the user's intention to reuse if the customer presses the return button on the safe box for some time and the door sensor does not detect opening or exiting the room. The automatic safe deposit box system according to claim 1. 3. A unit type safe deposit box system in which one operation booth is set in one hangar, and a door sensor for detecting opening and closing of the door of the operation booth or entry and exit of a customer to and from the operation booth is provided. During the period from when the customer presses the return button on the safe box until the transport means finishes returning the safe box to the storage location of the hangar, and when the door sensor does not detect opening or exiting the room, the customer The automatic safe deposit system according to claim 1, wherein a message for confirming the intention of reuse is displayed on the display.