JP2006103852A - Storage vessel with retrieving function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage vessel with a retrieving function allowing a user to retrieve a drawer storing a desired article and take the article in and out of the drawer easily. <P>SOLUTION: This storage vessel 1 with the retrieving function is composed of a plurality of drawers 3 for storing articles, a camera (an imaging means) 5 photographing the inside of the drawers 3 moved to a predetermined position, a storage means for storing images of the inside of the drawers 3 photographed by the camera 5 as image information, and a display device (a display means) 6 for displaying the image information stored in the storage means. The desired drawer 3 is retrieved by scrolling a plurality of types of image information stored in the storage means in the display device 6. The camera 5 photographs the inside of the retrieved drawer 3 immediately before the drawer 3 is stored in an original position after taking the article in and out of the retrieved drawer 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage with a search function in which a drawer in which a desired article is stored is searched and an article is inserted into and removed from the drawer.

  For example, in kitchens, it has become common to install large storages or storage rooms with multiple drawers for storing various items such as cooking utensils, preserved foods, and miscellaneous goods. .

  However, as the storage and warehouse become larger, it is not easy to find what is necessary from the articles stored in them, and in particular, a desired item is quickly searched from among the articles stored in a large number of drawers. It is difficult, and it is not easy to search for and take out an article stored in a high position out of reach.

  By the way, the inside of an article storage such as a refrigerator or a safe is photographed with a plurality of cameras, the internal images are stored as image information in a storage device, and an image transmission unit provided in the storage device is accessed by a personal computer or a mobile phone. Thus, a technique has been proposed in which the image information is obtained to confirm the storage status in the article storage box from outside or from a remote place (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, the inside of the storage unit is photographed with a camera and the image is stored in the image memory, the depth inside the storage unit is measured by the depth sensor, and the depth information is stored in the depth information memory, Storage furniture with a search function has been proposed in which an image and depth information are associated with each other, and a desired storage item is searched based on the image and / or depth information (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2001-294308 A JP 2002-247570 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, although the storage status in the article storage can be confirmed from a remote location or the like away from the article storage, in a large storage etc. provided in the kitchen, It is not possible to search for a drawer in which a desired article is stored and perform an operation for putting the article into and out of the drawer. In addition, it is necessary to install a plurality of cameras for photographing the inside of the article storage case, which causes a problem of increasing costs.

  The search function provided in the storage furniture described in Patent Document 2 searches for articles in a single drawer, and a desired article is stored in a large storage with a plurality of drawers. It does not have a function to search for a drawn drawer. Therefore, the technique described in Patent Document 2 cannot cope with a large storage that requires an operation of searching for a drawer in which a desired article is stored, and taking the article into and out of the drawer.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to search for a drawer in which a desired article is stored, and with a search function that allows the article to be easily taken in and out of the drawer. It is to provide storage.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a plurality of drawers for storing articles, photographing means for photographing the inside of the drawer pulled out to a predetermined position, and the inside of the drawer photographed by the photographing means. The storage unit with a search function includes a storage unit that stores an image as image information and a display unit that displays the image information stored in the storage unit.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, a desired drawer is searched while scrolling a plurality of pieces of image information stored in the storage means on the display means.

  The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, a moving means for moving the retrieved drawer to a predetermined position is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the third aspect, the moving means moves the drawer up and down to a height position at which articles can be easily taken in and out of the retrieved drawer.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, after the article is taken in and out of the retrieved drawer, the drawer is stored in the original position. The inside is photographed immediately before shooting.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the internal image of the drawer photographed by the photographing means is updated and stored in the storage means. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image information stored in the storage means is displayed by the display means, and by this display, the drawer storing the desired article is retrieved, and the retrieved drawer is pulled out to a predetermined position. After the article is taken in and out of the drawer, the inside of the drawer is photographed by the photographing means, and the image is stored again in the storage means as image information, and finally the drawer is stored in the original position. By doing so, it is possible to quickly search for a drawer in which a desired article is stored, and it is possible to easily take in and out the article with respect to the retrieved drawer.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, a desired drawer can be quickly and reliably searched while scrolling a plurality of pieces of image information stored in the storage unit on the display unit.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the retrieved drawer can be automatically moved to a predetermined position by the moving means, labor saving is achieved.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the retrieved drawer is moved up and down to a height position (for example, the height position of the operator's waist) where an article can be taken in and out easily. Even if the drawer is stored at a high position, the article can be easily taken in and out with good workability.

  According to the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, the image information stored in the storage means is updated to the one taken immediately before storing the drawer with the article taken in and out at the original position. Always stores the latest image information, so that a desired drawer can always be accurately searched.

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

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a storage with a search function according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of a display unit of the storage with a search function.

  A storage 1 with a search function according to the present embodiment is a large-sized container installed in a kitchen, and as shown in FIG. 1, a pair of left and right storages standing in parallel with each other at a predetermined distance on a floor surface. Each storage box 2 has a plurality of drawers 3 slidable in the horizontal direction and stored in six stages in the vertical direction. Each storage box 2 is configured such that its front surface opens in a door shape in an emergency.

  Here, various articles such as cooking utensils, preserved foods, and miscellaneous goods are stored in each drawer 3, and each drawer is pulled out to a space S between both storage boxes 2 by a moving means (not shown). The space S is moved up and down along a rail (not shown), and is further stored from the space S to the original position in the storage box 2.

  As the moving means, a linear drive system that moves the drawer 3 horizontally and vertically by magnetic force is adopted, and a motor drive system that slides the drawer 3 horizontally and vertically along the rail by an electric motor is adopted. These require that the operation sound is low and that the drawer 3 can be moved as quickly as possible without causing any practical problems. Further, it is desirable to provide the moving means with a safety mechanism that stops when the drawer 3 collides with some obstacle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a top plate 4 is horizontally stretched between the upper surfaces of the pair of left and right storage boxes 2, and the width direction central portion of the lower surface of the portion facing the space S of the top plate 4 is provided. Is provided with a camera 5 for photographing the inside of the drawer 3 drawn into the space S. Note that an image inside the drawer 3 taken by the camera 5 is stored as image information in a storage device of a control device such as a microcomputer (not shown).

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a display device 6 as a display and operation means is installed at a predetermined height position (the height position of the operator's eyes) on the front surface of the storage box 2 on the right side. As shown in FIG. 2, the display device 6 includes an LCD (liquid crystal display device) 7 for displaying an image inside each drawer 3 stored in the storage device, and a screen for turning off the screen on the LCD 7. An OFF button 8, image scroll buttons 9 and 10 for sequentially scrolling images displayed on the LCD 7 (9 is a button for returning to the previous image, 10 is a button for proceeding to the next image), and an image displayed on the LCD 7 A select button 11 to be selected is arranged. The operations of the camera 5, moving means, LCD 7 and the like are controlled by a control device (not shown). Each drawer 3 is assigned an identification number in advance, and an identification number and the like are simultaneously displayed on the LCD 7 together with an image in each drawer 3, and the operator searches for the desired drawer 3 on the LCD. When the select button 11 is turned on, the scrolling on the LCD 7 is stopped, the retrieved image of the drawer 3 and the identification number are displayed on the LCD 7, and the moving means is driven to start the movement of the drawer 3.

  Next, operation | movement of the storage 1 with a search function comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated based on FIG.3 and FIG.4. 3A to 3D are front sectional views showing the operation of the storage with a search function in the order of the steps, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the storage with the search function.

  The insides of the drawers 3 stored in both storage boxes 2 are photographed by the camera 5, and the images are stored as image information together with identification numbers and the like in the storage device. The images of the drawers 3 and the identification numbers corresponding to the images. And the like can be sequentially displayed on the LCD 7 of the display device 6, so that the operator operates the image scroll buttons 9, 10 to scroll the images of the drawers 3 in order to be stored in the drawers 3 with the naked eye. A desired item can be found out of the existing articles (step S1 in FIG. 4). This image scrolling on the LCD 7 is continued until a desired article is found (step S2 → S1). When the desired article is found (Yes in step S2), the select button 11 of the display device 6 is turned on. Then, the drawer 3 in which the article is stored is selected (step S3).

  Then, the moving means (not shown) is driven by the control device, and is selected (searched), for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, stored in the uppermost stage of the storage box 2 on the left side. The drawer 3 is pulled out horizontally to the space S between the two storage boxes 2 (step S4). In order to clearly indicate the drawer 3 to be pulled out, an LED or the like provided on the drawer 3 being pulled out may be blinked. Then, the drawer 3 pulled out is moved down in the space S as shown in FIG. 3 (b) by the moving means, and the height position (specifically, the article 3 is easily taken in and out). Stopping at the operator's waist height position (step S5), a desired article is taken out from the drawer 3, or another article is stored in the drawer 3 (step S6).

  As described above, after an article is taken in / out from the selected (searched) drawer 3, an instruction to start storing is input to the control device (step S7), and the moving means is driven again. As shown in FIG. 3C, the drawer 3 is moved up in the space S to the original height position (step S8). At that position, the inside of the drawer 3 is photographed by the camera 5 (step S9), and the photographed image is stored in the storage device as image information. This image information is stored in the old image information already stored in the storage device. On the other hand, it is updated (step S10).

  As described above, when the inside of the drawer 3 is photographed by the camera 5 and the image is updated as image information and stored in the storage device, the moving means (not shown) is driven again to slide the drawer 3 horizontally. As shown in FIG. 3D, the drawer 3 is stored at the original position in the storage box 2 (step S11), and the series of operations is terminated (step S12).

  As described above, according to the storage 1 with a search function according to the present embodiment, the image information stored in the storage device is displayed on the LCD 7 of the display device 6 together with the identification number, etc. The drawer 3 in which the container is stored is retrieved, the retrieved drawer 3 is pulled out by the moving means, moved to a predetermined height position (the height of the operator's waist), and articles are taken in and out of the drawer 3. Thereafter, the drawer 3 is moved to the original height position, the inside is photographed by the camera 5, the image is stored again in the storage device as image information, and finally the drawer 3 is slid horizontally. Is stored in the original position in the storage box 2, so that the drawer 3 in which the desired article is stored can be quickly searched, and the retrieved drawer 3 can be searched for. It can be easily taken in and out.

  In the present embodiment, since a plurality of pieces of image information stored in the storage device are scrolled on the LCD 7 of the display device 6, the drawer 3 storing the desired article can be searched quickly and reliably. it can.

  Further, since the image information stored in the storage device is updated to the image taken immediately before storing the drawer 3 with the article taken in and out at the original position, the storage device always stores the latest image information. As a result, the drawer 3 storing the desired article can always be searched accurately.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, since the retrieved drawer 3 can be automatically moved to a predetermined position by the moving means, labor saving is achieved. The retrieved drawer 3 is moved up and down to a height position (specifically, the height position of the operator's waist) where articles can be easily taken in and out, and is stored in a high position. Even in the case of the drawer 3, the article can be easily taken in and out with good workability.

  In the present embodiment, the embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a storage having a pair of left and right storage boxes has been described. However, the present invention is also applied to a storage having a single or three or more storage boxes. The same effects as described above can be obtained by applying the invention in the same manner.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  5 is an external perspective view of the storage with a search function according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the storage with the search function.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the storage 1 ′ with a search function according to the present embodiment includes a single storage box 2, and a plurality of drawers 3 stored in the storage box 2 in six stages in the vertical direction. It differs from the storage 1 with search function according to the first embodiment in that it is manually pulled out and manually stored in the original position, and the other configuration is the same as that of the storage 1 with search function according to the first embodiment. It is.

  Here, each drawer 3 stored in the storage box 2 is pulled out by sliding in the horizontal direction or stored in its original position, and various items such as cooking utensils, preserved foods, miscellaneous goods and the like are contained therein. It is stored.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a top plate 4 is installed on the top surface of the storage box 2, and the top plate 4 is pulled out at the center in the width direction of the bottom surface of the extended portion extending horizontally from the storage box 2. A camera 5 for photographing the inside of the drawer 3 is installed. Note that an image inside the drawer 3 taken by the camera 5 is stored as image information in a storage device of a control device such as a microcomputer (not shown).

  Further, in the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, a display device 6 as a display and operation means is installed at a predetermined height position (a height position of the eyes of the worker) on the front surface of the storage box 2. Has been. The configuration of the display device 6 is the same as that shown in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, an LCD (liquid crystal display device) 7, a screen OFF button 8, and image scroll buttons 9, 10 are used. (9 is a button to return to the previous image, 10 is a button to advance to the next image) and a select button 11 are arranged. The operations of the camera 5, LCD 7 and the like are controlled by a control device (not shown). Also in this embodiment, each drawer 3 is previously assigned an identification number, etc., and the identification number etc. are displayed on the LCD 7 together with the image in each drawer 3 so that the operator can select the desired number on the LCD. When the drawer 3 is searched and the select button 11 is turned on, the scrolling on the LCD 7 is stopped, and the image of the retrieved drawer 3 and the identification number are displayed on the LCD 7.

  Next, the operation of the storage 1 with search function configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  The inside of the drawer 3 stored in the storage box 2 is photographed by the camera 5, and the image is stored as image information in the storage device together with an identification number and the like. The image of each drawer 3 is stored on the LCD 7 of the display device 6. Since the images can be displayed in sequence, the operator operates the image scroll buttons 9 and 10 to scroll the images of the drawers 3 in order and visually confirms the desired items among the articles stored in the drawers 3. Can be found (step S21 in FIG. 6). The scrolling of the image on the LCD 7 is continued until a desired article is found (step S22 → S21). When the desired article is found (Yes in step S22), the select button 11 of the display device 6 is turned on. To do. Then, as described above, the scrolling on the LCD 7 is stopped, and the image of the retrieved drawer 3 and the identification number are displayed on the LCD 7. Therefore, the operator selects the drawer 3 in which the article is stored. (Step S23). The corresponding drawer 3 is manually pulled out from the storage box 2 based on the identification number attached thereto.

  Next, the drawer 3 selected (searched), for example, the drawer 3 stored in the fourth row from the top of the storage box 2, as shown in FIG. 5, is based on the identification number or the like attached thereto. The searched drawer 3 is manually pulled out horizontally from the storage box 2 (step S24). Also in this embodiment, in order to clearly indicate the selected drawer 3, an LED or the like provided on the drawer 3 being pulled out may be blinked.

  Then, a desired article is taken out from the drawn-out drawer 3, or another article is stored in the drawer 3 (step S25).

  As described above, when an article is taken in and out of the selected (searched) drawer 3, the inside of the drawer 3 is photographed by the camera 5 at that position (step S26), and the photographed image is image information. And the image information is updated with respect to the old image information already stored in the storage device (step S27).

  Then, as described above, the inside of the drawer 3 is photographed by the camera 5, and when the image is updated as image information and stored in the storage device, the drawer 3 is slid horizontally to replace the original in the smiley box 2. The position is stored (step S28), and the series of operations is terminated (step S29).

  Thus, according to the storage 1 ′ with a search function according to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the drawer 3 storing the desired article can be quickly searched, In addition to the effect that articles can be easily taken in and out of the retrieved drawer 3, there is no moving means for automatically moving the drawer 3, so that the structure is simplified and the cost is reduced accordingly. The effect that it can aim at is acquired.

  The present invention can be similarly applied to other arbitrary storage such as storage furniture provided with a plurality of drawers for storing articles, chemical storage, etc. in addition to a large storage installed in a kitchen or the like. .

It is an external appearance perspective view of the storage with search function according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a front view of the display apparatus part of the storage with search function which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. (A)-(d) is a front sectional view which shows operation | movement of the storage with search function which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention in the order of the process. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the storage with search function which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the storage with search function according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the storage with search function which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1,1 'storage with search function 2 storage box 3 drawer 4 top plate 5 camera (photographing means)
6. Display device (display means)
7 LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
8 Screen OFF button)
9, 10 Image scroll button 11 Select button

Claims (6)

  A plurality of drawers for storing articles; a photographing means for photographing the inside of the drawer pulled out to a predetermined position; a storage means for storing an internal image of the drawer photographed by the photographing means as image information; and A storage with search function, characterized by comprising display means for displaying stored image information.   2. A storage with a search function according to claim 1, wherein a desired drawer is searched while scrolling a plurality of pieces of image information stored in the storage means on the display means.   3. A storage with a retrieval function according to claim 1, further comprising a moving means for moving the retrieved drawer to a predetermined position.   4. A storage with a search function according to claim 3, wherein the moving means moves the drawer up and down to a height position at which articles can be easily put in and out of the retrieved drawer.   5. The photographing device according to claim 1, wherein after the article is put in and out of the retrieved drawer, the inside of the drawer is photographed immediately before the drawer is stored in the original position. Storage with the described search function.   6. The storage with a retrieval function according to claim 1, wherein an internal image of the drawer photographed by the photographing unit is updated and stored in the storage unit.

Images