JP2012221050A - Print automatic selling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print automatic selling device capable of surely delivering a printed matter to a customer while suppressing a suspension of the service due to saturation of a storage space.SOLUTION: The print automatic selling device which prints digital image data in response to an order from a customer and provides the printed matter to him/her includes a storage unit 6 for storing the printed matter for each order, a delivery unit 4 for providing the printed matter stored in the storage unit 6 to the customer from an opening part of the device, and a housing unit 5 for housing printed matters which are taken out from the storage unit 6 when a predetermined time elapses after the storage in the storage unit 6.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print vending apparatus that sells prints such as photographs unattended.

  With the rapid spread of digital cameras in recent years, services have been provided in which digital image data brought in by customers is output as photographs at stores and sold. However, with such a service, the time when a customer can order a photo is limited to the business hours of the store. In addition, since the photographed image is viewed by others such as store staff, it cannot be said that privacy protection is considered.

  As an improvement measure for such a problem, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an unmanned photograph delivery device. This is an unattended device that delivers a finished photo print only to a customer who requested an order in a photo ordering system using the Internet. This eliminates the restriction on ordering time for the customer and further protects privacy.

  However, according to the unmanned photo delivery device of Patent Document 1, since a photo is printed each time a customer orders, it is necessary to store the finished printed matter in the device for each order. For this reason, if it is going to secure the storage space of the printed matter which can respond also to a busy period, there existed a problem that an apparatus will be enlarged and a manufacturing cost, an installation place, and the construction cost for installation will become high.

  Therefore, Patent Document 2 discloses a net print that makes it possible to make effective use of a limited storage shelf by making a reservation for the delivery date and time of a photo order so that the period during which the printed matter occupies the storage shelf is as short as possible. A station has been proposed.

JP 2003-216533 A JP 2004-220321 A

  However, in the net print station of Patent Document 2, if the delivery is not performed at the reserved time, the finished printed matter must be disposed of as an unnecessary item. There was a problem that even if the customer requested delivery at a later date, the request could not be answered.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a print vending apparatus that can suppress service stoppage due to storage space saturation and can reliably deliver printed matter to a customer.

  The print vending apparatus according to the present invention is a print vending apparatus that prints digital image data in accordance with a customer order and provides the printed matter, and has a storage unit that stores the printed matter for each order. A delivery unit that provides the customer with the printed material stored in the apparatus opening portion, and a storage unit that stores the printed material that has been stored in the storage unit after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  The print vending apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit in which a printed material that has been stored for a predetermined time after being stored in the storage unit is taken out of the storage unit and stored. Stopping can be prevented. In addition, since it is not necessary to install an excessive number of storage units, the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print vending apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is an image diagram illustrating a configuration of a print vending apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print vending apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print vending apparatus according to a second embodiment. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print vending apparatus according to a modification of the second embodiment. FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print vending apparatus according to a third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the print vending apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print vending apparatus according to a fourth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print vending apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.

  In this specification, an unmanned apparatus that prints digital image data in response to a customer order and provides the printed matter is defined as a print vending apparatus.

(Embodiment 1)
<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a print vending apparatus according to the first embodiment. The print vending apparatus 100 includes a reception unit 1 that receives a customer's print order, a management unit 2 that manages a print order transmitted from the reception unit 1, a printer 3 that executes printing according to instructions from the management unit 2, and a printer 3 The storage control means 11 for moving the printed material to the storage destination, the storage unit 6 for storing the printed material, the delivery unit 4 for delivering the stored printed material to the customer, and the movement for moving a predetermined printed material from the delivery unit 4 A control unit 12 and a storage unit 5 for storing printed matter moved by the movement control unit 12 are provided.

<Operation>
FIG. 2 shows an image diagram of the print vending apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

  The accepting unit 1 is composed of, for example, a device in which a memory card reader is connected to a personal computer with a touch panel monitor. When a customer inserts a memory card storing a photographed image such as a digital camera into the memory card reader, the receiving unit 1 reads the image data in the memory card and displays it on the monitor. The customer confirms the image displayed on the monitor, selects an image to be printed through an input operation on the touch panel, sets the number of prints, and executes the order.

  The image data on which the print order has been executed and the order information are transmitted from the reception unit 1 to the management unit 2. Here, the order information includes reception time, image file name, number of copies, editing information such as trimming and color adjustment, and customer information. Furthermore, the information regarding the delivery reservation time input by the customer may be included.

  The image data and order information transmitted from the receiving unit 1 are processed by the management unit 2. The function of the management unit 2 shown below is included in the device of the reception unit 1 and may be realized by the same device. Further, for example, the image data and the order information may be created by an apparatus other than the reception unit 1 such as a PC at the customer's home, and the order may be executed by transmitting to the management unit 2 from the outside through a network such as the Internet. .

  The management unit 2 analyzes the received image data and order information, and instructs the printer 3 to print each image according to the order information. The printer 3 prints a photo according to the instruction from the management unit 2. The printed matter printed by the printer 3 is stored in the delivery unit 4 by the storage control means 11.

  The storage control means 11 includes, for example, a driving belt for conveyance and a tray for receiving printed matter. The printed matter discharged from the printer 3 is received by the tray, and the printed matter together with the tray is received by the driving belt in the delivery unit 4 in the delivery unit 4. Transport to. The method for transporting the printed material is not limited to the belt-driven means, and may be realized by switching a plurality of receiving trays for each order. Alternatively, a storage bag for printed material may be prepared in the storage unit 6 in advance, and the printed material may be moved to the storage bag.

  The delivery unit 4 includes at least one storage unit 6 and an opening of an apparatus that can be used for delivery of printed matter with a customer. This printed material delivery opening enables delivery of printed material in response to an instruction from the management unit 2 when a delivery request is received from a customer. For example, the opening includes a key that is unlocked only when an instruction is given from the management unit 2. In addition, the number of openings may be one or plural, and when a plurality of openings are provided in the plurality of storage units 6, the delivery unit 4 has means for moving the printed material from the storage units 6 to the openings. You may have. Alternatively, an opening may be provided for each storage unit 6, and in this case, the device can be further downsized.

  FIG. 2 shows a print vending apparatus in which each storage unit 6 includes an opening with a key, and the opening is unlocked in response to a request from a customer.

  When the management unit 2 receives the print order from the reception unit 1, it sets the order identification information for each print order, and executes the order by providing the customer with an unlock key such as a password along with the order identification information. Restrict delivery of prints to non-customers. As a result, the customer who has executed the print order at the reception unit 1 can leave the print vending apparatus side until the scheduled delivery time. As a method for providing the order identification information and the unlocking key, any method such as display on the reception unit 1 or transmission by e-mail may be used.

  By the way, in the print vending apparatus, the customer who has placed the print order receives the print from the delivery unit 4 using the unlock key after the printing is completed, and the service for the customer is completed. However, the printed matter that is not delivered because the customer does not come to receive it at the scheduled time is stored in the delivery unit 4 as it is. Therefore, for example, in a print vending apparatus in which the delivery unit 4 includes six storage units 6, when delivery is not executed for six orders, the storage unit 6 that stores the printed matter of the next order cannot be prepared. It is not possible to accept print orders or print pending orders.

  In view of this, in the print vending apparatus according to the present embodiment, saturation of the storage unit 6 is prevented by moving the printed matter after a predetermined time has elapsed since being stored in the storage unit 6 to the storage unit 5.

  That is, the management unit 2 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed from the scheduled delivery time of the print stored in the storage unit 6, and if it has elapsed, the movement control unit 12 sends the print to the storage unit 5. Moving. Here, the scheduled delivery time is set according to the order reception date and time or the required printing time, or is specified by the customer at the time of ordering. The movement control unit 12 may be configured to move the print from the storage unit 6 to the storage unit 5 by a transport drive belt, for example, as in the storage control unit 11. Further, as a simple moving method, a method of dropping a print from the storage unit 6 to the printed material storage unit 5 installed below the storage unit 6 may be used.

  As described above, it is possible to prevent the saturation of the storage unit 6 and to continue the service without delaying the subsequent order reception by moving the printed matter whose predetermined time has passed from the scheduled delivery time to the storage unit 5. To do. Further, since it is not necessary to provide an excessive storage section 6 for the purpose of preventing saturation, the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost.

  The print order delivery process to the customer and the transfer process to the storage unit 5 described above will be described again using the flowchart shown in FIG. The management unit 2 receives the print order from the reception unit 1, and when printing is completed by the printer 3, it confirms whether or not the scheduled delivery time has passed (step S1). As described above, the scheduled delivery time is set by the order reception date and time and the required printing time, or is specified by the customer. In this example, it is assumed that the print order can be delivered to the customer only when the scheduled delivery time has passed. However, even if the scheduled delivery time has not passed, printing is completed and delivery is possible. For example, delivery may be permitted.

  When the scheduled delivery time has elapsed, the management unit 2 starts counting the delay time (step S2). Thereafter, when the order identification information and the unlock key are input by the customer before the predetermined time elapses (Yes in step S3), the correctness of the input items is determined (step S4). Then, the printed material is delivered (step S5). On the other hand, if it is determined to be wrong, the printed matter is not delivered.

  If the customer does not input the order identification information and the unlock key after the scheduled delivery time has elapsed (No in step S3, Yes in step S6), the printed matter is transferred from the delivery unit 4 to the storage unit. The process shifts to 5.

  In the movement process to the storage unit 5, first, the management unit 2 confirms the availability of the storage unit 5 (step S7). If there is no space, the printed matter cannot be moved, and the process is terminated. If there is a vacancy, the printed material is moved to the storage unit 5 by the movement control means 12 (step S8).

<Effect>
The print vending apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 6 that stores printed matter for each order, a delivery unit 4 that provides the customer with the printed matter stored in the storage unit 6, and a storage unit 6. Since the printed matter in which a predetermined time has elapsed since being stored in the storage unit 6 includes the storage unit 5 that is taken out of the storage unit 6 and stored therein, the service can be continued without the storage unit 6 being saturated. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide the storage unit 6 having an excessive size, the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the print vending apparatus according to the second embodiment. The print vending apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment is provided with the movement information notification unit 7 in addition to the configuration of the print vending apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, so that the printed matter stored in the storage unit 5 can be reliably supplied to the customer. It is intended to be handed over. Since the configuration other than the movement information notification unit 7 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  The movement information notification unit 7 notifies the fact that the corresponding printed material is stored in the storage unit 5 by transmitting the order identification information (printed material movement information) of the printed material moved to the storage unit 5 to a predetermined recipient. For example, according to customer information registered in advance, it is possible to make a notification using an electronic mail.

  The printed matter whose predetermined time has elapsed from the scheduled delivery time is moved to the storage unit 5 by the movement control means 12. At the same time, the movement information notification unit 7 transmits the order identification information of the printed matter to the administrator of the print vending apparatus 101 or the customer who ordered the printed matter, and notifies that the printed matter has moved to the storage unit 5. To do.

  Since the printed matter stored in the storage unit 5 cannot be delivered to the customer by the delivery unit 4, delivery to the customer is realized by notifying the printed matter movement information from the movement information notifying unit 7. The customer who has received the printed material movement information confirms that the printed vending apparatus 101 cannot receive the printed material. The device manager confirms that the printed material needs to be collected from the storage unit 5 of the print vending machine 101 in order to deliver the printed material to the customer. Therefore, the delivery method of the printed matter after a predetermined time has passed from the scheduled delivery time can be surely delivered to the customer by notifying the customer in advance such as delivering it at the store, for example. .

<Modification>
FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a print vending apparatus according to a modification of the second embodiment. The print vending apparatus 102 is provided with a delivery method notifying unit 8 in addition to the configuration of the print vending apparatus 101 shown in FIG. Since the configuration other than the delivery method notifying unit 8 is the same as that of the print vending apparatus 101, description thereof is omitted.

  The printed matter whose predetermined time has elapsed from the scheduled delivery time is moved to the storage unit 5 by the movement control means 12. At the same time, the movement information notifying unit 7 notifies the manager or customer of the printed material movement information, and the delivery method notifying unit 8 notifies the customer of the print order delivery method. The customer who has received the notification of the delivery method can receive the printed material according to the notification content. The apparatus manager can reliably deliver the printed matter stored in the print order storage portion 5 to the customer without notifying the customer in advance of the delivery method of the printed matter.

  Note that the function of the delivery method notification unit 8 is included in the movement information notification unit 7, and these may be realized by the same device.

<Effect>
Since the print vending apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment includes the movement information notification unit 7 that notifies the customer and the administrator that the printed material is stored in the storage unit 5, the printed material that exceeds the scheduled delivery time for a predetermined time. The manager can notify the customer in advance of the delivery method, so that the printed matter can be delivered to the customer with certainty.

  In addition, the print vending apparatus 102 according to the modification of the present embodiment includes a delivery method notification unit 8 that notifies a customer of a delivery method of the printed matter when the printed matter is stored in the storage unit 5. A printed matter whose time has exceeded a predetermined time can be reliably delivered to the customer in accordance with the notification contents of the delivery method notification unit 8.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a print vending apparatus according to the third embodiment. The print vending apparatus 103 includes a storage unit saturation warning unit 9 in addition to the configuration of the print vending apparatus 102 shown in FIG. Since the configuration other than the storage unit saturation warning unit 9 is the same as that of the print vending apparatus 102, description thereof is omitted.

  The storage unit saturation warning unit 9 notifies the administrator of a warning when the storage unit 5 is saturated, thereby prompting the administrator to collect the printed material from the storage unit 5. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the storage unit 5 from being saturated and the service of the print vending apparatus 103 from being stopped. The timing of notifying the warning is not limited to when the storage unit 5 is actually saturated, but may be when the remaining capacity of the storage unit 5 falls below a preset threshold value.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing delivery processing to the customer and movement processing to the storage unit 5 in the print vending apparatus 103. This flowchart shows an example in which a warning is notified when the remaining capacity of the storage unit 5 falls below a threshold value. In FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are assigned to the processes similar to those in the flowchart of the print vending apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The process up to the previous step of step S7 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  In the movement process to the storage unit 5, first, the management unit 2 confirms the availability of the storage unit 5 (step S7). The availability of the storage unit 5 is classified into the following three states. (A) When an area for moving a printed material cannot be secured in the storage unit 5 (no space available), (b) An area for moving a printed material can be secured in the storage unit 5 but the remaining capacity is less than a threshold value (low space) (C) When the area for moving the printed material can be secured in the storage unit 5 and the remaining capacity is equal to or greater than the threshold value (available). This apparatus performs processing according to the above three states.

  That is, when there is no space in the storage unit 5, the printed matter cannot be moved, so the storage unit saturation warning unit 9 notifies the administrator of a warning (step S10), and the process is terminated.

  If the remaining capacity of the storage unit 5 is below the threshold and there is little space, the movement control means 12 moves the printed material to the storage unit 5 (step S9), and the storage unit saturation warning unit 9 notifies the administrator of a warning. (Step S11). The administrator who has received the warning collects the printed matter from the storage unit 5, so that the storage unit 5 can be prevented from being saturated and the service can be continuously provided. The warning notification timing is not limited to when the printed material is moved to the storage unit 5, and the warning notification may be performed by always monitoring. When the printed material is moved to the storage unit 5, the movement information notification unit 7 transmits the order identification information of the printed material to the manager or the customer, and notifies that the printed material has moved to the storage unit 5 (step S 12). Further, the delivery method notifying unit 9 notifies the customer of the delivery method of the printed matter (step S13), and the process ends.

  If the remaining capacity of the storage unit 5 is equal to or greater than the threshold and there is sufficient space, the movement control unit 12 moves the printed material to the storage unit 5 (step S8). Thereafter, the movement information notification unit 7 notifies that the printed material has moved to the storage unit 5 (step S12), and the delivery method notification unit 8 notifies the delivery method (step S13).

<Effect>
According to the print vending apparatus 103 of the present embodiment, the storage unit saturation warning unit 9 that notifies the administrator that the remaining capacity of the storage unit 5 is less than a predetermined threshold is provided. Stop can be prevented.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a print vending apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. The print vending apparatus 104 includes a print time management unit 10 in addition to the configuration of the print vending apparatus 103 according to the third embodiment. Since the configuration other than the print time management unit 10 is the same as that of the print vending apparatus 103, description thereof is omitted.

  The print time management unit 10 determines the print start time in the printer 3 so that printing is completed slightly before the scheduled delivery time, and the management unit 2 prints on the printer 3 to start printing at the print start time. Give instructions. The functions of the print time management unit 10 are included in the management unit 2 and may be realized by the same device.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the time management process of the print time management unit 10. When the print time management unit 10 obtains the number of print orders from the management unit 2 (step S21), the print time management unit 10 calculates a required print time [A] and a printed material movement time [B] (steps S22 and S23). Here, the printed material movement time [B] is the time required to store the printed material printed by the printer 3 in the storage unit 6. Further, the print time management unit 10 acquires the scheduled delivery time [C] from the management unit 2 (step S24), and calculates the print start time [D] (step S25). The print start time [D] is calculated by [D] = [C] − [A] − [B].

  Here, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that there is only one printer 3 that outputs printed matter. When the print start time [D] is determined, the print time management unit 10 determines that the print time of the printed matter, that is, the time from the print start time [D] until the print required time [A] elapses is reserved. It is determined whether or not the print time of the order overlaps (step S26). In the case of duplication, a process of shifting the print start time [D] of the printed matter later than the print time of other duplicate print orders is performed. In other words, the print time management unit 10 obtains the print end time [E] of another order that is duplicated from the management unit 2 (step S27), and the specified time [F] is set as the print end time [E] of the other order. Is added to obtain a new print start time (step S28). Here, the specified time [F] is a time required for a predetermined print end process. This series of printing start time recalculation processing (steps S26 to S28) is performed until the printing period of the printed matter that is the target of time management does not overlap with the printing period of other reserved print orders. .

  When the print start time is determined so that the print period does not overlap with other orders, the print time management unit 10 transmits the print start time to the management unit 2 (step S29). When the print order management unit 2 receives the print start time (step S30), the print order management unit 2 determines whether or not the print start time elapses (step S31).

<Effect>
The print vending apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the print time management unit 10 that adjusts the print start time based on the scheduled delivery time of the printed material. Therefore, the print start time is adjusted so that the print is completed immediately before the scheduled delivery time. By doing so, it is possible to efficiently use the occupation period of the storage unit 6 as short as possible, and to prevent a service stop due to saturation of the storage unit 6 or the storage unit 5 in advance.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reception part, 2 Management part, 3 Printer, 4 Delivery part, 5 Storage part, 6 Storage part, 7 Movement information notification part, 8 Delivery method notification part, 9 Storage part saturation warning part, 10 Print time management part, 11 Storage Control means, 12 movement control means, 100 print vending apparatus.

Claims (5)

A printing vending apparatus that prints digital image data according to customer orders and provides the printed matter,
A delivery unit for storing the printed matter for each order, and providing the customer with the printed matter stored in the storage unit from an apparatus opening;
A storage unit in which the printed matter in which a predetermined time has elapsed since being stored in the storage unit is removed from the storage unit and stored;
Print vending machine. A movement information notification unit for notifying the customer and the administrator that the printed matter is stored in the storage unit;
The print vending apparatus according to claim 1. When the printed matter is stored in the storage unit, the delivery method notifying unit for notifying the customer of the delivery method of the printed matter is further provided.
The print vending apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A storage unit saturation warning unit for notifying the administrator that the remaining capacity of the storage unit is less than a predetermined threshold;
The print vending apparatus according to claim 1. A print time management unit for adjusting a print start time of the printed material based on a scheduled delivery time of the printed material;
The print vending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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