JP2013206210A - Communication apparatus storage box and communication unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect a communication apparatus installed on the upper surface of an automatic vending machine from the outside, and to improve the appearance.SOLUTION: A communication apparatus storage box 11 is constituted of a resin-made box 12. A main body part 13 of the resin-made box 12 is formed with a storage space 135 in which a communication apparatus 40 including a radio LAN router 41 constituting the access point of a public radio LAN system and antennas 42 and 45 thereof is stored so as not to be exposed to the outside. The main body part 13 and a lid part 14 are formed with heat insulation parts 201 and 202 for insulating the storage space 135 such that the periphery of the storage space 135 is surrounded. Vent holes 181 and 182 are formed on side faces 132 and 133 of the main body part 13. A fan 19 is formed at one vent hole 182. A seal member 61 for waterproofing the storage space 135 is disposed at junctions 143 and 136 between the main body part 13 and the lid part 14.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device storage box that is installed on the upper surface of a vending machine and stores a communication device that performs wireless communication with surrounding wireless portable terminals, and a communication unit that stores the communication device in the communication device storage box. .

  Conventionally, there is a proposal of a technique for mounting an access point in a public wireless LAN system on the upper surface of a vending machine (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-165679 A

  By the way, when a communication device constituting an access point of a public wireless LAN system is installed on the upper surface of a vending machine, the communication device must be placed in a harsh environment compared to a normal communication device used by a specific person. become. In particular, when installing a communication device in an outdoor vending machine, the temperature rises abnormally in summer and, conversely, the temperature drops abnormally in winter, so it is necessary to protect the communication device from abnormal temperature. . In the case of outdoors, it is necessary to protect the communication device from rain, wind, and the like. In this regard, in Patent Document 1, no proposal is made regarding protection of an access point (communication device). Moreover, in the communication apparatus of patent document 1, since the antenna of the communication apparatus protrudes from the upper surface of the vending machine, it does not look good.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can effectively protect the communication device when the communication device constituting the access point of the public wireless LAN system is installed on the upper surface of the vending machine. It is an object to provide an invention that can be improved.

  A communication device storage box according to the present invention for solving the above-described problems is a box installed on the upper surface of a vending machine, which performs wireless LAN communication with surrounding wireless mobile terminals and uses the wireless mobile terminals over the Internet. The wireless LAN router to be connected and a resin box having a storage space for storing the antenna so as not to be exposed to the outside.

  According to the communication device storage box (resin box) of the present invention, since the wireless LAN router constituting the access point of the public wireless LAN system and the storage space for storing the antenna so as not to be exposed to the outside, By storing the wireless LAN router and the antenna in the storage space, the wireless LAN router and the antenna can be protected from the outside. Also, the antenna of the wireless LAN router can be stored, so that the appearance can be improved. At this time, since the communication device storage box is made of resin and transmits radio waves, the wireless LAN router can perform wireless communication even if the antenna is stored in the storage space.

  The communication unit of the present invention is stored in the communication device storage box of the present invention and the storage space of the communication device storage box, and performs wireless LAN communication with surrounding wireless mobile terminals and connects the wireless mobile terminals to the Internet. A wireless LAN router and its antenna are provided. As a result, the wireless LAN router and its antenna can be protected, and the appearance of the communication unit can be improved.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a public wireless LAN system 100. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vending machine 8, the mounting bracket 70, and the communication unit 10. FIG. 3 is a side view of a communication device storage box 11. FIG. It is a side view of the communication apparatus storage box 11 from the opposite side to FIG. It is a top view of the state which opened the communication apparatus storage box 11. FIG. It is a perspective view of the state which opened the communication apparatus storage box 11. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a communication device storage box and a communication unit of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a public wireless LAN system 100 to which a communication device storage box and a communication unit of the present invention are applied. The outline of the public wireless LAN system 100 will be described. A communication unit 10 as a wireless LAN access point is attached to an upper surface 82 of a rectangular parallelepiped vending machine 8 such as drinking water via a mounting bracket 70. The communication unit 10 is connected to the Internet 2. A wireless portable terminal 1 (such as a mobile phone or a notebook computer) around the communication unit 10 can be connected to the Internet 2 by making a wireless LAN connection (WiFi connection) with the communication unit 10. The public wireless LAN system 100 is a free spot system that enables free Internet connection if the wireless portable terminal 1 has a wireless LAN communication function. The communication unit 10 is connected to the server 3 that manages the communication unit 10 via the Internet 2.

  Before describing the details of the communication device storage box and the communication unit 10 of the present invention, first, how the communication unit 10 is attached to the vending machine 8 will be described. Here, FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the vending machine 8, the mounting bracket 70, and the communication unit 10. In FIG. 2, a perspective view from the back surface 81 side of the vending machine 8 is shown. The mounting bracket 70 includes a U-shaped flat surface portion 71 and an L-shaped side surface portion 72 bent downward at a right angle from an outer edge 712 of a portion constituting one side of the U-shape of the flat surface portion 71. Composed. The flat portion 71 is a portion disposed on the upper surface 82 of the vending machine 8. Screw holes 711 are formed at the four corners of the U-shape of the flat portion 71. A screw groove is formed on the inner wall of the screw hole 711. The side surface 72 is a portion disposed on the back surface 81 of the vending machine 8. An elongated hole 721 that is elongated in a direction corresponding to the vertical direction of the vending machine 8 is formed at the end of the side surface 72 (the left end in FIG. 2). The long hole 721 is arranged at the position of the bolt hole 812 formed in the upper part of the back surface 81 (the upper left part in FIG. 2). The bolt hole 812 is a bolt hole formed in advance to fix a fall prevention wire or the like of the vending machine 8.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting bracket 70 is fixed to the vending machine 8 by fixing the bolt 31 with the bolt hole 812 through the long hole 721. Further, leg portions 16 are provided at the four lower corners of the communication unit 10. And the communication unit 10 is arrange | positioned at the upper surface 82 so that these leg parts 16 may be arrange | positioned in the position of the screw hole 711 formed in the plane part 71. FIG. Then, the communication unit 10 is fixed to the mounting bracket 70 by passing the screw 32 through the through hole 163 (see FIG. 3) formed in each leg portion 16 and fixing the screw 32 with the screw hole 711. That is, the communication unit 10 is attached to the upper surface 82 of the vending machine 8 via the attachment bracket 70.

  Next, details of the communication device storage box and the communication unit of the present invention will be described. The communication unit 10 includes a communication device 40 (see FIG. 5) configured by a wireless LAN router 41 (see FIG. 5) or the like that performs wireless LAN communication with the surrounding wireless portable terminal 1, and a communication device that stores the communication device 40. And a storage box 11 (see FIG. 3). Here, FIG. 3 shows a side view of the communication device storage box 11 (communication unit 10). 4 shows a side view of the communication device storage box 11 (communication unit 10) from the side opposite to the direction shown in FIG. The communication device storage box 11 includes a rectangular parallelepiped resin box 12. The resin box 12 is formed of a resin such as ABS resin in order to transmit radio waves. The resin box 12 has a rectangular parallelepiped body portion 13 having a bottom portion 131 and an opening (opening of a storage space 135 to be described later) formed at the upper end, and a substantially square shape in plan view that closes the opening of the body portion 13. And a lid 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, on one side 132 of the resin box 12, the main body portion 13 and the lid portion 14 are coupled by a hinge 15 so as to be rotatable around a hinge axis. As shown in FIG. 4, a lid fixing portion 17 that prevents the lid portion 14 from being opened from the closed position is provided at the upper end 134 of the side surface 133 of the main body 13 that faces the side surface 132 of FIG. 3. In the present embodiment, one lid fixing portion 17 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the upper end 134. The lid fixing part 17 has an annular hooking part 171. The annular hooking portion 171 is rotatable around a horizontal shaft 172 (see FIG. 4) of the lid fixing portion 17. A projecting portion 142 for hooking the annular hooking portion 171 is formed at the lower end 141 of the lid portion 14 that abuts the upper end 134 of the main body portion 13. Specifically, the protrusion 142 is formed at a position corresponding to the lid fixing portion 17 at the lower end 141. The lid portion 14 is prevented from opening by the annular hooking portion 171 being hooked on the protruding portion 142. On the contrary, when the annular hooking portion 171 is removed from the protrusion 142, the fixing of the lid portion 14 by the lid fixing portion 17 is released. In this case, the lid 14 can be moved to the open position around the hinge 15 (see FIG. 3). 4 shows a state where the annular hooking portion 171 is removed from the protruding portion 142.

  Thus, since the lid part 14 can be opened and closed with respect to the main body part 13, the communication device can be easily stored in the resin box 12 or easily taken out for repair or the like. Moreover, since the cover part 14 can be fixed in the closed position by the cover fixing part 17 and the projection part 142, exposure to the outside of the communication device stored in the resin box 12 can be prevented. In addition, as a method of fixing the lid portion 14 in the closed position, a method of fixing the main body portion 13 and the lid portion 14 with screws may be employed. Moreover, you may fix the cover part 14 to a closed position state by sticking an adhesive tape along the boundary of the main-body part 13 and the cover part 14. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, legs 16 for fixing to the mounting bracket 70 (see FIG. 2) are provided at the four corners of the bottom 131 of the main body 13. Each leg 16 has the same shape. As shown in part A of FIG. 3, each leg 16 includes a fixing part 161 fixed to the bottom part 131, a grounding surface part 162 in contact with the grounding surface, and a connecting part for connecting the fixing part 161 and the grounding surface part 162. 164. A through hole 163 for passing a screw of a predetermined size (for example, an M6 screw) is formed in the ground surface portion 162. Further, the leg portion 16 (the ground contact surface portion 162) is rotatable around a fixed axis B (an axis perpendicular to the bottom portion 131) of the fixed portion 161. That is, the orientation of the ground plane 162 can be adjusted. Therefore, the through hole 163 of the ground surface 162 can be easily aligned with the position of the screw hole 711 (see FIG. 2) formed in the mounting bracket 70. The leg portion 16 corresponds to the “screw fixing portion” in the present invention.

  Next, the internal structure of the communication device storage box 11 (resin box 12) and the configuration of the communication device stored therein will be described. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which the communication device storage box 11 is opened (a state in which the lid portion 14 is opened with respect to the main body portion 13). FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the communication device storage box 11 when the communication device 40 (see FIG. 5) stored in the communication device storage box 11 is removed. In addition, in FIG. 6, illustration of a part of the cover part 14 is abbreviate | omitted. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a storage space 135 is formed inside the main body 13. The storage space 135 is a rectangular parallelepiped space having a rectangular shape in plan view and a certain depth H (see FIG. 6). In the storage space 135, the communication device 40 is stored. Note that the communication device 40 has the configuration indicated by reference numerals 41 to 53. The height H of the storage space 135 is a height at which the communication device 40 can be stored. In addition, each of the components 41 to 53 (except for the reference numerals 44 and 45) of the communication device 40 is fixed (for example, screwed) to the bottom surface of the storage space 135.

  Before describing the internal structure of the communication device storage box 11, the configuration of the communication device 40 will be described. A wireless LAN router 41 is stored in the storage space 135. The wireless LAN router 41 includes a first antenna 42, and using the first antenna 42, the wireless portable terminal 1 (see FIG. 1) having a wireless LAN communication function and a wireless LAN communication standard (IEEE802.11). Etc.) to perform wireless communication (wireless LAN function). The first antenna 42 includes a plurality of antennas (two antennas 421 and 422 in FIG. 5), and is a diversity antenna that performs communication using an antenna having a good communication quality among the plurality of antennas. The first antenna 42 is a rod-shaped antenna extending upward from the wireless LAN router 41. The communication range of the wireless LAN by the wireless LAN router 41 is, for example, about 50 m in radius with the wireless LAN router 41 as the center.

  A USB connector 43 is connected to the wireless LAN router 41. The USB connector 43 is connected to a second antenna 45 for connecting the wireless portable terminal 1 connected by the wireless LAN to the Internet 2 (see FIG. 1). That is, the second antenna 45 is connected to the wireless LAN router 41 via the USB connector 43. In the present embodiment, the second antenna 45 is a USB memory type antenna and is laid down in the horizontal direction (see FIG. 5). The wireless LAN router 41 is wirelessly connected to a mobile phone line (for example, a 3G line network) using the second antenna 45, and is connected to the Internet 2 via the mobile phone line. The wireless LAN router 41 transmits communication data from the wireless mobile terminal 1 that is wirelessly connected to the Internet 2 or transmits communication data from the Internet 2 to the wireless mobile terminal 1 (routing function). The wireless LAN router 41 and the Internet 2 may be connected by wire. The first antenna 42 and the second antenna 45 correspond to the “antenna” in the present invention.

  A storage (USB memory) 44 that functions as an external memory of the wireless LAN router 41 is connected to the USB connector 43. The storage 44 stores data (image data or the like) that the wireless portable terminal 1 browses or downloads. The wireless LAN router 41 may transmit data stored in the storage 44 to the wireless portable terminal 1 instead of data from the Internet 2. Specifically, when there is an access from the wireless portable terminal 1, the wireless LAN router 41 transmits the initial screen stored in the storage 44 to the wireless portable terminal 1 and displays the initial screen on the wireless portable terminal 1. (Browse). The wireless LAN router 41 connects the wireless portable terminal 1 to the Internet 2 based on the operation of the Internet connection button provided in the initial screen by the user of the wireless portable terminal 1. In other words, the wireless LAN router 41 transmits data in the storage 44 to the wireless portable terminal 1 until the Internet connection button is operated. As data in the storage 44, music data, facility information around the vending machine 8, and the like are stored in addition to the initial screen. As described above, by transmitting the data in the storage 44 to the wireless portable terminal 1, it is possible to perform high-speed communication as compared with the case of transmitting data on the Internet 2.

  The wireless LAN router 41 can wirelessly communicate with the server 3 (see FIG. 1) via the second antenna 45. The data in the storage 44 can be rewritten by communication between the router 41 and the server 3. In addition, when there is an access from the wireless portable terminal 1, the wireless LAN router 41 transmits the access data (access date and time, the MAC address of the wireless portable terminal 1) of the wireless portable terminal 1 to the server 3. Yes. The server 3 stores the access data.

  In the storage space 135, a management device 46 that manages the wireless LAN router 41 is stored. The management device 46 is connected to the wireless LAN router 41 via the communication line 53, and monitors whether the wireless LAN router 41 is operating normally via the communication line 53 (life and death monitoring). In addition, the power adapter 51 of the wireless LAN router 41 is connected to the management device 46. The cord of the power adapter 51 (power cord of the wireless LAN router 41) 52 is connected to the wireless LAN router 41. That is, the wireless LAN router 41 is supplied with power via the management device 46. In other words, the management device 46 controls the power supply of the wireless LAN router 41. Specifically, when the management device 46 determines that the wireless LAN router 41 is frozen as a result of life and death monitoring, the management device 46 temporarily stops the power supply to the wireless LAN router 41 and then restarts the power supply. Thus, the wireless LAN router 41 is restarted (restart control). The alive monitoring and restart control are performed by the management device 46 itself, but can also be performed by remote control of the management device 46 by the server 3 (see FIG. 1). The management device 46 corresponds to the “power control unit” in the present invention.

  A drawing port 55 is formed on the side surface of the main body 13, and the external power line 54 is drawn into the storage space 135 from the drawing port 55. The external power supply line 54 is connected to the outlet 48 via the breaker 47. A power cord 49 of the management device 46 is connected to the outlet 48. Thus, the management device 46 is supplied with power from the outside. Note that a power cord 50 of the fan 19 to be described later is also drawn into the storage space 135 from the inlet 55.

  Next, the internal structure of the communication device storage box 11 will be described. The communication device storage box 11 employs a heat insulating structure that insulates the storage space 135 from the outside. In detail, the heat insulation parts 201, such as a polystyrene foam, are provided so that the inner side surface (storage space 135) of the main-body part 13 may be surrounded (refer FIG. 5, FIG. 6). In addition, the heat insulation part 201 is not provided in the part in which the vent 181 and 182 mentioned later were formed. In addition, a heat insulating portion 202 such as polystyrene foam is provided over the entire surface excluding the outer peripheral edge portion 143 on the back surface of the lid portion 14 (the surface on the side in contact with the storage space 135 when the lid portion 14 is closed) ( (See FIG. 5). By these heat insulation parts 201 and 202, when the communication unit 10 is installed in the outdoor vending machine 8, the temperature rise in the storage space 135 due to sunlight can be suppressed. Moreover, the temperature fall in the storage space 135 by the cool air in winter etc. can be suppressed.

  Vents 181 and 182 connecting the storage space 135 and the outside are formed in the main body 13. More specifically, air is passed through the side surface 132 (see FIG. 3) on the side where the hinge 15 is provided and the side surface 133 (see FIG. 4) on the side where the lid fixing portion 17 is provided, among the side surfaces of the main body 13. Ports 181 and 182 are formed. Each vent 181, 182 is provided with a filter that prevents foreign matter from entering the storage space 135. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the vents 181 and 182 are shown in a form including a filter. Further, one of the vents 181 and 182 (the vent 182 in this embodiment) is provided with a fan 19 for forcibly sending air into the storage space 135. Note that the vent 181 is not provided with a fan. Thus, the air can be efficiently sent from the vent 182 provided with the fan 19 to the storage space 135, and the air in the storage space 135 is efficiently sent out from the vent 181 where no fan is provided. be able to. That is, the storage space 135 can be efficiently ventilated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent heat (heat generation of the communication device 40 itself or heat from outside) from being stored in the storage space 135.

  Further, the communication device storage box 11 employs a waterproof structure that prevents water from entering the storage space 135. Specifically, a groove is formed on the outer peripheral edge 143 on the back surface of the lid 14 over the entire circumference. Hereinafter, the groove is indicated by reference numeral “143”. A rubber seal member 61 is fitted in the groove 143. When the lid portion 14 is closed, the seal member 61 comes into contact with the opening edge portion 136 of the main body portion 13. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent water from entering the storage space 135 through the gap between the main body portion 13 and the lid portion 14.

  As described above, the communication device storage box 11 (communication unit 10) of the present embodiment includes the heat insulating structures 201 and 202, the ventilation structure using the vents 181 and 182 and the fan 19, and the waterproof structure 61. Therefore, the communication device 40 stored in the storage space 135 can be effectively protected.

  The communication device storage box and the communication unit according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, when the communication unit is installed in an indoor vending machine, the temperature in the storage space 135 is less likely to be abnormal than in the case where the communication unit is installed in an outdoor vending machine. And the fan 19 may be omitted. Further, when the communication unit is installed in an indoor vending machine, the water does not enter the storage space 135 due to rain, and thus the seal member 61 may be omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wireless portable terminal 11 Communication apparatus storage box 12 Resin box 135 Storage space 82 Upper surface of vending machine 41 Wireless LAN router 42 1st antenna 45 2nd antenna

Claims (10)

A box installed on the upper surface of a vending machine,
A wireless LAN router for performing wireless LAN communication with surrounding wireless portable terminals and connecting the wireless portable terminals to the Internet, and a resin box having a storage space for storing the antenna so as not to be exposed to the outside A communication device storage box.   The communication device storage box according to claim 1, further comprising a screw fixing portion provided at a lower portion of the resin box and screw-fixed to a ground surface of the resin box.   The communication device storage box according to claim 1, further comprising a heat insulating structure that is provided in the resin box and insulates the outside from the storage space.   The communication device storage box according to claim 1, wherein a vent hole is formed in the resin box.   The communication device storage box according to claim 4, further comprising a fan that is provided in the vent and ventilates the storage space.   The communication device storage according to claim 5, wherein the first vent hole provided with the fan and the second vent hole not provided with the fan are formed in the resin box. box. The resin box includes a main body having the storage space and opening in the storage space, and a lid for closing the opening,
The waterproof structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a waterproof structure that is provided at a joint portion between the main body portion and the lid portion and waterproofs the storage space against water from the outside. Communication device storage box.   The storage space is a space for storing, in addition to the wireless LAN router and its antenna, a power control unit that controls power supply of the wireless LAN router so as not to be exposed to the outside. The communication device storage box according to any one of 1 to 7. The wireless LAN router is connected to a storage functioning as an external memory in which data for allowing the wireless portable terminal to browse or download is stored.
9. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the storage space is a space for storing the storage so that the storage is not exposed to the outside in addition to the wireless LAN router, its antenna, and the power control unit. Storage box. The communication device storage box according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A wireless LAN router stored in the storage space of the communication device storage box and performing wireless LAN communication with surrounding wireless portable terminals and connecting the wireless portable terminals to the Internet and an antenna thereof; communication unit.

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