JP2024081852A - Stocker System - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] When a user places an item in a storage unit, the storage unit is prevented from storing the item in a storage unit whose temperature inside is different from the designated temperature range. [Solution] A stocker system includes a temperature control unit that adjusts the temperature inside the storage unit according to a set temperature for each storage unit or for each group to which multiple storage units belong, a set temperature change unit that changes the set temperature for each storage unit or for each group, a memory unit that stores a temperature zone for each storage unit or for each group, and a control unit that, when a delivery of an item is requested and a storage temperature zone is specified, unlocks a storage unit that is in a temperature zone that matches the specified storage temperature zone based on the temperature zone stored in the memory unit. The stocker system also includes a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature for each storage unit or for each group, and an update unit that updates the temperature zone stored in the memory unit based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit. [Selected Figure] Figure 2

Description

This specification discloses a stocker system.

A stocker system equipped with a stocker having a storage facility is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a delivery management system equipped with a locker having a storage box including a temperature adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the internal temperature and a temperature sensor that measures the internal temperature, a control unit, and a management server having a box reservation unit and a box control unit. The management server reserves a box according to a delivery request, and when the temperature zone of the delivery item (such as refrigerated) is specified in the delivery request, it sends an instruction to change the temperature zone to the locker so that the temperature zone specified in the delivery request is reached by the scheduled delivery time. The locker's control unit changes the temperature of the box it contains using the temperature adjustment mechanism according to the received instruction to change the temperature zone until the appropriate temperature is reached, and when the appropriate temperature is reached, it sends a completion notification of the change instruction to the management server and maintains the temperature inside the box at the appropriate temperature.

JP 2021-68046 A

Although the above-mentioned system describes using a temperature adjustment mechanism to change the temperature of the box so that it falls within the temperature range specified in the delivery request, there is no mention of what to do if the temperature of the box is not within the specified temperature range when the delivery person places the item in the box.

The primary objective of this disclosure is to prevent a user from storing an item in a storage facility where the temperature inside the storage facility is different from the designated temperature range.

This disclosure takes the following steps to achieve the above-mentioned primary objective:

The stocker system of the present disclosure comprises:
A stocker system including a stocker having a plurality of lockable and unlockable storage compartments,
A temperature control unit that adjusts an internal temperature of each of the storage compartments according to a set temperature for each of the storage compartments or for each of the groups to which the plurality of storage compartments belong;
A set temperature changing unit that changes the set temperature for each storage unit or for each group based on an operation by an operator;
A storage unit that stores a temperature zone for each storage unit or each group;
a control unit that, when a delivery of an article is requested to the stocker and a storage temperature zone is specified, unlocks a storage unit that is in a temperature zone that matches the specified storage temperature zone, based on the temperature zone for each storage unit or each group that is stored in the memory unit;
A temperature detection unit that detects a temperature for each of the storage compartments or each of the groups;
an update unit that updates the temperature zone for each storage facility or each group stored in the memory unit based on the temperature for each storage facility or each group detected by the temperature detection unit;
The gist of the project is to provide the following:

In the stocker system disclosed herein, when a stocker is requested to deliver an item and a storage temperature zone is specified, the stocker that is in a temperature zone that matches the specified storage temperature zone is unlocked based on the temperature zone for each storage unit or group stored in the memory unit. The stocker system also includes a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature for each storage unit or group, and updates the temperature zone for each storage unit or group stored in the memory unit based on the detected temperature for each storage unit or group. As a result, when the set temperature and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit do not match, the temperature zone stored in the memory unit is updated to one that corresponds to the detected temperature. This makes it possible to prevent a user from storing an item in a storage unit whose internal temperature is different from the specified temperature zone.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of a sales management system and a stocker system. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a stocker. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of usage status information. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a delivery process. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a storage temperature zone selection screen. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a storage temperature zone selection screen. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a temperature zone update process.

Next, the form for implementing this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a sales management system 10 and a stocker system 11. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a stocker 40. As shown in Figure 1, the sales management system 10 is a system managed by a business having a store 20, etc., and is equipped with a sales management device 21. The sales management device 21 exchanges information with a mobile terminal 15 of a purchaser 14 via a network 13 such as the Internet, and provides sales information of a product 17 to the purchaser 14 (customer). This sales management device 21 is equipped with a control unit 22, a memory unit 23, and a communication unit 26. The control unit 22 is composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc., and controls the entire device. The memory unit 23 stores various application programs and various data files. The communication unit 26 communicates with external devices such as a stocker management device 30. The business transmits a request to use the stocker 40, etc. from the sales management device 21 to the stocker management device 30. The business also has the product 17 delivered by the delivery person 19 from the store 20 or the like to the stocker 40.

The stocker system 11 includes a stocker management device 30 and one or more stockers 40.

The stocker management device 30 exchanges information with the stockers 40 via the network 12. The stocker management device 30 includes a control unit 31 and a communication unit 36. The control unit 31 includes a CPU 32, a memory unit 33, etc., and controls the entire device. The memory unit 33 stores various application programs and various data files. The communication unit 36 communicates with external devices such as the sales management device 21 and the stockers 40. The memory unit 33 stores stocker information 34 and usage status information 35 for each stocker 40. The stocker information 34 includes, for example, identification information (stocker ID) that identifies the stocker 40 in the stocker system 11 and information such as the location of each stocker 40. The usage status information 35 associates the stocker ID, identification information (delivery warehouse ID) for identifying the delivery warehouse 41, the usage status of the delivery warehouse 41 (delivered, empty), and an unlocking code for unlocking the delivery warehouse 41. In this embodiment, the unlocking code is the order number assigned by the sales management device 21 when the purchaser 14 places an order for the product 17. Of course, any information that can identify the purchaser 14 and the product 17 ordered by the purchaser 14, such as a customer number managed by the sales management device 21, may be used.

The stocker 40 is a device used when delivering the product 17 delivered from the store 20 to the purchaser 14. The stocker 40 is installed in various places such as offices, convenience stores, and various public facilities so that many purchasers 14 can use it and can receive the product 17 when they go out, such as when commuting to work. This stocker 40 has a delivery warehouse 41 with multiple tiers and multiple rows (four tiers and four rows in this embodiment). Each delivery warehouse 41 has an internal space capable of storing items such as the product 17, and as shown in FIG. 2, has a front door 42, a locking mechanism 43 for locking and unlocking the door 42, an item sensor 44 for detecting the presence or absence of an item in the delivery warehouse 41, and an opening/closing sensor 45 for detecting the opening/closing of the door 42. The item sensor 44 may be a non-contact sensor using light, or a contact sensor using an element.

The stocker 40 is also provided with a temperature control device 60 that can set the temperature inside each delivery warehouse 41 to one of the following temperature ranges: room temperature, refrigeration, or freezing. In this embodiment, the temperature control device 60 is provided for each row so that the temperature inside the delivery warehouses 41 in multiple rows and columns can be controlled for each row. The temperature control device 60 has a refrigerator 61 that is installed in a box 70 in the upper part of the stocker 40 and is configured using a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, a supply duct 62 that extends vertically from the refrigerator 61, a supply port 63 for supplying cold air from the supply duct 62 to the interior of each delivery warehouse 41 in the same row as the refrigerator 61, and a circulation duct (not shown) that returns the cold air inside the warehouse to the refrigerator 61. A temperature sensor 65 is also installed near the entrance of the supply duct 62 to detect the temperature of the cold air supplied to the interior of each delivery warehouse row. The stocker 40 is provided with a set temperature switch 66 that can change the set temperature of each temperature control device 60 (default values are 3°C for refrigeration and -20°C for freezing) in 1°C increments, for example. The temperature control device 60 controls the refrigerator 61 by feedback control based on the deviation between the set temperature and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 65 so that the temperature inside the corresponding delivery warehouse row matches the set temperature. The set temperature switch 66 is provided, for example, in the box 70. The manager of the stocker 40 can change the set temperature by opening the front cover of the box 70 and operating the set temperature switch 66. The set temperature may also be changed by operating the operation display unit 46, which will be described later.

In addition, one of the delivery warehouses 41, which has multiple rows and multiple columns, houses the control device 50, and the door 42 is provided with an operation display unit 46 and a reading unit 47. The operation display unit 46 is a touch panel located on the front of the stocker 40, and displays various information to the deliverer 19 and the purchaser 14 of the product 17, and inputs various operations from the deliverer 19 and the purchaser 14. The reading unit 47 is a code reader that reads the coded deliverer ID (delivery number) that identifies the deliverer 19 and the coded order number that is assigned when the product 17 is purchased. The control device 50 includes a control unit 51 and a communication unit 56. The control unit 51 includes a CPU 52, a memory unit 53, etc., and controls the entire device. The memory unit 53 stores various application programs and various data files. The communication unit 56 communicates with external devices such as the stocker management device 30. The memory unit 53 stores information 55 about the usage status of each delivery warehouse 41 in the stocker 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, the usage information 55 stores information similar to the usage information 35 managed by the stocker management device 30 for the corresponding stocker 40 (stocker ID, delivery warehouse ID, usage status, unlocked warehouse code). The stocker management device 30 and stocker 40 communicate with each other to synchronize this information with the latest information. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the usage information 55 also includes information for temperature management, such as the row number, the temperature range of each delivery warehouse row (room temperature, refrigerated, frozen), and the set temperature of each delivery warehouse row. Note that the information for temperature management may also be included in the usage information 35 managed by the stocker management device 30.

The operation of the stocker system 11 thus configured will be described. When the sales management device 21 receives an order for the product 17 from the purchaser 14, it transmits a usage request including the desired receiving destination of the product 17 to the stocker management device 30. When the stocker management device 30 receives the usage request, it determines the delivery destination stocker 40 based on the desired receiving destination of the product 17 and the usage status of each stocker 40, and transmits various information necessary for delivery to the deliverer 19 to request delivery. This information includes delivery destination information indicating the delivery destination stocker 40, authentication information (delivery number) necessary for the identity authentication of the deliverer 19, and purchaser information (order number) necessary for the purchaser 14 to receive the product 17 from the stocker 40. The deliverer 19 delivers the product 17 to the delivery destination stocker 40, and inputs necessary information such as the deliverer number and order number at the delivery destination stocker 40 by inputting operations on the operation display unit 46 or reading operations on the reading unit 47. The control unit 51 of the stocker 40 authenticates the deliverer 19 using the deliverer number input by the deliverer 19, and unlocks the door 42 of the delivery warehouse 41. The deliverer 19 opens the door 42 of the unlocked delivery warehouse 41, delivers the product 17, and closes the door 42 of the delivery warehouse 41 to deliver the product 17 to the delivery warehouse 41. When the delivery of the product 17 is completed, the control unit 51 of the stocker 40 locks the door 42 of the delivery warehouse 41. The control unit 51 of the stocker 40 stores the order number input by the deliverer 19 in the usage status information 55. In addition, the stocker management device 30 transmits recipient information indicating the stocker 40 of the recipient (delivery destination) to the mobile terminal 15 of the purchaser 14. The purchaser 14 goes to the stocker 40 of the recipient, inputs the order number by inputting into the operation display unit 46 or reading into the reading unit 47, and is authenticated as the purchaser 14. When the control unit 51 of the stocker 40 authenticates the purchaser 14, it unlocks the door 42 of the corresponding delivery warehouse 41. This allows the purchaser 14 to open the door 42 of the unlocked delivery warehouse 41 and remove the product 17.

Next, we will further explain the details of the operation of the stocker 40 when the delivery person 19 delivers the product 17 to the stocker 40. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the delivery process executed by the CPU 52 of the control unit 51.

When the delivery process is executed, the CPU 52 first displays a deliverer number input screen on the operation display unit 46 and accepts input of the deliverer number (S100). The deliverer number may be input by the deliverer 19 operating the operation display unit 46 to directly input the number, or the read unit 47 may read the deliverer code (delivery number) carried by the deliverer 19.

When the input of the deliverer number is completed (S102), the CPU 52 performs identity authentication of the deliverer 19 (S104). If the identity authentication of the deliverer 19 is unsuccessful, the CPU 52 ends the delivery process. On the other hand, if the identity authentication of the deliverer 19 is successful, the CPU 52 displays an order number input screen on the operation display unit 46 and accepts the input of the order number (S106). The order number may be input by the deliverer 19 operating the operation display unit 46 to directly input the order number, or the reading unit 47 may read a code including the order number written on the slip for the product 17.

When the input of the order number is completed (S108), the CPU 52 reads out the temperature zone of the delivery warehouse row in which the delivery warehouse 41 has vacant space from the usage status information 55 of the memory unit 53 (S110). Then, the CPU 52 sets the read-out temperature zone as the storage temperature zone (S112), displays a storage temperature zone selection screen on the operation display unit 46 based on the set storage temperature zone, and accepts the selection of the desired storage temperature zone (desired storage temperature zone) of the product 17 to be delivered by the deliverer 19 (S114). An example of the storage temperature zone selection screen is shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. When the storage temperature zone includes room temperature, refrigeration, and freezing, the storage temperature zone selection screen displays a room temperature button, a refrigeration button, and a freezing button, as shown in FIG. 5. The deliverer 19 can select the desired storage temperature zone by pressing (touching) any of the buttons. Furthermore, if the storage temperature ranges include room temperature and refrigerated but not frozen, then as shown in FIG. 6, only the room temperature button and the refrigerated button are displayed on the storage temperature range selection screen. Therefore, in this case, the deliverer 19 can select room temperature and refrigerated as the desired storage temperature range, but cannot select frozen. Therefore, if the product 17 is a frozen item, the deliverer 19 will take the product 17 home without delivering it to the stocker 40.

When the desired storage temperature is selected (S116), the CPU 52 unlocks an available delivery warehouse 41 among the delivery warehouses 41 in the row of delivery warehouses whose temperature range matches the desired storage temperature (S118). The delivery person 19 opens the door 42 of the unlocked delivery warehouse 41, delivers the product 17 to the delivery warehouse 41, and closes the door 42. The CPU 52 waits until the product sensor 44 detects the product (product 17) in the delivery warehouse 41 and the opening/closing sensor 45 detects the closure of the door 42 of the delivery warehouse 41 (S120), and then locks the delivery warehouse 41 (S122). Then, the CPU 52 changes the usage status of the delivery warehouse ID of the delivery warehouse 41 to which the product 17 has been delivered from "empty" to "delivered," and updates the usage status information 55 by adding the order number entered in S108 to the unlocking code, and transmits the updated usage status information 55 to the stocker management device 30 (S124), and ends the delivery process. The stocker management device 30 updates the usage status information 35 stored in the memory unit 33 based on the usage status information 55 received from the stocker 40.

Next, a process for updating the temperature zone for each delivery warehouse row stored in the memory unit 53 (usage status information 55) will be described. As described above, the temperature zone for each delivery warehouse row stored in the memory unit 53 is used to set the storage temperature zone displayed on the storage temperature zone selection screen. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a temperature zone update process executed by the CPU 52 of the control unit 51. This process is executed repeatedly at predetermined time intervals (for example, every few seconds or every few minutes).

When the temperature zone update process is executed, the CPU 52 first sets the variable i to a value of 1 (S200). Next, the CPU 52 acquires the temperature data of the i-th delivery warehouse row from the temperature sensor 65 of the i-th delivery warehouse row (S202), and reads out the current temperature zone (current temperature zone) of the i-th delivery warehouse row stored in the usage status information 55 of the memory unit 53 (S204). Then, the CPU 52 judges whether the acquired temperature data matches the current temperature zone (S206). For example, room temperature is set to a temperature zone of 5°C or higher, refrigeration is set to a temperature zone of 0°C or higher and less than 5°C, and freezing is set to a temperature zone of less than -15°C. The judgment in S206 is made by judging whether the temperature data acquired from the temperature sensor 65 is within the numerical range of the current temperature zone. If the CPU 52 judges that the acquired temperature data does not match the current temperature zone, it updates the temperature zone of the i-th delivery warehouse row to a temperature zone that matches the acquired temperature data (S208). In the process of S208, if the acquired temperature data is within the numerical range of any of the temperature zones of room temperature, refrigeration, and freezing, the CPU 52 stores the temperature zone corresponding to the temperature zone of the i-th delivery warehouse row in the memory unit 53 (usage status information 55). On the other hand, if the acquired temperature data is not within the numerical range of any of the temperature zones of room temperature, refrigeration, and freezing, the CPU 52 stores information that the item cannot be delivered to the delivery warehouse 41 of the i-th delivery warehouse row in the temperature zone of the i-th delivery warehouse row in the memory unit 53 (usage status information 55). Note that if the CPU 52 determines that the acquired temperature data is consistent with the current temperature zone, it skips S208.

Next, the CPU 52 increments the variable i by a value of 1 (S210) and determines whether the variable i is greater than the number of columns in the delivery warehouse 41 (4 in this embodiment) (S212). If the CPU 52 determines that the variable i is equal to or less than the number of columns, the process returns to S202 and repeats the process of S202 to S210 to update the current temperature zone for the next i-th delivery warehouse column. On the other hand, if the CPU 52 determines that the variable i is greater than the number of columns, the temperature zone update process ends.

As described above, the temperature inside each delivery warehouse row is controlled by the temperature control device 60 so that it matches the set temperature. Therefore, normally, it is sufficient to set the storage temperature range according to the set temperature of each delivery warehouse row and accept the desired storage temperature from the delivery person 19 within the range of the storage temperature range. However, for example, if the temperature control device 60 breaks down or the stocker 40 is temporarily powered off, the temperature inside each delivery warehouse row may deviate from the set temperature. In this case, if the storage temperature range is set according to the set temperature, the product 17 will be delivered to a delivery warehouse 41 whose internal temperature is different from the desired storage temperature. Therefore, in this embodiment, the CPU 52 sets the storage temperature based on the temperature range stored in the memory unit 53 and accepts the desired storage temperature from the delivery person 19, and updates the temperature range stored in the memory unit 53 so as to match the temperature data from the temperature sensor 65 of each delivery warehouse row. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the product 17 from being delivered to a delivery warehouse 41 whose internal temperature is different from the storage temperature desired by the delivery person 19.

Here, the correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the present disclosure described in the claims will be explained. That is, the delivery warehouse 41 of this embodiment corresponds to the storage warehouse of the present disclosure, the stocker 40 corresponds to the stocker, the temperature adjustment device 60 corresponds to the temperature adjustment section, the set temperature switch 66 corresponds to the set temperature change section, the memory section 53 corresponds to the memory section, the CPU 52 of the control section 51 that executes the delivery process corresponds to the control section, the temperature sensor 65 corresponds to the temperature detection section, and the CPU 52 of the control section 51 that executes the temperature zone update process corresponds to the update section. Also, the CPU 52 of the control section 51 that executes S110 to S116 of the delivery process and the operation display section 46 correspond to the reception section.

It goes without saying that the present disclosure is in no way limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be implemented in various forms as long as they fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

For example, in the above embodiment, the temperature control device 60 is configured using a refrigerator 61, but it may be configured using a Peltier element. In this case, the temperature control device may be capable of switching between room temperature, refrigeration, and warm storage. Also, the temperature control device 60 is capable of adjusting the temperature inside the delivery warehouse 41, which has multiple rows and multiple stages, for each row, but it may also be capable of adjusting the temperature for each stage. Also, the temperature control device 60 may be capable of individually adjusting the temperature inside each delivery warehouse 41.

In the above-described embodiment, the usage status information is stored in the memory unit 33 of the stocker management device 30 and the memory unit 53 of the stocker 40, but the usage status information may be stored only in the memory unit 33 of the stocker management device 30, and the stocker management device 30 may manage the temperature of each delivery warehouse 41.

In the above-described embodiment, the stocker system 11 includes the stocker management device 30 and the stocker 40, but this is not limited thereto, and the stocker 40 may have the functions of the stocker management device 30. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the sales management device 21 and the stocker management device 30 are separate servers, but the stocker management device 30 may have the functions of the sales management device 21.

As described above, in the stocker system of the present disclosure, when a delivery of an item is requested to a stocker and a storage temperature zone is specified, a storage unit that is in a temperature zone that matches the specified storage temperature zone is unlocked based on the temperature zone for each storage unit or group stored in the memory unit. The stocker system also includes a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature for each storage unit or group, and updates the temperature zone for each storage unit or group stored in the memory unit based on the detected temperature for each storage unit or group. As a result, when the set temperature and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit do not match, the temperature zone stored in the memory unit is updated to one that corresponds to the detected temperature. This makes it possible to prevent a user from storing an item in a storage unit whose internal temperature is different from the specified temperature zone.

In the stocker system disclosed herein, a reception unit is provided that receives the selection of the storage temperature zone when a delivery request is made, and the reception unit may change the acceptable storage temperature zone based on the temperature zone stored in the memory unit. In this way, it is possible to more reliably prevent items from being stored in a storage facility whose internal temperature differs from the designated temperature zone.

In this case, the reception unit may display acceptable storage temperature zones from among a plurality of storage temperature zones and receive the selection of the storage temperature zone. In this way, the person storing the item can easily understand the acceptable storage temperature zones by looking at the display.

The present invention can be used in the technical field of product distribution systems that deliver products to stockers.

10 Sales management system, 11 Stocker system, 12, 13 Network, 14
Purchaser, 15 Mobile terminal, 17 Product, 19 Deliverer, 20 Store, 21 Sales management device, 22 Control unit, 23 Memory unit, 26 Communication unit, 30 Stocker management device, 31 Control unit, 32 CPU, 33 Memory unit, 34 Stocker information, 35 Usage status information, 36 Communication unit, 40 Stocker, 41 Delivery warehouse, 42 Door, 43 Locking mechanism, 44 Item sensor, 45 Opening/closing sensor, 46 Operation display unit, 47 Reading unit, 50 Control device, 51 Control unit, 52 CPU, 53 Memory unit, 55 Usage status information, 56 Communication unit, 60 Temperature control device, 61 Refrigeration machine, 62 Duct, 63 Supply port, 65 Temperature sensor, 66 Set temperature switch, 70 Box.

Claims (3)

A stocker system including a stocker having a plurality of lockable and unlockable storage compartments,
A temperature control unit that adjusts an internal temperature of each of the storage compartments according to a set temperature for each of the storage compartments or for each of the groups to which the plurality of storage compartments belong;
A set temperature changing unit that changes the set temperature for each storage unit or for each group based on an operation by an operator;
A storage unit that stores a temperature zone for each storage unit or each group;
a control unit that, when a delivery of an article is requested to the stocker and a storage temperature zone is specified, unlocks a storage unit that is in a temperature zone that matches the specified storage temperature zone, based on the temperature zone for each storage unit or each group that is stored in the memory unit;
A temperature detection unit that detects a temperature for each of the storage compartments or each of the groups;
an update unit that updates the temperature zone for each storage facility or each group stored in the memory unit based on the temperature for each storage facility or each group detected by the temperature detection unit;
A stocker system comprising: 2. The stocker system according to claim 1,
a reception unit for receiving a selection of the storage temperature zone when a delivery request is made,
The reception unit changes the acceptable storage temperature zone based on the temperature zone stored in the storage unit.
Stocker system. 3. The stocker system according to claim 2,
the reception unit displays acceptable storage temperature zones from among a plurality of storage temperature zones and receives a selection of the storage temperature zone;
Stocker system.

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