JP2589580Y2 - Automatic luggage storage device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

The present invention has a plurality of boxes each having a door with an electric lock, unlocks a door of a predetermined box under the control of a control device, opens and closes the door, and stores luggage. The present invention relates to an automatic luggage storage device that can be inserted and picked up.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a delivery service delivered from a courier company to a specific resident is stored in a box with an electric lock on behalf of the resident, and the door is unlocked when the resident requests collection. Or allow the resident to pick up the luggage he / she wants to send out, specify the trader in the empty box, lock the door, and unlock the door when the designated trader requests the pick-up and allow the pick-up. In recent years, there has been seen an example of an automatic luggage storage device installed in a lobby of an apartment or other condominium.

[0003]

The applicant has disclosed an example of such an automatic luggage storage device in the above-mentioned patent application specification (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-75931). When a failure occurs in a box door sensor or a baggage sensor during delivery or receipt of an article, there is a problem that a routine having program processing is infinitely circulated and processing cannot be terminated. In other words, if a failure occurs with the door sensor or baggage sensor open in the delivery or reception mode, only a message such as "door is not closed" or "baggage is not taken out" is displayed. Thus, there has been a problem that it cannot be determined whether the door is arbitrarily opened or the baggage cannot be taken out, or whether a failure has actually occurred.

In view of the above points, the present invention terminates the processing for one of the boxes when a sensor failure occurs, so that the processing for another box can be continued normally. The purpose is to.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides, in each of the boxes, a luggage sensor for detecting the presence or absence of luggage in the box, an electric lock for locking a box door, and an electric lock. A lock sensor that detects whether the electric lock is unlocked or locked, a door sensor that detects opening and closing of the door, and a door sensor that outputs a closing detection signal based on a command from a control device. An electric lock driving means for driving and locking the electric lock, a confirmation button operated at the end of delivery or reception, and when the confirmation button is operated and output, the door sensor is opened for a predetermined time. A door opening / closing monitoring means for monitoring whether the state changes from the door detection state to the closed door detection state, and if the door sensor remains in the open detection state even after the door has passed a predetermined time, the door sensor of the box is Judge as broken The process ends with respect to the box Te, and is characterized in that a exclude error box processing means number of the box from the free box file.

[0006]

[Function] During delivery of a parcel delivery, after the luggage is stored in a predetermined empty box and the confirmation button is pressed, the door opening / closing monitoring means monitors the detection state of the door sensor and detects the door opening within a predetermined time. It is checked whether or not the state changes from the state to the closed door detection state. If it does not change, the error box processing means determines that the door sensor of the box has failed, and ends the processing for that box. The error box processing means excludes the box number from the empty box file. Therefore, at the time of the next use, a search for an empty box is not performed for the box determined to have failed, and a box with a normal door sensor is used.

[0007]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic luggage storage device, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of one box, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device, and FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the contents stored in a storage unit. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the function of the CPU, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining the operation in the delivery mode.

The automatic baggage storage device generally includes a plurality of boxes B1 to B10 arranged adjacent to each other and a control device C.

Each of the boxes B1 to B10 has the same components. FIG. 2 shows only one box component for simplicity. The box includes a known electric lock 11 having a drive unit such as a solenoid corresponding to a door for opening and closing the article storage space, and a lock sensor 1 for detecting whether the electric lock is in a locked state or an unlocked state.
A door sensor 13 for detecting whether the door is open or closed, and an LED such as an LED for emitting light at a position corresponding to the door to indicate that the electric lock is unlocked. A container 14 is provided, and a baggage sensor 15 for detecting the presence or absence of a baggage in the article storage space is provided. The light emitter 14 is provided so that the light at the time of lighting is exposed on the front part of the closed door. It may be built in a box selection button arranged on each operation panel of the control device C to be described later, corresponding to the arrangement of each box.

Each box is provided with a box address setting device 16 using a dip switch or the like for setting the address of the box. The set box address is provided to a matching circuit 17. The collation circuit 17 is supplied with box address data for designating one box via a box address data line La commonly connected to each box from a control device described later. Is supplied to the gate g1 and g2 of the electric lock 11 when it is compared with its own box address provided from the box address setting unit 16 and when they match. To the gates g1 and g2, a lock signal or an unlock signal for the electric lock 11 of the door is supplied from the control device via a lock control data line Lb commonly connected to each box.

Further, each of the sensors 12, 13,
The detection signal 15 passes through the gates g3 to g5 to which the coincidence output of the collation circuit 17 is input.
It is configured to be input to the control device via d.

Then, the control device C is installed in the box B0. An operation panel P provided on the surface of this box includes a receiving button 21, a shipping button 22, a registration button 2
3, release button 24, correction button 25, confirmation button 26, cancel button 2
7, a delivery button 28, a collection button 29, a change button 210, a print request button 211, and a number key 212. Each of these buttons 21 to 211 has a switch inside, and is electrically connected to the control unit 6 so that an output signal of the switch is input to the control unit 6 when operated. .

The receiving button 21 and the sending button 22 are used to designate the use mode as either receiving or sending, and the registration button 23 is operated to refuse the deposit when the resident is out of the office for a long time. The release button 24 is operated when canceling the long-term absence registration, the correction button 25 is operated to correct the content of the operation input from the numeric key 212, and the confirmation button 26 is operated on the display unit 3. Is operated when confirming the contents displayed in. Cancel button 27
The button operated when canceling the contents input in the shipping mode, the delivery button 28 and the collection button 29 are used to designate the use mode to either delivery or collection, and the number key 212 is used by the user. Is used to enter the room number when the person is a resident or the designated trader number at the time of shipping, the password when the user is the designated trader, the room number of the resident at the time of delivery, etc. . Here, the designated contractor means that the use of this device has been approved in advance with a management association as an example of a building in which this device is installed, a predetermined password has been assigned, and the contractor number has been recorded. It means a specific company that has been provided with a predetermined usage card.

The operation panel P is further provided with a display unit 3 such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display. The display unit 3 displays the operation method of the apparatus in a predetermined order based on the pressing of the buttons 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, and 29, and displays if there is an erroneous operation. In order to guide a correct operation, to display options when there are options, and to display input contents from the numeric key 212 for confirmation.

The operation panel P also has a card slot 4
The card insertion slot communicates with a card reader 4 installed in the box. The card reader 4 is provided with a use card which is distributed in advance to a resident of a building where the device is installed, and a business card which is distributed in advance to a company affiliated with a building where the device is installed. When a card is inserted into the card insertion slot 4a, an ID number, a room number, and the like recorded on the card are read.

Further, the operation panel is provided with a receipt issuing port 5a connected to the receipt issuing machine 5 provided in the box. When the resident uses this device to deposit luggage in any box and presses the print request button 211 provided near the receipt issuing port, the receipt issuing machine 5 Is issued to the receipt issuing port. The receipt may be issued whenever the luggage is stored without providing the print request button 211.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control device C is connected to the buttons 21 to 211 provided on the operation panel P via the input / output interface 61, respectively. It comprises a microcomputer having a central control unit CPU connected to each box via a line 62 and each of the lines La to Lc, and a storage unit ROM and RAM connected to the CPU.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ROM stores a system program 71 of this apparatus, a trader table 72 which stores trader numbers which are identification information of designated traders who have concluded a contract to use this apparatus, and a ROM of this apparatus. A resident table 73 that stores a room number that is identification information of a resident who has signed a usage contract.
And a room number table 74 in which room numbers of residents are registered. In the RAM, a stored baggage table 75 for storing information on the presence or absence of baggage in each box.
And an absentee table 76 for registering the room number of the absentee when the resident has registered for a long absence, and other input data 77 are stored.

The central control unit CPU includes an operation panel P
Based on a signal input by the operation of each button of the above, using the information stored in the trader table, the resident table, the room number table, and the absentee table, the sending,
In any of the modes of reception, delivery, and pickup, the door of the predetermined box is unlocked, and after the door is closed or detected after storing or unloading the luggage, the door is locked and the contents of the table in the storage unit are read. Act to update.

As shown in FIG. 5, the central control unit CPU implements the above functions by software as shown in FIG.
Message display control means 81, empty box search means 8
2. Checked baggage search means 83, collation means 84, corresponding box number display control means 85, receipt issuance control means 86,
It has an electric lock control means 87, a stored baggage storage control means 88, and a door opening / closing monitoring means 89 and an error box processing means 810 which are newly added according to the present invention.

In the following, among the operations of the present apparatus by these function realizing means, the operation relating to the improvement of the present invention, that is, the operation in the case where the designated trader delivers home delivery, will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. explain.

When a trader delivers a home delivery to a resident of the building where the apparatus is installed, the delivery button 28 on the operation panel P is used.
Press to start the delivery mode program,
The empty box searching means 82 searches for empty boxes from empty box files that store a predetermined box number for each empty box based on the no-package detection signal from the luggage sensor 15 for all boxes (S1). If there is no empty box, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 3 (S2), and the process is terminated (S3). If there is an empty box, a message prompting insertion of a card is displayed on the display unit 3 (S4). When the trader places the designated trader card in the card insertion slot 4a, the data is read by the card reader 4 and given to the CPU. The checking means 84 of the CPU checks the read trader number against the trader number registered in the trader table 72 (S
5). If there is no match (N in S5), it is determined that the card is not registered, a message indicating that the card cannot be used is displayed on the display unit 59 (S6), and the card is returned to the card insertion slot 510. (S7), and ends the processing (S8).

When it is determined that the trader is registered (S
(5) Y) displays a message to the effect that the destination room number should be specified on the display unit, and prompts for the input of the room number from the numeric key 55 (S9). In response to this, when the room number is input, the matching unit checks the room number with the room number registered in the resident table 73 to check whether or not the room number is registered (S10). If not registered, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit (S11), and the process returns to the step of displaying a message prompting the input of the destination room number (S1).
2). When a registered room number is entered (S10
(Y), the checking means checks whether the room number has been registered in the long-term absence table 76 (S13). If it is registered (Y in S13),
The resident of the room number displays a message indicating that he / she is absent for a long time (S14), and returns to the step of displaying a message prompting the input of the destination room number (S15).

If the long-term absence is not registered for the resident of the input room number (N in S13), it is displayed that an empty box should be selected (S16), and then an empty box is searched (S17). If there is no empty box, a message to that effect and a message to press the confirmation button 26 are displayed (S18). When the confirmation button 26 is pressed,
The process ends (S19).

When there is an empty box (Y in S17)
Displays the box number of the empty box on the display unit 3 of the operation panel P (S20), and displays the number of the empty box on the display unit 3 (S21). Further, the door of the empty box is unlocked (S22). Along with this,
The light emitter 14 of the door lights up.

Based on this, the trader opens the door of the box where the light emitter 14 is lit (S231), accommodates the home delivery therein (S232), and closes the door again (S23).
3) By doing so, the home delivery is put into the empty box (S
23). Here, when the confirmation button 26 is not pressed, another home delivery can be stored in the next empty box. Then, when the confirmation button 26 is pressed after all the home delivery items are stored, whether or not there is a box in the open state is checked based on the detection signal of the door sensor 13 (S25). Further, the door opening / closing monitoring means 89 starts monitoring the change in the detection output state of the door sensor 13 from the time when the confirmation button is pressed. If there is an open box, the display unit 3 displays that the box should be closed (S26), and a buzzer sounds while the door opening / closing monitoring unit is operating (S27), etc. Appeal to vision and / or hearing.

Then, it is checked from the detection output signal of the door sensor whether or not the opened door of the box is closed (S28). It is checked whether a predetermined time, for example, 30 seconds, has elapsed since the start of monitoring by the door opening / closing monitoring means 89 (S2).
9) If it has not elapsed, return to step 26. If it has elapsed, stop the buzzer sound (S30). In this case, it is determined that the door sensor of the empty box has failed, and the error box processing means 810 Ends the processing for the box (S31). That is, the process in the delivery mode is terminated without performing the subsequent processes from step 32 to step 38.

If there is no door opening box in step 25 (Y in S25), and if the door opening / closing monitoring means 89 is closed after the start of monitoring (Y in S28), step S32 is executed.
Then, the electric lock control means 87 is driven to lock all corresponding doors related to the current use (S32). Further, in the checked baggage table 74, the trader number, the destination room number, and the number of the checked box are stored as a set of checked baggage data. Subsequently, the output contents of the baggage sensor are checked to determine whether there is any checked baggage in the box (S33). If there is a baggage, the display unit 3 is instructed to issue a check slip (S34). ). When the user presses the print request button 211 (S35), the receipt issuance control means 86 drives the receipt issuance machine 5 and issues a receipt on which the trader number, the destination room number, and the number of the stored box are printed. It is issued to the mouth 5a (36). Following issuance of this receipt, the card inserted by the trader is returned (S37), and a message indicating that the operation has been completed and that the card should be received is displayed on the display unit (S38), and the process is terminated (S38). S39). Instead of printing and issuing the paper on the paper prepared inside, the receipt issuing machine 5 may print and discharge the slip paper inserted by the trader from the issuing port.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in addition to terminating the processing, the error box processing means of the control device further excludes the box number of the box in which the door sensor has failed from the empty box file in the storage unit. The empty box search means 82 does not perform an empty box search when using.

In the automatic luggage storage device according to the earlier application, after pressing the confirmation button in step S24, after checking whether or not there is an open box (S25), it is simply displayed that the opened box should be closed ( In S26), it is checked whether or not the door is closed. If the door is not closed (N in S28), the display prompting the user to close the open box is repeated (S2).
9, 26), there was a problem that the processing for that box could not be terminated as described above.

[0031]

As described above, the present invention includes a door opening / closing monitoring means and an error box processing means for monitoring whether or not all the boxes are closed within a predetermined time after pressing the confirmation button, and for a predetermined time. If there is a box that is not closed inside, the process for that box is terminated, so that the use of other boxes in which the door sensor has not failed can be continued normally. Therefore, as in the conventional apparatus, the program processing or the routine is infinitely circulated and the processing cannot be ended, thereby preventing the other normal boxes from being unavailable. Further, since the error box processing means excludes the error box from the empty box file, the processing speed of the normal box is not reduced due to the meaningless processing of the error box.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic luggage storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of one box.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the contents stored in a storage unit.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating functions of a CPU.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a part of an operation in a delivery mode which is one of operations of the present apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the rest of the operation in a delivery mode, which is one of the operations of the present apparatus.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A plurality of boxes each having a door with an electric lock, wherein a door of a predetermined box is unlocked by control of a control device, and the door can be opened / closed, and luggage can be stored and picked up. In the luggage automatic custody device, in each of the boxes, a luggage sensor that detects the presence or absence of luggage in the box, an electric lock that locks the door,
A lock sensor that detects whether the electric lock is unlocked or locked, a door sensor that detects opening and closing of the door, and the door sensor outputs a closing detection signal based on a command from the control device. An electric lock driving means for driving and locking the electric lock, a confirmation button operated at the end of delivery or reception, and when the confirmation button is operated and output, the door sensor for a predetermined time. A door opening / closing monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the door changes from an open detection state to a closed detection state; and a door of the box when the door sensor remains in the open detection state after a predetermined time has passed. An automatic luggage storage device, comprising: an error box processing unit that determines that a sensor has failed, terminates processing for the box, and excludes the number of the box from an empty box file.