JP3273334B2 - Automatic laundry handling machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic laundry handling machine mainly used for unmanned laundry handling.

[0002]

[Problems to be solved by the prior art and the invention] It is difficult for an automatic laundry intermediary machine for unattended transfer of laundry to visit a laundry shop during normal business hours, such as dual-working households and salaried workers living alone. It has been conventionally used for the convenience of people and for solving problems such as labor shortage at laundry shops.

[0003] These automatic laundry dispensers are, for example, of a type in which laundry is put in a bag and put in a common large box (Japanese Utility Model No. 61-204296), or
Similar to a so-called coin locker, there is a type in which one box is occupied by one user from reception to return, and a key or card is used to open and close the door.

[0004] However, in the former box-sharing type intermediary machine, there is a problem that only reception can be performed, and return must be performed manually or by some other means as before. For those who cannot come to the store during business hours, the inconvenience will not be resolved unless they are returned by the agent. Also, the latter coin-locker type agent has a problem that even when the laundry is taken out by the attendant and the box is vacant, other people cannot use this box. , A big disadvantage for both cleaning and cleaning shops. As described above, the conventional agency has various unsolved problems.

In view of the above, there has been invented an automatic laundry machine that can be accepted and returned, and each box can be used more effectively without being occupied by a specific person. Was done. However, even in this automatic laundry handling machine, if the returned washed laundry is left for a long time without being taken off, the box cannot be used. If such cases overlap, it may interfere with deposit and return, so in order to prevent this, it is necessary to collect laundry that has not been taken over even after a certain period of time as delinquent is there.
(Hereinafter, this operation will be referred to as deferred removal.) In the case of performing deferred retrieval, it takes time and effort to determine which laundry corresponds to the delinquent item based on the memory or manual record of the attendant. This, of course, is error-prone and has a lot of boxes, which is virtually impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an automatic laundry machine for automatically finding and displaying a box in which a delinquent article is stored so that the delinquent article can be easily taken out. Things.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic laundry dispenser having a plurality of laundry storage boxes and a door provided in each of the boxes. In an automatic goods handling machine, a deposit mode in which a user can deposit laundry, a pick-up mode in which a user can pick up processed laundry, a staff removal mode in which a staff can take out laundry, and a staff in charge of processing Selecting means for switching to any one of a clerk return mode capable of returning the finished laundry, a deferred removal mode in which the clerk can retrieve the processed laundry regarded as delinquent, Locking means for locking and unlocking a door provided on the box, and providing a laundry identification code in the deposit mode. Identification means for inputting a customer identification symbol and the laundry identification symbol, storage means for storing the customer identification symbol and the laundry identification symbol in association with each other, Box display means for displaying a box unlocked in the pick-up mode, clerk laundry loading / unloading means, display means for displaying the laundry identification symbol, and processed laundry by the clerk in the clerk return mode. Measuring means for measuring the elapsed time since the return of the goods is performed; and the locking means, the identification symbol providing means, the storage means, the box display means, the attendant laundry loading / unloading means, the display means, and Control means for controlling the measurement means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic laundry handling machine.
Wherein the control means is in a deposit mode,
A laundry identification symbol is assigned to the deposited laundry by the identification symbol assigning means, and the laundry identification symbol is stored in the storage means in association with the customer identification symbol input from the input means. The door of the box in which is stored is locked by the locking means, and in the attendant removal mode, the laundry can be taken out by the staff laundry taking in / out means, and the laundry identification code of the taken out laundry is read out from the storage means. Displayed by the display means, in the clerk return mode, allowing the clerk to take in and out the laundry by the garment loading / unloading means, and inputting the laundry identification symbol of the laundry to be returned to the box, which is input from the input means. A laundry identification code corresponding to the customer identification code input from the input means in the pick-up mode, stored in the storage means; Retrieves from the laundry identification code is inputted and stored in the clerk returns put mode,
The lock of the door of the box storing the laundry provided with the laundry identification code is unlocked by the locking means, the box is indicated by the box display means, and the box is displayed by the deceleration take-out mode. It is determined whether or not the elapsed time exceeds the preset deferred time for each box, the locking of the door of the box that has been exceeded is unlocked by the locking means, and the box is displayed by the box display means. It is shown.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic laundry machine according to the first aspect, wherein in each mode selected by the selection means, the control means controls the locking means, the identification symbol providing means, the storage means, and the box. It controls some means selected from a display means, the attendant laundry loading / unloading means, the display means, and the measuring means.

[0010] In the automatic laundry dispensing machine according to the second aspect, the control section operates as follows in each mode.

That is, in the deposit mode, the laundry identification symbol is assigned to the laundry stored in the box by the identification symbol assigning means. Then, the laundry identification code is stored in the storage means in association with the customer identification code input from the input means by the user. At the same time, the door of the box storing the laundry is locked by the locking means.

In the attendant take-out mode, the laundry is taken out by the attendant laundry taking-in / out means. Further, a laundry identification symbol of the laundry to be taken out is read out from the storage means and displayed by the display means. The clerk
The laundry identification symbol is attached to the taken out laundry by any method. The staff laundry taking-in / out means is a concept including the opening / closing means of each box and the locking means thereof, the control means for controlling the locking means, and the input means, and the opening / closing means is provided for each box. Doors or other doors or lids.

In the clerk return mode, laundry can be returned by the clerk laundry loading / unloading means. on the other hand,
Since the laundry identification symbol of the laundry to be returned to the box is input from the input means by the attendant, the laundry identification symbol is stored in the storage means.

In the pick-up mode, since the customer identification number is inputted by the user through the input means, the laundry identification code corresponding to the customer identification code is inputted and stored in the attendant return mode. Search within symbols. If there is a corresponding laundry identification code, the lock of the door of the box storing the laundry to which the laundry identification symbol is assigned is unlocked by the locking means, and the box is indicated by the box display means.

[0015] In the delinquent take-out mode, the elapsed time after the return is measured by the measuring means,
It is determined for each box whether or not the elapsed time exceeds a preset deferral time. If there is an excess box, the locking of the door of the box is released by the locking means, and the box is indicated by the box display means.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An automatic laundry machine A according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of an automatic laundry handling machine A.

Cabinet body a of automatic laundry handling machine A
Is partitioned into 24 laundry storage boxes 15. Each box 15 has a size that can store about five shirts that have been cleaned and packaged, and the front surface of each box 15 is open.

A large door 1 having 24 small doors 2 is provided at the front of the cabinet body a.
Is opened, all the boxes 15 are opened and the large door 1
Is closed, the small door 2 is designed to be the door of each box 15. Each small door 2 has a handle 3, and beside each small door 2, a box number 4 from "1" to "24",
Empty box display lamps 5 as box display means are provided, and each has lock means (not shown) controlled by the control unit. In the present embodiment, the small door 2 also serves as a staff laundry taking-in / out means.

The large door 1 has a bill insertion slot 6 in addition to the small door 2.
Coin slot 7, return lever 8, operation unit 9, amount display unit 1
0, a statement exit 11, a coin return slot 12, a staff operation key switch 13, and a keyhole 14 for a large door are provided.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing details of the operation unit 9.

The operation unit 9 includes a deposit button 21, a pick-up button 22, an overdue discharge button 23,
It has a numeric keypad 24, an end button 25, a correction button 26, and a guidance display section 27. The deposit button 21 is a button used when the user deposits the laundry and when the clerk returns the processed laundry. The pick-up button 22 is a button used when the clerk takes out the unprocessed laundry and when the user picks up the processed laundry. The deferred take-out button 23 is a button used when the attendant takes out the deferred taken-out laundry that has not been taken up even if a certain period of time has passed since the return. The numeric keypad 24 is an input unit for inputting a customer identification code, a laundry identification code, and the like, and is also used when a clerk sets an overdue time in an initial setting. Information display 27
Is box display means for displaying a box number,
It is a display means for displaying the laundry identification symbol, and also a part for displaying various instructions to the user and the attendant.

Automatic laundry machine A having the above construction
However, an example of an operation in the case where a single type of laundry is transferred under the control of the control unit, for example, only a shirt, will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic laundry handling machine A when the user deposits laundry.

First, at step a1, the deposit button 21
When the deposit mode is selected by pressing, it is determined in step a2 whether or not there is an empty box 15. This determination is made by searching an area on the memory that manages the use state of the box 15. If there is no empty box 15, it is impossible to deposit the box, so that information is displayed on the guide display unit 27 and the operation is terminated. If there is, the process proceeds to step a3.

In step a3, an instruction for inputting a telephone number is displayed on the guidance display unit 27, and the telephone number is input by the user using the numeric keypad 24 in accordance with the instruction. This telephone number is input as a customer identification code, and does not need to be a predetermined number, but may be a password determined by the user on the spot.

Next, in step a4, an instruction for inputting the number of laundry items is displayed on the guide display unit 27. When the number of laundry items is input by the user using the numeric keypad 24 in accordance with the instruction, these telephones are called. Store the number, number of sheets, laundry number, etc. in a specific area on the memory,
Proceed to step a5. Here, the laundry number is a number assigned by an identification symbol assigning means as a laundry identification symbol. In the present embodiment, the laundry number is a serial number assigned to each piece of laundry to be deposited, but is not limited thereto. Not something.

In step a5, the charge calculated based on the number of sheets input in step a4 and the unit price set in advance is displayed on the amount display section 10, and the flow advances to step a6.

In step a6, the indicated amount or more of cash is paid out from the bill insertion slot 6 and / or the coin insertion slot 7.

When the fee is paid, in step a7,
The box number 4 of the vacant box 15 to be used is displayed on the guidance display unit 27, the vacant box display lamp 5 indicating the box 15 is turned on, the small door 2 of the box 15 is unlocked, and step a8 is performed. Proceed to.

In step a8, the small door 2 of the box 15 is opened by the user to put laundry, and the small door 2 is closed again. In step a9, the small door 2 is automatically locked. .

Then, in step a10, a deposit receipt in which the input telephone number, the number of deposits, the fee, etc. are entered is issued from the specification exit 11. If there is change, step a1
Payment is made at 1 and the deposit operation ends.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic laundry handling machine A when the user picks up the processed laundry.

When the pick-up mode is selected by pressing the pick-up button 22 in step b1, an instruction for inputting a telephone number is displayed on the guidance display unit 27 in step b2. In accordance with this instruction, when the telephone number entered at the time of deposit is entered by the user using the numeric keypad 24, the process proceeds to step b3.

In step b3, it is determined whether or not the corresponding laundry is in the box 15. That is, an area in the memory in which data such as the laundry number, the telephone number, and the number of stored items is stored is searched, and the laundry to which the laundry number corresponding to the telephone number input in step b2 is added is returned. Is determined.

If it is determined that there is, the process proceeds to step b4 to determine whether there is an additional charge. The additional fee is generated, for example, in the case where the collection of the processed laundry is delayed and a delinquent fee is collected, or in the case where the regular fee has not been paid due to the input of an incorrect number at the time of deposit. If there is an additional charge, the process proceeds to step a5, where the additional charge is displayed on the amount display unit 10, and
When the additional fee is paid as instructed in step 6, step b
Go to 7. If there is no additional charge, step b
Go to 7.

At step b7, the box number 4 of the box 15 containing the laundry corresponding to the telephone number input at step b2 is displayed on the guidance display section 27, and the empty box display lamp 5 indicating the box is turned on. Then, the lock of the small door 2 of the box is released.

In step b8, the small door 2 is opened by the user to take out the laundry, and when the small door 2 is closed, the small door 2 is automatically locked in step b9 and the take-off operation is performed. finish.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the automatic laundry agent A when the attendant takes out the laundry.

At step c1, the staff operation key switch 1
3 is turned on, and in step c2, the pick-up button 22
Is pressed to select the attendant removal mode, the process proceeds to step c3, and it is determined whether or not there is laundry to be taken. If there is no such information, no pick-up is performed, so that information is displayed on the guide display unit 27 and the operation is terminated.

If it is determined that there is, the process proceeds to step c4, where the box number 4 of the box 15 containing the laundry to be picked up is displayed on the guidance display section 27, and the empty box display lamp 5 indicating the box number is turned on. Then, the small door 2 of the box is unlocked. And step c
In step 5, the laundry display unit 27 displays the laundry number and the number of the laundry given to the laundry stored in the box 15.

In step c6, the attendant opens the small door 2 of the box 15 and takes out the laundry.
The attendant attaches the laundry number displayed on the guidance display unit 27 in step c5 to each of the taken out laundry by using a tag or the like.

In step c7, it is determined whether or not the take-off button 22 has been pressed. If so, the small door 2 of the box 15 is automatically locked in step c11, and the flow returns to step c3 to return to another step c3. The operation of taking out the laundry is started.

If the pick-up button 22 has not been pressed, it is determined in step c8 whether the end button 25 has been pressed. If the end button 25 has been pressed, step c
In step 9, the small door 2 is automatically locked, and in step c10, a receipt is issued from the specification exit 11, and the receipt operation is completed. If the end button 25 has not been pressed, the process returns to step c7.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the automatic laundry sorting machine A when the attendant returns the processed laundry.

At step d1, the staff operation key switch 1
3 is turned on, and in step d2, the deposit button 22
Is pressed to select the attendant return mode, an instruction for inputting the laundry number is displayed on the guidance display unit 27 in step d3. When the laundry number is input, in step d4, the box number 4 of the empty box 15 to be used is displayed on the guidance display unit 27, and the empty box display lamp 5 indicating the box is turned on.
Unlock the small door 2 of the box.

In step d5, when the door 2 of the box 15 is opened by the attendant to store the processed laundry and the small door 2 is closed, it is determined in step d6 whether the deposit button has been pressed. If pressed,
The small door 2 of the box 15 is automatically locked in step d10, and the flow returns to step d3 to start the operation of returning another laundry.

If the deposit button 22 has not been pressed, it is determined in a step d7 whether or not the end button 25 has been pressed.
Is automatically locked, a reversal note is issued from the specification exit 11 in step d9, and the reversal operation ends. If the end button 25 has not been pressed, the process returns to step d6.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the automatic laundry handling machine A when the attendant takes out the delinquency.

At step e1, the clerk operation key switch is turned on, and at step e2, when the late take-out button 23 is pressed and the late take-out mode is selected, it is determined at step e3 whether or not there is any late object to be taken out. I do. This determination is made for each box 15 in which laundry is stored. That is, when it is determined that the processed laundry is stored in a certain box 15, the elapsed time after the laundry is returned is obtained. Then, the elapsed time is compared with a preset deferred time, and if the elapsed time exceeds the deferred time, the laundry stored in the box is regarded as the deferred item.

The elapsed time is obtained by measuring means controlled by the control unit. As a method thereof, for example, a clock may be provided for each box, and the time from the time of return may be directly measured by the clock. Alternatively, a clock that can read the time at any time and that is common to all boxes is provided, and the time (including the date) when judging an overdue object is determined.
The time (including the date) at the time of reversing may be subtracted from the value. In the latter case, only one clock is required, but it is necessary to temporarily store the time at the time of turning back.

If it is determined in step e3 that there is a delinquent object, the process proceeds to step e4, where the box number 4 of the corresponding box 15 is displayed on the guidance display section 27, and the empty box display lamp 5 indicating the box number is turned on. Then, the lock of the small door 2 of the box 15 is released.

In step e5, the attendant opens the small door 2 and takes out the laundry. And small door 2
Is closed, the small door 2 is automatically locked in step e6, and the flow returns to step e2 to start deferred removal of another laundry.

If it is determined in step e3 that there is no overdue item, this is displayed on the guidance display unit 27 in step e7, and if the end button is pressed in step e8, the delinquent take-out statement is output in step e9. Issued from 11,
The deferred removal operation ends.

The delay time can be easily changed by the input from the ten keys 24 in the automatic laundry agent A of this embodiment.

As described above, when the deferred take-out button 23 is depressed, the automatic laundry dispensing machine A displays the box 15 containing the laundry to be deferred and taken out on the guide display section 27 and the empty box display lamp. Indicated by the lighting of 5,
Since the lock of the small door 2 of the box 15 is automatically released, the attendant can easily take out the delinquency,
The occurrence of human error can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to frequently carry out the overdue removal, and it is possible to transfer more laundry.

[0057]

As described above, according to the automatic laundry dispenser of the present invention, it is possible to easily take out a delinquent object and prevent occurrence of human error. In addition, since frequent overdue removal can be performed, the box can be used more effectively.

[0058]

[Brief description of the drawings]

[0059]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an automatic washing machine A;

[0060]

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an operation unit 9;

[0061]

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of depositing by a user.

[0062]

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of collection by a user.

[0063]

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of removal by an attendant.

[0064]

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of return by a clerk.

[0065]

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of delinquency removal by a clerk.

[0066]

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Automatic laundry handling machine a: Cabinet body 1 Large door 2 Small door 3 Handle 4 Box number 5 Empty box display lamp 6 Bill insertion slot 7 Coin insertion Mouth 8 ... Return lever 9 ... Operation part 10 ... Amount display part 11 ... Detailed statement exit 12 ... Coin return port 13 ... Staff operation key switch 14 ... Keyhole for large door 15 ... Box 21 ... … Deposit button 22… Recovery button 23… Delayed removal button 24… Numeric keypad 25… End button 26… Correction button 27 …… Guidance display section

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic laundry machine having a plurality of laundry storage boxes and a door provided in each of the boxes, a deposit mode in which a user can deposit laundry, and the user has already processed the laundry. Pick-up mode in which laundry can be picked up, staff take-out mode in which staff can take out laundry, staff return mode in which staff can return processed laundry, processed laundry in which staff is regarded as overdue Selecting means for switching to any of the deferred take-out modes in which articles can be taken out; locking means for locking and unlocking the doors provided in each of the boxes; washing in the depositing mode An identification code assigning means for assigning an identification code, and a customer identification code and the laundry identification code are input. Storage means for storing the customer identification symbol and the laundry identification symbol in association with each other; box display means for displaying a box unlocked in the pick-up mode; Laundry taking-in / out means, display means for displaying the laundry identification symbol, and measuring means for measuring an elapsed time after the processed laundry is returned by the clerk in the clerk return mode. The locking means, the identification symbol providing means, the storage means,
The box display means, the attendant laundry putting in and out means,
An automatic laundry dispensing machine, comprising: the display means; and control means for controlling the measuring means. 2. In a deposit mode, the control means assigns a laundry identification code to the laundry to be deposited by the identification symbol assigning means, and assigns the laundry identification symbol to a customer identification code input from the input means. Correspondingly stored in the storage means, the door of the box in which the laundry is stored is locked by the locking means, and in the attendant removal mode, the laundry can be taken out by the staff laundry taking in / out means, and the laundry to be taken out can be taken out. A box for reading a laundry identification code of an article from the storage means and displaying the symbol on the display means; in a clerk return mode, enabling the laundry to be returned by the clerk laundry loading / unloading means, and inputting from the input means; Storing the laundry identification symbol of the laundry to be returned to the storage means in the storage means; The laundry identification symbol corresponding to the customer identification symbol input from the clerk return mode is searched from the laundry identification symbols input and stored in the attendant return mode, and the laundry to which the laundry identification symbol is assigned is searched. Is unlocked by the locking means, the box is indicated by the box display means, and the elapsed time measured by the measuring means in the deferred take-out mode is a preset deferred time 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining whether each box exceeds the limit, unlocking a door of the excess box by the locking means, and indicating the box by the box display means. Automatic laundry machine.