JP3275113B2 - 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]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic laundry dispenser for unattended transfer of laundry is useful for people who have difficulty in coming to the store during normal business hours of a laundry, such as dual-working households and salaried workers living alone. It has been conventionally used to solve problems such as shortage of 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, and a satisfactory one has not yet been obtained.

Therefore, the present applicant firstly provided a plurality of laundry storage boxes and a door provided in each of the boxes.
Select a deposit mode for customers to deposit laundry, a pick-up mode for customers to pick up laundry, a take-out mode for attendants to take out laundry, and a staff return mode for attendants to return laundry. And a control means for controlling the state of the laundry in each box along each mode selected by the selecting means. 50
No. 731).

[0006] With this automatic laundry agent, both reception and return can be performed unattended, so that users who cannot visit the store during normal business hours can also be used. On the other hand, a laundry shop can simplify operations and extend business hours.

[0007]

However, in the automatic laundry arrangement machine having the above-described structure, a deposit mode for customers,
Pick-up mode, clerk removal mode for clerks,
In order to switch the clerk return mode, two switches, a customer mode switch and a clerk mode switch, are required. It is necessary to make these switches normally inoperable for customers.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic laundry machine having a switch which can be easily switched and which cannot be normally operated by a customer.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic laundry handling machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein a plurality of boxes for storing laundry, doors provided in each of the boxes, and a box for a customer to deposit laundry. Selecting means for selecting a deposit mode, a pick-up mode for a customer to pick up laundry, a clerk removal mode for a clerk to take out laundry, and a clerk return mode for a clerk to return the laundry; Control means for controlling the laundry handling state of each box along each mode selected by the selection means,
A key switch is provided on the front surface of the automatic laundry handling machine so that the selecting means can select the attendant removal mode and the attendant return mode only when the key switch is in the ON state or the OFF state.

[0010]

In the automatic laundry machine of the above construction, in order to enter the mode operated by the attendant, insert the key into the key switch,
The switch is turned on or off, and is switched by the selection means.

[0011]

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 in 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 laundry loading / unloading unit for attendants.

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, statement exit 11, coin return slot 12, key switch 1
3. A key hole 14 for a large door is provided. Note that the key switch 13 inserts a key into the key switch 13 to turn it on or off. The key is kept by an attendant.

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 once takes out the processed laundry because the processed laundry is not taken up even after a certain period of time. In some cases, delinquency removal is not performed for operation. Numeric keypad 24
Is input means for inputting a customer identification symbol, a laundry identification symbol, and the like. The guide display unit 27 is a box display unit that displays a box number, a display unit that displays a laundry identification symbol, and a unit that displays various instructions to a user and a staff member.

An automatic laundry agent A having the above configuration
However, an example of the operation in the case where a single type of laundry is transferred under the control of the control unit, such as 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 agent A when the user deposits laundry.

First, in 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 displayed money or more 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 sorting 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.

At 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, and it is determined whether or not 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.

In step b7, the box number 4 of the box 15 containing the laundry corresponding to the telephone number entered in 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 flowchart showing the operation of the automatic laundry handling machine A when the attendant takes out the laundry.

At step c1, a key is inserted into the key switch 13 to turn on the key switch 13, and at step c2, when the pick-up button 22 is pressed to select the attendant removal mode, the process proceeds to step c3, where the laundry to be picked up Is determined. 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 process 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 flowchart showing the operation of the automatic laundry handling machine A when the attendant returns the processed laundry.

At step d1, a key is inserted into the key switch 13 to be turned on. At step d2, when the deposit button 22 is pressed to select the attendant return mode, at step d3, the laundry number is set. Is displayed on the guidance display unit 27. 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, and the box number of the box is turned on. Unlock the small door 2.

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.

As described above, the automatic laundry dispenser A is operated by the user who deposits the laundry or the person who tries to put the processed laundry back in by pressing the deposit button to perform a predetermined operation. Is performed, an empty box is searched for and indicated by searching for an area on the memory, and the box is unlocked to enable storage of laundry. Also, when a user who tries to pick up the laundry inputs the telephone number or the like entered at the time of deposit, the box storing the laundry is searched and displayed, the lock is released, and the collection is performed. Enable.

As described above, the automatic laundry agent A is capable of both receiving and returning, and since it is possible to operate all day unattended, it is installed in a convenience store or the like, It is particularly suitable for use by people who cannot come to the laundry during business hours. On the other hand, a laundry shop can be freed from receiving and returning operations that tend to be complicated, and business opportunities can be expanded by extending business hours and expanding sales channels.

Further, since the empty box is always searched and used, the box can be used more effectively and more laundry can be received.
Further, since the unlocking of the small door is performed by operating the numeric keypad, the user is released from the trouble of holding a key or a card.

The automatic laundry machine according to the present invention is, of course, not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, a post-payment type fee can be paid. Instead, it is also possible to handle a plurality of types of laundry.

[0048]

As described above, according to the automatic laundry machine of the present invention, in order to enter the mode operated by the attendant, a key is inserted into the key switch and the switch is turned on or turned off.
The state is set to the FF state, and switching is performed by the selection means. Therefore, there is no need to provide two types of switches for the operation, and if the key is stored by the attendant, the customer is not converted into the attendant mode without permission.

[0049]

[Detailed description of drawings]

[0050]

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

[0051]

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

[0052]

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

[0053]

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

[0054]

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of pick-up by a clerk.

[0055]

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

[0056]

[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 section 10 Amount display section 11 Statement exit 12 Coin return slot 13 Key switch 14 Keyhole for large door 15 Box 21 Deposit Button 22: Pick-up button 23: Deferred take-out button 24: Numeric keypad 25: End button 26: Correction button 27: Guidance display section

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of laundry storage boxes; a door provided in each of the boxes; a deposit mode for a customer to deposit laundry; a pick-up mode for a customer to retrieve laundry; Selection means for selecting a clerk removal mode for taking out an item and a clerk return mode for the clerk to return the laundry; and laundry for each box along each mode selected by the selection means. An automatic laundry agent having control means for controlling an agent state, wherein a key switch is provided on a front surface of the automatic laundry agent, and only when the key switch is in an ON state or an OFF state, is a clerk removal mode and a clerk selected by the selection means. An automatic laundry handling machine wherein a return mode can be selected.