JP3775714B2 - Postbox - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a post box provided in an apartment building such as a condominium or an office building.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, postboxes (hereinafter also referred to as in-building postboxes) provided in apartment houses such as dormitories and condominiums and office buildings are known.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Because this post box in the building is located near the entrance of the building, it can be used by unspecified majority persons other than the resident of the building, so the unspecified number of persons inside the building will enter and the security of the building will be reduced There was a problem.
[0004]
In addition, all conventional postboxes including general postboxes other than the postbox in the building have a problem of low security. That is, the conventional postbox cannot completely prevent the mischief such as the introduction of foreign matters and dangerous materials by children and the like, and the mischief of trying to pull out the postal matter from the postbox.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a post box that is significantly superior in security compared to the prior art and that can reduce the arrival of unspecified majority into the building. This is a problem to be solved.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the mail box described in claim 1, the mail input port for mail input provided separately from the mail output port for picking up mail has a door that cannot be opened. The door can be opened or opened when a signal is sent to the post box certifying that the post is available.
[0007]
In this way, it is possible to prevent the above-mentioned mischief from being performed on the postbox or to cause an unexpected theft accident, so that the security of the entire postal system can be significantly improved.
[0008]
Moreover, since it does not give the excuse that unspecified majority other than the tenant enters the building, it is advantageous in terms of building security management.
[0009]
The door opening determination means stores in advance determination data for determining whether the door opening request signal is correct. When the door opening request signal is input, the door opening determining means compares the determination data with the determination data and issues a door opening command.
[0010]
The door opening request signal can be a user identification signal for confirming the user. That is, it is possible to use different signals for each user instead of a common password. In this way, the user itself can be specified, and there is no accident due to the leakage of the common password, so that the security can be further improved.
[0011]
The door may be configured to be opened by a door opening command signal and then automatically closed so that the door cannot be opened, or the door that is automatically closed can be opened by a door opening command signal, and then the door cannot be opened. It is good also as a structure.
[0012]
According to the configuration described in claim 2, since the post is further displayed when the door can be opened in the mail post according to claim 1, the user does not have to try to insert the postal matter. , Can improve convenience.
[0013]
According to the configuration of claim 3, in the postbox of claim 1, since it is possible to open the door for a predetermined time from the opening permission or the previous insertion detection, it is possible to intermittently insert a plurality of postal items, Convenience is improved.
[0014]
According to the configuration of claim 4, the postbox according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further includes an input detection sensor for detecting an input of a postal matter from the postal input port after opening, and an input detection sensor. Since it has a receipt issuing means for issuing a receipt after detecting the input, it is possible to issue a mail receipt receipt only after detecting that the mail is actually input, thereby further improving the reliability of the system. be able to.
[0015]
According to the configuration of claim 5, the postbox according to claim 1 is further provided integrally with the delivery box, so that the cost can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where both are installed separately. It is possible to use the parcel delivery box and the post box at the same time, and the convenience can be further improved. Compared to the case where these are installed separately in the entrance hall of the building, the space occupied area of the entrance hall can be reduced. It can be reduced and the appearance of the entrance hall will not be damaged.
According to the configuration of the sixth aspect, in the post box according to the fifth aspect, the door opening request signal input means also serves as an opening / closing control means for the door of the delivery item storage chamber.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the post box according to the first aspect, the opening determination means prohibits the opening of the mail input slot when detecting the excessive accumulation of mail in the post.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the post of the present invention will be described with reference to the following examples.
[0017]
[Example 1]
A package management box integrated post to which the mail post of the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a front view of the luggage management box-integrated post, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram thereof, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mail post portion.
(Overall configuration of the device)
This package management box integrated post 1 includes a post box 1a (main body in the present invention), a delivery box 1b, and a control box 2, and is provided in the entrance hall of an apartment. No. 1 to No. 8 are the respective luggage storage rooms of the delivery box 1b, and No. 9 is the mail storage room of the post box 1a.
[0019]
A monitor 5 including a card reader 3, a printer 4, and a liquid crystal touch panel display is disposed on the front surface of the control box 2, and a main controller 7 and a telephone line connection device 8 are accommodated in the control panel 2. 9 is a door for each of the luggage storage rooms No. 1 to No. 8, and 103 is a door for mail collection of the mail storage room No. 9.
[0020]
The telephone line connection device 8 is connected to a computer of a remote delivery box management center 10 and a computer 10 'of a mail collection center through a public telephone line.
[0021]
The main controller 7 is connected to the local controllers 11 to 19 with built-in microcomputers provided for the respective rooms No. 1 to No. 9 through the bus 21 so as to be able to exchange data.
[0022]
Each of the local controllers 11 to 18 is connected to an electronically operable lock 31, a stock indicator lamp 32, and a door closing sensor 33, and the lock portion 31, stock indicator lamp 32 and door closing sensor 33 are not shown. It is provided in each door 9 of storage room No.1-No.8 of what to do.
[0023]
The local controller 19 in charge of local control related to the mail storage chamber No. 9 is connected to an electronically operable lock 31, a door closing sensor 33, an input / overstack sensor 24, and an electronically operable lock 25. The lock portion 31 is provided on the door 103 of the storage chamber No. 9 (not shown). Further, the charging / overdeposition sensor 24 is provided in the inner part of the control box 2.
[0024]
In this embodiment, the input / over-deposition sensor 24 is an optical sensor that constantly emits light and detects reflected light, that is, a so-called reflective optical obstacle sensor, and a window 2b provided on the back wall 2a of the control box 2. Light is irradiated from the back to the back (see FIG. 3), and the fall of the mail is detected by a temporary change in the amount of reflected light. Further, when the accumulated mail items in the mail item storage chamber No. 9 are stacked up to the irradiation area of the light, a continuous change in the amount of reflected light occurs, so that it is possible to detect the excessive accumulation of mail items. .
[0025]
Note that the card reader 3, a so-called touch panel liquid crystal display (monitor) 5, and the like are well-known devices, and the controller 7 and the local controllers 11 to 19 are also well-known microcomputer devices, and detailed description of the configuration is omitted.
(Composition of post box 1a)
Next, the post box 1a will be described mainly with reference to FIG.
[0026]
A front panel 1c shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a mail input slot 101 positioned at the upper part of the control box 2, and a door 103 for opening and closing the mail output port 102 is provided at the lower part of the control box 2. 103 is provided with a postal recovery lock 104 for locking and unlocking it. The mail pickup port 102 is large open so that a large and thick mail can be inserted.
[0027]
A longitudinal sectional view of the vicinity of the control box 2 is shown in FIG.
[0028]
In FIG. 3, the mail storage room No. 9 has an upper sliding space 106 that slides inserted mail pieces backward, a storage room 107 that stores postal items, and an upper sliding space 106 and a storage chamber 107 that move up and down. The communication space 108 communicates.
[0029]
A control box 2 is provided on the front side of the mail storage chamber No. 9, and a slide plate 109 for sliding the input mail pieces between the mail input slot 101 and the upper end of the rear wall of the control box 2 is provided. Is provided. As a result, the mails inserted from the mail input port 101 fall in the mail bag 105 suspended in the storage chamber 107 by dropping on the communication space 108 while sliding on the slide plate 109 in the upper sliding space 106. Is deposited. The mail bag 105 can be taken out by opening the door 103 of the mail taking-out port 102.
[0030]
110 is a back side guide plate that is fixed substantially perpendicularly to the inside back side of the communication space 108, and guides mail items so as to fall into the mail bag 105. The front surface of the back guide plate 110 is coated in black. When a mail piece falls in front of it, the light irradiated from the input / over-deposition sensor 24 hits the dropped mail piece and the reflected light increases. A signal proportional to the reflected light is output to the main controller 7 from the throw-in / over-deposition sensor 24, and the main controller 7 discriminates a temporary increase in the signal and detects the fall of the mail piece.
[0031]
Further, when the accumulated mail in the mail bag 105 overflows and overflows, the upper part of the deposited mail reaches the irradiation area of the input / overdeposition sensor 24. Then, the input / overdeposition sensor 24 detects a continuous increase in the reflected light and outputs a corresponding signal to the main controller 7. The main controller 7 discriminates the continuous increase in the signal amount and detects mail over-deposition.
[0032]
Reference numeral 111 denotes a door provided at the mail input slot 101. The pivot 111 of the door 111 is provided in the horizontal direction and is pivotally supported by the front panel 1c. The dead weight of the door 111 is appropriately selected. When the door 111 stops being biased, the door 111 is rotated in the closing direction about its pivot shaft by its own weight, and as a result, the door 111 is in a natural state in the mail input port 101. Is always closed.
[0033]
An opening sensor 33 is provided in the vicinity of the door 111. The door opening sensor 33 detects whether or not the door 111 is in a closed state. However, since this type of sensor itself can be configured by a known limit switch, photo interrupter, proximity switch, or the like, detailed description thereof is omitted. .
[0034]
Further, in the vicinity of the door 111, there is provided a lock portion 25 that restrains and prohibits the opening of the closed door 111. The lock portion 25 is configured by an electronic lock that locks the door 111 closed by a control signal inputted in the same manner as the other lock portions, that is, prohibits the opening of the door and releases it.
(Description of operation)
Next, the control operation of the postbox 1a and the delivery box 1b described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
(User recognition and purpose of use recognition)
User recognition processing and use purpose recognition processing will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0035]
The controller 7 executes the initial setting when the power is turned on, and outputs an initial screen to the monitor 5 "Please enter a password or insert a card" (S100). In other areas of the initial screen, keys 0 to 9 are displayed.
[0036]
Next, it is checked whether or not a card has been inserted (S102). If it has not been inserted, it is checked whether or not the secret key of the monitor 5 as a touch panel has been pressed (S104). And return to S100.
[0037]
If a card is inserted in S102, the card is recognized (S106), and if it is not the correct card, the card is ejected (S108), and an error message is displayed for a certain period of time. Perform (S109) and return to S100. If the card is normal, the card writing information (in this embodiment, the card number) is stored and the process proceeds to S110.
[0038]
Similarly, if the secret key is pressed in S104, it is recognized whether the secret key is correct (S112). If it is not correct, a message indicating that the secret key is incorrect is displayed for a certain period of time, and the input secret key is stored. Is reset (S114), and the process returns to S100. If the input of the password key is correct in S112, the input password key input (in this embodiment, the number of the authorized person is the same as the personal card number) is stored, and the process proceeds to S110.
[0039]
In S110, an area “postal mail input”, an area “package storage”, and an area “package removal” are displayed on the screen of the monitor 5, and “select one” is displayed.
[0040]
Next, it is checked whether the user has pressed any of the above three areas (S116). If none has been pressed, it is checked whether a predetermined time has passed since step S110 (S118). If so, the process returns to S116 and waits for input. If there is an input in S116, it is determined which of the above three areas has been pressed, and a package take-out routine S200, a package storage routine S300, and a mail input routine that will be described later according to the type of the pressed area. One of S400 is executed, and then, if a card is present, the card is returned (S500 or S600), and the process returns to S100.
[0041]
The controller 7 has a storage room occupancy table for storing the storage room number, storage person identification number, and take-out person identification number where the luggage is present, and the local controllers 11 to 18 are present. It is assumed that the stock indicator lamp 32 in the storage room is lit.
(Stored item removal operation)
The stored item (delivery operation for taking out the home delivery) will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0042]
First, in S202, it is determined whether or not there is a stored item destined for the card inserter. If there is no stored item, “no stored item” is displayed on the TV monitor 5 for 2 seconds (S204), and S600 is displayed. move on.
[0043]
On the other hand, if there is a storage item destined for this card inserter, the storage room number is displayed on the monitor 5, the in-stock indicator lamp 32 of the corresponding storage room blinks, and the corresponding storage room is unlocked. (S206), the process proceeds to S208.
[0044]
In S208, the output of the closing sensor 33 is determined, and it is determined whether or not the doors 9 of all corresponding storage rooms have been closed again after a predetermined period after opening (whether stored items have been taken out). Then, it waits until it is done, and if it is done, the process proceeds to S210, the corresponding door 9 is locked again, the stock indicator lamp 32 is turned off, and the luggage in the built-in storage room stock table The empty space is written in the storage room from which the card was taken out. As a result, the operator's take-out operation ends, and the process proceeds to S600.
(Luggage storage operation)
The stored item storage operation in S300 will be described below with reference to the subroutine of FIG.
[0045]
First, the controller 7 displays a “currently empty storage room list” on the monitor 5 so that the user can select a desired storage room display area on the screen of the monitor 5 (S302).
[0046]
Next, it is checked whether or not a selection has been made (S304). If no selection has been made, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the step of S302 (S306). If not, the process returns to S304. If it has elapsed, the process proceeds to S600.
[0047]
If the storage room has been selected in S304, the selected empty storage room is unlocked, the number of the unlocked storage room is displayed on the monitor 5, and the loading indicator lamp 32 of the corresponding storage room blinks. (S308).
[0048]
Thereafter, the output of the door closing sensor 33 is determined to determine whether the unlocked storage room door 9 is actually opened and then closed again after a predetermined period of time (whether the luggage has been stored). (S310), wait until it is made, and if it is made, this door 9 is locked again, and the in-stock indicator lamp 32 of the corresponding storage room is turned on (S312).
[0049]
Next, the controller 7 outputs a table designating the recipient to the monitor 5 (S314), and waits until the operator selects one from them (S316). If selected, the identification number is stored in the storage room inventory table. (S318), and returns to S600.
[0050]
If the operator's card is a resident card, the above table specifying the recipient is a vendor list, and if the operator's card is a vendor card, the above table specifying the recipient is the resident card. FIG.
(Postal mail input operation)
The mail input operation in S400 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0051]
First, the lock part 25 of the door 111 is unlocked, the door 111 is pushed open to allow the mail to be put in, and a display of “possible to put mail in” is output to the monitor 5 (S402).
[0052]
Next, by the steps of S404 to S408, the charging / overdeposition sensor 24 is temporarily operated immediately after the completion of S402 or until a predetermined time elapses after counting from the previous drop detection (in this embodiment, 10 seconds). A drop is detected by an increase in the amount of signal (amount of reflected light) (S404), and the number of drops is counted (S406).
[0053]
In S408, if no drop is detected immediately after the completion of S402 or until the predetermined time has elapsed since the last drop detection, it is determined that there is no longer any postal mail and whether the door is currently closed is opened. Determination is made based on the output from the door sensor 33 (S410). If the door is not closed, the process waits until the door is closed. If the door is closed, the lock portion 25 of the door 111 is locked and its opening is prohibited (S412).
[0054]
Next, the detected number of drops, the number identifying the thrower, and the date are printed by the printer 4 and issued as a receipt, and the information is stored in the storage device (S414), and the process proceeds to S416. The history data relating to the opening of the door can be used when the past use history is retroactive even if an unexpected accident occurs.
[0055]
In S416, the total number of drops N since the last mail collection is counted (S416), and it is checked whether the count value N is larger than a predetermined threshold value Nth (S418). Then, it is transmitted to the computer 10 'of the mail collection center of the post office (S420), and the process proceeds to S500.
[0056]
Next, another processing operation for mail overflow detection will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0057]
This flow chart is executed by interruption at a predetermined interval.
[0058]
First, it is detected whether or not the height of the postal mail exceeds a certain level due to the continuous increase in the signal amount (the amount of reflected light) of the input / overstack sensor 24 (S702). Specifically, it is determined as overflow when the state in which the amount of reflected light increases continues for a predetermined time.
[0059]
In S702, if there is no continuous increase in the amount of reflected light, it is determined that no overflow has occurred, and the routine returns to the main routine. This is transmitted to the computer 10 'of the article collection center (S704), the opening of the lock part 31 of the door 111 is prohibited, and a message to that effect is displayed on the monitor 5, and the mail is input by the user in S120. Even if the operation is selected, the progress to S400 is prevented.
[0060]
In this embodiment, the determination of overflow based on both the cumulative number of drops and the height of the accumulated mail is for the case where one of the determination operations is incorrect and overflow detection fails. .
[0061]
(Mail empty detection)
Next, the mail empty detection operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0062]
This flow chart is executed by executing an interrupt routine in accordance with a command from the computer 10 'of the post office collection center.
[0063]
First, it is checked whether or not the cumulative number N of postal items counted in S416 is 0 (S802). If it is 0, it is notified to the collection center (S804). Notification is made (S806).
[0064]
In this way, collection can be omitted or delayed when there is no mail. If it is possible to investigate whether or not this is empty, it is most efficient to perform it immediately before the collection time, and to notify the collection result wirelessly.
[0065]
In addition, you may transmit not only the presence or absence of a mail piece but the mail piece cumulative input frequency | count.
[0066]
(Modification)
In the above embodiment, the charging and over-deposition are detected by the same sensor, but they may be detected by separate sensors. An opening sensor 33 that detects opening and closing of the door 111 can be substituted for the closing detection sensor.
[0067]
In the above embodiment, a light reflection type obstacle detection sensor is used as the input / overdeposition sensor 24. However, a transmitted light detection type obstacle detection sensor may be used, and an ultrasonic wave is used instead of light. Of course, you may.
[0068]
As input of the password for opening the door 111 for mail input, in addition to the touch panel and card reader, a key tablet, a card with a key for opening a room, a fingerprint collator, etc. Can be adopted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a luggage management box integrated post according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of the luggage management box integrated post shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a post portion of the luggage management box shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a flowchart showing a part of the parcel delivery operation and mail receipt operation of the controller 7 shown in FIG. 2; FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a package retrieval subroutine shown in FIG. 4;
6 is a flowchart showing a luggage storage subroutine shown in FIG. 4;
7 is a flowchart showing a mail processing subroutine shown in FIG. 4. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing mail overflow detection operation.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing mail empty detection operation.
[Explanation of symbols]
No. 1 to No. 8 are deliveries storage rooms, No. 9 is a mail storage room, post with integrated luggage management box, 2 is a control box, 4 is a printer (receipt issuing means), 101 is a mail input slot, 102 is a mail outlet, 103 is a mail door, 104 is a lock for the mail collection door, 106 is an upper sliding space, 107 is a storage room, 108 is a communication room, 109 is a slide plate, 111 is a door,
S104 and S102 are door opening request signal input means,
S106 and S112 are door opening determination means,
S402 and S412 are door opening / closing means,

Claims (7)

A mail piece insertion port for inputting a mail item and a mail item extraction port for taking out a mail item communicating with an internal mail item storage room, and a door for opening and closing the mail item extraction port, The mouth is a post box installed separately from the above-mentioned mail pickup port,
A door for opening and closing the mail input slot;
An opening request signal input means disposed on the front surface of the main body to generate an opening request signal by an operator's operation;
Based on the input of the opening request signal to be input, it is determined whether or not the door should be openable or openable. If it is determined that the door should be openable or openable, the door is opened. A door opening determining means for outputting a door command signal;
After the door opening instruction signal is input, the door opening prohibition releasing operation for releasing the door opening prohibition state or the door opening operation for opening the door is performed, and then the door is opened, and then the door opening is performed. Door opening and closing means for performing the prohibited operation;
With
The door opening determination means has a determination data storage means for storing determination data for determining whether the input door opening request signal is correct or not, and when the door opening request signal substantially matches the determination data. Outputs the door opening command signal. The postbox according to claim 1,
It is determined that the door opening determining means should be able to open the door, and the door can be opened between the time when the door opening / closing means completes the door opening prohibition release operation and before the door is opened. A postbox having a door opening-capable signal display means for outputting a display signal indicating that there is a mail. The postbox according to claim 1,
The post box according to claim 1, wherein the door opening / closing means is allowed to open for a predetermined time after the opening permission or the previous insertion detection. The postbox according to claim 1,
After the opening, an input detection sensor for detecting the input of the postal matter from the postal input port,
A post box comprising a receipt issuing means for issuing a receipt after detecting the insertion of the insertion detection sensor. The postbox according to claim 1,
A post box having a large number of delivery goods storage rooms with doors that can be locked and unlocked, and is provided integrally with a delivery box provided in an entrance hall of an apartment house. In the post box according to claim 5,
The post box characterized in that the door opening request signal input means also serves as an opening / closing control means for the door of the delivery item storage room. The postbox according to claim 1,
A postbox, wherein opening of the mailpiece entry port is prohibited when overloading of postal matter in the postbox is detected.

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