JP7080107B2 - Coin laundry - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a coin laundry that performs washing, drying, and the like on laundry such as clothes and sheets in response to payment of a usage fee.

A coin laundry such as a washer / dryer processes laundry through a plurality of steps. In the washing process, the laundry is processed through a washing step, a rinsing step, a dehydration step and the like. In the drying process, the laundry is processed through a drying step, a cooling step, and the like.
In the washing / drying machine, a washing process, a rinsing process, a dehydration process, a drying process, and a cooling process are continuously executed to perform a washing process and a drying process on the laundry.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-3411981

The washing process and the drying process take several tens of minutes to one hour. Therefore, even if the user leaves the coin laundry and the washing or the like is completed, the laundry may be left inside the washer / dryer or the like. At this time, if the laundry is taken out from the washer / dryer or the like by a third party, the user feels uncomfortable and there is a risk of theft.
Therefore, there is also a washer / dryer having a function of locking the opening / closing door to prevent a third party from touching the laundry.
However, since an IC card or a dedicated server is required or a connection is made to the Internet, equipment costs and operating costs are high. In particular, there is a problem that it is difficult for the owner of a small-scale coin laundry to introduce it.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coin laundry capable of preventing a third party from taking out laundry while suppressing an increase in equipment cost and operating cost.

The coin laundry of the embodiment includes an opening / closing door arranged at a slot for loading / unloading laundry, a door lock for locking / unlocking the opening / closing door, and a locking instruction receiving unit for receiving a locking instruction of the opening / closing door from a user. , The lock instruction reception unit receives the lock instruction until just before the completion of the laundry processing operation, and the door lock is until the unlock charge is input from the charge reception unit that accepts the charge or an external centralized settlement machine . The opening / closing door is continuously locked.

Further, the coin laundry of the embodiment includes an unlocking information receiving unit that receives unlocking information for unlocking the opening / closing door from the user, and the door lock is a case where the unlocking fee is not charged to the charge receiving unit. However, when the unlocking information receiving unit receives the unlocking information, the opening / closing door is forcibly unlocked.

Further, in the coin laundry of the embodiment, the unlocking information receiving unit is a member information input unit.
The unlocking information is characterized by being member information.

Further, the coin laundry of the embodiment includes an excess charge setting unit for setting an excess charge when the unlocking charge is not charged to the charge reception unit even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the laundry processing operation is completed. The door lock is characterized in that the opening / closing door is continuously locked until the excess charge payment information is received from the charge receiving unit.

Further, the coin laundry of the embodiment is characterized in that the excess charge setting unit adds a weighted excess charge according to the excess time after the predetermined time has elapsed to the excess charge.

It is a front view which shows the coin laundry of an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of a coin laundry. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of a coin laundry. It is a flowchart which shows the laundry processing operation. It is a flowchart which shows the modification of the laundry processing operation.

Hereinafter, the coin laundry 1 of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations.

[Coin laundry 1]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a coin laundry 1 of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a coin laundry 1.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the coin laundry 1.

The coin laundry 1 is a washer / dryer or the like that requires payment of a usage fee.
The coin laundry 1 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 2, an outer body 3 and a drum 4 arranged inside the housing 2.
The outer body 3 is a sideways bottomed cylinder and is arranged inside the housing 2. The drum 4 is also a laterally oriented cylindrical body, and is arranged inside the outer body 3.

The housing 2 has a circular panel opening 2b at substantially the center of the front panel 2a. The outer body 3 has a loading port 6 for loading and unloading laundry such as clothes and sheets, and the loading port 6 is fixed so as to be exposed to the panel opening 2b.
An opening / closing door 7 for opening / closing the input port 6 is arranged on the front panel 2a. The opening / closing door 7 has a disk shape capable of closing the input port 6, and a window is provided in the central portion. A sealing material (not shown) for improving airtightness is arranged between the opening / closing door 7 and the edge of the input port 6.

A handle-type door lock 8 is provided at the edge of the slot 6. The user can open and close the opening / closing door 7 by using the handle, latch the opening / closing door 7 (empty tightening), and remove the latch.
Further, in the door lock 8, the locking / unlocking (locking and unlocking) of the opening / closing door 7 is controlled by the control unit 30 described later. That is, the control unit 30 can fix the handle in a state where the opening / closing door 7 is closed and latched. That is, the control unit 30 can lock the opening / closing door 7 by the door lock 8 and maintain the state in which the input port 6 is sealed.
On the other hand, when the control unit 30 unlocks the open / close door 7, the handle can be manually pulled to release the latch, and the open / close door 7 can be further opened to open the slot 6.
The door lock 8 is also provided with an open / close sensor 41 that detects a state in which the open / close door 7 is closed and latched. The open / close sensor 41 outputs the detection data to the control unit 30.

A water supply pipe 15 and a drainage pipe 16 are connected to the outer body 3. The outer body 3 stores the water supplied from the water supply pipe 15 and discharges the stored water to the outside of the coin laundry 1 via the drain pipe 16.
The outer body 3 is provided with a water level sensor 42 that detects the water level. The water level sensor 42 outputs the detection data to the control unit 30.

A hot air supply path 20 for supplying hot air for drying and a hot air discharge path 21 are connected to the outer body 3.
A heating unit 22, an overheat prevention device, a safety device, and the like are arranged in the hot air supply path 20. The heating unit 22 is a gas burner.
A filter, a fan 23, an overheat prevention device, a check damper, and the like are arranged in the warm air discharge path 21.
When the fan 23 is rotated, the air introduced into the hot air supply path 20 is heated by the heating unit 22, and the hot air is supplied to the outer body 3. As a result, the laundry put into the drum 4 is dried. Then, the air containing moisture is introduced into the warm air discharge path 21 from the outer body 3 and discharged to the outside.

A temperature sensor 18 is arranged downstream of the warm air discharge path 21. The temperature sensor 18 measures the temperature of the air introduced from the outer body 3 into the warm air discharge path 21. Then, the temperature sensor 18 outputs the measurement data to the control unit 30.

The drum 4 is arranged so that its opening coincides with the input port 6 of the outer body 3 while separating the gap from the outer body 3. The drum 4 has a rotating shaft (not shown) extending rearward, and the rotating shaft is rotatably supported by the outer cylinder 3.
A rotary drive unit including a motor 28 or the like is connected to the rear end of the rotary shaft. The rotation drive unit transmits the rotation of the motor 28 to the rotation shaft via the pulley and the belt to rotationally drive the drum 4.

An operation input unit 10 is arranged on the upper part of the front panel 2a. The operation input unit 10 is connected to the control unit 30, and the user performs an operation for the laundry processing operation.
A display unit is arranged adjacent to the operation input unit 10. The display unit displays information and the like regarding the laundry processing operation. As information on the laundry processing operation, for example, the usage time of the coin laundry 1 and the usage fee (including the excess charge and the weighted excess charge) are displayed on the display unit.

The operation input unit 10 includes a privacy setting button (locking instruction receiving unit) 11. The user can press the privacy setting button 11 from before the start of the laundry processing operation to the end. Pressing the privacy setting button 11 is optional.
When the user presses the privacy setting button 11, the door lock 8 continues to be locked after the laundry processing operation is completed. In order to unlock the door lock 8, a special fee (unlocking fee) must be paid. This unlocking fee is called a privacy setting fee, and is, for example, about 100 yen.
That is, the door lock 8 continues to be locked until the privacy setting fee is paid off. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a third party from taking out the laundry from the coin laundry 1 without permission.

The operation input unit 10 outputs to the control unit 30 whether or not the privacy setting button 11 is pressed. After the laundry processing operation is completed, the user inputs a privacy setting fee to the fee receiving unit 13, which will be described later, to unlock the door lock 8.

A member card reading unit (member information input unit, unlocking information receiving unit) 12 is arranged below the operation input unit 10. The membership card reading unit 12 reads a membership number or the like from the membership card distributed to the user. The membership card reading unit 12 outputs information such as a membership number read from the membership card to the control unit 30.
The membership card is distributed to, for example, frequently used users of the coin laundry 1. A membership number, usage history, etc. are recorded on the membership card. The user can receive the privilege by inserting the membership card into the membership card reading unit 12 and having the member read it. Benefits include discounts on usage fees and exemptions from privacy setting fees.
Not limited to membership cards, coupons may be used.

A charge reception unit 13 is arranged on the right side of the operation input unit 10. The charge reception unit 13 receives the usage charge of the coin laundry 1. The charge reception unit 13 can accept payment by credit card, various points, or the like as a usage charge in addition to money.
When the user inserts money or the like into the charge reception unit 13, the charge reception unit 13 calculates the input money or the like and outputs the charge payment information to the control unit 30 if the usage charge is satisfied.

As will be described later, excess charges (including weighted excess charges) may occur. In this case, when the input money or the like satisfies the excess charge (including the weighted excess charge), the charge reception unit 13 outputs the excess charge payment information to the control unit 30.
In addition, the charge reception unit 13 and the control unit 30 may cooperate to determine the charge payment and the excess charge payment.

Further, when the user presses the privacy setting button 11, a privacy setting fee is incurred. In this case, the charge reception unit 13 outputs the privacy setting charge payment information to the control unit 30 when the input money satisfies the privacy setting charge.
The charge reception unit 13 and the control unit 30 may work together to determine whether the privacy setting charge has been paid off.

Inside the housing 2, a control unit 30 that collectively controls the coin laundry 1 is arranged.
The control unit (excess charge setting unit) 30 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like.
The control unit 30 executes a control for performing a laundry processing operation (washing process, drying process) on the laundry put into the drum 4 through a plurality of preset operation steps.

[Laundry processing operation]
Next, the laundry processing operation of the coin laundry 1 will be described. In particular, a method of unlocking the door lock 8 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the coin laundry 1.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a laundry processing operation.

First, the user opens the opening / closing door 7 of the coin laundry 1 and loads the laundry into the drum 4 from the slot 6. Then, the user closes the opening / closing door 7 and latches the opening / closing door 7 with the door lock 8.

Further, the user operates the operation input unit 10 to select a washing course (laundry processing) or the like (Step 1).
In addition, the user operates the operation input unit 10 to request ( select ) privacy protection. Specifically, the privacy setting button 11 is pressed (Step 2).
When the privacy setting button 11 is pressed, the control unit 30 receives the information that the privacy setting button 11 is pressed and stores the lock reservation of the opening / closing door 7.

Next, the user inputs the usage fee to the charge reception unit 13 (Step 3).
The usage fee is, for example, 1600 yen when the laundry is 10 kg, the washing process is 20 minutes, and the drying process is 40 minutes.

Next, the user presses the operation start button of the operation input unit 10.
When the operation start button of the operation input unit 10 is pressed, the control unit 30 confirms the latch of the opening / closing door 7 based on the input signal from the opening / closing sensor 41 of the opening / closing door 7. Further, the control unit 30 locks the opening / closing door 7 with the door lock 8 based on the lock reservation of the opening / closing door 7 (Step 4).

Next, the control unit 30 controls the control valve of the water supply pipe 15, the drain pipe 16, the motor 28, the fan 23, the heating unit 22, and the like while receiving the input signals from the water level sensor 42 and the temperature sensor 18 of the outer cylinder 3. Then, the laundry processing operation (washing process, drying process) is performed (Step 5).

In the washing step of the washing process, the control unit 30 supplies a predetermined amount of water from the water supply pipe 15 to the outer cylinder 3, and the motor 28 of the rotation drive unit 25 rotates the drum 4 in the forward / reverse rotation, the strong / weak rotation, and the like.

When the cleaning step is completed, the control unit 30 starts the rinsing step. In the rinsing step, the control valve of the drain pipe 16 is opened to discharge the water stored in the outer cylinder 3 from the drain pipe 16, and then a predetermined amount of water is supplied from the water supply pipe 15 to the outer cylinder 3 again to be the drum 4. To rotate.
When the rinsing is completed, the control unit 30 opens the control valve of the drain pipe 16 and discharges all the water stored in the outer cylinder 3 from the drain pipe 16.

When the rinsing step is completed, the control unit 30 starts the dehydration step. In the dehydration step, with the control valve of the drain pipe 16 open, the drum 4 is rotated in one direction by the rotation drive unit 25, and the laundry is dehydrated by the centrifugal force thereof.

Next, the control unit 30 shifts from the washing process to the drying process.
First, in the drying step, the control unit 30 drives the fan 23 and the heating unit 22 while rotating the drum 4 in one direction by the rotation drive unit 25.
That is, the control unit 30 drives the fan 23 to supply the air (warm air) heated by the heating unit 22 to the outer body 3 via the hot air supply path 20. The laundry (dehydrated laundry) of the drum 4 is exposed to this warm air to dry it. Then, the control unit 30 drives the fan 23 to discharge the warm air containing the moisture evaporated from the laundry to the outside through the warm air discharge path 21.

In the drying step, the control unit 30 determines the drying state of the laundry based on the input signal from the temperature sensor 18 (Step 6). For example, when the measured value (temperature) of the temperature sensor 18 becomes 60 ° C. or higher, it is determined that the laundry is dry.

When the control unit 30 determines that the laundry is dry, the control unit 30 performs a cooling step. In the cooling step, the heating unit 22 is stopped, and only the fan 23 is driven while the drum 4 is rotated in one direction by the rotation drive unit. Then, the laundry is cooled to a temperature at which the user does not get burned, and the laundry processing operation is completed.
In this way, the control unit 30 determines the completion of the laundry processing operation based on the input signal from the temperature sensor 18.

Next, the control unit 30 starts timing after the laundry processing operation is completed. Then, the control unit 30 determines the elapsed time from the completion of the laundry processing operation by this timekeeping (Step 7).
This timekeeping is performed to calculate an excess charge (including a weighted excess charge) according to the time when the laundry is left unattended. The control unit 30 clocks, for example, in 1-minute units.

When the laundry processing operation is completed, the control unit 30 displays the privacy setting fee (100 yen) on the display unit and prompts the user to pay the privacy setting fee.

Next, the control unit 30 determines whether or not there is an excess charge and adds the excess charge according to the elapsed time measured by Step 7 (Steps 8 to 10).

When it is determined in Step 7 that the elapsed time from the completion of the laundry processing operation is less than the predetermined time, no excess charge is generated (Step 8).
The predetermined time is, for example, 10 minutes. If the excess charge is added immediately after the laundry processing operation is completed, the user will be overloaded, so a grace period of about 10 minutes (predetermined time) is set.

Next, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the user has paid the privacy setting charge by putting money or the like into the charge reception unit 13. That is, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the privacy setting charge payment information has been input from the charge reception unit 13 (Step 12).

When the control unit 30 determines that the privacy setting fee has been paid, the door lock 8 is unlocked (Step 13). As a result, the user can open the opening / closing door 7 to open the loading port 6 and take out the laundry from the drum 4 (Step 14).

On the other hand, if the control unit 30 cannot receive the privacy setting charge payment information from the operation input unit 10, the control unit 30 returns to step 7 again. That is, if the privacy setting fee is not paid, or if the money or the like put into the fee reception unit 13 is less than the privacy setting fee, the process returns to step 7.

When it is determined in Step 7 that the elapsed time from the completion of the laundry processing operation is a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes), an excess charge is added (Step 9).
When the elapsed time reaches 10 minutes, for example, 100 yen is set as an excess charge.
The control unit 30 displays the total amount of the excess charge (100 yen) and the privacy setting charge (100 yen) on the display unit, and prompts the user to pay the excess charge.
Next, as will be described later, the process proceeds to step 11 to determine whether or not the excess charge payment information has been input.

In Step 7, when it is determined that the elapsed time from the completion of the laundry processing operation exceeds a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes), a weighted excess charge is added (Step 10).
When the elapsed time is 11 minutes or more, for example, 10 yen is added every minute as a weighted excess charge. The weighted excess charge is a charge according to the time (excess time) after the predetermined time has elapsed.
Since this Step 10 is a process performed after the Step 9, the usage fee is set to 110 yen, which is 100 yen plus the weighted excess fee of 10 yen.
The control unit 30 displays the total amount of the excess charge (110 yen) and the privacy setting charge (100 yen) on the display unit, and prompts the user to pay the charge.
Next, as will be described later, the process proceeds to step 11 to determine whether or not the excess charge payment information has been input.

After passing through Steps 9 and 10, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the user has paid the excess charge by inserting money or the like into the charge reception unit 13. That is, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the excess charge payment information has been input from the charge reception unit 13 (Step 11).

When it is determined in step 11 that the excess charge has been paid off, the process proceeds to step 12. That is, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the user has paid the privacy setting charge by putting money or the like into the charge reception unit 13.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 11 that the excess charge has not been paid, the process returns to step 7.

When it is determined in Step 12 that the privacy setting fee has been paid off, the control unit 30 unlocks the door lock 8 (Step 13). As a result, the user can open the opening / closing door 7 to open the loading port 6 and take out the laundry from the drum 4 (Step 14).
On the other hand, when it is determined in Step 12 that the privacy setting fee has not been paid, the process returns to step 7.

As described above, the coin laundry 1 includes a privacy setting button 11 that receives a lock instruction of the opening / closing door 7 from the user after the laundry processing operation is completed. Then, the door lock 8 keeps locking the opening / closing door 7 until the privacy setting fee (unlocking fee) is charged to the fee receiving unit 13.
Therefore, the coin laundry 1 can prevent a third party from taking out the laundry while suppressing an increase in equipment cost and operating cost.

The privacy setting button 11 is included in the operation input unit 10. Therefore, the user can easily set the privacy (instruction to lock the opening / closing door 7 after the laundry processing operation is completed).

The privacy setting button 11 receives a locking instruction until just before the completion of the laundry processing operation. This makes it easier to use privacy settings.

Further, the control unit 30 sets an excess charge when the privacy setting charge is not paid even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the laundry processing operation is completed. Then, the opening / closing door 7 is continuously locked by the door lock 8 until the excess charge is paid off.
Therefore, even if the laundry is left in the coin laundry 1 and the operating rate is lowered, the fee income according to the time when the laundry is left in the coin laundry 1 can be obtained. Therefore, it can contribute to the improvement of sales of the coin laundry 1 and the stability of management.

Further, since the control unit 30 adds the weighted excess charge according to the excess time after the lapse of the predetermined time to the excess charge, it is possible to give a mental burden to the user and encourage the user to pay the charge.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the laundry processing operation.
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the privacy setting fee needs to be paid has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.
Even if the privacy setting fee (unlocking fee) is not input to the fee receiving unit 13, when the member card reading unit 12 receives the member information (unlocking information), the opening / closing door 7 is forcibly unlocked. May be done (step 15).

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, step 15 is performed before the transition from step 8 or step 11 to step 12.
In step 15, when the user inserts the member card into the member card reading unit 12 to read the member information, the control unit 30 forcibly unlocks the opening / closing door 7 by the door lock 8. That is, the privacy setting fee is exempted for the members of the coin laundry, and the process proceeds to step S13.
On the other hand, if the member is not a member of the coin laundry, the process proceeds to step 12.

Step 15 is not limited to the case where the membership card is inserted into the membership card reading unit 12. The member card may be inserted into the member card reading unit 12 in advance before the laundry processing operation is completed. In this case, for example, when the privacy setting button 11 or the like is pressed, the opening / closing door 7 is forcibly unlocked.

The embodiments of the present invention are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and variations thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

The lock instruction receiving unit is not limited to a physical input means such as a touch panel. The lock instruction receiving unit only needs to be able to receive the lock instruction of the opening / closing door 7. For example, a communication input unit (not shown) may be provided as a locking instruction receiving unit, and a locking instruction may be received by communication from a smartphone or the like.

In the above embodiment, the case where the control unit 30 determines the completion of the laundry processing operation based on the measurement result of the temperature sensor 18 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if the laundry is insufficiently dried, the laundry processing operation may be completed at the set time.

In the above embodiment, the coin laundry 1 capable of performing the washing process and the drying process has been illustrated and described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the present invention may be applied to a washing machine that performs only washing treatment on laundry, or the present invention may be applied to a dryer that performs only drying treatment on laundry. ..

Further, in the above embodiment, a water-washing type device for washing using water has been illustrated and described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the present invention may be applied to a dry cleaning type washing machine (washing / drying machine) that performs washing using a solvent such as a petroleum solvent.

In the above embodiment, the case where the entire usage fee is paid in advance has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be the case that the usage fee is paid later.

In the above embodiment, the case where the excess charge does not occur within a predetermined time (10 minutes) after the completion of the laundry processing operation has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. An excess charge may be incurred immediately after the laundry processing operation is completed.

In the above embodiment, the case where the excess charge is increased according to the time (the weighted excess charge is added) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The excess charge may be a fixed amount.
Further, the case is not limited to the case where a fixed amount of the weighted excess charge is added in proportion to the excess time, and the case where the weighted excess charge is gradually increased exponentially may be used.

Although the case where the operation input unit 10 and the charge receiving unit 13 are arranged in the housing 2 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. The operation input unit, the charge reception unit, and the like may be arranged separately from the housing. That is, the coin laundry is not limited to a separate type having a charge receiving unit or the like, and may be a case where a plurality of coin laundry operations and payments are accepted by a so-called centralized settlement machine method.

The privacy setting button 11 is not limited to the case of receiving a lock instruction of the opening / closing door 7 after the laundry processing operation is completed. When the privacy setting button 11 is pressed, the opening / closing door 7 may be locked from the start of the laundry processing operation.

1 Coin laundry
3 outer torso
4 drums
6 Input port
7 Open / close door
8 Door lock
10 Operation input unit
11 Privacy button (locking instruction reception section)
12 Member information input section (unlocking information reception section)
13 Charge reception department
18 temperature sensor
30 Control unit (excess charge setting unit)

Claims (6)

An opening / closing door located at the slot for loading and unloading laundry,
A door lock that locks and unlocks the open / close door,
The locking instruction receiving unit that receives the locking instruction of the opening / closing door from the user,
Equipped with
The lock instruction receiving unit receives the lock instruction until just before the completion of the laundry processing operation, and receives the lock instruction.
The door lock is a coin-operated laundry that keeps locking the open / close door until the unlocking fee is charged from the fee receiving unit that accepts the fee or an external centralized settlement machine . It is equipped with an unlocking information reception unit that receives unlocking information from the user to unlock the opening / closing door.
The door lock according to claim 1 , wherein the opening / closing door is forcibly unlocked when the unlocking information receiving unit receives the unlocking information even when the unlocking fee is not charged to the charge receiving unit. Coin laundry. The unlocking information reception unit is a member information input unit.
The unlocking information is the coin laundry according to claim 2 , which is member information. It is equipped with an excess charge setting unit that sets an excess charge when the unlocking charge is not charged to the charge reception unit even after a predetermined time has passed after the laundry processing operation is completed.
The coin laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the door lock continues to lock the open / close door until the excess charge payment information is received from the charge reception unit. The coin laundry according to claim 4 , wherein the excess charge setting unit adds a weighted excess charge according to the excess time after the predetermined time has elapsed to the excess charge. When the lock instruction information is received from the lock instruction reception unit, the lock reservation is made, and when the usage fee is paid from the charge reception unit or the centralized settlement machine in the state of the lock reservation, the open / close door is locked by the door lock. The coin laundry according to claim 1.

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