JP7129865B2 - delivery locker - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a home delivery locker for temporarily keeping parcels on behalf of a recipient, and more particularly to a home delivery locker provided with storage units of a plurality of sizes.

There is a system that can grasp the usage status of delivery lockers and know the vacant places. For example, in Patent Document 1, a management server that obtains information on the availability of delivery lockers is placed on the network, and the recipient searches for an empty locker and reserves a storage unit, and the delivery company deposits the package in the storage unit. It is

JP 2016-18228 A

In recent years, the usage rate of delivery lockers has been high, and in some cases, all the storage units were filled with packages, and there were even delivery lockers with no vacancies. In such a case, it was convenient to find an empty locker using the above system, but depending on the situation, there were cases where available delivery lockers were far away and difficult to use.
In order to eliminate this kind of problem, it is necessary to increase the size of the delivery lockers that are used frequently to increase the number of items that can be stored. can be considered. However, in order to implement such countermeasures concretely, it is necessary to grasp the usage situation of the lockers to determine what is the best choice.
However, although the system of Patent Document 1 can obtain information on the availability of delivery lockers, it does not analyze the data and manage the usage rate of delivery lockers or the usage status by size, so information is accumulated separately. Therefore, a device was required to calculate the usage rate, etc.

Therefore, in view of such problems, the present invention aims to provide a delivery locker in which the usage history of each storage unit is accumulated in the delivery locker so that information useful for improving the convenience of the delivery locker can be obtained. purpose.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 provides an operation unit that has a plurality of storage units for storing luggage, performs operations for storing and taking out luggage from the storage units, and a communication unit that communicates with the outside. The storage unit is configured to have different sizes, and includes a usage history storage unit that accumulates the usage history for each size of the storage unit, and a state that the individual storage units are in use/empty and a control unit that recognizes which size and rewrites the usage history storage unit, and the control unit calculates the usage rate of each size storage unit from the accumulated storage unit usage history information, It is characterized by transmitting to the outside via the communication unit periodically or upon receiving a request.
According to this configuration, since the delivery locker itself accumulates the usage history for each size of storage unit, it is possible to easily obtain the usage rate for each storage unit size of the delivery locker. It is easy to take measures to increase In addition, since the information is transmitted to the outside, collective management of a plurality of delivery lockers is possible and easy to manage.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the configuration of claim 1, when the usage rate of the entire storage unit exceeds a specific value, the control unit notifies the external device that the usage rate exceeds the specific value at that time. characterized by notifying the
According to this configuration, when the usage rate of the delivery lockers exceeds, for example, 90%, a notification is made at that time, so the degree of congestion can be recognized by the number of times the notification is received. In addition, it is possible to recognize a situation that requires a quick response without waiting for a period of time, so that a prompt response can be made.

The invention of claim 3 is configured by connecting a plurality of separable small lockers in the structure of claim 1 or 2, and the small locker includes a main locker having an operation part and a communication part, and a storage part. A plurality of sub-lockers of a plurality of types are provided, at least one sub-locker is connected to one main locker, and by replacing or adding the sub-locker, the configuration of the accommodating part can be changed. characterized by
According to this configuration, since the delivery locker can be separated into a plurality of small lockers, the number of storage units as a whole and the number by size can be changed by replacing or adding sub-lockers without replacing the delivery locker itself. Therefore, based on the usage rate information output by the control unit, it is easy to take countermeasures such as increasing the number of storing sections having a size with a high usage rate, and it is easy to improve the convenience of delivery lockers.

According to the present invention, since the delivery locker itself accumulates the usage history for each size of storage unit, it is possible to easily obtain the usage rate for each storage unit size of the delivery locker, which is convenient for expansion and configuration change of the storage unit. It is easy to take measures to increase In addition, since the information is output to the outside, it is possible to collectively manage a plurality of delivery lockers, making it easy to manage the delivery lockers.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a delivery locker according to the present invention, and also shows communication destination devices. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the delivery locker of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the delivery locker in FIG. 1 is separated;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a delivery locker according to the present invention, and also shows communication destination devices. As shown in FIG. 1, a delivery locker 1 includes a plurality of storage units 11 for storing packages, an operation unit 12 for depositing and taking out packages, and an issuing unit 13 for issuing receipts. A management terminal, N indicates a communication network such as a public telephone network.

The housing portion 11 is configured here to have sizes of S size 11a, M size 11b, L size 11c, and XL size 11d. Note that the size and the number of the accommodating portions 11 are shown as an example, and may be changed depending on the usage environment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the control system of the delivery locker in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2 , the delivery locker 1 has a display section 14 in addition to the operation section 12 , and the operation section 12 is provided integrally with the display section 14 . In addition, a usage history storage unit 15 that stores the usage history of the storage unit 11, a home delivery locker communication unit 16 that communicates with the management terminal 2, control of the electric lock 18 provided in the storage unit 11, control of the display unit 14, and issuing A home delivery locker control unit 17 and the like are provided for controlling the issuance of receipts from the unit 13 and communication with the outside.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the delivery locker 1 separated. there is Each small locker 10 is a vertically long locker, and is connected in the horizontal direction to form one delivery locker 1. - 特許庁
In the following description, the right small locker 10a is the first small locker, the central small locker 10b is the second small locker, and the left small locker 10c is the third small locker.

The first small locker 10a includes an operation unit 12 for depositing/retrieving luggage, and a home delivery locker control unit 17 for controlling an electric lock 18 provided inside each storage unit 11. It is a main locker and has an M-sized storage portion 11b.
The second small locker 10b in the center has L-size and XL-size storage portions 11c and 11d, and the left third small locker 10c has an S-size storage portion 11a.
In this way, the second small locker 10b and the third small locker 10c are slave lockers composed only of the housing portion 11, and the individual electric locks 18 of the slave lockers 10b and 10c are connected to the main locker by control lines (not shown). 10a and controlled by the home delivery locker control unit 17 of the main locker.

In this way, one home delivery locker 1 is formed by connecting three small lockers 10 in the horizontal direction. Therefore, by replacing the sub-lockers 10b and 10c of the small lockers 10 with sub-lockers having a different structure (not shown), the configuration of the accommodation portion 11 can be changed. For example, if the third small locker 10c is replaced with a small locker in which part of the S size is changed to the M size, the M size can be increased.

The delivery locker 1 configured as described above operates as follows. However, here, the flow of management of the usage status of the storage section 11 will be mainly described.
First, the flow of depositing/retrieving luggage will be briefly explained. For depositing the baggage in the storage section 11, the operation section 12 is operated to search for an empty storage section 11 of the desired size, and the baggage is stored in the displayed empty storage section 11. - 特許庁In addition, the recipient is notified that the package has been deposited in the delivery locker 1 by a predetermined operation. By this series of operations, the electric lock 18 of the accommodation section 11 that accommodates the package is locked, and a deposit receipt is issued from the issuing section 13 to complete the delivery.
The recipient takes out the package by operating the operation unit 12, and when the personal identification number notified by the operation of the home delivery company is input from the operation unit 12, the electric lock 18 of the storage unit 11 is unlocked and the package is released. Ejection is enabled and the eject operation ends.

Then, each time such a deposit/takeout operation is performed, the home delivery locker control unit 17 changes the status of each storage unit 11 to the "empty" state with no parcels or the "in use" state with parcels accommodated. It recognizes whether or not, and rewrites the state of the storage unit 11 stored in the usage history storage unit 15 . Furthermore, based on the information stored in the usage history storage section 15, the usage status of the storage section 11 is managed as follows.
In addition, the size of the accommodating portion 11 is stored in the usage history storage unit 15 in association with each other so that the status of each size of S, M, L, and XL can be grasped.

The home delivery locker control unit 17 calculates the average usage rate for a certain period based on the stored data, and periodically transmits it to the management terminal 2 . For example, when calculating and notifying the average for a period of one month (or 30 days), the average usage rate calculated for each month is transmitted. For example, if the service is used for 15 days in a month, the usage rate is 50%.
Specifically, if there are five storage units 11 of size S, and the total number of days of use in 30 days is 100, the usage rate is 100/5×30=67%. Such calculation is performed for each size, and the calculated data is notified to the management terminal 2 .

In addition, in accordance with periodic notifications, if a size occurs in which the storage unit 11 is full (the usage rate is 100%), and a situation occurs in which the delivery company has to bring back a package of that size, the size and Information on the number of times is also notified.
This information is stored by memorizing the number of times that the specified size is displayed as being fully occupied when an operation is performed to search for empty storage units 11 during the deposit operation. You can grasp that there is a size that can be taken home.

The management terminal 2 is a terminal used by an administrator who manages the delivery locker 1, and a tablet terminal or a personal computer is used. Also, the usage rate notification may be sent upon receipt of a request.

The notification is sent by SMS (Short Message Service), for example, and the usage rate of each size is notified together with the number of storage units 11 of each size.
However, even if the calculation period is less than one month, if the preset usage rate is exceeded, the fact is notified at that time. For example, if the usage rate to be notified is set to 90%, regardless of the size of the storage units 11 of the delivery locker 1, if more than 90% of the storage units 11 are in use, the delivery locker control unit 17 and notifies the management terminal 2 that the usage rate is currently over 90%.
In this case, at the timing of notifying the average usage rate, the number of times (days) that the usage rate exceeded 90% may also be notified.

In this way, since the delivery locker 1 itself accumulates the usage history for each size of the accommodation unit 11, it is possible to easily obtain the usage rate for each size of the accommodation unit 11 of the delivery locker 1, and to increase the number or change the configuration of the accommodation unit 11. It is easy to take measures to increase the convenience of Moreover, since the information is transmitted to the outside, collective management of a plurality of delivery lockers 1 is possible and easy to manage.
In addition, when the usage rate of the delivery locker 1 exceeds 90%, a notification is made at that time, so the congestion can be recognized from the number of times the notification is received, and the situation requiring quick response can be recognized without waiting for a period of time. It is possible to respond quickly.
Furthermore, since the delivery locker 1 can be separated into a plurality of small lockers 10, the number of the storage units 11 as a whole and the number by size can be changed by replacing or adding the small lockers 10 without replacing the delivery locker 1 itself. Therefore, based on the usage rate information output by the delivery locker control unit 17, it is easy to take measures such as increasing the storage units 11 with high usage rates, and it is easy to improve the convenience of the delivery locker 1.

In the above embodiment, the usage rate is calculated on a monthly basis, but the calculation is not limited to this, and may be calculated on a weekly basis, for example. In addition, when the usage rate exceeds 90%, it is configured to notify the outside at that time, but the threshold of the usage rate to be notified may be, for example, 100% when all are in use. It should be set in consideration of the frequency.

1: delivery locker, 10: small locker, 10a: first locker (main locker), 10b: second locker (secondary locker), 10c: third locker (secondary locker), 11: storage unit , 12 Operation unit 14 Display unit 15 Usage history storage unit 16 Delivery locker communication unit (communication unit) 17 Delivery locker control unit (control unit) 18 Electric lock .

Claims (3)

A home delivery locker comprising a plurality of storage units for storing packages, an operation unit for storing and taking out packages from the storage units, and a communication unit for communicating with the outside,
a usage history storage unit configured to have different sizes of the storage units, and accumulating a usage history for each size of the storage unit;
a control unit that grasps whether each storage unit is in use/empty state and rewrites the usage history storage unit,
The control unit calculates the usage rate of each size of storage units from the accumulated usage history information of the storage units, and transmits it to the outside via the communication unit periodically or upon receiving a request. A delivery locker. 2. The delivery locker according to claim 1, wherein when the usage rate of the entire storage section exceeds a specific value, the control section notifies the outside that the usage rate exceeds the specific value at that time. . It is configured by connecting a plurality of separable small lockers, and the small locker has a main locker provided with the operation section and the communication section, and a plurality of types of secondary lockers provided with a plurality of storage sections,
3. The storage unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sub-lockers is connected to one of the main lockers, and by replacing or adding the sub-locker, the configuration of the accommodation section can be changed. delivery locker.

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