JPH0744764A - Automatic laundry agent machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stop the use of a box unstuitable for the use because of a fault or contamination by storing the box symbol of the defective box and stopping the use of the same box when the box symbol of the defective box is inputted. CONSTITUTION:The inside of a cabinet main body (a) of an automatic laundry agent machine A is divided into plural laundry storing boxes 15, and a large door l at the front face of the cabinet mainbody (a) is provided with small doors 2 for the boxes. The small door 15 is provided with a locking means controlled by a control part, and since the locking means is provided with a fault sensor, when the fault occurs, the box number of the box 15 is stored automatically in a memory to manage a state, and the use of the box 15 is inhibited. Besides, in the case that an operator in charge becomes aware of the contamination, etc., of the box 15 and inhibits its use by manual operation, when the box number is inputted by using a ten-key after selecting the corresponding box 15 by a function selecting switch, the box number is stored in the memory, and the use of the box can be inhibited.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic laundry laundry distributor, which is mainly used for unattended laundry laundry.

[0002]

[Background Art] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] It is difficult for an automatic laundry transfer machine to transfer laundry unattended, such as double-income households and office workers living alone, during the normal business hours of a laundry store. It has been conventionally used for the convenience of people and for solving problems such as lack of manpower in a laundry.

The automatic laundry-distributor is, for example, of a type in which laundry is put in a bag and put in a large shared box (Actual No. 61-204296), or
Similar to so-called coin lockers, there is a type in which one box is exclusively occupied by one user from receipt to return, and a key or card dedicated to the box is used to open and close the door.

[0006] However, the former box-sharing type relay machine has a problem that it can only accept the request and must return it by hand as in the conventional case or by some other means. For those who cannot come to the store during business hours, the inconvenience will not be resolved unless it is returned by the agency. Also, with the latter coin locker-type agent, even if the laundry is taken out by an attendant and the box is vacant, other people can not use this box and forget or lose the key or card. There is a problem that it is easy to lose. As described above, the conventional agency has various unsolved problems, and a satisfactory one has not yet been obtained.

In view of the above, the box can be received and returned, and the box is searched and unlocked by a key operation, so that no key or card is needed and the box in the empty state is positively used. An automatic laundry washing machine capable of performing the invention was invented and filed by the applicant of the present application. In this laundry automatic transfer machine, when the deposit mode is selected by the user, normally empty boxes are searched in order from the box with the box number "1", and the first empty box found is displayed on the display means. It is designed to be unlocked. At this time, even if there is a broken box or a dirty box, they cannot be identified and excluded, so that there is a problem in that such a box may be shown to annoy the user.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a laundry automatic relaying machine that suspends the use of a box that is not suitable for use due to failure or stain.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the laundry automatic agent machine according to claim 1 has a plurality of laundry storage boxes and a door provided in each box. In the automatic agent, the input means for inputting the box symbol of the defective box, the storage means for storing the box symbol input by the input means, and the box corresponding to the box symbol stored by the storage means. And a use stopping means for stopping the use.

The laundry automatic agent according to claim 2 is a laundry automatic agent having a plurality of laundry storage boxes and a door provided in each box, and detecting means for detecting a defective box. And storage means for storing the box symbol of the faulty box detected by the detection means, and use stopping means for stopping the use of the box corresponding to the box symbol stored by the storage means.

[0009]

According to the laundry automatic agent of the above-mentioned structure, the box symbol of the faulty box inputted by the inputting means is stored by the storing means, and the use of the box corresponding to the box symbol is stopped. Stop by means.

According to another aspect of the laundry automatic teller machine, the storing means stores the box symbol of the faulty box detected by the detecting means, and the use of the box corresponding to the box symbol is stopped.

In the present specification, the term "failure" refers not only to a mechanical failure but also to a general state of being unsuitable for use, including the case where the box becomes dirty or deformed. And

[0012]

[Embodiment] A laundry automatic agent A, which is an embodiment of the present invention.
Will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

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

Cabinet body a of automatic laundry distributor A
Is partitioned into 24 laundry storage boxes 15 inside. Each box 15 has a size that can store about five shirts that have been cleaned and packaged.

On the front surface of the cabinet body a, there is provided one large door 1 having 24 small doors 2.
Open all the boxes 15 and open the large door 1
Is designed so that the small door 2 becomes the door of each box 15 when closed. 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 respectively, and each has lock means controlled by a control unit 30 described later. This locking means is provided with a failure sensor, and when a failure occurs, the box number of the box 15 is automatically stored in the area on the memory which manages the state of the box 15. In addition,
In this embodiment, the small door 2 also serves as a laundry loading / unloading means for the staff.

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

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

As shown in the figure, the operation section 9 includes a deposit button 21, a take-off button 22, a late-charge take-out button 23,
It has a ten-key pad 24, an end button 25, a correction button 26, and a guide display section 27. The deposit button 21 is a button used when the user deposits the laundry and when the staff member returns the processed laundry. The pick-up button 22 is a button used when an attendant takes out unprocessed laundry and when the user picks up processed laundry. The overdue retrieval button 23 is a button used by an attendant to temporarily retrieve the processed laundry that has not been retrieved even after a lapse of a certain time from the return. Numeric keypad 2
Reference numeral 4 is an input means for inputting a customer identification code, a laundry identification code, and the like, and is also used when performing various settings in the initial setting and when inputting a box number of a failure box. 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 and the like to the user and staff.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the automatic laundry distributor A. The control unit 30 includes an empty box display lamp 5 provided for each box 15, a motor 28 for opening and closing the small doors 2, a detection switch 29 for detecting the open / closed state of each small door 2, and each small door 2. A failure detector 32 for detecting the failure of is connected. The control unit 30 also includes a ten-key pad 24, a keyboard 31 including an end button 25, a correction button 26, and a function selection switch 36 which is used only by an attendant when performing various initial settings for the automatic laundry agent A. The money amount display unit 10, the return lever 8, the clerk operation key switch 13, and the guide display unit 27 driven by the display drive unit 35 are connected. The control unit 30 further includes a deposit button 21,
A pick-up button 22, an overdue pick-up button 23, and a printer 34 for printing out a deposit receipt when depositing laundry and the like are connected.

4 to 8 show an example of the operation in the case where the automatic laundry transfer machine A receives the control of the control section 30 and transfers a single type of laundry, for example, only a shirt. It will be described below along with the flow chart up to.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the automatic laundry distributor A when the user deposits the laundry.

First, at step a1, the deposit button 21
When the deposit mode is selected by pressing, it is determined in step a2 whether or not there is an empty box 15. The method will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a method for searching an empty box in the automatic laundry distributor A. N in the flowchart indicates the box number 4 of the box 15 described above.

First, in step x1, N = 1 is set, and in step x2, it is checked whether or not the box 15 having the box number "1" is empty by searching the area on the memory that manages the usage status of the box 15. If the box 15 is empty, the process proceeds to step x5, and it is checked whether or not the box 15 is stopped. If the use is not stopped, it is determined that there is an empty box, and the process proceeds to step a3 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 to continue the depositing operation. In the laundry automatic agent A of this embodiment,
The use of the box 15 is stopped when the failure is detected by the failure detector 32 as described above, or when the attendant notices dirt or the like and manually stops the use. In order to manually stop the use, it is sufficient to select the failure box input mode with the function selection switch 36 and input the box number using the ten keys 24. As a result, the box number of the box 15 is stored in the area on the memory that manages the state of the box 15.

When the box 15 having the box number "1" is not empty in step x2, and step x5
When it is determined that the use is stopped in step x3, the value obtained by adding 1 to N in step x3 is newly set as N, and step x
In step 4, it is determined whether or not this updated N is the maximum value of the box number, that is, "24" or less in this embodiment. If "24" or less, the process returns to step x2 to check whether the box 15 corresponding to the new N, that is, the box 15 with the box number "2" is empty.

In the same manner, a vacant box is searched for. If N exceeds "24", it is determined that there is no vacant box, the fact is displayed on the guide display unit 27, and the operation ends.

When it is determined that there is an empty box and the depositing operation is continued, an instruction for inputting a telephone number is displayed on the guide display unit 27 in step a3 of the flowchart of FIG. A telephone number is input with the ten keys 24. This telephone number is entered as a customer identification symbol and does not have to be a predetermined number, but may be a personal identification number or the like decided by the user on the spot.

Then, in step a4, an instruction for inputting the number of laundry items is displayed on the guide display unit 27, and accordingly, when the user inputs the number of laundry items by the ten keys 24, these telephones are called. Correspond the number, number of sheets, laundry number, etc. and store it in a specific area on the memory,
Go to step a5. Here, the laundry number is a number assigned by the identification symbol assigning means as the laundry identification symbol, and in the present embodiment, it is a serial number assigned to each laundry item deposited, but is not limited to this. Not a thing.

At step a5, a charge calculated based on the number of sheets input at step a4 and a preset unit price is displayed on the amount display section 10, and the process proceeds to step a6.

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

When the fee is paid, the above step a2
The box number 4 of the empty box 15 found by the search is displayed on the guide display unit 27 in step a7, the empty box display lamp 5 indicating the box 15 is turned on, and the small door 2 of the box 15 is unlocked. And step a
Go to 8.

At step a8, the user opens the small door 2 of the box 15 to put the laundry therein, and the small door 2 is closed again. Therefore, at step a9, the small door 2 is automatically locked. .

Then, in step a10, a deposit receipt in which the entered telephone number, number of deposits, charges, etc. are entered is issued from the statement exit 11. If you have change, step a1
The payout is made at 1 and the depositing operation is completed.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the automatic laundry distributor 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 guide display section 27 in step b2. According to this instruction, when the user inputs the telephone number input at the time of depositing with the ten keys 24, the process proceeds to step b3.

At step b3, it is judged whether the corresponding laundry is in the box 15. That is, the area on the memory in which data such as the laundry number, the telephone number, and the number of deposits is stored is searched, and the laundry having the laundry number corresponding to the telephone number input in step b2 is returned. Determine whether or not

If it is determined that there is an additional charge, the flow advances to step b4 to determine whether there is an additional charge. The additional charge is generated, for example, when the late charge is collected because the processed laundry is delayed to be collected, or when the regular charge is not paid because the wrong number is input at the time of depositing. If there is an additional charge, the process proceeds to step a5, the additional charge is displayed on the amount display unit 10, and step b
When the additional fee is paid as instructed in step 6, step b
Proceed to 7. If there is no additional charge, just step b
Proceed to 7.

In step b7, the box number 4 of the box 15 containing the laundry corresponding to the telephone number input in step b2 is displayed on the guide display unit 27, and the empty box display lamp 5 indicating the box is turned on. , Unlock the small door 2 of the box.

In step b8, the user opens the small door 2 to take out the laundry, and when the small door 2 is closed, the small door 2 is automatically locked in step b9 to perform the take-back operation. finish.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the automatic laundry distributor A when the staff takes out the laundry.

At step c1, the staff operation key switch 1
3 is turned on, and in step c2, the take-back button 22
When the staff take-out mode is selected by pressing, the process proceeds to step c3, where it is determined whether there is any laundry to be picked up. If it does not exist, no pick-up is performed, so that is displayed on the guide display unit 27 and the operation is ended.

If it is determined that there is, the process proceeds to step c4, the box number 4 of the box 15 in which the laundry to be collected is stored is displayed on the guide display unit 27, and the empty box display lamp 5 indicating the box number is turned on. Then, unlock the small door 2 of the box. And step c
In step 5, the guide display unit 27 displays the laundry number and the number of laundry given to the laundry stored in the box 15.

In step c6, the small door 2 of the box 15 is opened by the attendant and the laundry is taken out.
The staff member attaches the laundry number displayed on the guide display unit 27 to each of the laundry items taken out in step c5 with a tag or the like.

Then, in step c7, it is judged whether or not the take-up button 22 is pushed. If it is pushed, the small door 2 of the box 15 is automatically locked in step c11, and the process returns to step c3 to perform another operation. The operation of taking out the laundry is started.

If the take-back button 22 has not been pressed, it is determined in step c8 whether the end button 25 has been pressed, and 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 statement exit 11 to end the receipt operation. If the end button 25 has not been pressed, the process returns to step c7.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the automatic laundry distributor A when the attendant returns the processed laundry.

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

At step d5, the door 2 of the box 15 is opened by the attendant to store the processed laundry, and when the small door 2 is closed, it is determined at step d6 whether or not the deposit button is pressed. If pressed,
The small door 2 of the box 15 is automatically locked at step d10, and the process returns to step d3 to start another laundry loading / unloading operation.

If the deposit button 22 has not been pressed, it is determined in step d7 whether the end button 25 has been pressed, and if it has been pressed, the small door 2 is moved to step d8.
Automatically locks at step d9, a statement of return is issued from the statement exit 11 at step d9, and the operation of returning is completed. If the end button 25 has not been pressed, the process returns to step d6.

As described above, the automatic laundry distributor A is to automatically or manually stop the use of a box that is no longer suitable for use due to a broken lock or a dirty inside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a trouble caused by showing the user an unsuitable box.

The method for detecting a broken box is not limited to the above method in which the lock sensor is provided with a lock sensor, and various mechanical methods, electrical methods, optical methods, etc. may be used. It is possible to take a method of detecting a failure in various parts of the box. Further, the use stopping means for stopping the use of the broken box is not limited to the above, and for example, the use may be indicated by various displays.

[0052]

As described above, in the laundry automatic relaying machine of the present invention, the use of the unsuitable box is stopped, so that the user can smoothly deposit and the laundry can be deposited. You can prevent problems such as dirt and scratches.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an automatic laundry distributor A. FIG.

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

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an automatic laundry laundry distributor A.

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

5 is a flowchart showing an example of an empty box search method by the laundry automatic agent A. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of collection by a user.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of picking up by an attendant.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of returning and putting in by an attendant.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Automatic laundry machine a: Cabinet body 1 ... Large door 2 ... Small door 3 ... Handle 4 ... Box number 5 ... Empty box display lamp 6 ... Banknote insertion slot 7 ... Coin insertion Mouth 8 ...... Return lever 9 ...... Operation part 10 ...... Amount display part 11 ...... Statement exit 12 ...... Coin return port 13 ...... Personnel operation key switch 14 ...... Large door key hole 15 ...... Box 21 ... … Deposit button 22 …… Pick-up button 23 …… Overdue take-out button 24 …… Numeric keypad 25 …… End button 26 …… Correction button 27 …… Guidance display section 28 …… Small door opening / closing motor 29 …… Small door open / close detection switch 30 ...... Control unit 31 ...... Keyboard 32 ...... Fault sensor 34 ...... Printer 35 ...... Display drive unit 36 ...... Function selection switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An automatic laundry distributor having a plurality of laundry storage boxes and doors provided in the boxes, the input means for inputting a box symbol of a broken box, and the input means. An automatic laundry relay machine, comprising: storage means for storing the inputted box symbol; and use stopping means for stopping the use of the box corresponding to the box symbol stored by the storage means. 2. An automatic laundry relaying machine having a plurality of laundry storage boxes and doors provided in the boxes, and detection means for detecting a defective box, and a failure box detected by the detection means. An automatic laundry relay machine, comprising: storage means for storing the box symbol of No. 1; and use stop means for stopping the use of the box corresponding to the box symbol stored by the storage means.