JPH0744765A - Automatic laundry agent machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an automatic laundry agent machine capable of changing a box to be used preferentially in conformity with a user class. CONSTITUTION:In the automatic laundry agent machine A provided with plural laundry storing boxes 15, a first storage means to store whether laundry is stored in the box 15 or not, a second storage means to store the priority order of the box 15, an input means to input the priority order, and a box display means 5 to show a vacant box to be used and so on are provided, and at the time of depositing the laundry, a control part shows the vacant box of the highest priority order by the box display means 5. For this purpose, it is checked successively whether the box is being used or not starting from the box of the priority order N=1, for instance, and it is enough to show the vacant box found out first.

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, empty boxes are normally searched in order from the box with box number "1" located at the top, and the first empty box found is displayed. It is designed to be unlocked by means of means. Therefore, the higher the box is, the more frequently it is used, and short users often find it inconvenient.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a laundry automatic relay machine in which a box having a height that is easy for the user to use is preferentially used.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an automatic laundry distributor according to the present invention has an automatic laundry automatic laundry machine having a plurality of laundry storage boxes and doors provided in the boxes. In the agent machine, first storage means for storing whether or not laundry is stored in the box, second storage means for storing the priority order of the box, and input means for inputting the priority order are used. It has a box display means for indicating an empty box to be opened and a control section for displaying the box having the highest priority among the empty boxes on the box display means when the laundry is deposited.

[0008]

According to the laundry automatic agent of the present invention having the above-mentioned construction, whether or not the laundry is stored in the box is stored by the first storage means, and the priority of the box inputted by the input means is set to the second priority. It is stored by the storage means.
Then, when the laundry is deposited, the control unit displays the box having the highest priority among the empty boxes by the box display means.

[0009]

[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 the 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 serving as box display means are provided respectively, and each has lock means controlled by a first control unit 30 described later. The box number 4 is given from the upper stage to the lower stage of the automatic laundry relaying machine A, from left to right in each stage. Therefore, for example, "1", "2", "3" is at the top, "4", "5", "6" at the second, and "22", "23", "2" at the bottom.
4 ”are arranged in order from left to right. 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 operating section 9.

As shown in the figure, the operating section 9 includes a deposit button 21, a take-up 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 inputting the priority order of boxes and the like by default. The guide display unit 27
It is a box display means for displaying a box number, a display means for displaying a laundry identification symbol, and a portion for displaying various instructions and the like to the user and staff.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the automatic laundry laundry distributor A. As shown in FIG. The first control unit 30 includes an empty box display lamp 5 provided for each box 15, a motor 28 for opening / closing the small doors 2, and a detection switch 29 for detecting the open / closed state of each small door 2. It is connected. The second control unit 33 includes a numeric keypad 24 and an end button 2.
5, a keyboard 31 including a correction button 26, a function selection switch 36 that can be operated only by an attendant and is used when performing various initial settings for the automatic laundry distributor A, and an amount display section 1
0, the return lever 8, the clerk operation key switch 13, and the guide display unit 2 driven for display by the display drive unit 35.
7 is connected. The second control unit 33 is also connected to a deposit button 21, a take-off button 22, an overdue take-out button 23, and a printer 34 which prints out a deposit certificate when depositing laundry.

The automatic laundry distributor A is provided with the control unit 30,
Under the control of 33, an example of the operation in the case of carrying out the transfer of a single type of laundry such as only a shirt will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 8.

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 FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).

FIG. 5 (a) is a flow chart showing a method of searching for an empty box in the automatic laundry distributor A.
The same (b) is a table showing the correspondence between the priority order and the box number. N in the flowchart and table indicates the priority order, and F (N) indicates the box number corresponding to the priority order N.

First, at step x1, N = 1 is set, and at step x2, the priority N, that is, the use state of the first box is checked. The priority order of the box 15 is preset in the initial setting. FIG. 5B shows an example of the setting method. As shown in the table, the first priority is the box 15 of the box number "4", and the second priority is the box number. It is a box 15 of "5", and the priority and the box number correspond to each other in the same manner, and finally, the 22nd, 23rd and 24th priorities are assigned to the box numbers "1", "2" and "3". Corresponds to each. The priority order is set by selecting the priority order setting mode with the function selection switch 36 and inputting the numbers with the ten keys 24.

As described above, here, the first priority is the box 15 with the box number "4". Therefore, it is determined whether the box 15 is in use or not in the memory which manages the use state of the box 15. Search by searching for areas. If this box 15 is empty, it is determined that there is an empty box and the process proceeds to step a3 of the flowchart of FIG. 4 to continue the depositing operation.

If the box 15 of the box number "4" is in use, 1 is added to N in step x3 to newly set N, and this updated N is the maximum value of the box number in step x4, that is, the present implementation. In the example, it is determined whether it is "24" or less. If it is "24" or less, the process returns to step x2 to check whether the priority order N, that is, the box 15 of the box number "5" is being used.

Similarly, the empty box is searched for, and if N exceeds "24", it is determined that there is no empty box, the information is displayed on the guide display section 27, and the operation is terminated.

When the depositing operation is continued, in step a3 of the flow chart of FIG. 4, an instruction for inputting a telephone number is displayed on the guide display unit 27, and the user inputs the telephone number with the ten keys 24 in accordance with the instruction. It
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.

Next, 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 using the ten-key pad 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 having the highest priority found by the search of the
, The empty box display lamp 5 indicating the box 15 is turned on, the small door 2 of the box 15 is unlocked, and the process proceeds to step a8.

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 automatic distributor A when the user takes over 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 or not 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, it proceeds to step b4 and determines whether or not 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 carry out 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.

At 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.

In step c7, it is determined 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. 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 article distributor A when the attendant returns the processed laundry article.

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 conventionally searches for empty boxes starting from the box with the box number "1" at the top, and then searches in the order set by the clerk. It was done like this. Therefore, it is possible to set the priority order according to the user class and provide the user with the boxes in the order of the height that is easy to use. Alternatively, it is possible to set the boxes to be used uniformly so that only some of the boxes are prevented from being deteriorated.

Since the priority order can be set by a simple key operation, it is possible to change the setting in response to changes in the user base.

[0050]

As described above, in the automatic laundry transfer machine of the present invention, the priority order of the boxes to be used can be freely set, so that the boxes having a height which is easy for the user to use are preferentially provided. Is possible.

[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.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (a) showing an example of a method for searching an empty box by the laundry automatic agent A, and a table (b) showing a correspondence between the priority order and the box number.

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 opening / closing detection switch 30 ...... First control unit 31 ...... Keyboard 33 ...... Second control unit 34 ...... Printer 35 ...... Display drive unit 36 ...... Function selection switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A laundry automatic agent having a plurality of laundry storage boxes and a door provided in each box, comprising: first storage means for storing whether or not laundry is stored in the boxes. , A second storage means for storing the priority of the box, an input means for inputting the priority, a box display means for indicating an empty box to be used, and an empty box when the laundry is deposited. And a control unit for displaying the box having the highest priority by the box display means.