Stocker system

Abstract

To prevent a storage facility from becoming unusable because status information remains in a stored state even when an item in the storage facility is removed by a physical lock.SOLUTION: The stocker system includes: a storage facility that can be unlocked with either an electric lock or a physical lock; a detection unit that detects when the storage facility has been unlocked using the physical lock; a memory unit that stores status information; a control unit that, when a request is made to store an item, controls the electric lock to unlock a storage facility whose status information is in an empty state and updates the status information of the storage facility to a stored state, and, when a request is made to remove an item, controls the electric lock to unlock a storage facility storing the requested item and updates the status information of the storage facility to an empty state; and a guidance unit that, when the detection unit detects that the storage facility has been unlocked using the physical lock, provides guidance to prompt a change in the status information of the storage facility.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This specification discloses a stocker system. [Background technology]

[0002] A mailbox system has been proposed that includes a mailbox including a storage box whose door can be locked and unlocked by an electric lock (or a manual lock), a detector that detects whether an item is stored in the storage box, and a management server that communicates with the mailbox and manages first information regarding the open / close state of the door and second information regarding the inventory status of the items (see, for example, Patent Document 1).After obtaining the first information that the door has been opened and then closed by the open / close detector, the management server obtains the second information regarding whether an item is stored in the storage box and notifies a predetermined notification destination of the obtained information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-090479 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A stocker system equipped with a storage facility that can be unlocked by an electric lock controls the electric lock to unlock an empty storage facility when an item is requested to be stored, and updates the status information of the storage facility from which the item is stored to a stored state. Furthermore, when an item is requested to be removed from a stock storage facility, the stocker system controls the electric lock to unlock the storage facility from which the item is requested to be removed, and updates the status information of the storage facility from which the item is removed to a stored state. This allows for efficient use of the storage facility. However, if the storage facility can be unlocked not only by an electric lock but also by a physical lock so that items can be removed from the storage facility in an emergency, it may not be possible to detect that an item has been removed, and the status information can only be changed by the maintenance support side. In this case, if a user forgets to contact maintenance support after using the physical lock, the status information of the storage facility may remain stored even when no items are stored in the storage facility, potentially causing the storage facility to become unavailable for a long period of time.

[0005] The main purpose of the present disclosure is to prevent a situation in which a storage facility that can be unlocked by either an electric lock or a physical lock becomes unusable because the status information remains in a stored state even though an item in the storage facility has been removed by the physical lock. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure has adopted the following means to achieve the above-mentioned main object.

[0007] The first stocker system of the present disclosure comprises: A storage facility that can be unlocked with either an electronic lock or a physical lock; a detection unit that detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the storage facility; a storage unit that stores status information including a storage status indicating that an item has been stored in the storage facility and an empty status indicating that no item has been stored in the storage facility; a control unit that, when a request is made to store an item, controls the electric lock to unlock a storage unit whose status information is in the vacant state and updates the status information of the storage unit to the stored state, and, when a request is made to remove an item, controls the electric lock to unlock a storage unit that stores the item whose removal is requested and updates the status information of the storage unit to the vacant state; a guidance unit that, when the detection unit detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the storage unit, provides guidance to encourage changing status information of the storage unit; The gist of the project is to provide the following:

[0008] In a first stocker system disclosed herein, which includes a storage unit that can be unlocked with either an electronic lock or a physical lock, if a detection unit detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the storage unit, a message is displayed urging the operator to change the status information of the storage unit. The operator can follow the message to change the status information, and even if a physical lock has been used, the status information can be changed to an appropriate one that matches the subsequent state of the storage unit. This prevents the storage unit from becoming unusable because the status information remains in a "stored" state even though an item has been removed from the storage unit using the physical lock.

[0009] The second stocker system of the present disclosure comprises: a plurality of storage units that can be unlocked individually by electronic locks and collectively by physical locks; an unlocking detection unit that detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the plurality of storage compartments; an article detection unit that detects the presence or absence of an article in each of the storage compartments; a storage unit that stores status information including a storage status indicating that an item has been stored in the storage facility and an empty status indicating that no item has been stored in the storage facility; a control unit that, when a request is made to store an item, controls the corresponding electric lock to unlock a storage unit among the plurality of storage units whose status information is in the vacant state and changes the status information of the storage unit to the stored state, and, when a request is made to remove an item, controls the corresponding electric lock to unlock a storage unit that stores the item whose removal is requested and changes the status information of the storage unit to the vacant state; a change unit that changes the status information of a storage unit from the stored state to the vacant state when the item detection unit detects that the item is absent in the storage unit whose status information is the stored state after the unlock detection unit detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the storage units; The gist of the project is to provide the following:

[0010] In a second stocker system disclosed herein, which includes multiple storage units that can be unlocked individually with electric locks and collectively with physical locks, if an unlocking detection unit detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock multiple storage units and an item detection unit detects that no items are present in a storage unit whose status information is stored, the status information of the corresponding storage unit is changed from stored to empty. This allows the status information to be changed to an appropriate status that matches the subsequent status of the storage unit, even if the physical lock is used. As a result, it is possible to prevent a storage unit from becoming unusable because its status information remains stored even though an item has been removed from the storage unit using the physical lock. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a stocker system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical connections of the stocker system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of usage status information. [Figure 4]This is a diagram showing the configuration of the electric lock device and the forced unlocking mechanism inside the stocker, seen from the back. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a stocker control process. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a status change process. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a status change notification process. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a status change notification screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a stocker system 10. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical connections of the stocker system 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the stocker system 10 of this embodiment includes a management device 20 that manages the entire system, and one or more stockers 30.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the management device 20 exchanges information with each stocker 30 via the network 1 to manage the usage status of each stocker 30. The management device 20 includes a control unit 21 including a CPU 22 and a storage unit 23, and a communication unit 26. The storage unit 23 stores stocker information 24 and usage status information 25 for each stocker 30. The stocker information 24 includes, for example, identification information (stocker ID) for identifying the stocker 30 and the installation location of the stocker 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the usage status information 25 associates the stocker ID, identification information (box ID) for identifying the storage box 31, the status of the storage box 31 indicating its usage status (delivered state or empty state), and a receiving ID (code) for receiving items from the storage box 31.

[0015] Stockers 30 are used to transfer items between deliverers and recipients, and are installed in various locations, such as offices, convenience stores, train stations, schools, apartment buildings, shopping centers, and various public facilities. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , stockers 30 include multiple storage boxes 31 arranged in multiple tiers (e.g., four tiers) and multiple rows (e.g., four columns), each capable of storing an item, and a control unit 50 for controlling the entire stocker. Each storage box 31 includes a box-shaped main body 31a with an open front, a door 32 attached to the front opening of the main body 31a via a hinge so as to be openable and closable, an item detection sensor 33 for detecting the presence or absence of an item in the box, an opening / closing detection sensor 34 for detecting the opening / closing of the door 32, and an electric locking device 35 for locking and unlocking the storage box 31 (door 32). The item detection sensor 33 may be, for example, an optical sensor that optically detects the presence or absence of an item, or a weight sensor that detects the presence or absence of an item based on a change in weight.

[0016] The electric locking device 35 is individually installed in each of the storage boxes 31 included in the stocker 30 and electrically locks and unlocks the door 32. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the electric locking device 35 and the forced unlocking mechanism 40, seen from the back side of the interior of the stocker 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the electric locking device 35 has an engaged hole 36 (engaged portion) formed on the back surface of the door 32 on the opening side (opposite the hinge), an engaging claw 37 (engaging portion) provided so as to be movable forward and backward in a portion of the box body 31a corresponding to the engaged hole 36 of the door 32, and an actuator (motor, solenoid, etc.) (not shown) that drives the engaging claw 37. The engaging claw 37 is supported on the inner surface of the box body 31a above the engaged hole 36 so as to be movable forward and backward when the door 32 is closed (closed). The electric locking device 35 locks the door 32 by using an actuator to push down the engaging claw 37 and engage the engaging claw 37 with the engaging hole 36 while the door 32 is closed. The electric locking device 35 also unlocks the storage box 31 (door 32) by using an actuator to push up the engaging claw 37 and disengage the engaging claw 37 from the engaging hole 36. The electric locking device 35 also has a forced unlocking lever 38. The forced unlocking lever 38 is configured to be able to move up and down in conjunction with the engaging claw 37. The forced unlocking lever 38 is pushed up by a forced unlocking mechanism 40 to disengage the engaging claw 37 from the engaging hole 36, forcibly unlocking the door 32. The forced unlocking levers 38 are provided on each of the multiple storage boxes 31 included in the stocker 30, and are arranged in a vertically aligned line on the storage boxes 31 in the same row.

[0017] The forced unlocking mechanisms 40 are arranged for each row of the stocker 30, which has multiple rows and columns of storage boxes 31. Each forced unlocking mechanism 40 pushes up all of the forced unlocking levers 38 in the corresponding row by operating the physical locks (cylinder locks) to unlock them (rotating the physical locks in one direction), thereby unlocking all of the storage boxes 31 (doors 32) in the corresponding row all at once. Also, each forced unlocking mechanism 40 releases the force of pushing up all of the forced unlocking levers 38 in the corresponding row by operating the physical locks to lock them (rotating the physical locks in the other direction), thereby locking all of the storage boxes 31 (doors 32) in the corresponding row all at once. The forced unlocking mechanism 40 includes a lockhole 41 formed at the bottom of the corresponding row on the front of the stocker 30; a pivot 42 that pivots in conjunction with the rotation of a physical lock inserted in the lockhole 41; a conversion / transmission mechanism 43 that converts the rotation of the pivot 42 into vertical movement and transmits it to all of the forced unlocking levers 38 in the corresponding row; and a forced unlocking operation detection sensor 46. The lockhole 41 may be formed at the top of the corresponding row on the front of the stocker 30. The conversion / transmission mechanism 43 includes a transmission member 44 and a pressing member 45. The transmission member 44 is an elongated member that extends vertically and is supported so as to be vertically movable. When moved upward, it pushes up all of the forced unlocking levers 38 in the corresponding row. The pressing member 45 is fixed to the rotation shaft 42 and extends from the rotation shaft 42 to the right in FIG. 4 . 4 around the pivot 42 as a fulcrum in association with the operation to unlock the physical lock, and the extension end moves from bottom to top, thereby pushing up the transmission member 44. As a result, all of the forced unlocking levers 38 in the corresponding row are pushed up by the transmission member 44, unlocking all of the storage boxes 31 in the corresponding row.

[0018] The forced unlocking operation detection sensor 46 has a detection piece 46a that is fixed to the rotating shaft 42 and extends radially from the rotating shaft 42, and a sensor unit 46b that can detect the detection piece 46a. The sensor unit 46b may be, for example, an optical sensor that can optically detect the detection piece 46a. The forced unlocking operation detection sensor 46 detects an operation to unlock the storage box 31 using the physical lock by the sensor unit 46b detecting the detection piece 46a that moves in conjunction with the rotating shaft 42.

[0019] The control unit 50 includes a control unit 51 and a communication unit 58. The control unit 51 includes a CPU 52, a memory unit 53, etc. The memory unit 53 stores usage status information 55 of each storage box 31 of the stocker 30, etc. The usage status information 55 is the same as that included in the usage status information 25 managed by the management device 20 for the corresponding stocker 30. The management device 20 and the stocker 30 communicate with each other to synchronize this information with the latest version. The communication unit 58 communicates with external devices such as the management device 20.

[0020] The control unit 50 is housed in one of the storage boxes 31, and its door 32 is equipped with an operation display unit 56 and a reading unit 57. The operation display unit 56 is a touch panel located on the front of the stocker 30. It displays various information to the deliverer and recipient of the item and inputs various operations from the deliverer and recipient. The reading unit 57 is a code reader that reads coded deliverer IDs (deliverer numbers) that identify the deliverer and coded receiving IDs (receiving numbers) required for receiving the item. The control unit 51 inputs detection signals from the item detection sensors 33 and open / close detection sensors 34 of each storage box 31, detection signals from the forced unlocking operation detection sensor 46 of the forced unlocking mechanism 40, operation signals from the operation display unit 56, and read signals from the reading unit 57. The control unit 51 also outputs drive signals to the electric lock device 35 and image signals to the operation display unit 56.

[0021] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the stocker system 10 configured as described above. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of stocker control processing executed by the control unit 51 of the stocker 30. This processing is executed, for example, when a human presence sensor (not shown) detects a person in front of the stocker 30.

[0022] When the stocker control process is executed, CPU 52 of control unit 51 first determines whether an instruction to deliver an item has been issued (S100) and whether an instruction to receive an item has been issued (S102). This process is performed, for example, by displaying a menu screen including a button for issuing an instruction to deliver an item and a button for issuing an instruction to receive an item on operation display unit 56 and accepting the operation of each button. If CPU 52 determines that neither an instruction to deliver nor a instruction to receive an item has been issued, it terminates the stocker control process.

[0023] When the CPU 52 determines in S100 that delivery has been instructed, it displays a deliverer ID input screen on the operation and display unit 56, prompting the deliverer of the item to input a deliverer ID (S104), and waits for the delivery person to complete input of the deliverer ID (S106). The deliverer ID is input by posting a number assigned to each delivery company in advance on the stocker 30 or near the stocker 30, and the deliverer confirms and inputs the number corresponding to the delivery company to which the deliverer belongs from the posting. Alternatively, the deliverer ID may be input by having the reading unit 57 read a delivery company code carried by the deliverer. When input of the deliverer ID is complete, the CPU 52 performs personal authentication based on the input deliverer ID and determines whether the personal authentication is successful (S108). When the CPU 52 determines that personal authentication has failed, it terminates the stocker control process. On the other hand, if the CPU 52 determines that the personal authentication is successful, it designates an empty storage box 31 as the target storage box based on the usage status information 55, controls the corresponding electric locking device 35 to unlock and open the door of the target storage box (S110), and waits until the open / close detection sensor 34 detects that the door of the target storage box is closed (S112). After the deliverer delivers the delivered item to the open storage box 31 (target storage box), the deliverer closes the door 32 of the target storage box. When the CPU 52 detects that the door of the target storage box is closed, it controls the corresponding electric locking device 35 to lock the target storage box (S114). Then, the CPU 52 changes the status of the target storage box in the usage status information 55 to a delivered state (S116), transmits information that the item has been delivered and updated information of the usage status information 55 to the management device 20 (S118), and ends the stocker control process. When the management device 20 receives the updated information of the usage status information 55 , the management device 20 updates the usage status information 25 so that the information is synchronized with the usage status information 55 .

[0024] When the CPU 52 determines in S102 that an instruction to receive an item has been issued, it displays a receiving ID input screen on the operation and display unit 56 to prompt the recipient of the item to input a receiving ID (S120), and waits for the receiving ID to be input completely (S122). The receiving ID is input by the recipient inputting the order number notified to the recipient after ordering the item. When the input of the receiving ID is complete, the CPU 52 performs personal authentication based on the input receiving ID and determines whether the personal authentication is successful (S124). For example, personal authentication can be performed by accepting input of a receiving ID (order number) from the deliverer when the deliverer delivers the item, storing the input in the memory unit 53, and determining whether the receiving ID (order number) input by the recipient matches the stored receiving ID (order number). When the CPU 52 determines that personal authentication has failed, it terminates the stocker control process. On the other hand, if the CPU 52 determines that the personal authentication is successful, it designates the delivered storage box 31 corresponding to the receiving ID as the target storage box based on the usage status information 55, controls the corresponding electric locking device 35 to unlock and open the door of the target storage box (S126), and waits for the door of the target storage box to close (S128). After the recipient removes the items from the opened storage box 31 (target storage box), the CPU 52 closes the door 32 of the target storage box. When the target storage box is closed, the CPU 52 controls the corresponding electric locking device 35 to lock the door 32 of the target storage box (S130). Then, the CPU 52 changes the status of the target storage box in the usage status information 55 to empty (S132), and transmits information that the items have been removed and updated information of the usage status information 55 to the management device 20 (S134), and ends the stocker control process. Upon receiving the updated information of the usage status information 55, the management device 20 updates the usage status information 25 to be synchronized with the usage status information 55.

[0025] As described above, in this embodiment, when the deliverer operates the operation display unit 56 to instruct delivery of the item, the CPU 52 causes the electric lock device 35 to unlock and open the empty target storage box, and when the deliverer delivers the item to the target storage box and closes the door, the CPU 52 causes the electric lock device 35 to lock the target storage box and change the status of the target storage box to delivered. Also, when the recipient operates the operation display unit 56 to instruct receipt of the item, the CPU 52 causes the electric lock device 35 to unlock and open the target storage box to which the item has been delivered, and when the recipient removes the item from the target storage box and closes the door, the CPU 52 causes the electric lock device 35 to lock the target storage box and change the status of the target storage box to vacant. This improves the utilization efficiency of the storage boxes 31.

[0026] In this embodiment, the storage box 31 can be locked and unlocked using either the electric locking device 35 or a physical lock (cylinder lock). The physical lock is used, for example, when an item is delivered to the storage box 31 but not received by the due date, when the delivery person enters an incorrect receipt ID (order number) and the recipient is unable to unlock the storage box 31, or when the stocker 30 is undergoing maintenance. The physical lock unlocks all storage boxes 31 in the same row. Therefore, even if an item is removed from a storage box 31 unlocked by the physical lock, the status of the corresponding storage box 31 cannot be changed by the above-described stocker control process, which assumes that the electric locking device 35 unlocks and locks the storage box 31. The user of the physical lock can change the status of the corresponding storage box 31 in the corresponding stocker 30 from the management device 20 by requesting a status change from the maintenance service center of the stocker 30. However, it is possible that the user of the physical lock forgets to request a status change from the maintenance service center. In this case, even though the item has been removed, the status of the storage box 31 may remain in a delivered state, and the storage box 31 may not be usable for a long period of time. Therefore, in this embodiment, when a physical lock is used to unlock the storage box 31, the following status change process is executed so that the status of the storage box 31 corresponding to the use of the physical lock can be automatically changed.

[0027] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the status change process executed by the control unit 51. This process is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals.

[0028] When the status change process is executed, the CPU 52 of the control unit 51 determines whether or not a forced unlocking operation of a storage box 31 using a physical lock has been detected by the forced unlocking operation detection sensor 46 in any of the rows (S200). If the CPU 52 determines that a forced unlocking operation of a storage box 31 has not been detected in any of the rows, the status change process ends. On the other hand, if the CPU 52 determines that a forced unlocking operation of a storage box 31 has been detected in any of the rows, the CPU 52 waits until the open / close detection sensor 34 detects that the doors of all the storage boxes 31 in the target row have been closed (S202). As described above, after the operator unlocks and opens all the storage boxes 31 in the target row using the physical locks, the operator removes items (such as items whose receipt deadline has passed) from the opened storage boxes 31 and closes the doors of all the storage boxes 31. When the CPU 52 determines that the doors of all storage boxes 31 in the target row have been closed, it sets the variable n to the value 1 (S204), reads the status of the n-th storage box 31 in the target row from the usage status information 55 (S206), and determines whether the read status is a delivered state (S208). When the CPU 52 determines that the read status is a delivered state, it inputs a detection signal from the item detection sensor 33 of the n-th storage box 31 in the target row (S210), and determines whether the detection result of the item detection sensor 33 is that there is no item (S212). When the CPU 52 determines that the detection result of the item detection sensor 33 is that there is no item, it updates the usage status information 55 to change the status of the n-th storage box 31 in the target row to an empty state (S214), and proceeds to S216. On the other hand, if the CPU 52 determines in S208 that the status of the nth storage box 31 in the target row is not in a delivered state, or determines in S212 that there is an item in the nth storage box 31 in the target row, it proceeds to S216 without changing the status.

[0029] Next, the CPU 52 increments the variable n by a value of 1 (S216) and determines whether or not the variable n is greater than the number of storage boxes 31 in the target column (for example, a value of 3 for the first column, and a value of 4 for the second to fourth columns) (S218). If the CPU 52 determines that the variable n is equal to or less than the number of storage boxes 31 in the target column, the process returns to S206, and the processes of S206 to S218 are repeated for the next storage box 31 in the target column. If the CPU 52 determines in S218 that the variable n is greater than the number of storage boxes 31 in the target column, the CPU 52 determines that the processing for all storage boxes 31 in the target column has been completed, transmits updated information for the usage status information 55 to the management device 20 (S220), and ends the status change processing. Upon receiving the updated information for the usage status information 55, the management device 20 updates the usage status information 25 so that it is synchronized with the usage status information 55.

[0030] Here, the correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the present disclosure described in the claims will be described. That is, the storage box 31 of the present embodiment is an example of a storage unit of the present disclosure, the forced unlocking operation detection sensor 46 is an example of a door open detection unit, the item detection sensor 33 is an example of an item detection unit, the CPU 52 of the control unit 51 that executes the stocker control process is an example of a control unit, the CPU 52 of the control unit 51 that executes the status change process is an example of a change unit, and the stocker system 10 is an example of a stocker system.

[0031] It goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be embodied in various forms as long as they fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0032] For example, in the above-described embodiment, when the forced unlocking operation detection sensor 46 detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock a storage box 31, the CPU 52 automatically changes the status of the corresponding storage box 31. However, instead of the status change process of Fig. 6, the CPU 52 may execute the status change notification process of Fig. 7 to provide a notification to the operator of the physical lock to prompt him or her to change the status of the corresponding storage box 31. In this case, the stocker 30 may not be equipped with the item detection sensor 33.

[0033] In the status change notification process, the CPU 52 of the control unit 51 first determines whether or not a forced unlocking operation of a storage box 31 using a physical lock has been detected in any row by the forced unlocking operation detection sensor 46 (S300). If the CPU 52 determines that a forced unlocking operation of a storage box 31 has not been detected in any row, the status change notification process ends. On the other hand, if the CPU 52 determines that a forced unlocking operation of a storage box 31 has been detected in any row, the CPU 52 waits until the open / close detection sensor 34 detects that the doors of all storage boxes 31 in the target row have been closed (S302). If the CPU 52 determines that the doors of all storage boxes 31 in the target row have been closed, the CPU 52 reads the statuses of all storage boxes 31 in the target row from the usage status information 55 (S304) and determines whether or not there is a storage box 31 in the target row whose status is "Delivered" (S306). When the CPU 52 determines that there is no storage box 31 in the target row that is in a delivered state, it determines that a status change is not necessary and terminates the status change notification process. On the other hand, when the CPU 52 determines that there is a storage box 31 in the target row that is in a delivered state, it displays a status change notification screen 100 on the operation display unit 56 (S308) and waits for input on the status change notification screen 100 to be completed (S310). FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the status change notification screen 100. As shown in FIG. 8(a), the status change notification screen 100 displays a stocker image 101, a message display field 102, an OK button 103, and a back button 104. The stocker image 101 includes multiple storage box images that mimic the multiple rows and columns of storage boxes 31 provided in the stocker 30, and the identification numbers of the storage boxes 31 assigned to each storage box image. In this embodiment, to make it easier to distinguish between the storage box images of the storage boxes 31 in the row that have been unlocked by the physical lock and the storage box images of the other storage boxes 31, the storage box images are displayed in different display modes (such as different colors or shades). A message is displayed in the message display field 102 urging the operator to touch the storage box image corresponding to the storage box 31 that has been unlocked by the physical lock and from which an item has been removed.As shown in FIG. 8B, when the operator touches (selects) a storage box image on the operation display unit 56 on the status change notification screen 100, the storage box image is switched to a display mode different from that of the other storage box images that are not selected. Then, when the operator touches the OK button 103, the input is completed (the selection is confirmed). When the CPU 52 determines that the input is completed, it determines whether any storage box 31 has been selected (S312). When the CPU 52 determines that no storage box 31 has been selected, it ends the status change notification process without changing the status. On the other hand, when the CPU 52 determines that any storage box 31 has been selected, it changes the status of the selected storage box 31 to empty and updates the usage status information 55 (S314), and transmits the updated information of the usage status information 55 to the management device 20 (S316), and ends the status change notification process. When the management device 20 receives the updated information of the usage status information 55, it updates the usage status information 25 to be synchronized with the usage status information 55.

[0034] In this way, in the stocker system 10 of another embodiment, when the forced unlocking operation detection sensor 46 detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the storage box 31, the status change guidance screen 100 is displayed on the operation display unit 56 to provide guidance to the operator urging them to change the status of the storage box 31 from which the item has been removed. This makes it possible to change the status to an appropriate one that matches the state of the storage box 31, even in a stocker 30 that does not have an item detection sensor 33, after the storage box 31 is unlocked (opened) by a physical lock and the item is removed. This makes it possible to prevent the storage box 31 from becoming unusable because its status remains in the delivered state.

[0035] In the above-described embodiment, the stocker 30 is provided with a plurality of storage boxes 31 that can be locked and unlocked collectively with one physical lock. However, the stocker 30 may be provided with one storage box 31 that can be locked and unlocked with one physical lock.

[0036] In the above-described embodiment, the stocker system 10 includes the management device 20 and the stocker 30, but is not limited to this. The stocker 30 may also have the functions of the management device 20.

[0037] As described above, the first stocker system of the present disclosure includes a storage unit that can be unlocked with either an electronic lock or a physical lock. When the detection unit detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the storage unit, a prompt is given to change the status information of the storage unit. The operator can follow the prompt to change the status information, and even if a physical lock has been used, the status information can be changed to an appropriate status that matches the subsequent state of the storage unit. As a result, it is possible to prevent the storage unit from becoming unusable because the status information remains in a "stored" state even though an item has been removed from the storage unit using the physical lock.

[0038] The first stocker system of the present disclosure may include a display unit that displays a screen, and the storage units may include multiple storage units. When the detection unit detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock a storage unit, the guidance unit may display a guidance screen on the display unit prompting the operator to select a storage unit from among the multiple storage units from which the item was removed, accept the selection of the storage unit, and change the status information of the selected storage unit to the vacant state. This allows the operator to select the storage box from which the item was removed while checking the guidance screen on the display unit, making operation easier. In this case, the storage units may include multiple storage units that can be unlocked individually with electric locks and collectively with a physical lock.

[0039] In a second stocker system disclosed herein, which includes multiple storage units that can be unlocked individually with electric locks and collectively with physical locks, if an unlocking detection unit detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock multiple storage units, and the item detection unit detects that no items are present in a storage unit whose status information is "stored," the status information of the corresponding storage unit is changed from "stored" to "vacant." This allows the status information to be changed to an appropriate status that matches the subsequent status of the storage unit, even if the physical lock is used. As a result, it is possible to prevent a storage unit from becoming unusable because its status information remains "stored" even after an item has been removed from the storage unit using the physical lock. [Industrial Applicability]

[0040] The present invention can be used in the technical field of stocker systems. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 network, 10 stocker system, 20 management device, 21 control unit, 22 CPU, 23 memory unit, 24 stocker information, 25 usage status information, 26 communication unit, 30 stocker, 31 storage box, 31a box body, 32 door, 33 item detection sensor, 34 open / close detection sensor, 35 electric lock device, 36 engaged hole, 37 engaging claw, 38 forced unlocking lever, 40 forced unlocking mechanism, 41 lock hole, 42 rotating shaft, 43 conversion transmission mechanism, 44 transmission member, 45 pressing member, 46 forced unlocking operation detection sensor, 46a detection piece, 46b sensor unit, 50 control unit, 51 control unit, 52 CPU, 53 memory unit, 55 usage status information, 56 operation display unit, 57 reading unit, 58 communication unit, 100 status change guide screen, 101 Stocker image, 102 message display field, 103 OK button, 104 back button.

Claims

1. A storage facility that can be unlocked with either an electronic lock or a physical lock; a detection unit that detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the storage facility; a storage unit that stores status information including a storage status indicating that an item has been stored in the storage facility and an empty status indicating that no item has been stored in the storage facility; a control unit that, when a request is made to store an item, controls the electric lock to unlock a storage unit whose status information is in the vacant state and updates the status information of the storage unit to the stored state, and, when a request is made to remove an item, controls the electric lock to unlock a storage unit that stores the item whose removal is requested and updates the status information of the storage unit to the vacant state; a guidance unit that, when the detection unit detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the storage unit, provides guidance to encourage changing status information of the storage unit; A stocker system comprising:

2. 2. The stocker system according to claim 1, A display unit for displaying a screen is provided, The storage facility includes a plurality of storage facilities, When the detection unit detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the storage unit, the guidance unit displays a guidance screen on the display unit to prompt the user to select a storage unit from among the plurality of storage units from which the item was removed, accepts the selection of the storage unit, and changes the status information of the selected storage unit to the vacant state. Stocker system.

3. 3. The stocker system according to claim 1, The storage facility includes a plurality of storage facilities that can be unlocked individually by an electric lock and can be unlocked collectively by a physical lock. Stocker system.

4. a plurality of storage units that can be unlocked individually by electronic locks and collectively by physical locks; an unlocking detection unit that detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the plurality of storage compartments; an article detection unit that detects the presence or absence of an article in each of the storage compartments; a storage unit that stores status information including a storage status indicating that an item has been stored in the storage facility and an empty status indicating that no item has been stored in the storage facility; a control unit that, when a request is made to store an item, controls the corresponding electric lock to unlock a storage unit among the plurality of storage units whose status information is in the vacant state and changes the status information of the storage unit to the stored state, and, when a request is made to remove an item, controls the corresponding electric lock to unlock a storage unit that stores the item whose removal is requested and changes the status information of the storage unit to the vacant state; a change unit that changes the status information of a storage unit from the stored state to the vacant state when the item detection unit detects that the item is absent in the storage unit whose status information is the stored state after the unlock detection unit detects that a physical lock has been used to unlock the storage units; A stocker system comprising:

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