Item storage device

Abstract

To improve operations by making it easier to manage integrated columns. [Solution] An item storage device 1 comprising an apparatus main body 2 in which a storage area 3 is defined in a manner facing a front opening 2a, an outer door 4 that is swingable so as to open and close the front opening 2a, a rectangular module main body 11 that is stored in the storage area 3 and has an open front area, a partition member 13 that defines multiple columns 12 inside the module main body 11, and a module door 15 that is swingable so as to individually open and close the front portions of the maximum number of columns 12 defined by the partition member 13, wherein each column 12 of the module main body 11 is managed by a column number consisting of consecutive numbers according to its arrangement position, and when any multiple columns 12 are combined by removing the partition member 13, a control unit 40 is provided that manages the multiple columns 12 to be combined using the number of any one of the columns 12 as a representative column number.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article storage device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, Patent Document 1 proposes an item storage device in which a storage module is disposed inside a device main body whose front opening is opened and closed by an outer door. The storage module comprises a rectangular module main body with a front opening on the front, a partition member detachably provided inside the module main body that defines a plurality of columns by dividing the interior into a plurality of regions, and a module door swingably provided on the module main body in a manner that individually opens and closes the front portions of the maximum number of columns defined by the partition member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-062523 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned item storage device, multiple columns can be combined by removing the partition members of each storage module, but the number of the combined column is not specified and is determined arbitrarily by the administrator. Therefore, even if two columns are combined, two column numbers may exist for the combined columns, which causes inconvenience in managing sales, etc.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an article storage device that can facilitate the management of integrated columns and improve operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the item storage device of the present invention is an item storage device comprising: an apparatus main body having a storage area defined therein facing a front opening formed on the front surface; an outer door swingably attached to the apparatus main body so as to open and close the front opening; a rectangular module main body stored in the storage area and having an open front area; a partition member detachably attached inside the module main body and defining a plurality of columns by dividing the interior into a plurality of areas; and a module door swingably attached to the module main body so as to individually open and close the front portions of the maximum number of columns defined by the partition member, wherein each column of the module main body is managed by a column number consisting of consecutive numbers according to its arrangement position, and wherein when any plurality of columns are combined by removing the partition member, the device is further characterized in that it comprises a control unit that manages the number of any one of the columns as a representative column number for the multiple columns to be combined.

[0007] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned item storage device, when any number of columns are combined, the control unit drives and turns on the sale available lamps provided corresponding to the columns corresponding to the representative column numbers for the combined columns.

[0008] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned item storage device, when any number of columns are merged, the control unit manages sales for the merged columns using the column number corresponding to the representative column number. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, when any number of columns are combined by removing a partition member, the control unit manages the combined columns by using the number of one of the columns as a representative column number, thereby achieving the effect of facilitating management of the combined columns and improving operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the external configuration of an item storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a typical control system of the item storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the internal structure of the device main body shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the item storage device shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the outer door is swung in the opening direction. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the storage module shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the inside of the storage module shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7(a) shows the state of the module door when the door locking mechanism is in a locked state, and FIG. 7(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the module door when the door locking mechanism is in an unlocked state. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the column numbers of the columns in each storage module. [Figure 9] 9(a) to 9(d) are explanatory diagrams showing the relationship between each column and the lighting drive of the sales lighting lamp. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the details of the column integration process performed by the control unit shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an article storage device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] Figures 1 and 2 each show an item storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 1 is a front view showing the external configuration of the item storage device, and Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic diagram of the characteristic control system of the item storage device.

[0013] The item storage device 1 illustrated here is, for example, a locker device used as a delivery locker or a vending machine for selling products, and includes a device main body 2. Note that, below, each component of the item storage device 1 will be described according to the directions indicated in FIG.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 3, the device main body 2 is a rectangular housing with two front openings 2a on the front, and has an insulated structure by incorporating insulating materials such as urethane foam or vacuum insulation. Inside this device main body 2, multiple storage areas 3 are formed lined up vertically, facing each front opening 2a. The device main body 2 also includes a cooling unit (not shown), which operates to cool each storage area 3 to a predetermined temperature or below.

[0015] In such an apparatus main body 2, two outer doors 4 are provided in a manner that opens and closes each front opening 2a. Although not shown in the drawings, these two outer doors 4 have a heat-insulating structure in which a heat insulating material such as urethane foam or vacuum insulation material is laid between the outer and inner panels.

[0016] In addition, the left outer door 4 is provided with its left edge swingably on the device main body 2 in a manner to open and close the left front opening 2a, and the right outer door 4 is provided with its right edge swingably on the device main body 2 in a manner to open and close the right front opening 2a.

[0017] Meanwhile, an outer door open / close detector 31 and an outer door lock mechanism 32 are provided near each front opening 2a of the device body 2.

[0018] The outer door open / close detection unit 31 is configured with, for example, an optical sensor, and detects the opening and closing of the front opening 2a by the outer door 4. More specifically, the outer door open / close detection unit 31 detects whether the front opening 2a of the apparatus main body 2 is closed, i.e., whether the outer door 4 is closed. The outer door open / close detection unit 31 sends the detection result, whether the outer door 4 is closed or not, as a signal to the control unit 40, which will be described later.

[0019] The outer door locking mechanism 32 is capable of switching between a locked state in which the outer door 4 that closes the front opening 2a is kept closed and the outer door 4 is restricted from swinging forward, and an unlocked state in which the outer door 4 is permitted to swing forward. The outer door locking mechanism 32 is switched in response to a command given from the control unit 40.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 4, a storage module 10 is stored in the storage area 3. The storage module 10 is made of a resin material such as plastic, and includes a module body 11, a partition member 13, a module door 15, and a product detection lever 17, as shown in Figs.

[0021] The module body 11 is a rectangular parallelepiped with an open front portion and is composed of a bottom wall 111, left and right side walls 112, a back wall 113, and a top wall 114. The module body 11 has dimensions slightly smaller than the storage area 3, and it is preferable that each wall 111 contacts each surface that constitutes the storage area 3. Furthermore, in the module body 11, the left and right side walls 112 are formed with a plurality of passage holes 112a for circulating air.

[0022] The partition member 13 is used to partition the inside of the module body 11, and is composed of horizontal partition plates 131, 132 and vertical partition plates 133, .

[0023] The horizontal partition plates 131, 132 are used to divide the interior of the module body 11 into upper and lower sections, and include a left-side horizontal partition plate 131 and a right-side horizontal partition plate 132. The left-side horizontal partition plate 131 and the right-side horizontal partition plate 132 have the same front-to-back and left-to-right dimensions.

[0024] The vertical partitions 133, 134 are used to divide the interior of the module body 11 into left and right sections, and include an upper vertical partition 133 and a lower vertical partition 134. The upper vertical partition 133 and the lower vertical partition 134 have the same front-to-back and top-to-bottom dimensions.

[0025] By arranging the horizontal dividers 131, 132 and the vertical dividers 133, 134, the interior of the module body 11 can be divided into four regions, thereby defining four columns 12. In other words, the maximum number of columns in the storage module 10 is four.

[0026] The module doors 15 are provided on the module body 11 in correspondence with the maximum number (four) of columns 12 defined by the partition members 13, and include an upper left module door 151, an upper right module door 152, a lower left module door 153, and a lower right module door 154.

[0027] The upper left module door 151 is a door body large enough to close the front portion of the upper left column 12 when the interior of the module main body 11 is divided into four columns 12. The left side of this upper left module door 151 is pivotally supported and can swing back and forth in a manner to move toward and away from the module main body 11. In other words, the upper left module door 151 opens the front portion of the upper left column 12 by swinging forward, and closes the front portion of the upper left column 12 by swinging backward.

[0028] The upper right module door 152 is a door body large enough to block the front portion of the upper right column 12 when the interior of the module main body 11 is divided into four columns 12. The right side of the upper right module door 152 is pivotally supported, and the door can swing forward and backward in a manner to move toward and away from the module main body 11. In other words, the upper right module door 152 opens the front portion of the upper right column 12 by swinging forward, and blocks the front portion of the upper right column 12 by swinging backward.

[0029] The lower-left module door 153 is a door body large enough to close the front portion of the lower-left column 12 when the interior of the module main body 11 is divided into four columns 12. The left side of the lower-left module door 153 is pivotally supported, and the door can swing forward and backward in a manner to move toward and away from the module main body 11. In other words, the lower-left module door 153 opens the front portion of the lower-left column 12 by swinging forward, and closes the front portion of the lower-left column 12 by swinging backward.

[0030] The lower right module door 154 is a door body large enough to close the front portion of the lower right column 12 when the interior of the module main body 11 is divided into four columns 12. The right side of this lower right module door 154 is pivotally supported, and it can swing back and forth in a manner to move toward and away from the module main body 11. In other words, the lower right module door 154 opens the front portion of the lower right column 12 by swinging forward, and closes the front portion of the lower right column 12 by swinging backward.

[0031] In the module body 11, a door lock mechanism 33 is provided for each of the module doors 15.

[0032] The door lock mechanism 33 is capable of switching between a locked state, as shown in Fig. 7(a), in which the corresponding module door 15 that closes the front portion of the module main body 11 (column 12) is kept closed and the module door 15 is prevented from swinging forward, and a released state, as shown in Fig. 7(b), in which the module door 15 is biased by a spring or the like (not shown) to swing slightly forward and open. The door lock mechanism 33 is switched in accordance with a command given by the control unit 40.

[0033] The commodity detection levers 17 are provided on the module body 11 in a number corresponding to the maximum number (four) of storage items defined by the partition member 13, and include an upper left detection lever 171, an upper right detection lever 172, a lower left detection lever 173, and a lower right detection lever 174. These commodity detection levers 17 are biased by a biasing means (not shown) to swing upward, and when pressed by a commodity stored in the column 12, they swing downward against the biasing force of the biasing means, but when the commodity is removed, they swing upward.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the item storage device 1 includes a display unit 21, an operation input unit 22, a remote control 23, a money handling unit 24, and a control unit 40 in addition to the above components.

[0035] 1, the display unit 21 is provided at the upper right side of the outer door 4 on the right side of the device main body 2. The display unit 21 displays various information in response to commands given from the control unit 40.

[0036] The operation input unit 22 is provided below the display unit 21. The operation input unit 22 is configured with, for example, a numeric keypad, and is a selection means for selecting a column 12 (item) by input operation. When a column 12 is selected, the operation input unit 22 sends a notification to the control unit 40 to that effect.

[0037] The remote controller 23 is provided inside the device main body 2 and is an input means through which a manager of the item storage device 1 or the like performs input operations such as setting operations.

[0038] The money handling unit 24 is composed of a coin mechanism and a bill validator. This money handling unit 24 determines whether money inserted through the coin insertion slot 24a or the bill insertion slot 24b provided in the device main body 2 is legitimate, and takes in money determined to be legitimate and outputs it to the control unit 40. However, if the money cannot be determined to be legitimate or if a return lever 24c provided in the device main body 2 is operated after the insertion operation, the money handling unit 24 returns the money. When returning bills, the money handling unit 24 dispenses bills from the bill insertion slot 24b, and when returning coins, the money is dispensed from the coin return slot 24d provided in the device main body 2.

[0039] The control unit 40 is connected to the display unit 21, operation input unit 22, remote control 23, cash processing unit 24, outer door opening / closing detection unit group 31A, outer door locking mechanism group 32A, door locking mechanism group 33A, product detection switch group 34A and sale available lamp group 35A, and comprehensively controls the operation of each part of the item storage device 1 in accordance with the programs and data stored in the memory unit 41 which is also connected.

[0040] The outer door opening / closing detection unit group 31A is a collection of the above-mentioned outer door opening / closing detection units 31. The outer door locking mechanism group 32A is a collection of the above-mentioned outer door locking mechanisms 32. The door locking mechanism group 33A is a collection of the above-mentioned door locking mechanisms 33.

[0041] The commodity detection switch group 34A is a collection of commodity detection switches (commodity detection units) 34. The commodity detection switches 34 are provided corresponding to the above-mentioned commodity detection levers 17, and turn off when the corresponding commodity detection lever 17 swings downward, detecting that a commodity is present, and turn on when the commodity detection lever 17 swings upward, detecting that a commodity is not present. These commodity detection levers 17 output the detection results as detection signals to the control unit 40.

[0042] The ready for sale lamp group 35A is a collection of ready for sale lamps 35. As shown in FIG. 1, the ready for sale lamps 35 are provided on each outer door 4. These ready for sale lamps 35 are provided corresponding to the module doors 15 of each storage module 10. In other words, the ready for sale lamps 35 are provided corresponding to the four columns 12 in each storage module 10. The ready for sale lamps 35 are driven to light up in response to commands given from the control unit 40.

[0043] The control unit 40 may be realized, for example, by having a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) execute a program, i.e., by software, or by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0044] The control unit 40 manages each column 12 of each storage module 10 by a column number consisting of consecutive numbers according to the arrangement position, as shown in FIG.

[0045] For example, of the storage areas 3 that are opened and closed by the left-side outer door 4, the columns 12 of the storage module 10 stored in the uppermost storage area 3 are assigned column numbers 1 to 4. That is, the column 12 in the upper left of the storage module 10 is assigned column number "1," the column 12 in the upper right is assigned column number "2," the column 12 in the lower left is assigned column number "3," and the column 12 in the lower right is assigned column number "4."

[0046] Although detailed explanation will not be given here, of the storage areas 3 that are opened and closed by the left-side outer door 4, the columns 12 of the storage modules 10 stored in the second storage area 3 from the top are assigned column numbers 5 to 8, the columns 12 of the storage modules 10 stored in the third storage area 3 from the top are assigned column numbers 9 to 12, the columns 12 of the storage modules 10 stored in the fourth storage area 3 from the top are assigned column numbers 13 to 16, and the columns 12 of the storage modules 10 stored in the fifth storage area 3 from the top are assigned column numbers 17 to 20. Furthermore, among the storage areas 3 that are opened and closed by the outer door 4 on the right side, the columns 12 of the storage modules 10 stored in the uppermost storage area 3 are assigned column numbers 21 to 24, the columns 12 of the storage modules 10 stored in the second storage area 3 from the top are assigned column numbers 25 to 28, the columns 12 of the storage modules 10 stored in the third storage area 3 from the top are assigned column numbers 29 to 32, the columns 12 of the storage modules 10 stored in the fourth storage area 3 from the top are assigned column numbers 33 to 36, and the columns 12 of the storage modules 10 stored in the fifth storage area 3 from the top are assigned column numbers 37 to 40.

[0047] When four columns 12 are provided in the storage module 10, the control unit 40 drives the four vend-ready lamps 35 to light up, as shown in Fig. 9(a). Note that the following description will be given taking as an example a storage module 10 with columns numbered 1 to 4.

[0048] Furthermore, when any plurality of columns 12 are combined by removing the partitioning member 13, the control unit 40 performs the following column combining process.

[0049] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the details of the column integration process performed by the control unit 40 shown in FIG.

[0050] In this column integration process, the control unit 40 determines whether or not there are any columns 12 to be integrated (step S101) based on an input via the remote control 23. If there are no columns 12 to be integrated (step S101: No), the control unit 40 repeats this determination process.

[0051] If there are columns 12 to be integrated (step S101: Yes), the control unit 40 sets the representative column numbers of the columns 12 to be integrated (step S102).

[0052] Specifically, as shown in (b) of Figure 9, when the vertical partition 133 is removed and the column 12 with column number "1" and the column 12 with column number "2" are combined, the control unit 40 sets the column number "2" as the representative column number for the combined columns 12 in accordance with a predetermined arrangement, and turns on the available for sale lamp 35 corresponding to the column 12 with column number "2".

[0053] Also, as shown in (b) of Figure 9, when the vertical partition 134 is removed and the column 12 with column number "3" and the column 12 with column number "4" are combined, the control unit 40 sets the column number "4" as the representative column number for the combined columns 12 in accordance with a predetermined arrangement, and turns on the sale available lamp 35 corresponding to the column 12 with column number "4".

[0054] As shown in (c) of Figure 9, when the horizontal partition plate 131 is removed and the column 12 with column number "1" and the column 12 with column number "3" are combined, the control unit 40 sets the column number "3" as the representative column number for the combined columns 12 in accordance with a predetermined arrangement, and turns on the available for sale lamp 35 corresponding to the column 12 with column number "3".

[0055] Also, as shown in (c) of Figure 9, when the horizontal partition plate 132 is removed and the column 12 with column number "2" and the column 12 with column number "4" are combined, the control unit 40 sets the column number "4" as the representative column number for the combined columns 12 in accordance with a predetermined arrangement, and drives the sale available lamp 35 corresponding to the column 12 with column number "4" to light up.

[0056] As shown in (d) of Figure 9, when the partition member 13 is removed and the columns 12 with column numbers "1 to 4" are combined, the control unit 40 sets the column number "4" as the representative column number for the combined columns 12 in accordance with a predetermined arrangement, and turns on the available for sale lamp 35 corresponding to the column 12 with column number "4".

[0057] After setting the representative column number in this way, the control unit 40 performs sales management and other management for the integrated columns using the representative column number (step S103), and then returns the procedure to end this processing.

[0058] As described above, according to the item storage device 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, when any number of columns 12 are combined by removing the partition member 13, the control unit 40 manages the number of one of the columns 12 as the representative column number for the combined columns 12, thereby making it easier to manage the combined columns 12 and improving operations.

[0059] In particular, when any number of columns 12 are combined, the control unit 40 drives the saleable lamps 35 corresponding to the columns 12 corresponding to the representative column numbers for the combined columns 12 to light up, so that the purchaser can easily recognize the saleable column numbers, and the selection operation of the columns 12 via the operation input unit 22 can be easily performed.

[0060] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications can be made.

[0061] In the above-described embodiment, whether or not the columns 12 are integrated is determined by input operations on the remote control 23, but in the present invention, whether or not the columns are integrated may be determined when a partition member is attached or detached.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, when column 12 with column number "1" and column 12 with column number "2" are combined, column number "2" is set as the representative column number, but this is just an example, and column number "1" may also be set as the representative column number. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1...item storage device, 2...device main body, 2a...front opening, 3...storage area, 4...external door, 10...storage module, 11...module main body, 12...column, 13...compartment member, 15...module door, 21...display unit, 22...operation input unit, 23...remote control, 24...cash processing unit, 31...external door opening / closing detection unit, 32...external door locking mechanism, 33...door locking mechanism, 34...product detection switch, 35...sale available lamp, 40...control unit, 41...memory unit

Claims

1. a device main body having a storage area defined therein facing a front opening formed on a front surface; an outer door provided on the device body so as to be swingable in a manner to open and close the front opening; a rectangular parallelepiped module main body that is stored in the storage area and has an open front area; a partition member that is detachably provided inside the module body and that partitions the interior into a plurality of regions to define a plurality of columns; a module door provided swingably on the module body in a manner that individually opens and closes the front portions of the maximum number of columns defined by the partition member; An item storage device comprising: Each column of the module body is managed by a column number consisting of a consecutive number corresponding to an arrangement position, This item storage device is characterized in that, when any multiple columns are combined by removing the partition member, it is equipped with a control unit that manages the multiple columns to be combined, using the number of any one of the columns as a representative column number.

2. The item storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when any plurality of columns are combined, the control unit drives and turns on saleable lamps corresponding to the columns corresponding to the representative column numbers for the combined columns.

3. The item storage device described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that when any multiple columns are merged, the control unit manages sales for the multiple columns being merged using the column number corresponding to the representative column number.

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