Article storage device

Abstract

To provide an article storage device that can efficiently transfer articles. [Solution] The article storage device 1 includes an article storage section 11, an access port 12 for retrieving articles stored in the storage section 11, an insertion port 13 for inserting articles into the storage section 11, a door 14 for opening and closing the access port 12, and an operating port 142 for operating the door 14 from the insertion port 13 side. The door 14 opens and closes by rotating around a shaft 15 provided between it and the storage section 11. The operating port 142 is provided near the shaft 15.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an article storage device for storing articles.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, in restaurants, a service is provided where customers outside the store can make a reservation order using a dedicated application or the like, and when they visit the store at the reserved time, they can receive the completed reserved products without waiting for cooking.

[0003] In this regard, from the perspective of article delivery, in Patent Document 1, a lockable home delivery storage locker for storing home delivery items has been proposed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] On the other hand, in restaurants and the like, in the operation of reservation orders, the situation where it is necessary to handle both customers who come directly to the store and customers who have made reservation orders is inefficient.

[0006] Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an article storage device capable of efficiently delivering articles.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To achieve the above object, an article storage device according to the present invention includes an article storage unit, a pickup opening for picking up an article stored in the storage unit, an insertion opening for inserting an article into the storage unit, an opening / closing unit for opening and closing the pickup opening, and an operation unit for operating the opening / closing unit from the insertion opening side.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the drop-off side. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of an article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the insertion side. [Figure 3] This is an external perspective view showing the storage unit of an article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the door open. [Figure 4] This is an external perspective view showing the storage unit of an article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the door open. [Figure 5] This is a plan view showing the inside of the storage section of an article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is an external perspective view showing an example of a door provided in an article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a functional block diagram showing the functions of an article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a functional block diagram showing the functions of an article storage device and an order receiving device that cooperate with the article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of information stored in the setting information storage unit of an article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of information stored in the order information storage unit of an order receiving device that works in conjunction with an article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This is a sequence diagram showing the flow of services provided using the article storage device and order receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the flow of processing performed in accordance with the flow of said services. [Figure 12] This figure shows an example of a screen displayed when a store clerk sets an item in the item storage device and inputs setting information in a service provided using an item storage device and order receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13]This is a perspective view of an article storage device according to another embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the take-out side. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view of an article storage device according to another embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the take-out side. [Figure 15] This is an external perspective view showing another example of a door provided in an article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] ● Overview Hereinafter, an article storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the figures. Figures 1 and 2 show the article storage device 1 according to this embodiment. The item storage device 1 is a device that stores specified items that customers have reserved and ordered at a designated store or other location, and allows customers to retrieve those specified items themselves when they visit the store.

[0010] In the following description of the article storage device 1 according to this embodiment, we will use as an example a case in which an employee places a designated item into the article storage device 1 at a restaurant or other establishment that provides food and beverages for takeaway, and the customer takes the item. However, the use of the article storage device 1 according to this embodiment is not limited to this example, and it can be used when any item is handed over between two parties.

[0011] In addition, when the article storage device 1 is installed in a store, it is assumed that it is installed at a counter where a store clerk accepts orders from customers. At this time, the article storage device 1 on the counter is installed in a state where the article insertion port 13 side faces the inside of the counter where the store clerk is located, and the article pickup port 12 side faces the outside of the counter where the customers are located. As a result, customers can pick up products near the counter in the same manner as when they normally visit the store. Also, since the insertion port 13 side is inside the counter, the store clerk can insert product M into the article storage device 1 while staying inside the counter. In many cases, since a cooking area or the like is provided inside the counter, the store clerk can access the cooked product M to the article storage device 1 by the optimal route without going around the counter. On the other hand, if the insertion port 13 is not provided, the store clerk cannot access the article storage device 1 from inside the counter and has to go around outside the counter and put the product M into the pickup port 12. In the following description, it is assumed that the article storage device 1 is installed in this way, but it can also be integrally installed on the counter, made to stand on the floor, or installed in a place other than the counter, such as being embedded in the wall surface.

[0012] ● Configuration of the article storage device 1 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the article storage device 1 according to the present embodiment includes six storage units 1a integrally arranged vertically and horizontally and an information processing unit 10.

[0013] The storage unit 1a includes a storage portion 11 and a door 14 to which an operation portion 142 is attached. The side where the door 14 is provided constitutes a pickup port 12 for customers to pick up product M, and the opposite side of the pickup port 12 constitutes an insertion port 13 for the store clerk to insert product M. Note that the storage device according to the present embodiment consists of six storage units 1a, but as shown in other embodiments described later, it can be constituted by one or a plurality of two or more storage units 1a. Also, for the convenience of explanation, when referring to each storage unit 1a separately, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it may be referred to as storage units 1a-1, 1a-2, 1a-3, 1a-4, 1a-5, 1a-6.

[0014] In the use of this storage unit 1a, it is not always the case that one storage unit 1a is used for one order. There may be cases where multiple storage units 1a are used simultaneously for one order. That is, when providing a customer with a product M that cannot fit into one storage unit 1a in terms of quantity or size, or when storing warm product M and cold product M separately, multiple storage units 1a are used. Note that even when one storage unit 1a is used in response to one order, the product M itself stored in the one storage unit 1a may be divided into multiple bags in order to separate the quantity of product M or to separate warm and cold items.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the storage section 11 is a space capable of storing the product M and has at least a placement surface 111 on which an article can be placed. In the present embodiment, it has a cylindrical shape with both ends in the length direction opening in a rectangular shape in plan view. The one-end opening portion that constitutes the take-out opening 12 is opened and closed by a door 14, and the other-end opening portion that constitutes the insertion opening 13 is open.

[0016] The storage compartment 11 in the figure has a shape with an opening that is roughly square when viewed from the front, but it is not limited to this, and can be a horizontal or vertical rectangle, a circle, or any other shape that is suitable for the goods to be stored. For example, when storing pizzas or sushi plates, a low profile is sufficient, and since a horizontal shape is preferred as it requires more area, a vertical shape is preferable. Also, in a business that mainly handles drinks, a vertical shape is preferable to match the drinks. In this way, the shape of the storage compartment 11 should be determined according to the goods M to be stored, and furthermore, the number and arrangement of the storage compartments 11 should be determined based on the shape of the storage compartment 11. The overall shape of the goods storage device 1 will also correspond to the shape of the storage compartments 11, allowing goods M to be stored efficiently without wasting space in the storage compartments 11, and also achieving space saving for the goods storage device 1 itself.

[0017] As shown in Figure 5, a light 17 is provided on the upper inner surface of the housing section 11 to illuminate the inside of the housing section 11. In this embodiment, the lighting 17 is composed of multiple LED lights arranged in the width direction and is positioned towards the side of the intake opening 12. The reason for placing it in such an off-center position is to prevent the problem that if the lighting 17 were located midway between the receiving opening 12 and the insertion opening 13, and the product M was tall enough to reach the top of the storage section 11 when the product M was stored inside, the light from the lighting 17 would be difficult to see from the receiving opening 12 side due to the product M. Furthermore, since the lighting 17 is positioned towards the pick-up opening 12, when the lighting 17 is turned on with the product M stored in the storage section 11, the lighting can be directed at the front of the product M when viewed from the pick-up opening 12 side, thus improving the appearance of the product M.

[0018] Furthermore, an advantage of using the lighting 17 is that it can prevent customers from missing items even when the doors 14 of multiple storage units 1a are open at the same time. Similarly, when the doors 14 of multiple storage units 1a are open, specifically when storage units 1a-1 and 1a-2 are open, a customer who is likely standing on the input / output unit 18 or reading unit 19 side may recognize that storage unit 1a-2 is open, but their attention may be focused on storage unit 1a-2, or they may not recognize that storage unit 1a-1 is open because it is hidden behind the door 14 of storage unit 1a-2. Even in such cases, the lighting 17 flashing along with the open state of the door 14 can draw the customer's attention to the open state of storage unit 1a-1 as well. Furthermore, the mounting surface 111 is preferably made of a material with high reflectivity. The way the light is reflected from the mounting surface 111 in response to the flashing of the lighting 17 makes it easy to determine whether or not there are any forgotten items on the mounting surface 111. If areas with different reflectivity are visible, it can be recognized that an object other than the mounting surface 111 is placed there.

[0019] Furthermore, as will be described later, the lighting 17 can be turned on, blinked, or turned off under the control of the control unit 104. It can also be kept on at all times, or turned on or blinked only when the door 14 is opened, so that the way the lighting 17 illuminates can be appropriately changed according to the status of the storage unit 1a. For example, when a customer proves their authority to take a predetermined product M from the storage unit 1a containing the product M using authentication information, the lighting 17 of the storage unit 1a can be turned on or blinked from an off state. Furthermore, the way the lights 17 illuminate can be changed for each storage unit 1a. For example, the lights 17 for storage unit 1a-2, which is easily visible to customers who are likely to be standing on the side of the input / output unit 18 or the reading unit 19, may be turned on, while the lights 17 for storage unit 1a-1, which is easily hidden in the shadow of the door 14 of storage unit 1a-2, may be made to blink. In this way, by controlling the illumination of the lighting 17 according to the location and usage status of the storage unit 1a, or the opening and closing status of the door 14, customers can easily understand which storage unit 1a their product M is stored in. Notwithstanding this embodiment, the lighting 17 may also be provided on the side of the housing 11 or elsewhere, or it may be composed of other types of lighting 17 such as fluorescent lamps.

[0020] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the door 14 constitutes an opening and closing mechanism that opens and closes the intake opening 12. This door 14 opens and closes by rotating around a shaft 15 provided between it and the storage compartment 11. The shaft 15 is constructed of a so-called damper hinge, and a biasing part (not shown), such as a spring, provided inside, biases the door 14 into an open position. When the door 14 is not locked by the locking / unlocking part 16, it maintains an open position due to the biasing force from this biasing part. In this embodiment, the door 14 rotates approximately 90 degrees around the axis 15 from a closed position to open, and remains stationary in the open position at approximately 90 degrees around the axis 15 unless subjected to an external force. Because the door 14 opens and remains stationary at this angle, customers can take out the product M inside the storage section 11 without touching the door 14, and the open door 14 does not interfere with the opening and closing of the door 14 of the adjacent storage unit 1a.

[0021] The locking / unlocking mechanism 16 locks and unlocks the door 14. This locking / unlocking mechanism 16 consists of an engaging portion 161 provided on the door 14 and an engaged portion 162 provided at a corresponding position on the housing portion 11. When the door 14 is closed and the engaging portion 161 engages with the engaged portion 162, the door 14 is locked, and when the engagement between the engaging portion 161 and the engaged portion 162 is released, the door 14 is unlocked. As will be described later, the locking / unlocking unit 16 performs the unlocking operation under the control of the control unit 104. However, as shown in Figure 5, an unlocking lever 163 for manual unlocking is provided on the inner surface of the housing unit 11. The unlocking lever 163 has a mechanism for physically releasing the engagement between the engaging part 161 and the engaged part 162, and by operating the unlocking lever 163, the engagement is released and the door 14 can be unlocked.

[0022] The door 14 is provided with a transparent or translucent window 141 that allows the inside of the storage compartment 11 to be seen from the outside. This allows customers to see the products M inside the storage compartment 11 through the window 141. Furthermore, because the window 141 is transparent or translucent, light from the lighting 17 also passes through it, so for example, by turning on the lighting 17 only in the storage unit 1a that contains the products M, it is possible to identify the storage unit 1a containing the products M from the outside.

[0023] Furthermore, since the article storage device 1 according to this embodiment does not require the customer to open or close the door 14, there are no handles or knobs on the outside of the door 14. Therefore, when the door 14 is closed, the surface of the door 14 and the side of the storage section 11 facing the drawer opening 12 are substantially flush. As a result, when the door 14 is closed, the customer's clothes or other items will not get caught on the door 14 of the article storage device 1, and it also presents an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0024] On the inside of the door 14 or on the side of the slot 13, an operating part 142 is provided for a store employee to operate the door 14 from the side of the slot 13, as shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment, the operating section 142 is claw-shaped and consists of a mounting piece 1421 attached to the door 14, a protruding piece 1422 that extends from the end of the mounting piece 1421 at a predetermined angle, and a pair of extending pieces 1423 that extend slightly parallel to each other from the upper and lower ends of the mounting piece 1421 and the protruding piece 1422. The operating section 142 is mounted on the inside of the door 14 such that when the door 14 is open, the protruding piece 1422 is located on the side furthest from the insertion opening 13.

[0025] The protruding piece 1422 is the part that a store clerk can pinch or hook their fingers onto when closing the open door 14, and when the operating part 142 is attached to the inside of the door 14, it protrudes away from the surface of the door 14. The extended piece 1423 reinforces the operating part 142 so that it can maintain its shape against the force exerted when a store clerk pulls on it from the insertion opening 13 side, and also prevents the store clerk from injuring their fingers on the edge of the protruding piece 1422 when they pinch or hook their fingers onto the operating part 142. Furthermore, for parts that store employees may touch with their fingers, such as the protruding piece 1422 and the extended piece 1423, it is advisable to chamfer the corners and edges as appropriate to prevent store employees from injuring their fingers.

[0026] When a store clerk closes the open door 14, the clerk reaches their hand into the storage compartment 11 through the insertion opening 13, then reaches out to the door 14 and pulls the door 14 towards the insertion opening 13 by pinching or hooking their fingers onto the protruding piece 1422. This causes the door 14 to rotate around the axis 15 and close.

[0027] The operating part 142 is located near the shaft 15. As a result, whether the door 14 is open or closed, the operating part 142 is close to the employee on the insertion side 13, allowing the employee to easily reach and operate the operating part 142, thus reducing the burden on the employee when closing the door 14. In contrast, if the operating part 142 is located near the engagement part 161, the door 14 rotates around the shaft 15 as a pivot point, so when the door 14 is open, the position of the operating part 142 is further from the insertion side 13 than when the door 14 is closed. Therefore, it is difficult and inconvenient for the employee to close the door 14. Furthermore, unlike the case where the operating unit 142 is located away from the shaft 15, when the door 14 is open, the operating unit 142 is less likely to obstruct customers who are trying to retrieve the product M from the storage unit 11.

[0028] Furthermore, the operating unit 142 is positioned a certain height above the mounting surface 111. This height is determined in consideration of the size of the goods M stored in the storage unit 11, and by positioning it higher than the size of the most commonly distributed goods M, the operating unit 142 is prevented from colliding with the stored goods M. In particular, when the goods storage device 1 is set up in a cafe or the like, positioning it higher than the drink containers to be stored prevents the drink containers and the operating unit 142 from directly touching when the door 14 is closed.

[0029] The input / output unit 18 is a functional unit for inputting and outputting information, and is composed of a touch panel display or the like. This input / output unit 18 allows customers to input authentication information through the input / output unit 18 instead of having the reader unit 19 read a two-dimensional code containing the authentication information. In this case, the input / output unit constitutes an authentication information receiving unit that receives authentication information from the customer. Furthermore, even if the authentication information is not provided to the customer as a two-dimensional code, and instead an order number or password is accepted, the input / output unit 18 can accept the order number or password. In addition, the input / output unit 18 may be configured to input and output information for performing maintenance on the item storage device 1.

[0030] Furthermore, as described later, in the use of the item storage device 1, a store employee terminal 1A, consisting of a tablet terminal or the like, is used as appropriate, in conjunction with the item storage device 1 and the order receiving device 2, for store employees to input and output information, separate from the input / output unit 18. When a store employee sets product M in the storage unit 11, the store employee terminal 1A associates information that can identify the storage unit 1a containing product M with the order information.

[0031] The reading unit 19 is configured as an authentication information receiving unit that receives authentication information from a customer that can authenticate the customer, and can read a two-dimensional code that encodes the authentication information. This reading unit 19 consists of a camera that captures the two-dimensional code and means for decoding the two-dimensional code. When a customer retrieves product M from the storage unit 11, this reading unit 19 can read the two-dimensional code displayed on the customer terminal 3 or the like that the customer is holding and obtain coded authentication information.

[0032] In this embodiment, the item storage device 1 is provided with a recessed area that extends from the front to the back of the item storage device 1, which is formed together with the closed door 14, and the reading unit 19 is located in this recessed area. The reason for providing the reading unit 19 in this manner is as follows: Since the reading unit 19 is a scanner that reads customer authentication information, mainly the two-dimensional code displayed on the customer terminal 3, it is necessary for the display surface of the customer terminal 3 and the scanner surface to be parallel to each other to some extent. If the reading unit 19 were not located in a recessed position from the front of the item storage device 1, for example, if it were provided flush with the closed door 14 on the front of the item storage device 1, like the input / output unit 18, the reading light from the reading unit 19 would have a strong horizontal component, so the customer terminal 3 would have to be held upright and parallel to the front of the item storage device 1 in order to read it properly. However, holding the customer terminal 3 upright and over the reading unit 19 in this manner puts strain on the arms and wrists, which would be burdensome for the customer. In contrast, in this embodiment, the reading unit 19 is positioned recessed from the front of the item storage device 1, and the reading surface is positioned at an angle to both the vertical and horizontal directions, so that the reading light has a strong vertical component. Accordingly, when reading the screen of the customer terminal 3, the customer terminal 3 can be held lying down, and the posture in which the customer terminal 3 is held over the reading unit 19 is not strained, thus reducing the burden on the customer during the reading operation.

[0033] While the reading unit 19 is provided in this manner, the input / output unit 18 is provided on the front of the item storage device 1. From a functional standpoint as a display unit, the input / output unit 18 is provided on the front, at a certain height, which is different from the recessed position where the reading unit 19 is located, as it is easier to see when it is at a certain height, and visibility decreases when it is in a recessed position.

[0034] The article storage device 1 may also be equipped with additional functions as appropriate. For example, it may be equipped with a refrigeration function or a heating function, or it may be treated with an antibacterial agent.

[0035] ●Functional parts Next, we will describe an example of a functional configuration required to receive a pre-order for product M from a customer and to deliver the pre-ordered product M using the product storage device 1. As shown in Figure 7, the item storage device 1 is equipped with hardware resources such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for performing information processing, and storage devices such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The locking / unlocking unit 16, lighting unit 17, input / output unit 18, and reading unit 19 are connected via an interface circuit.

[0036] This item storage device 1 includes, as software resources, at least a setting processing unit 101, a setting information storage unit 102, an authentication processing unit 103, a control unit 104, and a communication processing unit 105, as shown in Figure 8. Furthermore, the item storage device 1 is connected via a communication network such as a LAN to a store employee terminal 1A for store employees to input and output information, and an order receiving device 2 for receiving reservation orders from customers and executing processing based on those reservations. In addition, the item storage device 1 is also connected to a network such as the Internet NW and can communicate with terminals and devices connected to the network NW. Furthermore, communication between the item storage device 1, the employee terminal 1A, and the order receiving device 2 may be either wired or wireless, and the means by which the item storage device 1 connects to the network NW may also be either wired or wireless.

[0037] Furthermore, a store terminal 1B is connected to the network NW. The store terminal 1B is primarily a POS terminal, which is operated by a store employee and can register customer purchases and process payments. This store terminal 1B has the same functions as the employee terminal 1A and can also manage the item storage device 1 and issue instructions for storing items M.

[0038] Furthermore, a store terminal 1C is connected to the network NW. The store terminal 1C is primarily a ticket vending machine, allowing customers to register and pay for their items themselves. The items M stored in the item storage device 1 are basically paid for in advance, but it is also possible to accept reservations without payment, prepare the items M, and then store them in the item storage device 1. In this case, customers who have reserved items M but have not yet paid can visit the store and have the store terminal 1C read the reservation number or a designated QR code issued at the time of reservation for the reserved items M, thereby activating the payment screen and paying for the reserved items. Once payment is complete, the store terminal 1C issues a paper with an identification number or QR code printed on it, and by having the reader 19 of the item storage device 1 read this number or QR code, the customer can pick up their reserved items.

[0039] When a store clerk inserts product M into storage unit 1a of item storage device 1, the setting processing unit 101 performs a process to associate the information of the inserted storage unit 1a, the order information of product M, and the authentication information generated according to the order information as setting information.

[0040] The setting information storage unit 102 stores the setting information set by the setting processing unit 101. In a specific example, as shown in Figure 9, the setting processing unit 101 stores information that can identify the storage unit 1a into which the associated product M is inserted, order information for product M, and authentication information. By referring to this configuration information, it is possible to identify the containment unit 1a whose door 14 should be opened when coded authentication information is received from the customer.

[0041] The authentication processing unit 103 authenticates whether the customer has the authority to take the product M stored in the storage unit 11, based on the authentication information obtained from the customer as a two-dimensional code by the reading unit 19. If authentication is successful, the door 14 of the storage unit 1a containing the product M that the customer pre-ordered is opened.

[0042] The control unit 104 controls the locking / unlocking unit 16, the illumination unit 17, the input / output unit 18, and the reading unit 19 to perform predetermined operations. For example, when the reading unit 19 receives authentication information, it controls the locking / unlocking unit 16 accordingly to unlock the door 14 and open the door 14.

[0043] Regardless of this embodiment, the setting processing unit 101, setting information storage unit 102, authentication processing unit 103, and control unit 104 of the item storage device 1 shown in Figure 8 may be provided by a higher-level device of the item storage device 1, such as an order receiving device 2. In this case, the item storage device 1 operates based on commands from a higher-level device such as an order receiving device 2. However, even in this configuration, the item storage device 1 controls the operation of the hardware it provides and performs associated processing. For example, in response to a command from a higher-level device, it may unlock the door 14 of a predetermined storage unit 1a or transmit information of a two-dimensional code read by the reading unit 19 to the higher-level device.

[0044] The employee terminal 1A is a terminal used by the employee. This employee terminal 1A is implemented using a terminal capable of data input and output, and a portable device such as a tablet terminal is preferably used. When a store employee places product M into a designated storage unit 1a, they use this employee terminal 1A to check previously entered setting information or to enter new setting information.

[0045] The order receiving device 2 is configured to communicate with the item storage device 1 and the employee terminal 1A via a network such as a LAN, and is also configured to communicate with the customer terminal 3 used by the customer via a network such as the Internet NW. This order receiving device 2 is implemented by a so-called server computer, and has as software resources an order processing unit 201, an order information storage unit 202, an authentication information generation unit 203, a code generation unit 204, and a communication processing unit 205.

[0046] The order processing unit 201 receives a pre-order for product M from the customer terminal 3 and executes necessary processing in response to the acceptance of the pre-order. This processing includes, for example, payment processing for the pre-order and processing to register information related to the contents of the pre-order in the order information storage unit 202.

[0047] The order information storage unit 202 is a storage unit that stores order information relating to the content of a reserved order received from the customer terminal 3. In a specific example, as shown in Figure 10, it stores information such as the content of the product M reserved by the customer and the reserved time of the customer's visit to pick up the product M, associated with an order number that identifies the customer's order. The store clerk refers to this order information storage unit 202 and prepares product M according to the customer's arrival time.

[0048] The authentication information generation unit 203 generates authentication information that proves the customer is the one who placed the pre-order and is authorized to receive the pre-ordered product M when the customer receives the product M. The authentication information is a unique identifier consisting of, for example, a combination of random alphanumeric characters, and is notified to the customer who placed the pre-order. When the customer visits the store, they enter this authentication information into the item storage device 1 to indicate their authority to receive the pre-ordered item M.

[0049] The code generation unit 204 converts authentication information into a code in a predetermined format. The code is a two-dimensional code that can be read by the reader unit 19, such as a QR code (registered trademark), and is provided to the customer via the customer terminal 3 upon completion of the reservation order.

[0050] The communication processing unit 205 is a functional unit that performs data transmission and reception with the customer terminal 3 via a network NW such as the Internet. The order receiving device 2, through its communication processing unit 205, can accept pre-orders from customer terminals 3, such as smart devices used by customers, and provide the customer terminals 3 with a two-dimensional code containing authentication information.

[0051] Furthermore, the software resources of the aforementioned item storage device 1 and order receiving device 2 can be distributed or consolidated into either hardware resource through appropriate design, and the hardware resources can also be configured as a physically integrated device or as separate devices.

[0052] ●Processing flow Next, an example of the service flow using the article storage device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 11. First, the customer uses customer terminal 3 to access a designated website where they can place a pre-order for product M and places a pre-order (S101).

[0053] When the order receiving device 2 receives a pre-order for product M from a customer on a designated website, the order processing unit 201 performs payment processing and other operations based on the order details, and registers the order information related to the pre-order details in the order information storage unit 202 (S102).

[0054] Furthermore, the order receiving device 2 generates authentication information for the customer to receive the product M that the customer has reserved using the authentication information generation unit 203, and encodes this authentication information using the code generation unit 204, and provides the resulting two-dimensional code to the customer terminal 3 (S103).

[0055] Meanwhile, in stores that have received pre-orders, the staff refer to the order information and prepare the ordered items M according to the order at the specified time, and then place the prepared items M into the item storage device 1 (S104). When the store clerk inserts product M into the item storage device 1, they use the input / output unit 18, or the store clerk terminal 1A which is linked to the item storage device 1 and the order receiving device 2, to associate the prepared product M with the order information and select an available storage unit 1a to store the prepared product M. Then, they insert the prepared product M into the storage section 11 of the selected storage unit 1a.

[0056] Here, Figure 12 shows an example of the screen displayed on the employee terminal 1A when the employee uses the employee terminal 1A to specify the storage unit 1a into which product M will be placed. On the screen, the status of each storage unit 1a is displayed in a way that allows users to understand it based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 102. In the order status display field G11, information such as the storage status of the ordered product M, the appointment time, the storage period, and the number of items ordered are displayed in association with the order number. In addition, the storage unit information display field G12 displays the current status of each storage unit 1a, and by referring to this, it is possible to understand whether each storage unit 1a is being used, and if so, the order details are displayed.

[0057] When a store clerk places product M into the item storage device 1, they refer to the storage unit information display area G12 to identify an available storage unit 1a. The storage unit information display area G12, for example, has buttons that can be pressed for each storage unit 1a. When a store clerk presses the button for an available storage unit 1a, that storage unit 1a is selected, and the store clerk enters the order number associated with the selected storage unit 1a. This associates the order information with a designated storage unit 1a.

[0058] Furthermore, if the door 14 of the designated storage unit 1a is open, the store clerk will close it. Furthermore, when a store employee designates a storage unit 1a to which product M should be placed, the control unit 104 may turn on the light 17 of the designated storage unit 1a. This prevents the store employee from mistakenly placing product M into the wrong storage unit 1a.

[0059] When a customer who has placed a reservation visits the store at the designated time, they display a two-dimensional code containing their authentication information on the display of the customer terminal 3, and have the reader 19 read the two-dimensional code (S105). In response, the item storage device 1 authenticates the customer using authentication information obtained by decoding the two-dimensional code (S106), and if authentication is successful, it instructs the control unit 104 to unlock the door 14 of the corresponding storage unit 1a (S107). The door 14, unlocked under the control of the control unit 104, rotates approximately 90 degrees around the shaft 15, opening to the extent that the customer can easily remove the product M from the storage compartment 11. Furthermore, the door is maintained in the open state by a biasing mechanism such as a spring located inside the shaft 15. This allows the customer to easily remove the product M from the storage compartment 11 without touching the door 14 (S108).

[0060] At an appropriate time, the store clerk closes the open door 14 of the storage unit 1a from which the customer has taken out product M (S109). To close door 14, the employee reaches their hand into the storage compartment 11 through the insertion opening 13 and also reaches for door 14 to grasp the operating part 142. Then, they pull the operating part 142 toward the insertion opening 13. This closes door 14, and the engaging part 161 engages with the engaged part 162, locking door 14.

[0061] In addition, regarding the above embodiment, it is common for restaurants to offer their own delivery services or delivery services provided by external delivery companies contracted by the restaurant. Taking this into account, the item storage device 1 can also be used to store items for delivery services. In particular, when a delivery company picks up a reserved item, it is inefficient for them to wait in the same line as customers who came directly to the restaurant to receive the item M. Therefore, it is desirable to store the item M reserved by the customer in the item storage device 1, have the delivery company pick it up, and deliver it to the customer's home. The delivery company has the item storage device 1 read the order number based on the reserved item or the two-dimensional code displayed on the delivery company's terminal, picks up the item M from the corresponding storage unit 1a, and delivers it to the customer. In this case, to make the delivery service more efficient, it is best to install the item storage device 1 in a location other than the counter or tables in front of the store, so as not to obstruct customers who come in directly. This will allow the delivery company to pick up the goods M more smoothly.

[0062] ● Modified form of article storage device 1 Figure 13 shows an article storage device 4A according to another embodiment of the present invention. Unlike the article storage device 1 described above, this article storage device 4A is composed of two storage units 1a arranged vertically and horizontally. As described above, in the implementation of the present invention, the number of storage units 1a is not particularly limited, but unlike the article storage device 1 which consists of six storage units 1a, the article storage device 4 consisting of two storage units 1a does not take up much space and can be installed even on a narrow counter.

[0063] Figure 14 also shows an article storage device 4B according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Unlike the aforementioned item storage devices 1 and 4A, this item storage device 4B is composed of a total of eight storage units 1a arranged in four vertical rows and two horizontal rows. This item storage device 4B is freestanding and is installed directly on the floor. However, in the case of the freestanding type, for space and stable installation, the back side with the insertion slot 13 may be placed against a wall and the insertion slot 13 may be closed off. In this case, the withdrawal slot 12 also functions as the insertion slot 13, and goods M are inserted and withdrawn through the withdrawal slot 12. Such a self-supporting item storage device 4B is useful not only when installed in stores with limited counter space, but also when installed in front of or outside the store, and can accommodate a large number of items M. Regardless of this example, the aforementioned item storage device 1 and item storage device 4A can also be made freestanding or installed with their backs against a wall.

[0064] ● Modified form of the operating section 142 The operating unit 142 that constitutes the article storage device 1 according to this embodiment can take on other shapes, as long as a store clerk can reach in from the insertion opening 13 side, pinch it, or hook their fingers into it to close the door 14.

[0065] Figure 15 shows a door 54 equipped with an operating section 542, which is a modified example of the operating section 142 described above. The operating section 542 is claw-shaped and consists of a mounting piece 5421 that is attached to the door 54, a protruding piece 5422 that extends from the end of the mounting piece 5421 at a predetermined angle, and an extended piece 5423 that extends from the end of the protruding piece 5422 at a further predetermined angle and is substantially parallel to the mounting piece 5421. Similar to the operating unit 142, this operating unit 542 is also mounted on the inside of the door 54 such that when the door 54 is open, the protruding piece 5422 is located on the side furthest from the insertion opening 13.

[0066] The protruding piece 5422 and the extended piece 5423 integrally form the part that the store clerk can pinch or hook their fingers onto when closing the open door 54, allowing the store clerk to more reliably pinch or hook their fingers onto the operating part 542 to close the door 54.

[0067] Furthermore, while the aforementioned operating parts 142 and 542 were to be directly grasped or hooked onto by the store clerk's fingers when closing the doors 14 and 54, for example, one end of a string-like member could be attached to the position where the operating parts 142 and 542 are mounted, and the other end of the string-like member could be provided in the opening 13. This would allow the store clerk to close the doors 14 and 54 by pulling the other end of the string-like member.

[0068] Furthermore, in the article storage devices 1 and 4 according to the embodiments of the present invention described above, other shapes and structures can be adopted for the door 14 itself, and at the very least, devices that can restrict or allow the withdrawal of goods M from the storage section 11 for each storage unit 1a, based on the reasonable behavior of the customer, are within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, for example, it can also be configured with a flip-up bar that partially shields the intake opening 12.

[0069] ●Summary of Embodiments The present invention relates to an article storage device for storing articles.

[0070] Recently, restaurants have been offering a service where customers can place orders in advance using a dedicated application or similar system, and then pick up their pre-ordered items without waiting for them to be cooked when they arrive at the restaurant at their reserved time.

[0071] In this regard, from the standpoint of the delivery of goods, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3354666 proposes a lockable parcel storage locker for storing parcels, comprising: a bottom plate installed inside the main case so as to change in tilt according to the weight of the parcels; a locking mechanism connected to the bottom plate and receiving the force of the change in tilt of the bottom plate to lock the door to the main case; and a retrieval door that allows the stored parcels to be retrieved only by the recipient, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking member installed inside the main case so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction and attached to the bottom plate so as to have its tip protruding toward the door side; and a notch formed on the door side that engages with the locking member when the tilt of the bottom plate reaches a predetermined angle.

[0072] On the other hand, for restaurants and other establishments, managing reservations is inefficient when they have to attend to both walk-in customers and customers who have made reservations. For example, if there is only one staff member taking orders and a customer with a reservation arrives while walk-in customers are queuing, the staff member must temporarily stop serving the customers in line to attend to the customer with the reservation who is not in line. This leaves a bad impression on the customers who were queuing, and if customers with reservations are made to join the queue, they may not be able to pick up their orders at the scheduled time despite arriving at the restaurant at their reserved time.

[0073] Therefore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide an article storage device that can efficiently transfer articles.

[0074] To achieve the above objective, the article storage device according to the present invention comprises an article storage section, an access port for taking out articles stored in the storage section, an access port for inserting articles into the storage section, an access port for opening and closing the access port, and an access port for operating the access port from the access port side.

[0075] Furthermore, the opening and closing section may be composed of a door that rotates around an axis provided between it and the housing section to open and close.

[0076] Furthermore, the operating section may be provided in the vicinity of the shaft.

[0077] Furthermore, the operating section may be located inside the opening / closing section.

[0078] Furthermore, the opening / closing section and the storage section may be configured such that, when the opening / closing section is closed, the surface on the side of the draw-in opening is substantially flush with the storage section.

[0079] Furthermore, the system may be provided with multiple storage units, each comprising a storage section, a draw-out opening, a insertion opening, an opening / closing section, and an operating section.

[0080] Furthermore, the device may also include a locking / unlocking mechanism for locking and unlocking the opening / closing mechanism, and a biasing mechanism for biasing the opening / closing mechanism into an open state when the opening / closing mechanism is unlocked.

[0081] Furthermore, the device may also include an authentication information receiving unit that receives authentication information for opening the opening / closing unit, and a control unit that, upon receiving the authentication information, controls the locking / unlocking unit to unlock the opening / closing unit.

[0082] According to the present invention, items ordered by customers can be efficiently handed over without the need for store staff to assist them. In particular, customers can take out items from the storage device without touching the door, and store staff can close the door without having to go around to the item collection side. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0083] 1. Item storage device 1a Accommodation Unit 10 Information Processing Unit 101 Setting Processing Unit 102 Configuration Information Storage Unit 103 Authentication Processing Unit 104 Control Unit 105 Communication Processing Unit 11. Storage Unit 111 Mounting surface 12 Pickup entrance 13 Inlet 14 doors 141 windows 142 Operation section 1421 Mounting piece 1422 Projecting piece 15 axes 16 Locking / unlocking mechanism 161 Engaging part 162 Engaged portion 163 Unlocking lever 17 Lighting 18 Input / output section 19 Reading section 1A Store clerk terminal 2. Order taking device 201 Order Processing Section 202 Order Information Storage Unit 203 Authentication Information Generation Unit 204 Code Generation Unit 205 Communication Processing Unit 3 Customer terminal 4A Item storage device 4B Item storage device 54 Doors 542 Operation section 5421 Mounting piece 5422 Projecting piece 5423 Extension piece M product NW Network

Claims

1. The compartment for storing items, A withdrawal opening for taking out items stored in the aforementioned storage section, The aforementioned storage section has an opening for inserting articles, It includes an opening / closing part for opening and closing the aforementioned intake opening, The counter where the staff takes orders from customers is set up so that the pick-up side is on the outside of the counter where the customer is and the insertion side is on the inside of the counter where the staff is. A device for storing goods.

2. The lower part of the storage section is provided with a customer operation section within its height and width, In response to an input operation to the customer control unit, the opening / closing unit rotates in a direction away from the customer control unit. The article storage device according to claim 1.

3. The storage section consists of two levels, an upper level and a lower level. The outside of the opening / closing section is not provided with a handle for the user to open and close the opening / closing section. The article storage device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

Images