Item delivery device

Abstract

To provide an article delivery device capable of coping with even an article whose quality is expected to be deteriorated.SOLUTION: A locker device 1 includes a back-side reader 22b that reads a warehousing code including a time capable of providing a commodity, a front-side reader 22a that reads a receiving code of a locker box 32, and a control unit 28 that measures a time since the commodity has been warehoused in the locker box 32, and when detecting an unlock operation of the locker box 32 and also when the measured time falls within the time capable of providing the commodity, unlocks the locker box 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article delivery device including a storage facility that needs to be unlocked at least when an article is delivered. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a system is already known in which a product is ordered via a network and the product is received from a locker system.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes how an order receiving and sales system, a store, and a locker for receiving and delivering merchandise are connected via a network, and a customer selects the locker for receiving and delivering merchandise and the store to which the order is to be placed using an order terminal device. The order receiving and sales system then queries the store's inventory management system for the stock and possible delivery date of the merchandise ordered by the customer, and displays the possible delivery date on the order terminal device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-288562 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As fresh produce and pre-cooked foods such as boxed lunches are expected to lose quality over time, store staff make rounds to detect any deterioration in quality and discount or recall the products. Convenience stores also check whether the products can be served at the cash register when the customer pays.

[0006] When using lockers or other storage facilities to deliver such fresh food products and cooked foods, even if store staff go as far as to store the products, it is a heavy burden and difficult for them to periodically check for deterioration in quality after that, which results in the problem that customers end up receiving products whose quality has deteriorated over time.

[0007] The invention described in Patent Document 1 displays the available delivery date based on the stock status of the product ordered by the customer, but does not take into account any changes in the characteristics of the product to be delivered, such as a deterioration in its quality, when setting the available delivery date.

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an article delivery device that can also handle articles whose quality is likely to deteriorate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The invention made to solve the above problem is an item delivery device having a storage unit that needs to be unlocked at least when an item is delivered, the device comprising: a shelf structure without a door forming the rear side of the storage unit; an acquisition unit that acquires the available time of the item; a timing unit that measures the time from the time the item is deposited in the storage unit; and an unlocking control unit that detects an unlocking operation of the storage unit and controls the unlocking; The acquisition unit is provided on a rear side of the storage facility and has a rear side reader that acquires the available time, The item delivery device is characterized in that, when the unlocking control unit detects the unlocking operation, it unlocks the storage unit if the time measured by the timing unit is within the available time. Effect of the Invention

[0010] As described above, in the present invention, when an unlocking operation is detected, if it is within the time available for providing the goods, the storage unit is unlocked, and the goods cannot be delivered unless the time is within the available time. Therefore, even if the goods are expected to deteriorate in quality, they can be delivered while maintaining their quality. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system having a locker device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an external view of the locker device shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the locker device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the management server shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the locker device and the like according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system having an article delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The system 100 shown in Fig. 1 includes a locker device 1 as an article delivery device, and a management server 50. The locker device 1 and the management server 50 are capable of communicating with each other via a network N such as the Internet. Furthermore, the management server 50 is capable of communicating with a user terminal device 80 via the network N.

[0014] The locker device 1 is installed, for example, in a store, etc. Furthermore, the number of locker devices 1 installed in one location is not limited to one, and multiple locker devices 1 may be installed in one location.

[0015] Fig. 2 shows an external view of the locker device 1. Fig. 2(a) is a front view of the locker device 1, Fig. 2(b) is a rear view of the locker device 1, and Fig. 2(c) is a side view of the locker device 1. The locker device 1 shown in Fig. 2 is installed in a store that sells cooked foods such as boxed lunches and prepared dishes. There is a kitchen on the rear side, where ordered foods (goods) are stored (deposited) in each locker box 32, and the orderer (user, customer) unlocks the locker box 32 from the front side to receive the ordered foods.

[0016] The locker device 1 comprises a centralized control device 2 and a locker section 3 (see FIG. 3). In FIG. 2, the centralized control device 2 is provided in a position equivalent to the second row from the top in the left column on the front side (indicated by reference symbol 2a), and in a position equivalent to the second row from the top in the right column on the rear side (indicated by reference symbol 2b). The portion of the locker device 1 other than the centralized control device 2 constitutes the locker section 3.

[0017] The locker section 3 is provided with a number of locker boxes 32 as storage units, each of which can be locked on the front side. In Fig. 2, there are 17 locker boxes arranged in 3 rows and 6 columns (excluding the area where the centralized control device 2 is provided). The locker box 32 is provided with a door 31 on the front side, and this door 31 can be locked and unlocked by a lock section 33, which will be described later.

[0018] On the other hand, the locker box 32 has no door on the back side and is configured like a shelf. This makes it easy for the kitchen to store ordered items that have been cooked. In particular, in the case of food that requires cooking, since there is no need to open and close the door, it is easy to store the food quickly without disturbing the presentation. It is also easy to check whether there are any products in the locker box 32.

[0019] The locker box 32 is also equipped with a merchandise detection sensor 35. The merchandise detection sensor 35 is a sensor that detects whether a merchandise (item) is stored in the locker box 32. The merchandise detection sensor 35 may be a sensor used in a well-known manner, such as a weight sensor, a camera, or an optical sensor.

[0020] 3 shows a functional configuration diagram of the locker device 1. The centralized control device 2 includes an operation display unit 21, a code reader 22, a storage possible lamp 23, a storage stop button 24, a control unit 28, and a communication interface 29.

[0021] The operation display unit 21 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays information to the user and a touch panel. In addition, the operation display unit 21 displays an operation screen and the like for receiving an ordered product, as described later.

[0022] The code reader 22 reads codes such as one-dimensional barcodes and two-dimensional barcodes such as QR Code (registered trademark). In the following description, the code read by the code reader 22 will be described as a QR Code (registered trademark), but will be abbreviated to simply "code" with some exceptions.

[0023] In this embodiment, the code reader 22 includes a front side reader 22a and a rear side reader 22b, as shown in Fig. 2. The front side reader 22a is provided in the centralized control device 2a on the front side. The front side reader 22a is used by a person who orders a product (a user) when receiving the product. The rear side reader 22b is provided in the centralized control device 2b on the rear side. The rear side reader 22b is used by a store staff member or the like when storing the product.

[0024] Also, the rear reader 22b is arranged at an incline diagonally downward as shown in FIG. 2(c). In other words, it is arranged so that the axis of the reading direction faces diagonally downward. This is because if the front reader 22a is arranged parallel (vertical) to the surface panel of the centralized control device 2a like the door of the locker box 32, the container may be tilted significantly when reading a lunch box or the like with a code printed on it, which may cause the presentation to fall apart or the juice to spill. Therefore, by arranging the rear reader 22b at an incline diagonally downward as shown in FIG. 2(c), it is possible to read the code without tilting the container significantly.

[0025] The storage possible lamp 23 is provided on the centralized control device 2b on the rear side. The storage possible lamp 23 is a lamp that indicates that a commodity can be stored (stored) in the locker device 1. The storage possible lamp 23 is turned on (storage possible) or turned off (storage not possible) when the control unit 28 determines, for example, whether or not there is an empty locker box 32 based on the detection result of the commodity detection sensor 35.

[0026] The stocking stop button 24 is provided on the centralized control device 2b on the rear side. The stocking stop button 24 is a button for stopping stocking of a stocked product, for example, by canceling an order. When the stocking stop button 24 is operated, the control unit 28 stops stocking of the product corresponding to the order.

[0027] The control unit 28 is communicatively connected to each of the components of the operation display unit 21, the code reader 22, the entry possible lamp 23, the entry cancel button 24, and the communication interface 29, and is a unit that includes a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the entire locker device 1, and a storage device such as a memory.

[0028] The control unit 28 also has a database for managing the usage status of the locker boxes 32. The control unit 28 updates the management information of this database as necessary. That is, the control unit 28 functions as a management unit that manages the usage status of each of the multiple locker boxes. The usage status refers to reservations and locker availability, and may be managed taking into account future usage predictions and reservation status.

[0029] The communication interface 29 is an interface (I / F) device for communicating with the outside.

[0030] The locker section 3 is equipped with a plurality of lockable locker boxes 32. As described above, the locker box 32 has the door 31 on the front side which can be opened and closed. The locker box 32 also has a lock section 33 and a commodity detection sensor 35 as shown in Fig. 3. The lock section 33 is a mechanism for locking and unlocking the door, and has an electric lock 34.

[0031] The electric lock 34 is a mechanism for restricting the opening and closing of the door, and locks or unlocks the door in response to an instruction from the central control device 2 (control unit 28).

[0032] The management server 50 is configured with a general-purpose computer system such as a server device. The management server 50 generates a storage code for depositing (storing) a product (item) ordered from the user terminal device 80 in the locker device 1 and a receiving code for the user to receive the item from the locker device 1.

[0033] The entry code and receipt code may be generated as a QR code (registered trademark), for example. The generated entry code may be printed from a printer installed in a store, office, etc., or may be transferred to a mobile terminal device, etc. The receipt code is transmitted to the user terminal device 80. This receipt code is also transmitted to the locker device 1 and is used for authentication when the user receives the item. Note that the code does not have to be transmitted to the locker device 1, and the information contained in the code (electronic key, order number, etc.) may be transmitted without being encoded.

[0034] 4 shows the functional configuration of the management server 50. As shown in FIG. 4, the management server 50 includes a communication unit 51, a processing unit 52, and a storage unit 53.

[0035] The communication unit 51 functions as, for example, a communication interface of a computer. The communication unit communicates with the locker device 1 via the network N.

[0036] The processing unit 52 is, for example, a computer CPU, etc. The processing unit 52 generates a warehousing code, etc., based on the order transmitted from the user terminal device 80.

[0037] The storage unit 53 functions as a storage device such as a computer hard disk, etc. The storage unit 53 stores various information transmitted from the locker device 1 and the user terminal device 80.

[0038] The user terminal device 80 is a terminal device carried by a user. The user terminal device 80 may be a portable terminal device such as a smartphone, but may also be a personal computer. The user terminal device 80 places an order for a product with the management server 50, as described below.

[0039] Next, the operation of the system 100 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of each of the user terminal device 80, management server 50, and locker device 1 in the system 100 according to this embodiment.

[0040] First, a product order is placed from the user terminal device 80 (step S101). The product order may be placed via an EC site, an ordering app, etc. In this embodiment, the order is described as an order for a product whose quality is expected to deteriorate over time (several tens of minutes to several hours), such as fresh food or cooked food such as a lunch box, and whose availability time is limited.

[0041] Next, in the management server 50, the processing unit 52 receives the order from the user terminal device 80 via the communication unit 51 and performs payment for the product purchase (step S201). That is, the communication unit 51 functions as a reception unit that receives a request to deposit an item in the locker box 32.

[0042] Next, the processing unit 52 assigns an order number and a serving time to the order for which payment has been completed (steps S202, S203). The order number is a unique number for identifying each order. The serving time is the time after which the product cannot be served (received). The serving time is determined for each ordered product, for example, xx minutes for a hamburger and x minutes for a salad, and is generally set to between several tens of minutes and several hours. In other words, the serving time is set according to the type of product.

[0043] Next, the processing unit 52 generates a warehousing code (warehousing QR) (step S204). This warehousing code includes the order number, the product name, the available time, the locker ID, etc. The locker ID is an ID that identifies the locker device 1. This warehousing code corresponds to the item information.

[0044] Next, the processing unit 52 issues the generated entry code (step S205). In step S205, the entry code generated in step S204 is output from a printer or the like as a sticker or the like and affixed to a container or the like.

[0045] Next, the store staff receives the issued entry code, prepares the products to be entered into the locker device 1 (cooking, etc.), and goes to the location where the locker device 1 is installed (step S206).

[0046] Next, the store staff has the rear reader 22b of the locker device 1 read the entry code (entry QR) (step S301). That is, the rear reader 22b functions as an acquisition unit that acquires the available time of the item. When the entry code is read, the control unit 28 checks the locker ID, and if the check matches, the order number, product name, available time, etc. are linked and stored internally.

[0047] Next, the control unit 28 determines whether the storing of the product is completed (step S302). The storing completion may be determined by the presence or absence of an output indicating that the product has been detected by the product detection sensor 35 of the locker box 32 into which the product has been stored. In addition, at the time of storing, the locker box 32 into which the product has been stored is linked with the order number, product name, available time, etc.

[0048] If the entry is not complete (step S302; N), step S302 is repeated until the entry is complete, and if the entry is complete (step S302; Y), control unit 28 sends a deposit notification to management server 50 via communication interface 29 (step S303). The deposit completion notification includes the order number and locker ID of the corresponding item, the number of locker box 32, etc. The number of locker box 32 can be identified by item detection sensor 35 which outputs the notification that the item has been detected.

[0049] When the entry is completed, the control unit 28 starts measuring the time from the time when the entry completion is detected by a built-in timer, etc. In other words, the control unit 28 functions as a timing unit that measures the time from the time when the article is deposited in the storage facility.

[0050] This completes the storing of the product (step S304). This completes the work for one storing code.

[0051] In this embodiment, for convenience, a configuration without a door on the back side (storage side) as shown in Fig. 2 is called a locker device, but it may be anything that can be used for delivering goods (goods delivery device), such as a delivery box. Also, a door may be provided on the back side of the configuration in Fig. 2, or a general locker device with a door only on the front side may be used. If the door is opened and closed when entering the store, the code for entering the store includes an electronic key for unlocking used when entering the store, or is notified to the store side separately as a PIN number or the like.

[0052] In the management server 50, when the processing unit 52 receives the deposit notification from the locker device 1 via the communication unit 51, it generates a receipt code (receipt QR) (step S208). This receipt code includes the electronic key for unlocking, as well as the locker ID, the number of the locker box 32, and the available time. The available time can be determined from the order number included in the received deposit notification. This receipt code corresponds to the unlocking information. The receipt code may be the same as the storage code, and the electronic key may be generated separately as a password (PIN number) or the like.

[0053] Next, the processing unit 52 notifies the user (user terminal device 80) who has accepted the order of the receipt code generated in step S207 via the communication unit 51 (step S208).

[0054] The user terminal device 80 receives the receipt code from the management server 50 (step S102). Then, when the user wishes to receive the item, the user displays the received receipt code on the user terminal device 80 and goes to the location of the locker device 1 (step S103). When the receipt code is received, the available time may be displayed to notify the user of the period during which the item can be received.

[0055] Next, the user reads the receipt code (receipt QR) with the front reader 22a of the locker device 1 (step S305). This action is the unlocking operation. Note that the person who reads the receipt code in step S305 is not limited to the person who placed the order in step S101 (orderer), but may also be a delivery company or the like that has been requested by the orderer.

[0056] When the receipt code is read, the control unit 28 performs authentication using the code previously received from the management server 50. If the authentication is successful, the control unit 28 determines whether the available supply time corresponding to the read receipt code has elapsed (step S306). As described above, the available supply time is timed from the time the product is put into storage, and is determined by comparing the time measured at the time step S306 is executed with the available supply time.

[0057] If the available time has not elapsed (step S306; Y), the control unit 28 unlocks the locker box 32 (target box) corresponding to the receiving code (step S307). The target box refers to the locker box 32 that has completed storage when the deposit notification was sent in step S303. That is, the control unit 28 detects the unlocking operation of the storage unit and functions as an unlocking control unit that controls the unlocking. Then, when the control unit 28 detects the unlocking operation, it unlocks the storage unit if the time clocked by the timing unit is within the available time.

[0058] Then, the user removes the item from the target box (step S308) and receives it (step S104). In addition, in the locker device 1, the control unit 28 transmits a removal notification to the management server 50 via the communication interface 29 (step S309). This removal notification may be transmitted based on the detection result of the product detection sensor 35.

[0059] In the management server 50, the communication unit 51 receives the removal notification (step S209), and the processing unit 52 processes the notification as if the receipt of the product related to the corresponding order number had been completed (step S210).

[0060] On the other hand, if the available time has elapsed (step S306; N), the control unit 28 causes the operation display unit 21 to display that the product cannot be received (step S310). This is to display that the ordered product cannot be received because the available time has elapsed. In other words, when the operation display unit 21 detects an unlocking operation, if the time counted by the timing unit exceeds the available time, the operation display unit 21 functions as a first notification unit that notifies that the product cannot be unlocked.

[0061] Then, the control unit 28 causes the management server 50 to transmit a receipt unavailable notification to the communication interface 29 (step S211). This receipt unavailable notification includes the order number and the like, and notifies that the available time for the product with that order number has passed. When the management server 50 receives this receipt unavailable notification, the processing unit 52 transmits a product recovery instruction to the store or the like, and invalidates the receipt code corresponding to that order number. In other words, the communication interface 29 functions as a second notification unit that notifies that the available time has passed when the time measured by the timing unit exceeds the available time.

[0062] According to this embodiment, the locker device 1 is equipped with a rear reader 22b that reads an entry code including the available time of the product, a front reader 22a that reads a receiving code of the locker box 32, and a control unit 28 that measures the time from the time the product is stored in the locker box 32 and, upon detecting an unlocking operation of the locker box 32, unlocks the locker box 32 if the measured time is within the available time.

[0063] With the locker device 1 configured as described above, when the receiving code is read, the locker box 32 is unlocked if it is within the time when the product can be provided, so the product cannot be delivered unless it is within the available time. Therefore, even products that are expected to deteriorate in quality, such as fresh food or cooked food, can be delivered while maintaining their quality.

[0064] In addition, when the receiving code is read, if the time measured by the control unit 28 exceeds the available time for provision, the operation display unit 21 notifies the user that unlocking is not possible, so that it is possible to notify the user that the available time for provision of the product has passed and that the product cannot be received.

[0065] In addition, if the time measured by the control unit 28 exceeds the available supply time, a notification to that effect is sent to the management server 50, so that instructions to collect the product can be sent via the management server 50 to the store or the like that provided the product.

[0066] In addition, the serving time is set according to the product, so for example, food items that spoil quickly can have a shorter serving time, and those that last relatively long can have a longer serving time. If the serving time is set uniformly, it will generally be set according to the items that spoil quickly, which may lead to food waste even though there is ample time left for serving. Therefore, by setting the serving time according to the product, it is possible to set the time according to the product, and appropriate storage management can be carried out, which also reduces the opportunities for food waste.

[0067] In addition, since the receiving code is composed of a two-dimensional bar code, it can be easily used in various ways, such as by printing it on a paper medium such as a sticker or by displaying it on a terminal device.

[0068] In addition, in the locker device 1, when the control unit 28 is timing, if the available time has elapsed before the receipt code is read, a receipt-prohibited notice may be sent to the management server 50 without waiting for the receipt code to be read. In this case, in addition to issuing an instruction to the store or the like to collect the item and invalidating the receipt code, the management server 50 may also send a receipt-prohibited notice to the user terminal device 80. This receipt-prohibited notice also corresponds to a notice output that the available time has elapsed when the time measured by the timing unit exceeds the available time. In this way, the user can know that they can no longer receive the item without having to go to the locker device 1.

[0069] Furthermore, when multiple types of items (food) are stored in a locker box 32, it is advisable to set the item provision time of that locker box 32 according to the item with the shortest item provision time. For example, when storing a hamburger and fries, the time is set to the shorter of the two. In this way, it becomes possible to store multiple types of items in one locker box 32.

[0070] In addition, although the above embodiment has been described with reference to fresh food and cooked food, the present invention can also be applied to items such as fresh flowers that are likely to deteriorate over time and therefore have a limited time period for which they can be provided.

[0071] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In other words, a person skilled in the art can implement the present invention by modifying it in various ways in accordance with conventionally known knowledge without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the configuration of the article delivery device of the present invention is still included in the scope of the present invention even after such modification, it is of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1 Locker device (item delivery device) 21 Operation display section (first notification section) 22a Front reader (item information acquisition unit) 22b Rear reader 28 Control unit (timekeeping unit, unlocking control unit) 29 Communication interface (second notification section) 32 Locker Box (Storage)

Claims

1. An article delivery device including a storage unit that needs to be unlocked at least when an article is delivered, A shelf structure without a door constituting a rear side of the storage facility; An acquisition unit that acquires the available time of the item; A timing unit that measures the time from the time the item is deposited in the storage facility; An unlocking control unit that detects an unlocking operation of the storage facility and controls the unlocking, The acquisition unit is provided on a rear side of the storage facility and has a rear side reader that acquires the available time, The unlocking control unit unlocks the storage unit when the unlocking operation is detected and the time measured by the timing unit is within the available time. An article delivery device comprising:

2. The item delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising a first notification unit that notifies the user that unlocking is not possible if the time counted by the timing unit exceeds the available time when the unlocking operation is detected.

3. 3. The article delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising a second notification unit that, when the time measured by the timing unit exceeds the available supply time, outputs a notification that the available supply time has been exceeded.

4. 4. The article delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the available time is set according to the type of the article.

5. 5. The article delivery device according to claim 4, wherein when a plurality of types of the article are stored in one storage facility, the available time is set to match the article with the shortest available time.

6. 6. The article delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is unlocked using a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional barcode.

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