Guidance device and customer service device

Abstract

To improve visibility of an opening through which an article is inserted or taken out.SOLUTION: A guiding device and a customer service device according to the present invention include: a half mirror arranged on the front side in a line-of-sight direction of a user and adjacent to the periphery of an opening through which an article is inserted or taken out; a mirror arranged on a rear surface of the half mirror at an interval from the half mirror; and an illumination unit arranged to illuminate a place between the mirror and the half mirror.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a customer service device that can provide face-to-face service to users who are customers, such as a reception device, a ticket vending machine, an automatic vending machine, or a kiosk terminal, and relates to a guide device that guides the insertion or removal of various items such as patient registration cards, cards, tickets, and cans, and also to a customer service device equipped with a guide device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are known customer service devices that can handle customers unmanned, such as ticket vending machines and automatic vending machines. Such unmanned customer service devices are used not only as ticket vending machines and automatic vending machines, but also as reception devices or payment devices in medical facilities such as hospitals, and reception devices for check-in at accommodation facilities such as hotels, and are useful for reducing labor costs, etc.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a ticket vending machine that creates and dispenses tickets, such as train tickets, meal tickets, admission tickets, and various other tickets, in accordance with deposit instructions. This ticket vending machine discloses a device that alerts the operator by controlling an LED 18 provided near the processing opening to blink or light, thereby preventing the operator from forgetting to remove the IC card or ticket from the processing opening. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-150548 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As shown in Patent Document 1, in customer guide devices such as ticket vending machines, an LED or the like provided near the processing port is turned on or off to prevent customers from forgetting to remove their IC card or ticket.

[0006] However, it is difficult to make the processing openings sufficiently conspicuous with such LED lighting provided near the processing openings, and in some cases, people may forget to remove their IC cards, tickets, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Therefore, the guide device according to the present invention is characterized by adopting the following configuration. A guidance device that includes a half mirror, a mirror, and an illumination unit, and is used by a user facing the device, The half mirror is disposed in front of the user's line of sight and adjacent to the periphery of the opening through which an article is inserted or removed, The mirror is disposed on the rear surface of the half mirror with a gap therebetween, The lighting unit is disposed so as to illuminate the space between the mirror and the half mirror.

[0008] Furthermore, in the guide device according to the present invention, The lighting section is made up of a plurality of unit lighting sections.

[0009] Furthermore, in the guide device according to the present invention, The unit illumination parts are arranged in a line parallel to the surface of the half mirror.

[0010] Furthermore, in the guide device according to the present invention, The half mirror has an opening adjacent to the opening through which an article is inserted or removed.

[0011] Furthermore, in the guide device according to the present invention, The illumination unit is disposed at least below the half mirror.

[0012] Furthermore, the customer service device according to the present invention comprises: A customer service device that includes a guide device and is used by a user in face-to-face interaction, The guide device includes a half mirror, a mirror, and a lighting unit. The half mirror is disposed in front of the user's line of sight and adjacent to the periphery of the opening through which an article is inserted or removed, The mirror is disposed on the rear surface of the half mirror with a gap therebetween, The lighting unit is disposed so as to illuminate the space between the mirror and the half mirror. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The guidance device and customer service device according to the present invention can illuminate an opening for inserting or removing an item with a simple configuration and a sufficiently wide area, preventing the user from being confused about where to insert the item or forgetting to remove the item. Furthermore, it can easily illuminate with a variety of illumination patterns, for example, by illuminating with different illumination patterns for insertion and removal, thereby urging the user to perform the operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of installation of a reception device according to the present embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a reception device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a reception device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a reception device according to an embodiment of the present invention (when the front door is open); [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a front view of a guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] Reception process executed by the reception device according to this embodiment [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an illumination pattern of the guidance device according to the embodiment; [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a view showing a half mirror portion of a guide device according to another embodiment; [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a view showing a half mirror portion of a guide device according to another embodiment; [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a view showing a half mirror portion of a guide device according to another embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] 1 is a diagram showing an example of installation of a reception device according to this embodiment, in which the facility is a medical facility (hospital). The reception system installed in the medical facility is configured to include a management device 51 and a reception device 1. These devices are communicatively connected via a LAN 58. A router 57 is communicatively connected to the LAN 58, and each device is communicatively connected to the Internet via the router 57.

[0016] The management device 51 is a device that performs various management operations within the medical facility, and in this embodiment, is connected to a LAN communication unit 53, an input device 52, a memory unit 54, and a monitor 55. The reception device 1 is a device that allows users such as patients to check in, and is installed in the lobby or the like within the medical facility. Users who visit the medical facility will receive medical treatment or the like for that day by completing reception processing at the reception device 1.

[0017] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of the reception device 1 according to this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reception device 1 according to this embodiment. The reception device 1 is configured to have a housing 11, a touch panel monitor 16, and a decorative plate 17. The touch panel monitor 16 is supported by the housing 11, and a space is provided below it. With this arrangement, even a user in a wheelchair can easily operate the touch panel monitor 16.

[0018] The housing 11 is provided with a front door 12 to allow access to the interior during maintenance. The perspective view shown in Fig. 4 shows the front door 12 in an open state. The front door 12 is provided with a scanner 13 and a guide device 20. The scanner 13 is capable of reading various types of code information, such as one-dimensional code information or two-dimensional code information, provided on reservation tickets and the like.

[0019] The guide device 2 has a front cover 21 and is provided with an opening 21e for inserting and ejecting the patient registration card and a receipt ejection opening 21c for ejecting the printed reception slip. As its name suggests, the guide device 2 uses lighting effects to guide the user when inserting and removing the patient registration card.

[0020] Like a normal computer, the reception device 1 is configured with a CPU 31a, ROM 31b, and RAM 31c as a control unit. It also has a storage unit such as a hard disk 32 that stores various information. A card reader 35, a receipt printer 36, a scanner 37, and a guide device 20 are connected to an interface 34. These various devices connected to the interface 34 are connected to the control unit and storage unit, and are controlled according to programs stored in the storage unit. The reception device 1 is also provided with a power supply 38 for supplying electricity to each unit.

[0021] The touch panel monitor 16 is configured by combining a touch panel 16a and a display unit 16b. Images displayed on the touch panel monitor 16 are displayed on the display unit 11b by an image processing unit 31d under the control of the control unit and storage unit. The reception device 1 is also provided with a communication unit 31e for connecting to a LAN 58, and is capable of communicating with a management device 51 connected to the network or with the Internet via a router 57. The reception device 1 is also provided with an audio processing unit 31e, and is capable of emitting sound from a speaker 39a.

[0022] 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the reception device 1 according to this embodiment (when the front door 12 is open). A card reading unit 35 and a receipt printer 36 are arranged inside the housing 11. A scanner 13 and a guide device 20 are also arranged on the front door 12. The guide device 20 of this embodiment is small (thin) and can be stored in the front door 12.

[0023] When the front door 12 is closed, the card insertion slot 35a of the card reader 35 faces the opening 21e, and the receipt discharge position of the receipt printer 36 faces the receipt discharge slot 21c.

[0024] 5 is an exploded view of the guide device 20 according to this embodiment. The guide device 20 according to this embodiment includes a front cover 21, a half mirror 24, a mirror 25, an illumination unit 22, and a light guide plate 23.

[0025] The front cover 21 is formed with a protrusion 21d with an opening 21e, a mirror mounting surface 21f, a half-mirror fixing step 21g, and a light guide hole 21b. The half mirror 24 and the mirror 25 are provided with openings 24a and 25a for passing through the protrusion 21d of the front cover 21 when fixed. The mirror 25 is fixed to the mirror mounting surface 21f, and the periphery of the half mirror 24 is fixed by the half-mirror fixing step 21g, so that the mirror 25 and the half mirror 24 are attached to the front cover 21 with a predetermined gap between them.

[0026] In this embodiment, the height (maximum height) of the half mirror 24 at the left and right positions is defined as h1. Also, the height to the opening 24a provided in the half mirror 24 is defined as h2. Note that in this embodiment, the protrusion 21d is used to provide the opening 21e, but the opening 21e may be provided directly in the half mirror 24, that is, 24a may also serve as the opening 21e.

[0027] In this embodiment, the half mirror 24 is located on the lower surface, both left and right side surfaces, and upper surface of the protrusion 21d, which is the member in which the opening 21e is provided. In addition to this configuration, as will be described in a modified example later, the half mirror 24 may be located on the lower surface or at least one of the left and right side surfaces of the opening 21e.

[0028] The illumination unit 22 is configured with a substrate 22x and a plurality of unit illumination units 22a to 22v. In this embodiment, the unit illumination units 22a to 22v use LEDs that can emit light in a combination of three primary colors. The illumination unit 22 is fixed so that the light irradiation surfaces of the unit illumination units 22a to 22v face the light guide hole 21b. At this time, a light guide plate 23 is arranged in the light guide hole 21b, so that the light emitted from the illumination unit 22 can be sufficiently guided between the mirror 25 and the half mirror 24 and diffused.

[0029] Fig. 6 is a front view of the guide device 20 according to this embodiment, and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the guide device 20 according to this embodiment. Fig. 7(A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in the front view of Fig. 6, and Fig. 7(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in the front view of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows a state in which all unit illumination sections 22a to 22v of the illumination section 22 are turned on, as viewed from the line of sight C1 shown in Fig. 7(A).

[0030] In various customer service devices such as the reception device 1, when a user faces the device and operates it, various operation points, such as the opening 21e for inserting the patient card 21e, are generally provided in positions where the user looks downward. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 7(A), when a user operates the reception device 1, the line of sight is also a downward line of sight, as shown in line C1.

[0031] In the guidance device 20 of this embodiment, the arrangement of the illumination unit 22 is devised in consideration of the fact that the line of sight of the reception device 1 during operation is line of sight C1.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 6, when the guidance device 20 is viewed from the line of sight C1, a repeating illumination pattern L is generated from below to above the half mirror 24 due to the relative positions of the half mirror 24, the mirror 25, and the illumination position of the illumination unit 22. Due to the repetition of this illumination pattern L, the half mirror 24 is perceived as having a sense of depth, even though it is formed as a flat surface. Furthermore, the protrusion 21d protruding from the opening 24a of the half mirror 24 is perceived as having depth because the components located between the half mirror 24 and the mirror 25 are repeatedly reflected at the upper position of the protrusion 21d, enhancing the feeling that the protrusion 21d is floating within the half mirror 24.

[0033] If the number of repetitions of the illumination pattern L in the depth direction is small, the illumination effect will be reduced, especially on the left and right sides of the opening 21e. The number of repetitions of the illumination pattern L is based on the distance between the half mirror 24 and the mirror 25. Therefore, to ensure the number of repetitions of the illumination pattern, it is preferable to satisfy the following condition:

[0034] At the left and right positions of the opening 21, it is preferable that the height h1 at the left and right positions of the half mirror 24 and the distance d between the half mirror 24 and the mirror 25 at least satisfy the following conditional expression (1). This makes it possible to ensure a sufficient number of repetitions of the illumination pattern L at the left and right positions of the half mirror 24. h1>5d (1)

[0035] Furthermore, it is preferable that the height h2 of the half mirror 24 and the distance d between the half mirror 24 and the mirror 25 at the position below the opening 21 at least satisfy the following conditional expression (2): It is possible to ensure that the illumination pattern L at the position below the half mirror 24 is repeated multiple times. h2>1.5d (2)

[0036] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 7(A), when the guidance device 20 is viewed from the line of sight C2, which is the direction of looking up at the half mirror 24, the illumination pattern L shown in Fig. 6 is not observed. In this embodiment, in the reception device 1, taking into consideration that the opening 21e is installed in a location that overlooks it, the illumination unit 22 is installed below the half mirror 24, and illumination is formed by repeating the illumination pattern L as shown in Fig. 6.

[0037] The card insertion slot 35a of the card reader 35 is located in the opening 21e provided in the protrusion 21d. Therefore, a wide area around the opening 21e is illuminated by the multiple illumination patterns L projected onto the half mirror 24. The guide device 20 has a simple configuration including a mirror 25, a half mirror 24, and an illumination unit 22 in which unit illumination units 22a to 22v are arranged, and can be easily installed in a narrow space such as the inside of the front door 12. Furthermore, the wiring can be simpler than when, for example, LEDs are arranged around the opening 21e.

[0038] In this way, the guidance device 20 of this embodiment has a simple configuration and is capable of illuminating a wide area around the opening 21e, allowing users using the reception device 1 to easily identify the position where to insert or remove their patient card.

[0039] 8 shows the reception process executed by the reception device 1 according to this embodiment. The reception process is a process performed by the reception device 1, and is a process for accepting patients who visit a medical facility for examination. When the reception process starts, a guide screen is displayed on the touch panel monitor 16 of the reception device 1 (S101). The guide screen displays instructions for causing the scanner 13 to read the two-dimensional barcode printed on the appointment slip held by the user.

[0040] Furthermore, the guidance device 20 is in an idle display state (S102). The idle display is a display state that produces an illumination effect, and the reception device 1 is enhanced by lighting the illumination unit 22 in an appropriate pattern and illumination color.

[0041] When the user of reception device 1 follows the instructions on the guide screen and causes scanner 13 to read the two-dimensional barcode (S103: Yes), reception device 1 reads the code information contained in the two-dimensional barcode. A guide screen for reading the patient registration card is displayed on touch panel monitor 16 (S104). Then, in order to guide the user to opening 21e, which is the insertion slot for the patient registration card, guide device 20 enters an insertion guide display state (S105).

[0042] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the illumination pattern of the guidance device 20 according to this embodiment. Similar to Fig. 7, Fig. 9(A) to Fig. 9(L) show the state of the guidance device 20 when viewed from the line of sight C1. Also, the light emitting states of the unit illumination units 22a to 22v are shown at the bottom of each figure. Black circles indicate the light emitting state, and white circles indicate the non-light emitting state.

[0043] In the insertion guidance display state, the light-emitting state of the illumination unit 22 is switched in the order of Figures 9(A), 9(B), and 9(C), and after all unit illumination units 22a to 22v are put into a non-light-emitting state as shown in Figure 9(L), the state returns to Figure 9(A). By repeating such illumination patterns, it is possible to effectively notify the user that they should insert their patient card into opening 21e.

[0044] When the patient's appointment card is inserted into opening 21e and read by card reader 35 (S106: Yes), the appointment is confirmed based on the code information read in S103, and the patient's identity is confirmed based on the read appointment card (S107). The confirmation of the appointment is made by querying management device 51 connected via the network.

[0045] If the receipt is confirmed (S108: Yes), a message indicating that the receipt has been completed is displayed on the touch panel monitor 16 (S109), and a receipt ticket is printed by the receipt printer 36 and discharged from the receipt discharge port 21c. If the receipt is not accepted (S108: No), a message indicating that the receipt has not been accepted is displayed on the touch panel monitor 16 (S112). In this case, a receipt ticket is not issued.

[0046] Thereafter, in order to return the patient ID card, the patient ID card is ejected from opening 21e of guiding device 20 (S111). At this time, guiding device 20 enters a removal prompt display state (S113) to prompt the user to remove the patient ID card.

[0047] In the removal guide display state of this embodiment, the light column advances in the opposite direction to the insertion guide state, switching the light emission state of the illumination unit 22 in the order of Fig. 9(L), Fig. 9(K), and Fig. 9(J), and returning to the state of Fig. 9(L) after the issuing state of Fig. 9(A). By repeating this illumination pattern, it is possible to effectively inform the user that they should remove their patient card from the opening 21e. Note that the colors of the unit illumination units 22a to 22v may be changed between the removal guide state and the insertion guide state.

[0048] When the user removes the patient registration card (S114: Yes), the series of reception processes ends, and the guiding device 20 returns from the removal guidance display state (S113) to the idle display state (S102).

[0049] In this way, in the guidance device 20 of this embodiment, the lighting unit 22 is composed of multiple unit lighting units 22a to 22v, and by controlling the lighting for each unit lighting unit 22a to 22v, it is possible to effectively create an atmosphere around the opening 21e where the patient card is inserted and removed, and encourage the user to operate the device.

[0050] Although various embodiments of the guidance device 20 and the reception device 1 as a customer service device according to the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and various modified examples can be adopted. Some modified examples will be described below.

[0051] [First Modification] In the above embodiment, the reception device 1 in a medical facility was described as having a guide device 20 that illuminates the opening 21e through which a patient card is inserted and removed, but the guide device 20 can be used not only in this form but also in various devices (customer service devices) through which various items are inserted or removed.

[0052] For example, the guide device 20 can be applied to various customer service devices such as ticket vending machines that sell train tickets and meal tickets, and vending machines that serve drinks in canned products or paper cups, in the openings that provide train tickets, meal tickets, canned products, and paper cups, or in the openings through which credit cards, membership cards, bills, and coins are inserted and removed.

[0053] [Second Modification] In the above-described embodiment, the opening 24a is provided in the half mirror 24, and the protrusion 21d having the opening 21e is exposed through the opening 24a. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the guide device 20 can effectively illuminate the positions below, on the left and right sides of the protrusion 21d. Therefore, the half mirror 24 is not limited to a configuration in which the opening 21e is provided, but may also be configured to have a recess in which the opening 21e is located. The half mirror 24 is configured to be located below, on the left and right sides of the opening 21e.

[0054] 10 is a diagram showing the illumination state of the guide device 20 according to this modified example. A recess 24b is provided in the upper part of the half mirror 24 by cutting out a part of the upper side of the half mirror 24. By arranging a protrusion 21d having an opening 21e in this recess 24b, it is possible to illuminate a sufficiently wide area below and on the left and right sides of the opening 21e.

[0055] [Third Modification] In the above-described embodiment, one opening 21e is provided in one half mirror 24. In addition to this configuration, a configuration in which a plurality of openings are provided in one half mirror may also be used.

[0056] 11 is a diagram showing the half mirror portion of the guide device 20 according to this modified example. In this modified example, two openings 24a are provided in the half mirror 24, and protrusions 21d are exposed from the surface of each opening 24a. The protrusion 21d on the left side is provided with an opening 21e for the patient registration card, and the protrusion 21d on the right side is provided with a receipt discharge opening 21c.

[0057] In this configuration, it is possible to illuminate multiple openings with one guiding device 20. Furthermore, in the lighting section 22, it is possible to control the unit lighting units 22a to 22k in the left half as illumination for patient registration cards, and to independently control the unit lighting units 22l to 22v in the right half as illumination for reception slips, making it possible to guide the insertion and removal of patient registration cards and the removal of reception slips with one guiding device.

[0058] [Fourth Modification] In the above-described embodiment, a material with excellent light transmittance is used for the light guide plate 23, and light is guided for each of the unit illumination portions 23a to 23. Therefore, dot-like light-emitting patterns are formed on the half mirror 24, one for each of the unit illumination portions 22a to 22v.

[0059] Instead of this configuration, it is also possible to use a light guide plate 23 that has light diffusion properties like frosted glass, and form the light emitted from each unit illumination section 22 a to 22 v in a continuous manner. Alternatively, the light guide plate 23 may be formed with holes that guide light for every predetermined number of adjacent unit illumination sections 22 a to 22 v, and a pattern may be formed for every predetermined number of unit illumination sections 22 a to 22 v.

[0060] [Fifth Modification] In the above-described embodiment, the illumination unit 22 is disposed at the bottom side of the half mirror 24. The illumination unit 22 may be disposed not only at the bottom side of the half mirror 24 but also at the left and right sides of the half mirror 24. This expands the range of the illumination pattern within the half mirror 24, further enhancing the illumination effect.

[0061] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the state of the half mirror 24 portion of the guidance device 20 according to another embodiment. In this figure, in addition to the illumination unit 22 provided below the half mirror 24 as explained in Fig. 6, illumination units 22 are also provided on the left and right sides. In this case, as shown in Fig. 22, an extended area E is generated on the left and right sides of the half mirror 24, and only the extended area E is illuminated more widely than in Fig. 6. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1: Reception device 24a: Opening 2: Guide device 24b: Recess 11: Housing 25: Mirror 11b: Display section 25a: Aperture 12:Front door 31a:CPU 13: Scanner 31b: ROM 16: Touch panel monitor 31c: RAM 16a: Touch panel 31d: Image processing unit 16b: Display unit 31e: Audio processing unit 17: Decorative plate 32: Hard disk 18: LED 33: Communication unit 20: Guidance device 34: Interface 21: Front cover 35: Card reader 21b: Light guide hole 35a: Card insertion slot 21c: Receipt outlet 36: Receipt printer 21d: Protrusion 37: Scanner 21e: Opening 38: Power supply 21f: Mirror mounting surface 39a: Speaker 21g: Half mirror fixed step 51: Management device 22: Lighting unit 52: Input device 22a~22v: Unit lighting unit 53: LAN communication unit 22x: Circuit board 54: Memory unit 23: Light guide plate 55: Monitor 23a: Unit lighting unit 57: Router 24: Half mirror

Claims

1. A guidance device that includes a half mirror, a mirror, and an illumination unit, and is used by a user facing the device, The half mirror is disposed in front of the user's line of sight and adjacent to the periphery of the opening through which an article is inserted or removed, The mirror is disposed on the rear surface of the half mirror with a gap therebetween, The lighting unit is positioned to illuminate the area between the mirror and the half mirror. Guidance device.

2. The lighting section is made up of a plurality of unit lighting sections. The guide device according to claim 1 .

3. The unit lighting units are arranged in a direction parallel to the surface of the half mirror. The guide device according to claim 2 .

4. The half mirror has an opening adjacent to the opening for inserting or removing an article. The guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The lighting unit is disposed at least below the half mirror. The guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A customer service device that includes a guide device and is used by a user in face-to-face interaction, The guide device includes a half mirror, a mirror, and a lighting unit. The half mirror is disposed in front of the user's line of sight and adjacent to the periphery of the opening through which an article is inserted or removed, The mirror is disposed on the rear surface of the half mirror with a gap therebetween, The lighting unit is positioned to illuminate the area between the mirror and the half mirror. Customer service equipment.

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