Stocka

Abstract

To visually recognize more surely a position of a delivery warehouse whose door is opened.SOLUTION: A stocker of the disclosure includes: a delivery warehouse which stores articles; a door which closes the delivery warehouse and can be locked; a visual recognition part which is provided in an end of the door and has perceptibility different from that of a door surface; and a door drive part which opens and closes the door.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This specification discloses a stocker.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a stocker, when a depositor presses a request button, a lamp provided beside a door whose lock has been released lights up based on the unlock signal, and the depositor can distinguish between an empty locker and a non-empty locker. Such a stocker has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the stocker described in this Patent Document 1, by lighting a lamp based on an unlock signal, it notifies the door whose lock has been released, but it has a complicated configuration, and in the case where the lamp does not light up, etc., it may also happen that the door whose lock has been released cannot be visually recognized. Thus, in a stocker, it has been required to surely visually recognize the position of the storage compartment where the door has been opened.

[0005] This disclosure has been made in view of such problems, and the main object thereof is to provide a stocker capable of more surely visually recognizing the position of the storage compartment where the door has been opened.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This disclosure has adopted the following means in order to achieve the above-described main object.

[0007] The stocker of this disclosure is a storage compartment for storing articles, and The aforementioned delivery warehouse has a door that can be closed and locked, A viewing portion provided at the end of the door and having a different visibility from the door surface, A door drive unit that opens and closes the aforementioned door, It is something that is provided.

[0008] In this storage unit, a viewing area with different visibility characteristics than the door surface is provided at the edge of the door. As the door opens and closes, this viewing area becomes visible or hidden, allowing the user to see the open door. Therefore, in this storage unit, the location of the open storage unit can be seen more reliably. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram illustrating an example of the storage system 10. [Figure 2] An explanatory diagram showing an example of a delivery storage unit 20 and viewing sections 24, 24B, and 24C. [Figure 3] A flowchart illustrating an example of a door control routine. [Figure 4] An explanatory diagram showing an example of door 22 before and after opening. [Figure 5] An explanatory diagram showing an example of door 22 before and after opening. [Figure 6] An explanatory diagram of an example of another door 22B with a different support axis. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a stocker system 10. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a delivery warehouse 20 and viewing sections 24, 24B, and 24C, where Figure 2A is an explanatory diagram of an example of viewing section 24, Figure 2B is an explanatory diagram of an example of viewing section 24B, and Figure 2C is an explanatory diagram of an example of viewing section 24C. In this embodiment, the left-right direction, front-back direction, and up-down direction are as shown in each figure.

[0011] The storage system 10 comprises one or more storage units 11 and a management device 12. Note that Figure 1 shows only one storage unit 11. The management device 12 is configured as a server that exchanges information with the storage units 11 via the network 13. This management device 12 manages the usage status of the storage units 11, etc.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the Stocker 11 comprises one or more storage containers 20 and a control unit 30. Each storage container 20 is a box-shaped storage member capable of storing goods A. The control unit 30 receives various operations related to the storage and retrieval of goods A to each storage container 20 and performs various processes related to the locking and unlocking of each storage container 20. The Stocker 11 has multiple storage containers 20 arranged vertically (four in Figure 1) in multiple rows horizontally (five in Figure 1), with the control unit 30 replacing the first storage container 20 in the leftmost row. This Stocker 11 can be installed in various locations such as offices, convenience stores, train stations, schools, apartment buildings, and shopping centers, and is configured to be installed both indoors and outdoors. Stocker 11 is used for the handover of item A delivered by a delivery person, after item A has been delivered to one of the delivery warehouses 20 as the delivery destination, and user M, who will receive item A, takes item A from the delivery warehouse 20 and receives it.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the delivery storage unit 20 comprises a main body 21, a door 22, and a door drive unit 23. The main body 21 is a box-shaped structure with a rectangular parallelepiped space for storing goods A. The delivery storage unit 20 allows goods A to be stored in the space inside the main body 21 by opening the door 22. The main body 21 is equipped with a locking mechanism (not shown), which locks the door 22. The locking mechanism may be driven by a drive unit and lock mechanically, or it may be an electromagnetically locked mechanism. The door 22 is a rectangular plate-shaped member that can open and close and lock the opening of the main body 21. This door 22 is supported by a support shaft and rotates to open and close the delivery storage unit. In this delivery storage unit 20, the support shaft running vertically is located on the right side of the door 22, with the operation panel 33 side being the open end, and the door 22 supported by the support shaft opens to the right, opening the opening (see Figure 1).

[0014] The door drive unit 23 drives the door 22 to open and close it, and may be, for example, a motor, an actuator, or a power-free spring mechanism. The door drive unit 23 may be directly connected to the support shaft, or it may be connected to the support shaft via a gear. The door drive unit 23 may also include a locking mechanism. When opening the door 22, the door drive unit 23 may open the door 22 within an angle range of 45° or less. The opening angle of the door 22 should preferably be as small as possible, and may be 30° or less, 20° or less, or 15° or less. The door drive unit 23 may also set the opening angle of the door 22 to 5° or more.

[0015] The door 22 is provided with a viewing area 24 at its end, which has a different visibility from the door surface 25. The viewing area 24 is the part that allows the user M operating the operation panel 33 to visually confirm that the door 22 is open. In the stocker 11, when the door 22 is supported by a support shaft and rotates to open the storage area 20, the viewing area 24 may be formed at the end on the operation panel 33 side and exposed to the outside so that it is visible to the user M when the door 22 is open. In this case, the viewing area 24 is preferably formed at the left end of the door 22 in the case of a right-opening door 22 where the support shaft is located on the right side of the door 22, and preferably formed at the right end of the door 22 in the case of a left-opening door 22 where the support shaft is located on the left side of the door 22. The viewing area 24 may be a colored area formed in a different color from the door surface 25, as shown in Figure 2A. The color range may be such that, for example, one or more of the hue, saturation, and lightness differs from that of the door surface 25. Furthermore, the visibility area 24 is preferably a color that is different from the color of the door surface 25, such as red, blue, green, or yellow, and is easily visible. The visibility area having different visibility from the door surface 25 may be a visibility area 24B which is an uneven surface different from the plane of the door surface 25, as shown in Figure 2A. The uneven surface is not particularly limited as long as, for example, the user M operating the operation panel 33 can see that the door 22 is open. It may be a parallel surface such as a concave or convex surface parallel to the end surface of the door 22, a perpendicular surface perpendicular to the end surface, an inclined surface inclined to the end surface, or a composite surface combining two or more of these. Alternatively, the visibility area having different visibility from the door surface 25 may be a visibility area 24C which is formed in a different color from the door surface 25 and is an uneven surface different from the plane of the door surface 25, as shown in Figure 2C.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 30 includes a control section 32 and an operation panel 33. The control section 32 is arranged in a space within a rectangular parallelepiped main body having the same size as each storage 20. The control section 32 controls the entire stocker 11 and includes a CPU and a storage section (not shown). The operation panel 33 is disposed at the center of the front panel 31. The operation panel 33 receives inputs from the user M and has a screen that enables touch operations. This operation panel 33 displays, for example, a guidance image for displaying operation guidance regarding the storage and retrieval of article A and an operation image for receiving input operations regarding the storage and retrieval of article A on the screen. In addition to this, a card reader, a code reader, a receipt stamp module, a camera module, a cylinder lock, an audio unit, a human sensor, and the like are disposed on the front panel 31 as other devices. The control section 32 unlocks and locks the door 22 based on information input by users such as deliverers and recipients through operations of the operation panel 33 and other devices disposed on the front panel 31.

[0017] Next, the operation when opening the door 22 in the storage 20 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a door control routine executed by the control section 32. The door control routine is stored in a storage section of the control section 32 and is repeatedly executed at a predetermined timing after the control unit 30 is activated. When this routine is started, the control section 32 determines whether or not an opening command for the door 22 has been acquired (S100). When the opening command for the door 22 has not been acquired, this routine is terminated as it is. On the other hand, when the opening command is acquired in S100, the control section 32 opens the door 22 at an opening angle θ1 that can be recognized by the user M (S110), and causes the operation panel 33 to display a message indicating that the door 22 is to be closed after the work is completed (S120). The control section 32 acquires an opening command from the user M based on an input from the operation panel 33. Note that the control section 32 may acquire an opening signal from the user M directly from the user M's mobile terminal or indirectly via a management device 12 or the like without passing through the operation panel 33.

[0018] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the door 22 before and after opening, where FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram of the door 22 before opening, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the door 22 when opening. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the door 22 before and after opening, where FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of the door 22 before opening, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of the door 22 when opening. As shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B, the control unit 32 opens the door 22 at a small opening angle θ1. The control unit 32 may control the door driving unit 23 to open the door 22 within an angle range of 45° or less. This opening angle θ1 may be 45°, or may be 30° or less or 20° or less, which is smaller than 45°. Even if the opening angle is smaller, the user M can visually recognize the opening of the door 22 because the visual recognition unit 24 formed at the end thereof is exposed to the outside as the door 22 opens. Also, when the opening angle is smaller, it is possible to further suppress the door 22 from contacting passers-by or the like. When the user M confirms that the door 22 has been opened, the user M performs a desired operation. For example, when the user M receives the article A, the user M moves in front of the main body 21 where the door 22 is opened, further opens the door 22, takes out the article A stored therein, and closes the door 22.

[0019] After S120, the control unit 32 determines whether the door 22 is closed based on a signal from a door sensor (not shown) (S130). When the door 22 is not closed, the processes after S120 are executed. On the other hand, when the door 22 is closed in S130, the control unit 32 locks the door 22 (S140), stores the processing content, and outputs the processing content to the management device 12 (S150), and ends this routine. In this way, the stocker 11 can open the door 22 according to the user M and perform the exchange of the article A.

[0020] Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present disclosure will be clarified. The storage 20 of the present embodiment is an example of the storage of the present disclosure, the door 22 is an example of the door, the door driving unit 23 is an example of the door driving unit, and the visual recognition unit 24 is an example of the visual recognition unit.

[0021] The storage unit 11 of this embodiment described above comprises a storage compartment 20 for storing goods A, a door 22 that can close and lock the storage compartment 20, a viewing section 24 provided at the end of the door 22 and having a different visibility from the door surface 25, and a door drive unit 23 that opens and closes the door 22. In this storage unit 11, a viewing section 24 having a different visibility from the door surface 25 is provided at the end of the door 22, and as the door 22 is opened and closed, this viewing section 24 becomes visible, allowing the user M to see the opened door 22. Therefore, in this storage unit 11, the position of the storage compartment 20 with the door 22 open can be seen more reliably.

[0022] Furthermore, since the viewing area 24 is a color region formed with a different color from the door surface 25, and / or an uneven surface different from the plane of the door surface 25, the open door 22 can be more reliably seen in this storage unit 11 due to the different color or uneven surface. The storage unit 11 also includes an operation panel 33 that receives input from the user M, and the door 22 has an open end on the operation panel 33 side, is supported by a support shaft and rotates to open the storage unit 20, the door drive unit 23 opens the door 22 based on input from the operation panel 33, and the viewing area 24 is formed at the end on the operation panel 33 side and is exposed to the outside so that it can be seen by the user M when the door 22 is opened. In this storage unit 11, the viewing area 24 is formed at the end on the user M side that is operating the operation panel 33, and when the door 22 is opened this viewing area 24 is exposed, the position of the storage unit with the door 22 open can be more reliably seen. Furthermore, the door drive unit 23 opens the door 22 within an angle range of 45° or less. In this storage unit 11, when the door 22 is opened to a relatively small degree, the position of the open storage unit 20 can be more reliably seen.

[0023] It goes without saying that this disclosure is not limited in any way to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various forms as long as they fall within the technical scope of this disclosure.

[0024] For example, in the embodiment described above, the viewing section 24 is provided at the open end on the operation panel 33 side, but it is not limited to this and may be provided at the end on the support shaft side which is located on the operation panel 33 side. Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of another door 22B with a different support shaft, where Figure 6A is an explanatory diagram of the door 22B before opening and Figure 6B is an explanatory diagram of the door 22B when it is open. In this stocker 11, the door 22B has an open end on the side opposite to the operation panel 33, is supported by a support shaft and rotates to open the storage compartment 22, and the door drive unit 23 opens the door 22B based on input from the operation panel 33. The viewing section 24 is formed at the end on the operation panel 33 side and is exposed to the outside so that it can be seen by the user M when the door 22B is closed, while being hidden when the door 22B is open. In this storage unit 11 as well, a viewing section 24 is formed at the end on the user M's side, which is operating via the control panel 33. When the door 22B is opened, this viewing section 24 is hidden, allowing for a more reliable view of the location of the open storage unit 20.

[0025] In the embodiment described above, the stocker 11 is provided with multiple delivery warehouses 20, but it is not limited to this, and may be provided with only one delivery warehouse 20. Also, in the embodiment described above, the stocker system 10 has a management device 12 connected to the network 13, but the management device 12 may be omitted, or the functions of the management device 12 may be provided in the control unit 32.

[0026] This specification also discloses a technical concept in which the "stocker described in claim 1 or 2" in the original claim 5 has been changed to "the stocker described in any one of claims 1 to 4". [Industrial applicability]

[0027] The stocker described herein can be used in the technical field of product distribution systems for delivering goods. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0028] 10 Stocker system, 11 Stocker, 12 Management device, 13 Network, 20 Delivery warehouse, 21 Main unit, 22, 22B Door, 23 Door drive unit, 24, 24B, 24C Viewing unit, 25 Door surface, 30 Control unit, 31 Front panel, 32 Control unit, 33 Operation panel, A Item, M User, θ1 Opening angle.

Claims

1. A storage warehouse for goods, The aforementioned delivery warehouse has a door that can be closed and locked, A viewing portion provided at the end of the door and having a different visibility from the door surface, A door drive unit that opens and closes the aforementioned door, It is equipped with an operation panel that accepts input from the user, The aforementioned door has an open end on the side opposite to the control panel, and is supported by a support shaft and rotates to open the delivery storage area. The door drive unit opens the door based on the input from the control panel. The aforementioned viewing portion is formed at the end on the side of the control panel, and is exposed to the outside so that it can be seen by the user when the door is closed, while being hidden when the door is open.

2. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the visible portion is a color region formed in a different color from the door surface, and / or an uneven surface different from the plane of the door surface.

3. The storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the door drive unit opens the door within an angle range of 45° or less.

Images