Dual-Side Storage Box Door Control for Simultaneous Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage apparatuses with doors on both sides face inconvenience due to simultaneous operation restrictions, leading to inefficiencies in depositing and retrieving delivery articles, especially in scenarios with increased delivery volumes and multiple users.
Innovation Solution
A storage apparatus with lockable and unlockable storage boxes having deposit and retrieval ports on opposite sides, controlled by a CPU-based system that manages usage through a database to allow simultaneous operations on one side while restricting the other, using distinct operation units for each side.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If doors are provided on both front and back faces of storage boxes, then accessibility for deposit and retrieval operations is improved, but simultaneous operation capability deteriorates causing inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls door opening/closing based on operation status detection. When a door is opened, the control unit closes other doors to prevent simultaneous operations. This dynamic control allows both sides to be accessible while preventing conflicts through real-time state management.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives feedback from operation status detection units that monitor door opening/closing states. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts door states to ensure only one door is open at a time, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and simultaneous operation capability.
2Reliability
If delivery article deposit work takes long time, then complete deposit operation is achieved, but resident retrieval wait time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary door closing actions when deposit operations are detected. By detecting the deposit operation status and proactively closing other doors, the system prevents retrieval operations from being blocked, thereby reducing resident wait time while ensuring complete deposit operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors operation statuses and maintains appropriate door states to enable continuous useful actions. When deposit is detected, the system ensures retrieval paths remain available by closing only the specific door being used, allowing uninterrupted operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a storage apparatus and a storage system having a plurality of storage boxes each having a plurality of deposit and retrieval ports for a delivery article, for example, on a front face side and a back face side, and capable of smooth work of deposit or retrieval of the delivery article in these storage boxes. A storage apparatus is composed of CPU or the like, and is configured to have a control section for controlling the whole storage apparatus, an information storage section for storing various pieces of information, a storage section for storing a delivery article addressed to a user, a display section for displaying various pieces of information, and an information input section provided with various keys, for enabling information input and for performing reading of information for authentication written in an information recording medium possessed by a user, and the like.