JP7481732B2 - Finished Product Delivery System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a finished product delivery system for delivering finished products to customers after cleaning processing.

A conventional finished product delivery system is known, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 below. This conventional finished product delivery system includes a cash register, which is a registration device, and a PIN-type locker device with multiple storage compartments in which finished products are stored. The cash register registers reservation information in response to a request from a customer to reserve a locker for pickup, and transmits at least the PIN and storage destination information to the customer terminal of the customer.

JP 2019-96218 A

However, in the conventional finished product delivery system described above, the customer who is the user must have a customer terminal, and those who do not have a customer terminal cannot use the system.

The present invention has been developed in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a finished product delivery system that can improve convenience.

The finished product delivery system described in claim 1 is a finished product delivery system for delivering finished products to customers after cleaning processing, and includes a locker device having multiple storage compartments in which the finished products are stored, and a customer device that identifies customers and outputs unlocking information and storage location information for the identified customers.

The finished product delivery system described in claim 2 is the finished product delivery system described in claim 1, in which the customer device has an identification means for identifying a customer and a display means for displaying unlocking information and storage location information for the customer identified by the identification means.

The finished product delivery system described in claim 3 is the finished product delivery system described in claim 1 or 2, and is provided with a registration device that registers reservation information in response to a locker pickup reservation request from a customer, and the registration device transmits unlocking information and storage destination information to the customer device.

The finished product delivery system described in claim 4 is the finished product delivery system described in claim 3, in which the customer device transmits pick-up information to the registration device.

The finished product delivery system described in claim 5 is a finished product delivery system described in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the customer device is installed near the locker device.

The present invention can improve convenience.

1 is a configuration diagram of a finished product delivery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a register device. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a locker device, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the entire device, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a customer device. This is a flowchart when a customer requests a locker pick-up reservation. 13A and 13B are examples of reservation screens displayed on the touch panel of a cash register. 13 is an example of a list of unreturned items displayed on a touch panel unit. 13 is an example of a reservation screen displayed on a customer terminal. 13 is a flowchart showing a process for a store clerk storing finished products in a locker device. 13 is an example of a printout (list of receipts) printed by the printer unit of the cash register device. 13 is a flowchart showing a process for picking up a product by a customer. 11 is an example of a screen displayed on a customer device. 13 is an example of a printed matter (confirmation list) printed by a printer unit of a cash register device.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a finished product delivery system. This finished product delivery system 1 is a system for unmanned delivery of finished products (clothing and other items after dry cleaning) to customers after the dry cleaning store closes (e.g., at night).

The finished goods delivery system 1 includes a cash register device 2, which is a registration device that settles the cleaning fee when uncleaned goods (items such as uncleaned clothing) are received from a customer and registers information about the items and reservation information for locker pick-up reservations, a locker device 3, for example a PIN code type, in which finished goods after cleaning are temporarily stored (kept), and a customer device 4, which is installed near the locker device 3 and outputs predetermined information (for example at least unlocking information and storage location information) about customers who come to collect the finished goods at night, etc.

The cash register device 2 is, for example, a POS register (POS terminal) installed inside a store. On the other hand, the locker device 3 is, for example, a relatively inexpensive mechanical button-lock steel locker (general-purpose product) that does not require wiring work, and is installed on the outside of a shutter or other location that is accessible to customers at any time, and the customer device 4 is installed next to this locker device 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cash register 2 is equipped with a device main body 5 having a drawer for storing money, a touch panel 6 that serves as an input and display unit that can be operated by a store clerk (operator) using a finger or a touch pen, and a printer 7 that prints various printed materials.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cash register device 2 also includes a control unit 10, to which the touch panel unit 6, printer unit 7, memory unit 11, network connection unit 12, and power supply unit 13 are connected.

The memory unit 11 stores various types of information, such as customer information (including customer name, telephone number, and contact information such as email address for those who own customer terminals), information on items in storage, reservation information, locker configuration information (information related to the configuration of the locker device 3), and information for automatically generating PIN numbers.

The network connection unit 12 is for connecting the control unit 10 to a network such as an in-store network (LAN), and the control unit 10 exchanges information with the customer device 4 via the network. Note that information may also be exchanged between the control unit 10 and each customer terminal carried by a customer.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 10 has a PIN generating means (unlocking information generating means) 16 that automatically generates a PIN (e.g., a four-digit number) that is unlocking information that differs for each customer, a reservation information registering means 17 that registers reservation information based on predetermined information entered by a store clerk or customer in response to a locker pick-up reservation request from a customer, and a transmission means 18 that transmits (transfers) at least the PIN (locker unlocking information for unlocking the locking means of the storage destination) and storage destination information (information indicating the storage unit where the finished product is stored) to the customer device 4.

The reservation information generated and registered for each reservation in the memory unit 11 by the reservation information registration means 17 includes at least the PIN number, storage destination information, customer information, invoice number, desired collection date information, and period.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the locker device 3 is, for example, an inexpensive steel locker with a button lock and a PIN code, and is equipped with a number of lockable box-shaped storage units 21 (for example, two rows and three columns, for a total of six) arranged closely together in a matrix in both the vertical and horizontal directions. In the example shown in FIG. 3(a), the number of storage units 21 is six, but it can be more than that and can be easily expanded depending on the scale, for example, it can be 100 or more.

Each storage section 21 has a storage chamber 23 in which finished products reserved for locker pick-up are stored so that they can be taken in and out through a front opening 22, a pivotable door 24 that opens and closes the front opening 22 of the storage chamber 23, and a button lock 25, which is a mechanical locking means that is provided on the door 24 and can be set in a locked state that restricts the opening movement of the door 24 (rotation in the open direction) and an unlocked state that allows the door 24 to be opened, and can be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state by a preset PIN number (e.g., a four-digit number) when locking.

As shown in FIG. 3(b), the button lock 25 has 12 push-buttons (0-9, #, C) 26 and an operating lever 27 that can be rotated between a locked position and an unlocked position. The operating lever 27 has a key hole 28 through which an emergency unlocking key (not shown) can be inserted.

To lock the button lock 25, with the operating lever 27 in the unlocked position, a PIN code is set by pressing the button 26, and then the operating lever 27 is rotated to the locked position, thereby locking the button lock 25. To unlock the button lock 25, with the operating lever 27 in the locked position, a PIN code corresponding to a preset PIN code is pressed, and then the operating lever 27 is rotated to the unlocked position, thereby unlocking the button lock 25. The button lock 25, which can be locked and unlocked in this way, is an all-mechanical system, so no electrical wiring is required and it can be used even during a power outage.

As shown in FIG. 4, the customer device 4 includes a control unit 51 to which a touch panel unit 52, a memory unit 53, etc. are connected. The control unit 51 also includes an identification means 54 for identifying (recognizing) a customer who has come to the store to pick up a finished product.

The touch panel unit 52 is a display means that also serves as an input means, and based on the control of the control unit 51, displays at least the PIN number and storage destination information to the customer (customer who has made a reservation) identified by the identification means 54.

The memory unit 53 stores, for example, information for identifying (authenticating) a customer, a PIN number and storage destination information corresponding to a customer who has made a reservation, and information regarding storage, pick-up, and removal of finished products.

The identification means 54 identifies and specifies the customer, for example, by a magnetic card, a bar code, a mobile terminal, an IC card, or face recognition using a camera. Then, the identified customer (customer with a reservation) is presented with the information necessary for picking up the finished product.

Next, the operation of the finished product delivery system 1 will be explained with reference to the drawings.

First, Figure 5 shows a flowchart when a customer makes a locker pickup reservation request.

As shown in FIG. 5, when a customer makes a locker pickup reservation, i.e., a request to reserve the pickup of finished products at the locker device 3 on the desired pickup date (step 1), a staff member at the dry cleaning store checks the reservation status for each date (step 2).

Specifically, when a customer visits a store and leaves items (checked items) to be cleaned to have them cleaned, the customer tells the store clerk the desired date for picking up the finished items (this can be one day or multiple days) and requests a locker pick-up reservation.

The store clerk then checks the reservation status (availability of storage unit 21) for the desired collection date by looking at the reservation screen displayed on touch panel unit 6 of cash register device 2, i.e., for example, the reservation screen shown in FIG. 6(a).

For example, the "4" shown next to "November 4th" on the reservation screen means that "there are four vacant storage sections 21 that have not been reserved on November 4th." The reservation screen also has a calendar section 31 that shows the number of vacant storage sections that can be reserved for each date, as well as a number of days input section 32, a number of storage locations input section (number of shelves input section) 33, a cancel button 34, and a confirm button 35.

Next, the store clerk determines whether there are the required number of free storage compartments 21 available for the amount of finished products (e.g., number of finished products) on the desired collection date (step 3), and if so, performs the reservation process on the reservation screen (step 4); if not, the store clerk denies the customer's locker collection reservation (step 5).

Then, based on the reservation processing work performed by the store clerk, the reservation information registration means 17 of the control unit 10 of the cash register device 2 registers the reservation information (step 6).

Here, we will explain in detail how store staff process reservations on the reservation screen.

For example, if a customer ("Tanaka") comes to the store today, November 1st, with "20 dress shirts," and requests a locker pick-up reservation for "November 4th to November 6th" (e.g., a reservation for a three-night stay), and the store clerk determines on the reservation screen that a reservation is possible, he or she will enter "3" (an integer equal to or greater than 1) into the number of days input section 32 on the reservation screen, as shown in FIG. 6(b).

The calendar section 31 on the reservation screen then becomes selectable for multiple dates (date buttons) corresponding to the input "3." When the clerk touches and selects the first day, "November 4th" date button 31a, the date buttons for the specified number of days, three ("November 4th" date button 31a, "November 5th" date button 31b, and "November 6th" date button 31c) are automatically selected. If the customer wishes to pick up the item for one night, the clerk inputs "1" into the number of days input section 32 on the screen, and then touches and selects the date button corresponding to the desired pick-up date.

In addition, because two storage compartments 21 are required to store "20 dress shirts," the clerk inputs "2" (an integer of 2 or more) as the required number of storage compartments in the storage compartment number input section 33 on the reservation screen. By operating the confirmation button 35, which will be described later, the multiple storage compartments 21 corresponding to the integer number become reserved storage compartments 21, but at this time, adjacent storage compartments 21 are selected with priority.

When the store clerk touches the confirm button 35 in this state, the reservation information registration means 17 of the control unit 10 registers and stores the reservation information regarding the locker pick-up reservation for the customer ("Tanaka") in the memory unit 11.

At this time, a PIN (e.g., "1578") is automatically generated by the PIN generating means 16, and this PIN becomes part of the reservation information and is associated with other information that constitutes the reservation information. At this time, a slip number (e.g., "1124", "1125") and storage destination information (storage unit numbers, e.g., "Locker No. 1", "Locker No. 2") are also generated.

The timing for generating the PIN etc. may be other timing, such as when the printer unit 7 prints the printed matter. When automatically generating a PIN, if a PIN has already been generated for the same customer, the PIN generating means 16 will use the same PIN for the convenience of the customer, but conversely, if the PIN is the same as that of a different customer, it will automatically regenerate a different PIN to prevent erroneous collection of the finished product.

Also, for example, if a customer requests a locker pick-up reservation by phone or email later, rather than at the time of visiting the store, the store clerk selects the relevant item from the list of unreturned items for that customer shown in Figure 7 and obtains the slip number.

On the other hand, a customer can also use their own customer terminal to make a locker pick-up reservation request on the reservation screen of FIG. 8 displayed on the customer terminal. In this case, the number of storage locations required is automatically calculated, and the number of days is automatically set to "1." Note that multiple days may be selected.

Next, Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the process by which a store clerk stores finished products in the locker device 3.

At closing time (e.g., 7 p.m. on November 4), the store clerk uses the printer unit 7 of the cash register device 2 to print a first printed matter based on the registered reservation information, i.e., the storage list (printed matter) 41 shown in FIG. 10 (step 1).

Next, the store clerk stores the finished products reserved for locker pick-up in the corresponding reserved storage section 21 based on the storage list 41 that shows the items to be stored today (step 2).

When storing the item, the store clerk operates the button lock 25 on the storage section 21 of the locker device 3 to set the PIN number listed in the storage list 41 and lock the item (step 3).

As shown in FIG. 10, the storage list 41 has a grid group 43 made up of a number of grid squares (six grid squares in two rows and three columns) 42 corresponding to the number of storage sections 21 of the locker device 3 printed based on the locker configuration information, and at least the PIN number and storage destination information (storage section number) are printed in the grid squares 42 corresponding to reserved storage sections 21 out of the number of storage sections 21 based on the reservation information.

That is, the storage list 41 has the same number of squares 42 as the storage sections 21 of the locker device 3, and in the squares 42 corresponding to the reserved storage sections 21 for storage, the PIN number and storage destination information are printed, as well as customer information (customer name) and slip number between them. If finished products have already been stored there, the desired pick-up date information is printed. Also, the word "Vacant" is printed in the squares 42 corresponding to the unreserved vacant storage sections 21.

And because the storage list 41 corresponds to the configuration of the locker device 3, the store clerk can easily know which storage section 21 the finished products should be stored in, allowing the store clerk to efficiently store the finished products and preventing the finished products from being stored incorrectly.

After completing the above-mentioned storage operation, the store clerk transmits the PIN number (unlock information) and storage destination information related to the locker pick-up reservation to the customer device 4 using the transmission means 18 of the control unit 10 of the cash register device 2.

It is desirable that the cash register device (input device) 2 and the customer device (output device) 4 are connected to each other via a network such as a LAN, but the two devices may not be connected to each other. In this case, for example, a store clerk may operate the touch panel unit 52 of the customer device 4 to manually input the information, or a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) containing the information may be read and input by using a reading unit of the customer device 4 to read the information.

When sending information from the cash register device 2 to the customer device 4, as described in the conventional JP 2019-96218 A, a message including the information may be sent to the customer terminal of the customer who has made a locker pick-up reservation (e.g., a contact such as a pre-registered email address) using, for example, SMS, email, an app, etc. The message may include, for example, "Locker number: 1, 2" (storage destination information), "PIN number: 1234" (unlocking information), and "Period: until opening time on November 7th" (reservation deadline information for pick-up based on desired pick-up date information).

Next, Figure 11 is a flowchart for customer pick-up (unmanned delivery to the customer).

For example, when a customer comes to the store after closing time to pick up a finished product, the customer is identified and specified by the identification means 54 of the customer device 4 (step 1).

When the finished product of the identified reservation customer is stored in the locker device 3, for example, a screen (information output screen) shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the touch panel unit 52 of the customer device 4, and the collection information is registered (stored) in the memory unit 53 (step 2).

The customer then enters the displayed PIN number ("1578") into the button lock 25 of the storage section 21 of the displayed locker number ("No. 1" or "No. 2") to unlock it (Step 3).

Then, the customer opens the unlocked door 24 of the storage section 21 and receives the finished product (step 4).

In this way, even at night after the store closes or early in the morning before the store opens, customers can come to the store to pick up their finished products. Pick-up information that a customer identified by the identification means 54 has come to the store to pick up their finished products is sent from the customer device 4 to the cash register device 2.

Next, when the store opens the next day, the store clerk uses the printer unit 7 of the cash register device 2 to print out the second printed matter, i.e., the confirmation list (printed matter) 46 shown in FIG. 13, for example, and checks the contents of the reserved storage unit 21 based on this printed confirmation list 46.

The confirmation list 46 displays a printed indication of whether the customer has come to pick up the finished product (e.g., the word "Completed") based on the pick-up information, so that the customer can easily check whether the finished product has been picked up at night or early in the morning.

In addition, in the confirmation list 46, similar to the storage list 41, a group of squares 43 consisting of a matrix of multiple squares (six squares in two rows and three columns) 42 corresponding to the multiple storage sections 21 of the locker device 3 is printed based on the locker configuration information, and at least the PIN number and storage destination information (storage section number) are printed based on the reservation information in the squares 42 corresponding to the reserved storage sections 21 out of the multiple storage sections 21.

That is, the confirmation list 46 has the same number of squares 42 as the storage sections 21 of the locker device 3, and in the squares 42 corresponding to the reserved storage sections 21 to be confirmed, the PIN number and storage destination information, as well as customer information (customer name) and desired pick-up date information are printed between them. Also, the word "Vacant" is printed in the squares 42 corresponding to unreserved, empty storage sections 21. In this way, since the confirmation list 46 corresponds to the configuration of the locker device 3, the store clerk can easily identify the storage sections 21 that should be confirmed to see whether the finished products have been handed over to the reserved customer, and can perform the confirmation work efficiently.

For storage sections 21 from which finished products have actually been collected, this fact is registered in the memory section 11, the reservation status is updated, and as a result, the storage section 21 is released. For storage sections 21 from which the reservation deadline for collection has passed, the finished products are removed from the storage section 21, this fact is registered in the memory section 11, the reservation status is updated, and as a result, the storage section 21 is released.

The finished product delivery system 1 described above includes a cash register device 2 that registers reservation information in response to a customer's request for locker pickup reservation, a locker device 3 with multiple lockable storage compartments 21, and a customer device 4 that outputs at least unlocking information and storage location information to an identified customer, thereby improving convenience and allowing the system to be used by anyone who does not have a customer terminal, for example, and allowing the finished product to be picked up even if the customer who made the reservation forgets to bring the customer terminal (such as a mobile phone) with them at the time of pickup.

In addition, by using a relatively inexpensive PIN-code locker device 3, costs can be reduced and finished products can be properly delivered to customers even at night after the store closes or early in the morning.

The customer device 4 is not limited to being installed separately from and in the vicinity of the locker device 3, but may be, for example, built into and integrated with the locker device.

In addition, when using a large locker device with many storage compartments, multiple customer devices may be installed.

Furthermore, the finished product delivery system is not limited to a system dedicated to the delivery of finished products, but may be configured, for example, with an automatic item deposit section added, or may be configured, for example, without including a cash register device, with a locker device and a customer device.

1 Finished product delivery system 2 Register device which is a registration device 3 Locker device 4 Customer device
21 Storage area
52 Touch panel unit as display means
54 Means of Identification

Claims (4)

A finished product delivery system for delivering a finished product after cleaning processing to a customer, comprising:
a locker device having a plurality of storage compartments in which finished products are stored;
a customer device for identifying a customer and outputting unlocking information and storage location information relating to the identified customer;
a registration device that registers reservation information in response to a locker pickup reservation request from a customer and transmits the unlocking information and the storage location information to the customer device,
The customer device transmits pick-up information to the registration device,
The registration device outputs a printout on which a pickup completion indication indicating that the customer has come to pick up the finished product related to the locker pickup reservation is printed based on the pickup information.
A finished product delivery system. A finished product delivery system for delivering a finished product after cleaning processing to a customer, comprising:
a locker device having a plurality of storage compartments in which finished products are stored;
a customer device for identifying a customer and outputting unlocking information and storage location information relating to the identified customer;
a registration device that registers reservation information in response to a locker pickup reservation request from a customer and transmits the unlocking information and the storage location information to the customer device,
The customer device transmits pick-up information to the registration device,
The locker device has a plurality of storage units arranged in a matrix,
Each of the plurality of storage units includes:
A storage room in which the finished product related to the locker pick-up reservation is stored so as to be accessible through an opening;
an opening/closing door for opening and closing the opening;
a locking means that can be switched from a locked state that restricts the opening operation of the door to an unlocked state that allows the opening operation of the door to be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state based on the unlocking information;
The registration device includes:
A storage unit that stores locker configuration information relating to a configuration of the locker device;
a printer unit that outputs a printed matter for confirming whether the customer has picked up the finished product related to the locker pick-up reservation,
The printed matter includes:
A group of squares consisting of a plurality of squares in a matrix corresponding to the plurality of storage units is printed based on the locker configuration information, and a pickup indication indicating that a customer has come to pick up the finished product related to the locker pickup reservation is printed on the squares corresponding to reserved storage units among the plurality of storage units based on the pickup information.
A finished product delivery system . The customer device is
an identification means for identifying a customer;
3. The finished product delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising a display means for displaying unlocking information and storage location information relating to the customer identified by said identification means. 4. The finished product delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the customer device is installed near the locker device.

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