JP7576952B2 - Locker management system, locker device, management device, and method for separately storing items in the locker management system - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a locker management system, a locker device and a management device included in the locker management system, and a method for separately storing items in the locker management system.

The locker device disclosed in the following Patent Document 1 includes a number of lockers for storing items to be deposited, and a central control device for managing the operation of each locker. When the manager of the locker device finds that an item has been stored in a locker beyond the specified number of days of use, the manager opens the door of the locker in separate storage mode in the central control device and removes the item from the locker. At that time, a printer installed in the central control device issues a separate storage slip containing locker usage information for the item, and the manager takes the removed item together with the separate storage slip back to the management office and stores it separately. When a user who owns an item that is stored separately accesses the locker device, the printer in the central control device issues a separate storage certificate on which a message or the like is printed to the effect that the item is being stored separately. The user then goes to the management office with the separate storage certificate and collects their item by paying an excess fee or the like.

JP 2014-238644 A

Conventionally, information about items stored separately is managed in a ledger or database installed in the management office. In this case, the manager must take the items to be stored separately back to the management office and then handwrite the information on the separate storage slip into the ledger or manually enter it into the database, which is time-consuming. Furthermore, when the user goes to the management office to collect the items, the manager must search for information about the items in the ledger or database based on the information on the separate storage certificate held by the user in order to identify the items, which is time-consuming. If the information entered into the ledger or database is incorrect, or if the manager misreads the information on the separate storage certificate, the manager will not be able to find the necessary information in the ledger or database, and there is a risk of making a mistake in the delivery of the items. This makes it time-consuming and time-consuming to identify the items to be returned to the user.

This invention was made against this background, and aims to provide a locker management system that improves convenience when removing items from lockers and storing them separately, a locker device and management device included in the locker management system, and a method for separately storing items in the locker management system.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a locker management system including a locker device having a locker, a reception unit that receives instructions from an administrator for separate storage of items in the locker, and an issuing unit that issues a first form on which at least a portion of the locker usage information related to the instructions received by the reception unit is written as a code, and a management device having a reading unit that reads the code from the first form, and a memory unit that stores information including at least the reading result of the reading unit as separately stored information.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the management device includes an input unit to which additional information regarding separate storage is input, and the separate storage information includes the additional information.

In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides a locker management system including a locker device comprising: a locker; a reception unit that receives instructions from a customer to remove an item from the locker; and an issuing unit that issues a second form on which at least a portion of the locker's usage information is written as a code if an item from the locker related to the instruction received by the reception unit has already been removed for separate storage; and a management device including a memory unit that stores information including at least a portion of the usage information as separately stored information, a reading unit that reads the code from the second form, an acquisition unit that acquires from the memory unit the separately stored information corresponding to the reading result of the reading unit, and an output unit that outputs information including at least the acquisition result of the acquisition unit as output information.

In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the locker management system further includes a calculation unit that calculates an additional fee for separate storage, and the output information also includes information about the additional fee .

In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides a locker device comprising a locker, a reception unit that receives instructions from an administrator for separate storage of items in the locker, and an issuing unit that issues a first form on which at least a portion of the locker usage information relating to the instructions received by the reception unit is written as a code.

In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides a locker device comprising: a locker; a reception unit that receives instructions from a customer to remove an item from the locker; and an issuing unit that issues a second form containing at least a portion of the locker's usage information as a code if the item in the locker related to the instruction received by the reception unit has already been removed for separate storage.

In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides a management device comprising a reading unit that reads a code from a first form on which at least a portion of the usage information of a locker in which items are stored separately is written as a code, an input unit into which additional information regarding the separate storage is input, and a memory unit that stores information including at least the reading result of the reading unit and the additional information as separate storage information.

In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides a management device comprising a memory unit that stores information including at least a portion of the usage information of a locker in which items are stored separately as separate storage information, a reading unit that reads the code from a second form in which at least a portion of the usage information is written as a code, an acquisition unit that acquires the separate storage information corresponding to the reading result of the reading unit from the memory unit, and an output unit that outputs information including at least the acquisition result of the acquisition unit as output information.

Moreover, one embodiment of the present invention provides a method for separately storing items in a locker management system including a locker device having lockers and a management device having a memory unit, the method including a reception step in which the locker device receives instructions from an administrator for separately storing items in the lockers, an issuance step in which the locker device issues a first form on which at least a portion of the locker usage information relating to the instructions received in the reception step is written as a code, a reading step in which the management device reads the code from the first form, and a storage step in which the management device stores information including at least the reading result in the reading step in the memory unit as separate storage information.

Moreover, one embodiment of the present invention provides a method for separately storing items in a locker management system comprising a locker device having lockers and a management device having a memory unit, the method including a reception step in which the locker device receives an instruction from a customer to remove an item from the locker; an issuance step in which the locker device issues a second form in which at least a portion of the locker usage information is written as a code if the item in the locker related to the instruction received in the reception step has already been removed for separate storage; a storage step in which the management device stores information including at least a portion of the usage information in the memory unit as separately stored information; a reading step in which the management device reads the code from the second form; an acquisition step in which the management device acquires from the memory unit the separately stored information corresponding to the reading result in the reading step; and an output step in which the management device outputs information including at least the acquisition result in the acquisition step as output information.

Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience when removing items from a locker and storing them separately.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a locker management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the locker management system. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the display content on a display operation unit of a locker device constituting a locker management system. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the locker device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the locker device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the locker device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the locker device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the locker device. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a separate storage ticket issued from the locker device. FIG. A schematic diagram showing an example of the display content on the display operation unit of a management device constituting a locker management system. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the management device; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the management device; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the management device; FIG. FIG. 4 illustrates a table stored in a management device. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the locker device. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a separate storage certificate issued by the locker device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the management device; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the management device; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the management device; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of display content on a display operation unit of the locker device. FIG.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a locker management system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The locker management system 100 includes a locker device 1 installed in a locker area in a station or the like, and a management device 2 which is a higher-level device for the locker device 1. The management device 2 is installed in a management office separate from the locker area. A manager belonging to a management company or the like which manages the locker management system 100 is stationed in the management office.

The locker device 1 comprises one or more lockers 3 for storing luggage, which is an example of an item that a user deposits, and a control device 4 for controlling the operation of the lockers 3. In this embodiment, two rows of five lockers 3 arranged vertically in five columns are provided to the left of the control device 4, and one row is provided to the right of the control device 4, with one locker 3 provided above and one locker 3 provided on both the top and bottom sides of the control device 4. The number and layout of the lockers 3 can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the size of the lockers 3 may be the same for all lockers 3, or may differ depending on the locker 3.

Referring to the locker 3 at the top left in FIG. 1, each locker 3 is equipped with a box-shaped main body 3B having an entrance 3A that opens to the front side, that is, the front side, and a door 3C that is rotatably supported by the main body 3B and opens and closes the entrance 3A. On the front side of the main body 3B, for example, in an area 3D to the right of the entrance 3A, a door number (not shown) that is locker identification information assigned to each locker 3 is displayed. In addition, the area 3D may be provided with a display unit (not shown) that displays information such as whether the locker 3 can be used or not, and a temporary lock lever (not shown) that is operated by the user to temporarily lock the door 3C until the payment of the usage fee for the locker 3 is completed. In this embodiment, the door 3C can be rotated around a vertical axis (not shown) provided at the left end of the front surface of the main body 3B. As shown in FIG. 1, a handle 3E that is grasped by the user to open and close the door 3C is provided at the right end of the surface of the door 3C when the entrance 3A is closed.

The main body 3B of each locker 3 contains a locking/unlocking unit 5, which may be, for example, an electromagnetic lock or a solenoid. The locking/unlocking unit 5 can lock and unlock the door 3C when the entrance 3A of the main body 3B in which it is contained is in a closed state. In the following explanation, locking and unlocking the door 3C and locking and unlocking the locker 3 in which this door 3C is installed have the same meaning.

The control device 4 has, for example, a vertically long box shape, and in the upper area on the front side thereof, a display operation unit 11 as an example of a reception unit is provided. The display operation unit 11 is, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel formed in a rectangular shape elongated in the width direction of the locker device 1 (left and right direction in FIG. 1). The display operation unit 11 has a function as a display unit that displays various information for customers and managers, and a function as an operation unit that is operated by customers and managers. The display unit and the operation unit do not have to be combined into the display operation unit 11, and may exist separately, in which case the operation unit may be a physical mechanical button.

In front of the control device 4, for example, in the area to the right of the display operation unit 11, a speaker 12 and a code reader 13 are arranged vertically. In this embodiment, the code to be read by the code reader 13 is a two-dimensional code that combines many large and small dots, such as a QR code (registered trademark), but it may be a one-dimensional code such as a barcode, or a two-dimensional code other than a QR code. In the area below the display operation unit 11 on the front of the control device 4, a coin insertion slot 14, a bill entrance 15, a return lever 16, a coin return slot 17, an issuing slot 18 through which various forms are issued, a card reader 19 that reads information from IC cards carried by users in a non-contact manner, and a maintenance lock 20 for administrators are arranged. The layout of these configurations is appropriately set so that they are easily accessible to users and administrators.

When a customer wishes to deposit luggage in one of the lockers 3, he or she opens the door 3C of an available, vacant locker 3, places the luggage inside the main body 3B through the entrance 3A, and then closes the door 3C. At that time, the customer temporarily locks the door 3C by operating the temporary lock lever described above. The customer then operates the display operation unit 11 of the control device 4 to select the luggage deposit process, identifies the door number of the locker 3 to be used, and selects the usage period of the locker 3 and the payment method for the usage fee. In this embodiment, the usage fee can be paid with cash or electronic money.

Customers who choose to pay the service fee with cash insert coins into the coin slot 14 or insert bills into the bill slot 15. Change is returned to the customer through the bill slot 15 or the coin return slot 17. The bill slot 15 may be divided into a bill slot for inserting bills and a bill return slot for returning bills.

When the fee is paid in cash, that is, when the cash payment is completed, the door 3C of the locker 3 used is locked (full locking) and a usage certificate (not shown), which is a document for the user, is issued from the issuing port 18. The usage certificate contains the door number of the locker 3 and the fee (basic fee already paid), the key number required to unlock the door 3C of the locker 3, and a code representing this information (hereinafter referred to as "usage information"). Multiple issuing ports 18 are provided to take into account problems related to the issuance of documents, and in this embodiment, two issuing ports 18 are lined up on the left and right as issuing port 18A and issuing port 18B. In this embodiment, documents are issued preferentially from issuing port 18A.

A customer who chooses to pay the usage fee with electronic money holds his/her IC card over the card reader 19. Then, the electronic money for the usage fee linked to the IC card is debited, and the payment of the usage fee with electronic money, i.e., IC payment, is completed. At the same time, the identification information of the IC card is read by the card reader 19 and stored in the control device 4 in association with the usage information described above. An example of the identification information of the IC card is IDm, which is the serial number of the IC chip of the IC card. When the payment of the usage fee with electronic money is completed, the locker 3 used is locked (mainly locked). In this case, the usage certificate described above may also be issued from the issuing port 18. Note that in the locker device 1, IC payment may be made using a communication terminal such as the customer's smartphone instead of an IC card, and payment may be made not only by cash payment or IC payment, but also by the customer's credit card.

When a customer wishes to retrieve luggage deposited in a locker 3, the customer operates the display operation unit 11 of the control device 4 to select the luggage retrieval process. A customer who has paid the usage fee in cash holds the code printed on the usage certificate issued upon completion of the cash payment over the code reader 13. The corresponding locker 3 is then unlocked based on the key number in the usage information contained in this code. On the other hand, a customer who has paid the usage fee by IC holds the IC card used for IC payment over the card reader 19. If the identification information read from the IC card by the card reader 19 matches the identification information stored in the control device 4, the corresponding locker 3 is unlocked based on the key number in the usage information linked to this identification information and stored in the control device 4. The customer can open the door 3C of the thus unlocked locker 3 and retrieve the luggage from the main body 3B through the entrance/exit 3A.

When an administrator inserts a dedicated key into the keyhole 20A on the surface of the maintenance lock 20 and twists it, the control device 4 switches from a normal mode for customers to a management mode for administrators, and the login screen 41 (see FIG. 3) is switched to and displayed on the display operation unit 11. After operating the login screen 41 to log in, the administrator can change the settings and other conditions of the locker device 1.

The management device 2 is a so-called personal computer, and is equipped with a display operation unit 21 configured with a liquid crystal touch panel or the like, and a reading unit 22 that reads codes in a non-contact manner similar to the code reader 13. The display operation unit 21 functions as an input unit into which data is input by the administrator, and as an output unit that outputs various information. The input unit and the output unit do not have to be integrated into the display operation unit 21, and may exist separately. In that case, the input unit may be configured with an operation unit such as a keyboard, and the output unit may be configured with a display unit such as a monitor. The locker device 1 and management device 2 may be capable of communicating with each other via a public line X such as the Internet, as in this embodiment, or they may not be capable of communicating with each other.

The management office in which the management device 2 is installed has a storage area A for storing luggage P that is removed from the locker 3 by the manager because it has been left in the locker 3 for a specified period after the expiration of the usage period. In this embodiment, a shelf with multiple storage areas A1, A2, A3, etc. is installed in the management office. In this embodiment, luggage P removed from the locker 3 is stored (hereinafter referred to as "separate storage") in one of the storage areas A in the storage areas A1, A2, A3, etc.

2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the locker management system 100. The locker device 1 further comprises a control unit 25 constituted by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, etc., and a cash processing unit 26, an issuing unit 27, an internal communication unit 28, an external communication unit 29, and a memory unit 30, which are electrically connected to the control unit 25.

The control unit 25 is also electrically connected to the display operation unit 11, speaker 12, code reader 13, and card reader 19 described above. The control unit 25 controls the display on the display operation unit 11, and accepts operation inputs to the display operation unit 11 by customers and managers. The control unit 25 controls the alarm operation of the speaker 12. Information contained in the code read from the slip by the code reader 13 is input to the control unit 25. The control unit 25 communicates with the customer's IC card through the card reader 19 in a non-contact manner, and performs IC payment for the usage fee for the locker 3 using electronic money linked to the IC card.

The cash processing unit 26 includes a component for taking in cash inserted into the coin insertion slot 14 or the bill insertion/removal slot 15 (see FIG. 1) into the locker device 1, a component for identifying the denomination and authenticity of the taken in cash, and a component for discharging cash for return, such as change, to the bill insertion/removal slot 15 or the coin return slot 17. The control unit 25 settles the usage fee for the locker 3 in cash by deducting the usage fee from the inserted cash.

There are multiple issuing units 27 corresponding to the issuing ports 18. Therefore, the issuing units 27 include an issuing unit 27A corresponding to the issuing port 18A, and an issuing unit 27B corresponding to the issuing port 18B. Each issuing unit 27 is a printer that prints the necessary information from the print head onto roll paper to create a form, separates the form, and issues it to the corresponding issuing port 18.

The internal communication unit 28 is an interface electrically connected to the locking/unlocking unit 5 of each locker 3. Therefore, the control unit 25 can individually lock and unlock the door 3C of each locker 3 by individually controlling the locking/unlocking operation of the locking/unlocking unit 5 of each locker 3.

The external communication unit 29 is an interface for the locker device 1 to communicate with the management device 2, and is connected to the public line X. If the locker device 1 does not have an external communication function, the external communication unit 29 may be omitted. The memory unit 30 stores various information such as the usage information described above.

The management device 2 further includes a control unit 31 configured by a microcomputer or the like, and an external communication unit 32 and a memory unit 33 electrically connected to the control unit 31. The control unit 31 functions as an example of an acquisition unit, an output unit, and a calculation unit. The display operation unit 21 and the reading unit 22 described above are also electrically connected to the control unit 31. The control unit 31 controls the display on the display operation unit 21 and accepts operation input of the display operation unit 21 by the administrator. Information contained in the code read from the slip by the reading unit 22 is input to the control unit 31. The external communication unit 32 is an interface for the management device 2 to communicate externally with the locker device 1, and is connected to the public line X. Note that, if the management device 2 does not have an external communication function, the external communication unit 32 may be omitted. The memory unit 33 stores various information.

The following describes a method for separately storing luggage in a locker 3 in such a locker management system 100. Figures 3 to 8 are schematic diagrams showing an example of the display content on the display operation unit 11 of the locker device 1. First, the manager goes to the locker area and inserts a dedicated key into the keyhole 20A of the maintenance lock 20 on the control device 4 and turns it to switch the control device 4 from normal mode to management mode (see Figure 1). The control device 4 can also be switched from normal mode to management mode by having the card reader 19 read the manager's IC card. In response to the mode switch, the control unit 25 switches and displays the login screen 41 shown in Figure 3 on the display operation unit 11.

Login screen 41 has a title 41A, an input field 41B for the administrator's name, an input field 41C for the administrator's password, and an input section 41D, which are displayed, for example, from the top in this order. The input section 41D is a keyboard or numeric keypad made up of multiple touch keys. Note that all keys that appear hereinafter are touch keys. By touching the keyboard, the administrator enters his/her name in input field 41B and his/her password in input field 41C. Instead of the administrator's name, identification information such as an employee number may be entered in input field 41B.

When the administrator enters the necessary information in input fields 41B and 41C and then touches the authentication key 41E displayed next to these input fields, the control unit 25 performs authentication for this administrator. If the combination of name and password entered by the administrator is stored in the memory unit 30 of the control device 4, the control unit 25 determines that the authentication of this administrator, i.e., login, has been successful, and switches to and displays the menu screen 42 shown in FIG. 4 on the display operation unit 11.

On the menu screen 42, a title 42A, a current date and time 42B, a guide 42C prompting the administrator to select various processes, and multiple menu keys 42D corresponding to each process are displayed, for example, from the top in this order. Also, for example, a power OFF key 43 for turning off the power of the locker device 1 and a completion key 44 for logging out and switching the control device 4 from management mode to normal mode may be displayed at the bottom end of the menu screen 42. When the administrator touches the menu key 42E corresponding to separate storage among the multiple menu keys 42D, the control unit 25 switches and displays the selection screen 45 shown in FIG. 5 on the display operation unit 11.

In the selection screen 45, a title 45A, a current date and time 45B, a guide message 45C prompting the manager to select the door number of the locker 3 where the luggage will be stored separately, and a list 45D of lockers 3 for which the number of days of storage has exceeded a predetermined number of days (e.g., three days) are displayed, for example, from the top in this order. Note that, for example, the above-mentioned completion key 44 may be displayed at the bottom end of the menu screen 42. In the list 45D, individual information for each locker 3 currently in use is displayed vertically. Each individual information includes the door number of the locker 3, the start date and time of use, the overtime, the overtime fee, and remarks. The overtime is the elapsed time after the usage period has elapsed, that is, the elapsed time from the end of use to the current time. The overtime fee is calculated by the control unit 25 based on the elapsed time and the usage fee per unit time of the locker 3 (hereinafter referred to as the "basic fee"). In this embodiment, the basic fee per day is 300 yen, and the overtime fee is calculated by multiplying the basic fee by the overtime period (or more precisely, the number of overtime days).

List 45D in FIG. 5 shows that luggage has been stored in locker 3 with door number 1001 for a specified period (here, two days) after the usage period (here, one day) has elapsed. In list 45D, the display area for each piece of individual information is a touch key. When the manager touches display area 45E of the individual information with door number 1001 in list 45D, control unit 25 switches to display confirmation screen 46 shown in FIG. 6 on display operation unit 11.

In the confirmation screen 46, a title 46A, a current date and time 46B, and a guide 46C for asking the manager whether or not to store the luggage in the locker 3 with the door number 1001 selected earlier are displayed in this order, for example, from the top. In the confirmation screen 46, for example, below the guide 46C, a YES key 46D for deciding to store the luggage in the locker 3 with the door number 1001 and a NO key 46E for canceling the storage are displayed side by side. Note that, for example, the above-mentioned completion key 44 may be displayed at the bottom of the confirmation screen 46. When the manager touches the YES key 46D to decide to store the luggage in the locker 3 with the door number 1001 separately, the control unit 25 switches the display operation unit 11 to display the issue screen 47 shown in FIG. 7 and controls the locking/unlocking unit 5 of the locker 3 with the door number 1001 to unlock the door 3C of this locker 3.

In the issuing screen 47, a title 47A, a current date and time 47B, and a guide 47C urging the manager to remove the luggage from the locker 3 after the door 3C of the locker 3 with the door number 1001 is unlocked are displayed, for example, from the top. In addition, in the issuing screen 47, for example, below the guide 47C, a guide 47D urging the manager to issue a separate storage ticket after removing the luggage from the locker 3 and a confirmation 47E for confirming with the manager whether the luggage has been removed from the locker 3 are displayed, for example, from the top. In addition, in the issuing screen 47, for example, below the confirmation 47E, a YES key 47F for inputting to the control device 4 that the luggage has been removed from the locker 3 and a NO key 47G for inputting to the control device 4 that the luggage has not yet been removed are displayed side by side. In addition, for example, the above-mentioned completion key 44 may be displayed at the bottom of the issuing screen 47.

When the manager who has removed the luggage from the locker 3 touches the YES key 47F, the control unit 25 switches the display operation unit 11 to display the completion screen 48 shown in FIG. 8, and controls the issuing unit 27 to print the separate storage ticket 51 shown in FIG. 9 and issue it to the issuing port 18. The completion screen 48 displays a guide message 48A urging the manager to remove the issued separate storage ticket 51. In addition, for example, the completion key 44 described above is displayed at the bottom of the completion screen 48. When the manager removes the separate storage ticket 51 and touches the completion key 44, the control unit 25 switches the display operation unit 11 to display the menu screen 42 (see FIG. 4), logs out, and switches the control device 4 from the management mode to the normal mode.

The separate storage slip 51 is a rectangular piece of paper that is an example of the first slip. The separate storage slip 51 includes, for example, a title 51A, current usage information 51B about the locker 3 from which the luggage was removed, a handwritten section 51C, and a code C1, which are written in this order from the top. The usage information 51B includes the start date and time of use of the locker 3, the separate storage date and time, which is, for example, the same as the issue date and time of the separate storage slip 51, the location name indicating the installation location of the locker device 1, the door number, the key number, the overtime, the basic fee, and the overtime fee. The usage information 51B may also include device identification information such as the unit number assigned to the locker device 1. The handwritten section 51C is a writing section for the manager to handwrite details of the contents of the luggage, such as the appearance and contents of the luggage removed from the locker 3, as shown in the title 51D, but it does not have to be written on the separate storage slip 51.

Code C1 is a coded version of at least a portion (all of it in this embodiment) of usage information 51B. Code C1 also includes a management ID, which is identification information assigned by the control unit 25 to the current separate storage procedure. Note that the management ID may also be written recognizably on the separate storage slip 51 as letters, numbers, etc., like usage information 51B.

As described above, in the locker device 1, the display operation unit 11 receives instructions from the manager for separate storage of luggage in the locker 3 (see Figures 3 to 8), and the issuing unit 27 issues a separate storage ticket 51 on which at least a portion of the usage information 51B of the locker 3 related to the instructions received by the display operation unit 11 is written as a code C1. Also, in the locker device 1, the control unit 25 temporarily stores the information contained in the code C1, i.e., the information related to this separate storage, in the memory unit 30.

After removing the luggage from the locker 3 and receiving the separate storage slip 51, the manager takes it back to the management office and performs input related to this separate storage on the management device 2. Figures 10 to 13 are schematic diagrams showing an example of the display content on the display operation unit 21 of the management device 2. When the management device 2 is in standby mode, the control unit 31 displays the menu screen 55 shown in Figure 10 on the display operation unit 21.

In the menu screen 55, a guide message 55A that prompts the manager to input the staff number and select a process, a staff number input field 55B, and an input section 55C are displayed, for example, from the top in this order. The input section 55C is a keyboard or a numeric keypad. The manager operates the input section 55C to input his/her staff number in the input field 55B to log in. At this time, it may be necessary to further input a password. In the menu screen 55, for example, below the input section 55C, a storage key 55D for selecting a process to store the luggage separately and a delivery key 55E for selecting a process to return the luggage being stored separately to the user are displayed side by side. When the manager who has input the staff number touches the storage key 55D, the control unit 31 switches and displays the guidance screen 56 shown in FIG. 11 on the display operation unit 21. As described later, the menu screen 55 may be divided into a login screen on which the input field 55B and the input section 55C are displayed, and a selection screen on which the storage key 55D and the delivery key 55E are displayed. Alternatively, the administrator may log in by having a card reader (not shown) on the management device 2 read the administrator's IC card and select processing.

The guidance screen 56 displays guidance text 56A urging the manager to hold the code C1 (see FIG. 9) of the issued separate storage slip 51 over the reading unit 22. When the manager holds the code C1 over the reading unit 22 and the reading unit 22 reads the code C1 from the separate storage slip 51, the control unit 31 switches the display operation unit 21 to display the first input screen 57 shown in FIG. 12.

In the first input screen 57, a guide message 57A that prompts the administrator to input the characteristics of the luggage to be stored separately, i.e., the type, color, and number of the luggage, and an input field 57B for each type of luggage are displayed in this order, for example, from the top. A plurality of input fields 57B are provided according to the expected types of luggage, and are displayed vertically. With reference to the topmost input field 57B, each input field 57B displays a check box 57C for selecting the corresponding type of luggage (such as a suitcase), a selection box 57D for selecting the color of the luggage, and a selection box 57E for selecting the number of luggage, displayed horizontally. The selection boxes 57D and 57E are, for example, pull-down format selection boxes. In the first input screen 57, for example, below the bottommost input field 57B, a decision key 57F for deciding the input content in the input field 57B is displayed.

The manager checks the checkbox 57C by touching it or the like in one or more input fields 57B corresponding to the type of luggage brought back, inputs the color and quantity using the selection boxes 57D and 57E, and then touches the decision key 57F. Then, the control unit 31 switches to display the second input screen 58 shown in FIG. 13 on the display operation unit 21.

In the second input screen 58, a guide message 58A prompting the manager to input the storage area of the luggage to be stored separately and an input field 58B for the storage area are displayed, for example, from the top. The input field 58B is configured, for example, by a select box in a pull-down format. In the second input screen 58, for example, a decision key 58C for deciding the input contents in the input field 58B is displayed below the input field 58B. When the manager inputs the storage area of the luggage he or she has brought back into the input field 58B and then touches the decision key 58C, the control unit 31 completes the reception process of the input related to this separate storage and switches the display operation unit 21 to display the above-mentioned menu screen 55 (see FIG. 10). Note that, if there are multiple luggage to be stored separately and these luggage are stored in multiple storage areas, these storage areas may be selected in the input field 58B. Note that the input method into the input field 58B may be manual input by the manager using a keyboard or the like or barcode input. The same applies to the input method into the input field 57B (see FIG. 12) described above. The manager stores the luggage in the selected storage area.

The memory unit 33 of the management device 2 stores a table 61 shown in FIG. 14. In the table 61, usage information that is the result of reading by the reading unit 22 of the code C1 (see FIG. 9) of the separate storage tag 51, and additional information regarding separate storage that the administrator inputs on the first input screen 57 (see FIG. 12) and the second input screen 58 (see FIG. 13) of the display operation unit 21 are registered as separate storage information. The separate storage information is registered in the table 61 in association with the management ID included in the code C1.

In this way, when the manager has the reading unit 22 read the code C1 on the separate storage slip 51 while the guide screen 56 (see FIG. 11) is displayed, the control unit 31 newly registers the information contained in this code C1 in the table 61. Then, when the manager inputs additional information using the first input screen 57 and the second input screen 58, the control unit 31 completes the separate storage information for this separate storage by adding the additional information to the table 61. Note that if a storage period is set for the luggage to be stored separately, the manager may be able to register the storage period as additional information in the table 61 by operating the display operation unit 21, etc. Of course, information other than the storage period, for example, the reception date and time when the manager touches the decision key 58C (see FIG. 13) after completing the information input, may also be able to be registered in the table 61 as additional information.

As described above, when the manager takes the luggage to be stored separately and the separate storage slip 51 issued from the locker device 1 back to the management office and has the reading unit 22 of the management device 2 read the code C1 of the separate storage slip 51, information including at least the reading result of the reading unit 22 is automatically input as separate storage information to the management device 2 and stored in the memory unit 33. Therefore, the manager does not have to handwrite or manually input information regarding separate storage, and can prevent errors caused by handwriting or manual input. This improves the convenience of inputting information when removing luggage from the locker 3 and storing it separately. In addition, if the manager inputs additional information regarding separate storage into the management device 2 using the display operation unit 21, not only the information read from the separate storage slip 51 by the reading unit 22 but also this additional information can be stored as separate storage information in the memory unit 33.

When a customer goes to the locker device 1 to retrieve luggage that has been deposited in the locker 3, as described above, the customer operates the display operation unit 11 of the control device 4 to select the luggage retrieval process, and holds the code printed on the usage certificate over the code reader 13 or holds their IC card over the card reader 19.

If the luggage in this locker 3 has already been taken out by the manager for separate storage, the memory unit 30 of the control device 4 stores code C1 information (see FIG. 9) related to the separate storage of this luggage. At least some information (door number, start date and time of use, etc.) overlaps between the code C1 information and the usage information corresponding to the usage certificate or IC card held up by the user. When the control unit 25 of the control device 4 finds the code C1 information corresponding to the usage certificate or IC card held up by the user in the memory unit 30, it switches the display operation unit 11 to display the guide screen 65 shown in FIG. 15, and controls the issuing unit 27 to print and issue the separate storage certificate 66 shown in FIG. 16 to the issuing port 18. The locker 3 from which the luggage of this user has been taken out may already be in use by another user, and since the locker 3 in this case is locked, this user cannot open the door 3C.

The information screen 65 displays information 65A informing the customer that their luggage is being stored at the management office because the usage period has expired, contact information 65B such as the telephone number of the management office, and information 65C urging the customer to come to the management office with a separate storage certificate 66 that will be issued soon. In this way, the display operation unit 11 displaying the information screen 65 functions as an example of a notification unit that notifies the customer that their luggage is being stored separately.

The separate storage certificate 66 is a rectangular piece of paper that is an example of the second document. The separate storage certificate 66 includes a title 66A, current usage information 66B for the locker 3 related to the separate storage, remarks 66C, and code C2, which are written in this order, for example, from the top. The usage information 66B is information that overlaps at least a part of the information of the code C1 stored in the memory unit 30 of the locker device 1, that is, the usage information 51B (see FIG. 9) of the separate storage slip 51. The usage information 66B in this embodiment includes the start date and time of use of the locker 3, the location of use corresponding to the location name described above, the door number, the key number, the date and time of separate storage, and the date and time of issue of the separate storage certificate 66. Note that the usage information 66B in the case where the user has paid the usage fee with electronic money on an IC card includes the identification information of the IC card instead of the key number. The remarks information 66C includes information that the customer's luggage is being stored at the management office due to the expiration of the usage period, contact information, and a message encouraging the customer to contact the contact information. Code C2 is a coded version of at least a portion (all of it in this embodiment) of the usage information 66B. Code C2 also includes the management ID assigned to the corresponding code C1. Code C2 may further include at least any of the above-mentioned overtime, basic charge, overtime charge, and unit number. To distinguish between code C1 and code C2, code C1 may be called the first code C1 and code C2 may be called the second code C2.

As described above, in the locker device 1, the display operation unit 11 accepts an instruction from a customer to remove luggage from a locker 3, but if the luggage in the locker 3 related to this instruction has already been removed for separate storage, the issuing unit 27 issues a separate storage certificate 66 in which at least a portion of the usage information of the locker 3 is written as code C2. In response to the issuance of the separate storage certificate 66, the control unit 25 of the locker device 1 may delete the information of the corresponding code C1 that has been temporarily stored from the memory unit 30, or may store it in another memory area of the memory unit 30 as history information.

The customer goes to the management office with the separate storage certificate 66 received from the locker device 1, presents the separate storage certificate 66 to the manager, and requests the handover of the luggage. After receiving the separate storage certificate 66, the manager performs identity verification of the customer as necessary, and performs input related to the return of the separately stored luggage in the management device 2. Figures 17 to 19 are schematic diagrams showing an example of the display contents on the display operation unit 21 of the management device 2. Since the display operation unit 21 of the management device 2 in the standby state displays the above-mentioned menu screen 55, the manager operates the input unit 55C as described above to enter his/her staff number in the input field 55B to log in, and then touches the handover key 55E (see Figure 10). Then, the control unit 31 switches the display operation unit 21 to display the guide screen 71 shown in Figure 17.

The guidance screen 71 displays guidance 71A urging the administrator to hold code C2 (see FIG. 16) of the separate storage certificate 66 over the reading unit 22. When the administrator holds code C2 over the reading unit 22 and the reading unit 22 reads code C2 from the separate storage certificate 66, the control unit 31 refers to table 61 (see FIG. 14) in the memory unit 33 and searches for separate storage information linked to the management ID included in this code C2. When the control unit 31 finds the corresponding separate storage information, that is, when it obtains from table 61 the separate storage information corresponding to the reading result of code C2 by the reading unit 22, it switches to display a confirmation screen 72 shown in FIG. 18 on the display operation unit 21.

If the separate storage certificate 66 presented by the customer is different from the separate storage certificate 66 issued by the management company to which the manager belongs, the control unit 31 may notify, by displaying on the display operation unit 21, that the separate storage certificate read by the reading unit 22 is incorrect. Also, if the storage period in the separate storage information found by the control unit 31 through a search has expired, the control unit 31 may notify, by displaying on the display operation unit 21, that the corresponding luggage has been disposed of due to the expiration of the storage period. In these cases, the confirmation screen 72 is not displayed on the display operation unit 21.

The confirmation screen 72 displays, for example from the top, a guide message 72A stating that the characteristics and storage area of the customer's luggage are as follows, a guide message 72B urging the manager to have the customer confirm the luggage characteristics, luggage information 72C indicating the luggage characteristics and storage area, and a confirmation message 72D asking the manager whether the luggage characteristics are correct. The luggage information 72C is at least a part of the additional information (see FIG. 14) in the separate storage information obtained by the control unit 31 from table 61.

In this way, the control unit 31 outputs the luggage information 72C, which is information including at least the acquisition result acquired from the table 61, as an example of output information on the display operation unit 21. Therefore, the manager can easily and accurately acquire information regarding luggage to be returned to the customer among the luggage stored separately from the output information automatically output from the management device 2. This allows the luggage to be returned to the customer to be easily and quickly identified, removed from the storage area, and returned to the customer. This improves the convenience of returning luggage stored separately. Note that the above advantages of the code C2 of the separate storage certificate 66 can also be obtained in a configuration in which the separate storage information is manually entered into the table 61 by the manager, or in a configuration in which the separate storage information is transmitted online from the locker device 1 to the management device 2 and registered in the table 61.

The administrator asks the customer about the baggage characteristics and checks whether these characteristics match the baggage characteristics listed in the baggage information 72C. On the confirmation screen 72, for example, below the confirmation text 72D, a YES key 72E for when the baggage characteristics match, and a NO key 72F for when the baggage characteristics do not match are displayed side by side.

When the manager touches the YES key 72E after confirming that the characteristics of the luggage inquired about by the customer match those described in the luggage information 72C, the control unit 31 switches to display the collection screen 73 shown in FIG. 19 on the display operation unit 21. On the collection screen 73, a guide message 73A urging the manager to collect an additional fee for separate storage from the customer, and fee information 73B on the fee to be collected are displayed, for example, from the top in this order. The fee information 73B includes information 73C on the excess fee mentioned above, information 73D on the fee for storing the luggage at the management office, and information 73E on the additional fee equivalent to the total of these fees.

The control unit 31 obtains excess fee information 73C from table 61 (see FIG. 14). The control unit 31 calculates the storage fee based on a predetermined calculation formula. The control unit 31 then calculates the additional fee for separate storage by adding the excess fee in information 73C and the storage fee in information 73D. Information 73E about the additional fee is included in the output information output by the display operation unit 21. Therefore, the manager can easily obtain information about the additional fee for luggage to be returned to the customer from the output information. This allows the manager to shorten the time it takes to return luggage by promptly requesting payment of the additional fee from the customer, thereby improving the convenience of returning luggage stored separately.

When the manager collects the additional fee from the customer, the separately stored luggage is handed over to the customer. Then, when the manager touches the end key 73F displayed, for example, below the fee information 73B on the collection screen 73, the control unit 31 completes the process of handing over the separately stored luggage, and switches the display operation unit 21 to the previously mentioned menu screen 55 (see FIG. 10).

The menu screen 55 may be divided into a login screen for inputting the staff number etc., and a selection screen for selecting storage or collection of luggage. In that case, the login screen displays an input field 55B and an input section 55C, and the selection screen displays a storage key 55D and a delivery key 55E (see FIG. 10). The control unit 31 may switch the selection screen to the display operation unit 21 in response to the administrator touching the end key 73F, and then, if a predetermined time has passed without any operation on the input screen, the control unit 31 may switch the login screen to the display operation unit 21.

This invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

For example, in the embodiment described above, there is only one locker device 1, but there may be multiple locker devices.

In addition, the manager who takes the luggage home may take a picture of the luggage with a camera, and the image data may be registered in table 61 (see FIG. 14) as the additional information described above. The camera constitutes the locker management system 100. In this case, an image of the luggage based on related image data may be displayed as luggage information 72C on the confirmation screen 72 during the luggage delivery procedure (see FIG. 18). If an image of the luggage is used as confirmation information during the luggage delivery procedure, there is no need to enter the characteristics of the luggage on the first input screen 57 (see FIG. 12) described above.

The above-mentioned separate storage certificate 66 (see FIG. 16) may include the excess fee. However, since the owner of the separately stored luggage must pay not only the excess fee but also the storage fee, if only the excess fee is written in the separate storage certificate 66 so that it can be recognized as letters, numbers, etc., the customer may mistakenly believe that they only need to pay the excess fee, which may lead to future trouble. Therefore, it is preferable that the excess fee is included in the code C2 as coded information (information that cannot be recognized as letters, numbers, etc.). Alternatively, if the locker device 1 can obtain information on the additional fee (see FIG. 19), which is the sum of the excess fee and the storage fee, from the management device 2, the additional fee may be written in the separate storage certificate 66 so that it can be recognized as letters, numbers, etc. In this case, the excess fee and the storage fee may be written together with the additional fee in the separate storage certificate 66 as a breakdown of the additional fee.

Also, limited to customers who pay in cash, it is possible to hand over the separately stored luggage to the customer without issuing a separate storage certificate 66A, and instead use the usage certificate issued at the time of deposit instead of the separate storage certificate 66A. In this case, the usage certificate is assigned a unique transaction number, and the same transaction number is also linked to the contents of the corresponding separate storage ticket 51 (see Figure 9) and the separate storage information in table 61 (see Figure 14). Therefore, the user's luggage can be identified from this transaction number, and the luggage can be returned after going through the necessary procedures.

The locker device 1 installed in stations and public facilities has a function to suspend the use of all lockers 3 during the visit of an important person and for the preparation period, for example, one week, prior to the visit, as a counter-terrorism measure when an important person visits. To activate such a function, the administrator causes the locker device 1 to execute the following door in use setting process. Specifically, the administrator first touches the menu key 42F (see FIG. 4) corresponding to the suspended door setting, out of the multiple menu keys 42D on the menu screen 42 described above. The control unit 25 then switches and displays the setting screen 81 shown in FIG. 20 on the display operation unit 11.

The setting screen 81 displays, for example from the top, a title 81A, the current date and time 81B, a guide 81C that prompts the administrator to select the period during which the locker 3 is out of use, a selection box 81D for selecting the start date and time of the period during which the locker 3 is out of use, for example in a pull-down format, and a selection box 81E for selecting the end date and time of the period during which the locker 3 is out of use, for example in a pull-down format. There may be multiple selection boxes 81D and 81E for each of the year, month, day, hour, and minute.

The administrator operates the selection boxes 81D and 81E to select the start date and time and the end date and time of the suspension period, and then touches the confirmation key 81F displayed, for example, at the bottom of the setting screen 81 to confirm the current selection. As a result, all lockers 3 in the locker device 1 are suspended from use during the suspension period from the start date and time to the end date and time, so users cannot deposit luggage in the lockers 3. Luggage left in the lockers 3 is removed by the administrator by the start date and time of the suspension period and stored separately as described above. On the other hand, the administrator can cancel the current selection by touching the cancel key 81G displayed, for example, next to the confirmation key 81F on the setting screen 81. Note that during the suspension period, only the selected specific lockers 3 may be suspended, rather than all lockers 3 in the locker device 1.

Even if lockers 3 are taken out of use in this way, from a crime prevention perspective during the period when they are not in use, the doors 3C of the lockers 3 need to be locked. In this case, it would be a heavy burden for the manager to go to the locker area and lock the lockers 3 one by one, and labor costs would increase. In particular, if there are a large number of lockers 3, there is a risk that all of the lockers 3 cannot be locked by the start date and time. If all of the lockers 3 are locked early, before the start date and time, in anticipation of this, sales that would be made through the use of the lockers 3 in the period from this timing to the start date and time will be missed.

In the setting screen 81, for example, in the area between the select boxes 81D and 81E, a YES key 81H and a NO key 81I are displayed side by side to set whether or not to automatically lock the doors 3C of the lockers 3 to be suspended on the start date of the suspension period. If the administrator selects to enable automatic locking by touching the YES key 81H when selecting the start date and time and the end date and time, the control unit 25 of the locker device 1 will suspend the use of all lockers 3 and lock the unlocked lockers 3 in response to restarting the locker device 1 on the start date of the suspension period or the day before.

The locker device 1 is restarted every day during the night, for example at around 2:00 a.m., when customers are not taking their belongings in or out of the lockers 3. Therefore, even if the lockers 3 are taken out of service and locked when the locker device 1 is restarted, customers will not be inconvenienced by having their belongings trapped inside while they are being retrieved.

If the lockers 3 can be automatically locked in this way, in addition to being taken out of service, there is no need to increase the number of managers to lock the lockers 3, which reduces the burden on the manager and cuts labor costs. In addition, the lockers 3 can be used until just before the period of suspension, which reduces sales losses. This configuration of automatically locking multiple lockers 3 simultaneously can also be applied to parking lots where a lockable and unlockable gate is installed for each parking space, for example.

The control device 4 of the locker device 1 is equipped with two issuing units 27 to use up the roll paper for forms without waste and to deal with printing problems. In principle, one issuing unit 27A is used as the main one, and when the roll paper of this issuing unit 27 runs out, the other issuing unit 27B is used (see Figures 1 and 2). With this type of operation, dust may accumulate on the roll paper of issuing unit 27B, which is left unused for a long period of time before being used, and this dust may burn onto the print head of issuing unit 27B, causing printing defects. If the above-mentioned code C1 (see Figure 9) or code C2 (see Figure 16) becomes unclear due to printing defects, problems may occur in subsequent processing, so it is necessary to prevent printing defects.

The control unit 25 of the control device 4 may therefore occasionally operate the sub issuing unit 27B before enough dust accumulates on the roll paper to affect the print head. As an example, the control unit 25 may issue slips using the issuing unit 27B once every three days. This is not limited to the locker device 1, but when multiple devices with the same functions, such as the issuing unit 27, are provided and one of the devices is idle for an extended period of time until it is time to use it, it is advisable to occasionally operate the idle device.

The operation of the locker device 1 includes an "unlocked standby" operation in which available, vacant lockers 3 are kept unlocked while waiting, as well as a "locked standby" operation in which not only the lockers 3 in use but also the available, vacant lockers 3 are kept locked.

In the lock standby operation, when a customer pays the usage fee for the locker 3 selected for depositing their luggage, the door 3C of this locker 3 is unlocked, and when the customer then places their luggage inside the locker 3 and closes the door 3C, this locker 3 is automatically locked. In this case, it is assumed that after payment, the customer may want to change to a different locker 3 because their luggage is too large to store, or may want to cancel the use of this locker 3. If an additional fee is required to change the size of the locker 3 (for example, from small to large), the size of the locker 3 can be changed by paying the additional fee in cash or by IC payment.

If the locker device 1 is equipped with a cash processing unit 26, the usage fee can be returned to the user in cash through the banknote entrance/exit 15 or coin return opening 17 in response to cancellation of the locker 3. Also, if it is necessary to return the difference in the usage fee in response to a change in the size of the locker 3 (for example, from large to small), the difference in cash can be returned to the user.

However, for the sake of simplicity, in the case of a locker device 1 that does not have a cash processing unit 26, i.e., a locker device 1 that is exclusively for IC payment, the usage fee and the difference cannot be returned to the customer in cash, nor can the usage fee and the difference be returned to the customer in electronic money. Therefore, in such a locker device 1, in both the cancellation and resizing of the locker 3, the control unit 25 executes the cancellation process for the locker 3 for which payment has been made. Specifically, in response to the operation of the display operation unit 11 by the customer to cancel or resize the locker 3, the control unit 25 causes the issuing unit 27 to print a cancellation certificate (not shown) or a coupon and issue it to the issuing port 18 (see Figures 1 and 2). Then, when the door 3C of the canceled locker 3 is closed, the control unit 25 locks this door 3C. This ends the cancellation process.

A customer who has been issued a cancellation certificate can receive a refund of the usage fee paid by bringing the cancellation certificate to the management office and presenting it to the manager. A customer who has been issued a coupon can receive a reduction in the usage fee for the locker 3 by entering the coupon information on the display operation unit 11 of the locker device 1 when paying for the locker 3 the next time the customer uses the locker. Note that in the case of a change in the size of the locker 3, which results in a difference in the price that must be returned to the customer, the transaction is not treated as a cancellation, but rather a coupon for the difference in the price can be issued and the customer can leave their luggage in the new locker 3.

By issuing cancellation certificates and coupons in this way, it is possible to suppress losses to customers and reduce complaints from customers, and it is possible to anticipate that customers will use the locker 3 next time. Furthermore, even in a locker device 1 that is equipped with a cash processing unit 26, it may be possible to issue cancellation certificates and coupons when change is insufficient.

In the locker device 1, the number and layout of the lockers 3 may be changed by increasing or decreasing the number of rows of lockers 3 arranged vertically. It is preferable to change the number and layout of the lockers 3 (hereinafter referred to as "arrangement change") after all the lockers 3 are empty. However, if luggage has already been stored in the lockers 3, conventionally, the manager removes the luggage from the lockers 3 and stores it separately in the management office before rearranging the lockers. If a user attempts to retrieve luggage after the rearrangement, the locker device 1 issues a separate storage certificate similar to the separate storage certificate 66 described above, and the user presents this separate storage certificate to the manager at the management office to receive their luggage. This separate storage is at the convenience of the management office, so no additional fee is charged to the user, and in some cases the usage fee must be returned to the user.

The locker device 1 is configured so that the arrangement of the lockers 3 can be changed without such separate storage. Specifically, when the manager touches the menu key 42G (see FIG. 4) corresponding to the forced unlocking of the locker 3 among the menu keys 42D on the menu screen 42 of the locker device 1 in order to remove luggage from the locker 3, the control unit 25 of the locker device 1 forcibly unlocks the locker 3 and issues a slip with a code to the issuing port 18. This code includes usage information such as the key number of the locker 3. Then, after the construction company or the like has rearranged the locker 3, the manager returns the luggage that was previously removed to the relocated locker 3, and the code on the slip is read by the code reader 13. Then, the luggage is managed by the control device 4 of the locker device 1 as something that was once removed from the locker 3 but was deposited again in the relocated locker 3 in the manager mode. Therefore, a customer who comes to collect their luggage after the relocation can unlock the door 3C of the relocated locker 3 using the original key number linked to the user certificate or IC card issued at the time of depositing the luggage, and retrieve the luggage. The control unit 25 may display on the display operation unit 11 a message that the location of the locker 3 in which the customer's luggage is stored has changed, as well as information such as the location of the new locker 3.

If the location of lockers 3 can be changed in this way without requiring separate storage, it is possible to eliminate the need to store items taken from lockers 3 separately at the management office and return them to the user, and it is possible to collect a fee from the user according to the period of use of locker 3.

The various features described above may be selected and combined as needed.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Locker device 2 Management device 3 Locker 11 Display operation unit 21 Display operation unit 22 Reading unit 27 Issuing unit 31 Control unit 33 Memory unit 51 Separate storage slip 66 Separate storage certificate 100 Locker management system C1 Code C2 Code

Claims (6)

a locker device including a locker, a reception unit that receives instructions from a manager for separate storage of items in the locker, and an issuing unit that issues a first form on which at least a part of locker usage information related to the instructions received by the reception unit is written as a code;
A locker management system including a management device having a reading unit that reads the code from the first document and a memory unit that stores information including at least the reading results of the reading unit as separately stored information. The management device includes an input unit into which additional information regarding storage is input,
The locker management system of claim 1 , wherein the separately stored information includes the additional information. a locker device including: a locker; a reception unit that receives an instruction from a user to remove an item from the locker; and an issuing unit that issues a second slip containing at least a part of the locker's usage information as a code when the item from the locker related to the instruction received by the reception unit has already been removed for separate storage;
A locker management system including a management device having a memory unit that stores information including at least a portion of the usage information as separately stored information, a reading unit that reads the code from the second form, an acquisition unit that acquires the separately stored information corresponding to the reading result of the reading unit from the memory unit, and an output unit that outputs information including at least the acquisition result of the acquisition unit as output information. A calculation unit for calculating an additional fee for the separate storage is further included,
The locker management system of claim 3 , wherein the output information includes information about the additional charge. A method for separately storing an item in a locker management system including a locker device having a locker and a management device having a memory unit, comprising:
a receiving step in which the locker device receives an instruction from a manager for separate storage of the item in the locker;
an issuing step of the locker device issuing a first slip on which at least a part of the locker usage information related to the instruction received in the receiving step is written as a code;
a reading step in which the management device reads the code from the first document;
A method for separately storing items in a locker management system, comprising a storage step in which the management device stores information including at least the reading results from the reading step in the memory unit as separate storage information. A method for separately storing an item in a locker management system including a locker device having a locker and a management device having a memory unit, comprising:
a receiving step in which the locker device receives an instruction from a customer to remove an item from the locker;
an issuing step in which, when the item in the locker related to the instruction received in the receiving step has already been removed for separate storage, the locker device issues a second slip on which at least a part of the locker usage information is written as a code;
a storage step in which the management device stores information including at least a part of the usage information in the storage unit as separately stored information;
a reading step in which the management device reads the code from the second document;
an acquisition step in which the management device acquires, from the storage unit, the separately stored information corresponding to the read result in the reading step;
A method for separately storing items in a locker management system, comprising an output step in which the management device outputs information including at least the results obtained in the acquisition step as output information .

Images