JP7634388B2 - Charging equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a charging device equipped with a device storage box for storing devices such as tablet terminals while charging them.

Conventionally, a charging device equipped with a device storage box that can store devices such as tablet terminals and charge the devices while they are stored is, for example, as described in Patent Document 1.

JP 2014-121511 A

In the charging device described in Patent Document 1, the security of all stored devices can be ensured by, for example, locking the door of the device storage box. However, because the door must be opened and closed to take devices in and out, there is a problem that opening the door leaves devices other than the device being taken in and out unprotected. In addition, with the charging device described in Patent Document 1, there is also the problem that it is difficult to manage which devices are stored in the device storage box and which devices have been removed from the device storage box.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a charging device that provides higher security for storing devices in a device storage box than conventional devices, and that makes it easy to manage the storage conditions of each device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a charging device comprising: a device storage box having a plurality of device storage sections capable of storing rechargeable devices; a charging mechanism section for charging the devices stored in the device storage sections; an electronic lock device having an electronic lock that allows/prevents the device from being removed from the device storage section; and a control device for controlling the operation of the electronic lock, wherein each of the device storage sections is capable of storing one of the devices, and each of the device storage sections is provided with an electronic lock, while a reading section is provided for reading specific identification information possessed by an identifier , and the identification information and the electronic lock are set in correspondence with each other in the control device, and when the identification information is read by the reading section, the control device operates the electronic lock corresponding to the identification information to allow/prevent the device from being removed from the device storage section , and further, specific identification information possessed by a specific identifier is set in the control device, and when the specific identification information is read by the reading section, the control device sets the states of all of the electronic locks to the same state regarding allowing/preventing the device from being removed from the device storage section .

According to the present invention, each device storage section can store one device , an electronic lock is provided for each device storage section, a reading section is provided for reading predetermined identification information held by the identifier , and the identification information and the electronic lock are associated and set in the control device, and when the identification information is read by the reading section, the control device operates the electronic lock corresponding to the identification information to allow/prevent the device from being removed from the device storage section. Therefore, a high-security charging device can be achieved in which other devices are not left vulnerable when a predetermined device is inserted or removed.
In addition , since the identification information and the electronic lock are set in correspondence with each other, it is possible to store and display the operating mode of the electronic lock in association with the identification information , making it possible to make a charging device that can easily manage the storage status of each device.

1 is a perspective explanatory diagram showing a charging device according to a first embodiment from the front side; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device, tablet terminal, and charging mechanism unit of the charging device of the first embodiment from the front side, with the second electronic lock from the left in the locked state. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device, tablet terminal, and charging mechanism unit of the charging device of the first embodiment from the right side with the second electronic lock from the left in the locked state. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device, tablet terminal, and charging mechanism unit of the charging device of the first embodiment from the front, with the second electronic lock from the left in the unlocked state. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device, tablet terminal, and charging mechanism unit of the charging device of the first embodiment from the right side, with the second electronic lock from the left in the unlocked state. FIG. 11 is a perspective explanatory view showing a charging device according to a second embodiment from the front side; FIG. 11 is a front perspective explanatory diagram showing an electronic lock device of a charging device of a second embodiment in which the right-most electronic lock is in a locked state, a tablet terminal with a charging case attached, and a charging mechanism unit. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device of the charging device of the second embodiment with the rightmost electronic lock in the locked state, a tablet terminal with a charging case attached, and a charging mechanism unit from the right side. FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of an electronic lock device of a charging device according to a second embodiment in which the right-most electronic lock is in an unlocked state, a tablet terminal with a charging case attached, and a charging mechanism unit. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device of the charging device of the second embodiment, in which the electronic lock on the right end is in the unlocked state, a tablet terminal with a charging case attached, and a charging mechanism unit, viewed from the right side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the charging case.

The following is a detailed explanation of a charging device equipped with a device storage box (hereinafter simply referred to as a box) according to an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory diagram showing a charging device 1 according to a first embodiment from the front side. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device 3, tablet terminal 50, and charging mechanism unit of the charging device 1 from the front side when the second electronic lock 11 from the left is in the locked state. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device 3, tablet terminal 50, and charging mechanism unit of the charging device 1 from the right side when the second electronic lock 11 from the left is in the locked state. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device 3, tablet terminal 50, and charging mechanism unit of the charging device 1 from the front side when the second electronic lock 11 from the left is in the unlocked state. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device 3, tablet terminal 50, and charging mechanism unit of the charging device 1 from the right side when the second electronic lock 11 from the left is in the unlocked state.

The charging device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a case 2 for storing a tablet terminal 50 as a device, and an electronic lock device 3 for allowing/preventing removal of the tablet terminal 50 from the case 2. The case 2 is, for example, used as a teacher's desk, and includes a main body and legs for supporting the main body. The main body is provided with a plurality of device storage recesses 4, 4... in which the tablet terminal 50 can be stored, arranged in the left-right direction. Each device storage recess 4 opens to the front of the main body, and the left-right width and vertical length of the device storage recess 4 are approximately one size larger than the thickness and vertical length of the tablet terminal 50, and the front-to-back depth of the device storage recess 4 is sufficiently deeper than the front-to-back length of the tablet terminal 50. In addition, the upper front end of the partition wall 5 that separates the device storage recesses 4, 4 adjacent to each other on the left and right is chamfered so as not to interfere with the lock bar 12 of the electronic lock 11 that operates as described below. Furthermore, a cabinet electrode 6 that can be connected to a charging terminal (not shown) of the tablet terminal 50 is provided on the bottom (rear) of each device storage recess 4, and the cabinet electrodes 6, 6... are electrically connected to an electric wire 7 arranged inside the main body as one element of the charging mechanism. The electric wire 7 is connected to a power supply unit (not shown) (one element of the charging mechanism, such as a power plug or power outlet) provided in the box 2, and commercial power is supplied to the cabinet electrodes 6, 6... via the power supply unit.

On the other hand, the electronic lock device 3 includes a plurality of electronic locks 11, 11... provided in correspondence with each of the device storage recesses 4, and a control device 10 for controlling the operation of the electronic locks 11, 11.... The electronic locks 11 are provided above each device storage recess 4 on the front surface of the main body of the box 2, and include a lock bar 12 that moves in and out of the vertical direction, and a drive unit 13 for operating the lock bar 12. The lock bar 12 is a column extending in the vertical direction, and can be moved between a lock position where it protrudes downward and is located in front of the tablet terminal 50 stored in the device storage recess 4, and an unlock position where it retracts upward and retreats from the front of the tablet terminal 50. The control device 10 includes a reading unit 14 for reading an ID card 51 (described later) and a display unit 15 for displaying the storage status of the tablet terminal 50, and is built into the main body with the reading unit 14 and the display unit 15 exposed to the front surface of the main body of the box 2. The control device 10 includes a CPU (not shown) as a control unit, a memory unit, a power supply unit, and the like. In addition, the control device 10 is connected to an electric wire 7, and power is supplied to the control device 10 via the electric wire 7. Furthermore, 16 is a control line that connects the control device 10 to the electronic locks 11, 11, etc.

The charging device 1 stores the tablet terminals and manages the storage conditions of the tablet terminals as described below.
First, the ID cards (identifiers having identification information) carried by users of each tablet terminal are associated with the electronic locks, and the association between the ID cards and the electronic locks is set in advance in the control device 10 using an input terminal (not shown) or the like. That is, in the charging device 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 5, ten electronic locks 11, 11... are provided in the left-right direction, so up to ten ID cards with different identification information are prepared, and each ID card is associated with one electronic lock 11 that is different from the other ID cards. In addition to these ID cards, a specific ID card (identifier having specific identification information) is set as a master card, and the master card is also set in the control device 10.

In the charging device 1 configured as described above, when an ID card is held over the reading unit 14, the control device 10 reads the ID card and detects the state of the electronic lock 11 corresponding to the ID card. If the electronic lock 11 is in a locked state with the lock bar 12 in the locked position, the control device 10 moves the lock bar 12 to the unlocked position to unlock the electronic lock 11, whereas if the electronic lock 11 is in an unlocked state, the control device 10 moves the lock bar 12 to the locked position to lock the electronic lock 11. Also, if the ID card held over the reading unit 14 is a master card, the control device 10 detects the states of all the electronic locks 11, 11..., and if any one of the electronic locks 11 is in a locked state, the control device 10 sets all the electronic locks 11, 11... to an unlocked state, whereas if all the electronic locks 11, 11... are in an unlocked state, the control device 10 sets all the electronic locks 11, 11... to a locked state. Furthermore, when the control device 10 sets the electronic lock 11 to the unlocked state, it displays information indicating the electronic lock 11 in the unlocked state (for example, a number or symbol attached to the device storage recess 4 corresponding to the electronic lock 11) on the display unit 15, and ends the display on the display unit 15 when the electronic lock 11 is set to the locked state.

Here, the storage of tablet terminals in the charging device 1 and the management of the storage status of tablet terminals will be specifically described. First, with regard to the association between ID cards and electronic locks, the ID card 51 is associated with the second electronic lock 11 from the left and set in the control device 10. Then, when it is desired to remove and use the tablet terminal 50, the ID card 51 is held over the reading unit 14 (Fig. 1). This releases the corresponding electronic lock 11, and the lock bar 12 retracts from the front of the tablet terminal 50, allowing the tablet terminal 50 to be removed from the device storage recess 4 (Figs. 4 and 5). At this time, information indicating the second electronic lock 11 from the left (for example, the symbol "B" assigned to the second device storage recess 4 from the left) is displayed on the display unit 15.

On the other hand, when storing the tablet terminal 50, the user must first confirm that the second electronic lock 11 from the left is in the unlocked state (if the electronic lock 11 is in the locked state, the user can hold the ID card 51 over the reading unit 14 to unlock it), then store the tablet terminal 50 in the device storage recess 4 and hold the ID card 51 over the reading unit 14. This causes the corresponding electronic lock 11 to be locked, and the lock bar 12 to protrude forward of the tablet terminal 50, preventing the tablet terminal 50 from being removed from the device storage recess 4 (FIGS. 2 and 3). When the electronic lock 11 is locked, the display on the display unit 15 ends. Furthermore, when the tablet terminal 50 is stored in the device storage recess 4, the charging terminal of the tablet terminal 50 is connected to the cabinet electrode 6, and charging of the tablet terminal 50 begins.

According to the charging device 1 configured as described above, an electronic lock 11 is provided for each device storage recess 4 that stores a tablet terminal 50, and when an ID card 51 is held over the reading unit 14, the electronic lock 11 corresponding to that ID card 51 (in this embodiment, the second electronic lock 11 from the left) is activated to allow the tablet terminal 50 to be removed from the device storage recess 4 or to prevent the tablet terminal 50 from being removed from the device storage recess 4. This makes it possible to provide a highly secure charging device 1 that does not leave devices stored in other device storage recesses 4 vulnerable when the tablet terminal 50 is inserted or removed from the case 2.

The control device 10 is also configured to associate the ID cards carried by each user with the electronic locks 11, 11, etc., and when an ID card is held over the reading unit 14, the control device 10 activates the electronic lock 11 corresponding to that ID card, and when the electronic lock 11 is deactivated, the display unit 15 displays information indicating that the electronic lock 11 is in the deactivated state. This allows the charging device 1 to easily manage the storage status of each tablet terminal.

Second Example
FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory diagram showing the charging device 21 according to the second embodiment from the front side. FIG. 7 is a perspective explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device 23 of the charging device 21 in which the right-end electronic lock 31 is in a locked state, the tablet terminal 50 to which the charging case 25 is attached, and the charging mechanism unit from the front side. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device 23 of the charging device 21 in which the right-end electronic lock 31 is in a locked state, the tablet terminal 50 to which the charging case 25 is attached, and the charging mechanism unit from the right side. FIG. 9 is a perspective explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device 23 of the charging device 21 in which the right-end electronic lock 31 is in an unlocked state, the tablet terminal 50 to which the charging case 25 is attached, and the charging mechanism unit from the front side. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the electronic lock device 23 of the charging device 21 in which the right-end electronic lock 31 is in an unlocked state, the tablet terminal 50 to which the charging case 25 is attached, and the charging mechanism unit from the right side. FIG. 11 is a perspective explanatory diagram showing the charging case 25.

The charging device 21 of the second embodiment includes a case 22 for storing a tablet terminal 50 as a device, and an electronic lock device 23 for allowing/preventing removal of the tablet terminal 50 from the case 22. The case 22 includes a main body and legs for supporting the main body, as with the case 2 of the first embodiment. The main body is provided with a plurality of device storage recesses 24, 24... arranged in the left-right direction, each capable of storing the tablet terminal 50 together with the charging case 25. Each device storage recess 24 opens to the front of the main body, and the left-right width, up-down length, and front-to-back depth of the device storage recess 24 are approximately the same as the thickness, up-down length, and front-to-back depth of the charging case 25, respectively (strictly speaking, the front-to-back length of the charging case 25 is slightly longer than the front-to-back depth only). Additionally, a cabinet electrode 26 that can be connected to an attachment electrode 28 of the charging case 25 described later is provided on the bottom (rear surface) of each device storage recess 24, and the cabinet electrodes 26, 26... are electrically connected to an electric wire 27 arranged inside the main body as an element of the charging mechanism. The electric wire 27 is connected to a power supply unit (not shown) (an element of the charging mechanism, such as a power plug or power outlet) provided in the box 22, and commercial power is supplied to the cabinet electrodes 26, 26... via the power supply unit.

The charging case 25 is formed in a rectangular box shape with an opening on the right side, and can be stored in the device storage recess 24 in that position with the opening located on the right side. The charging case 25 can be attached to cover the surface of the tablet terminal 50 with the operation surface of the tablet terminal 50 exposed in the opening on the right side. Furthermore, the rear wall of the charging case 25 is provided with a terminal connector 52 that protrudes forward (inside the case) and can be connected to a charging terminal (not shown) of the tablet terminal 50, and an attachment electrode 28 that is exposed backward (outside the case) and can be connected to the cabinet electrode 26. In addition, the upper wall of the charging case 25 is provided with a latch recess 29 to which the lock bar 32 of the electronic lock 31, which operates as described below, is latched. The terminal connector 52 and the attachment electrode 28 are electrically connected by an electric circuit (not shown) built into the rear wall of the charging case 25. In addition to the charging case 25 described above, there are several other types of charging cases available, each with a different type and/or position of the terminal connector and a different size and shape of the opening on the right side depending on the type of tablet terminal (type and/or position of the charging terminal, size and shape of the tablet terminal, etc.).

On the other hand, the electronic lock device 23 comprises a plurality of electronic locks 31, 31... provided corresponding to each device storage recess 24, and a control device 30 that controls the operation of the electronic locks 31, 31.... The electronic lock 31 is provided above each device storage recess 24 on the front surface of the main body of the box body 22, and has a lock bar 32 that moves in and out in the vertical direction, and a drive unit 33 for operating the lock bar 32. The lock bar 32 is a columnar body that extends in the vertical direction, and is movable between a locked position where it protrudes downward into the device storage recess 24 and enters the latch recess 29 of the charging case 25 stored in the device storage recess 24, and an unlocked position where it retracts upward to the outside of the device storage recess 24 and comes out of the latch recess 29. The control device 30 has a reading unit 34 for reading the ID card 51 and a display unit 35 for displaying the storage status of the tablet terminal 50 (tablet terminal 50 with the charging case 25 attached), and is built into the main body with the reading unit 34 and display unit 35 exposed on the front surface of the main body of the box body 22. The control device 30 is provided with a CPU (not shown) as a control unit, a memory unit, a power supply unit, etc. The control device 30 is also connected to an electric wire 27, and power is supplied to the control device 30 via the electric wire 27. Furthermore, 36 is a control line that connects the control device 30 to the electronic locks 31, 31, ...

The charging device 21 stores the tablet terminal together with the charging case as described below, and manages the storage conditions of the tablet terminal to which the charging case is attached.
First, the ID cards (identifiers having identification information) carried by users of each tablet terminal are associated with the electronic locks, and the association between the ID cards and the electronic locks is set in advance in the control device 30 using an input terminal (not shown) or the like. That is, in the charging device 21 shown in Figures 6 to 10, ten electronic locks 31, 31, ... are provided in the left-right direction, so up to ten ID cards with different identification information are prepared, and each ID card is associated with one electronic lock 31 that is different from the other ID cards. In addition to these ID cards, a specific ID card (identifier having specific identification information) is set as a master card, and the master card is also set in the control device 30.

In the charging device 21 set as described above, when an ID card is held over the reading unit 34, the control device 30 reads the ID card and detects the state of the electronic lock 31 corresponding to the ID card. If the electronic lock 31 is in a locked state with the lock bar 32 in the locked position, the control device 30 moves the lock bar 32 to the unlocked position to unlock the electronic lock 31, whereas if the electronic lock 31 is in an unlocked state, the control device 10 moves the lock bar 32 to the locked position to lock the electronic lock 31. Also, if the ID card held over the reading unit 34 is a master card, the control device 10 detects the states of all the electronic locks 31, 31..., and if any one of the electronic locks 31 is in a locked state, the control device 10 sets all the electronic locks 31, 31... to an unlocked state, whereas if all the electronic locks 31, 31... are in an unlocked state, the control device 10 sets all the electronic locks 31, 31... to a locked state. Furthermore, when the control device 30 sets the electronic lock 31 to the unlocked state, it displays information indicating the electronic lock 31 in the unlocked state (for example, a number or symbol assigned to the device storage recess 24 corresponding to the electronic lock 31) on the display unit 35, and ends the display on the display unit 35 when the electronic lock 31 is set to the locked state.

Here, the storage of tablet terminals in the charging device 21 and the management of the storage status of tablet terminals will be specifically described. First, with regard to the association between the ID card and the electronic lock, the ID card 51 is associated with the electronic lock 31 on the right end and set in the control device 30. In addition, the charging case 25 corresponding to the type of tablet terminal 50 is attached to the tablet terminal 50, and when the tablet terminal 50 is used, it is used with the charging case 25 attached. Then, when it is desired to remove the tablet terminal 50 from the device storage recess 24, it is sufficient to hold the ID card 51 over the reading unit 34 (FIG. 6). Then, the corresponding electronic lock 31 is released, the lock bar 32 comes out of the latch recess 29, and the latched state between the electronic lock 31 and the charging case 25 is released, so that the charging case 25 can be removed from the device storage recess 24, and thus the tablet terminal 50 can be removed (FIGS. 9 and 10). At this time, the display unit 35 also displays information indicating the electronic lock 31 on the right end (for example, the symbol "J" attached to the device storage recess 24 on the right end).

On the other hand, when storing the tablet terminal 50, after confirming that the electronic lock 31 at the right end is in the unlocked state (if the electronic lock 31 is in the locked state, the ID card 51 can be held over the reading unit 34 to unlock it), the charging case 25 is stored in the device storage recess 24 with the opening of the charging case 25 facing to the right as described above, and the ID card 51 can be held over the reading unit 34. Then, the corresponding electronic lock 31 is locked, and the tip of the lock bar 32 protrudes into the latching recess 29, and the electronic lock 31 and the charging case 25 are latched, preventing the charging case 25 from being removed from the device storage recess 24, and thus the tablet terminal 50 from being removed (FIGS. 7 and 8). When the electronic lock 31 is locked, the display on the display unit 35 ends. Furthermore, when the charging case 25 is stored in the device storage recess 24, the attachment electrode 28 and the cabinet electrode 26 are connected, and charging of the tablet terminal 50 begins.

According to the charging device 21 configured as described above, an electronic lock 31 is provided for each device storage recess 24 that stores a tablet terminal 50, and when an ID card 51 is held over the reading unit 34, the electronic lock 31 corresponding to that ID card 51 (in this embodiment, the rightmost electronic lock 31) is activated to allow the tablet terminal 50 to be removed from the device storage recess 24 or to prevent the tablet terminal 50 from being removed from the device storage recess 24. This makes it possible to provide a highly secure charging device 21 in which devices stored in other device storage recesses 24 are not left unprotected when the tablet terminal 50 is inserted or removed from the case 22.

The control device 30 is set so that the ID cards carried by each user correspond to the electronic locks 31, 31, etc., and when an ID card is held over the reading unit 34, the control device 30 activates the electronic lock 31 corresponding to that ID card, and when the electronic lock 31 is released, information indicating the electronic lock 31 in the released state is displayed on the display unit 35. This allows the charging device 21 to easily manage the storage status of each tablet terminal.

Furthermore, a charging case 25 having a terminal connector 52 connectable to the charging terminal of the tablet terminal 50 is attached to the tablet terminal 50 in a state in which the charging terminal and the terminal connector 52 are connected, and the tablet terminal 50 is provided so that it can be used in this attached state. In addition, as such a charging case, a plurality of types of charging cases with different types and/or positions of terminal connectors are provided according to the differences in the types and/or positions of the charging terminals of the tablet terminals. Furthermore, the device storage recess 24 is capable of storing the tablet terminal 50 with the charging case 25 corresponding to the charging terminal attached thereto, and a cabinet electrode 26 electrically connected to the electric wire 27 is provided in each device storage recess 24, while an attachment electrode 28 is provided in the charging case 25 that is connected to the cabinet electrode 26 when the charging case 25 is stored in the device storage recess 24. Therefore, as long as the charging case 25 corresponding to the charging terminal is previously attached to the tablet terminal 50, the tablet terminal 50 can be used or stored simply by removing the tablet terminal 50 with the charging case 25 from the device storage recess 24 or storing it in the device storage recess 24. Therefore, compared to conventional charging devices that require connecting and disconnecting a charging cable to the charging terminal of the tablet terminal 50, the tablet terminal 50 can be easily stored while being charged.

The charging device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the overall configuration of the charging device, as well as the configuration of the electronic lock device and the configuration related to the storage and storage status management of the device, can be modified as necessary.

For example, in the above embodiment, the device is a tablet terminal, but the present invention can also be suitably applied to other chargeable devices such as mobile devices and portable computers.
In addition, in the above embodiment, when providing a plurality of device storage sections, a plurality of device storage recesses are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, but there is no problem if they are arranged in a plurality of rows in the up-down direction as well.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the storage status of the equipment is displayed on a display provided in the control device, but it is also possible to configure it so that, for example, an LED as a display is provided near each equipment storage section and the LED is lit/blinked depending on the storage status of the equipment (the operating status of the electronic lock and the reading status of the IC chip).
Furthermore, the design of the electronic lock to prevent the device from being removed from the device storage compartment can also be modified, and even when the charging case is attached, a lock bar may be made to protrude in front of the charging case, or an electronic lock may be provided below each device storage compartment and the lock bar may be made to protrude upward to lock the device. Furthermore, the electronic lock may be provided outside the box.

In addition, although the charging attachment is a charging case in the above embodiment, there is no problem if it is, for example, a sticker body that can be attached to the device, or a block body that is simply connected to the charging terminal of the device, and the design can be modified as appropriate.
In addition, in the above embodiment, the identification information is input to the control device by reading an ID card carried by the user, but it is also possible to use an IC card instead of an ID card, and instead of such a card, an input unit such as a numeric keypad may be provided on the control device so that the user can operate the input unit to input the identification information. It goes without saying that the control device may be installed outside the box.

1, 21: Charging device, 2, 22: Box, 3, 23: Electronic lock device, 4, 24: Equipment storage recess (equipment storage section), 6, 26: Cabinet electrode (box electrode), 7, 27: Electric wire (charging mechanism section), 10, 30: Control device, 11, 31: Electronic lock, 14, 34: Reading section (input section), 15, 35: Display section, 25: Charging case (charging attachment), 28: Attachment electrode, 50: Tablet terminal (equipment), 51: ID card (identification information).

Claims (1)

A charging device comprising: a device storage box having a plurality of device storage sections capable of storing chargeable devices; a charging mechanism section for charging the devices stored in the device storage sections; an electronic lock device for permitting/preventing removal of the devices from the device storage sections; and a control device for controlling the operation of the electronic lock,
Each of the equipment storage compartments can store one of the equipment , and the electronic lock is provided for each of the equipment storage compartments .
A reading unit is provided for reading predetermined identification information of an identifier , and the identification information is associated with the electronic lock and set in the control device,
When the identification information is read by the reading unit, the control device activates the electronic lock corresponding to the identification information to permit/prevent removal of the device from the device storage unit,
Further, specific identification information of a specific identifier is set in the control device,
The charging device is characterized in that, when the specific identification information is read by the reading unit, the control device sets the state of all the electronic locks to the same state regarding allowing/preventing the removal of the device from the device storage unit .

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