Storage system with adjacent lockers controlled by a microprocessor device

• US 5,231,272 A
• Filed: 04/07/1992
• Issued: 07/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mors (Actia Group)
• Original Assignee: Mors (Actia Group)
• Inventors: Mardon, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPPERD, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US07/866,103
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 340/825.31
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

A storage system with adjacent lockers comprising a keyboard-visualizing display screen connected to a microprocessor device and enabling an attendant to record the identity of a user; a dispenser device for delivering to the user a ticket onto which are stored at least the number of the locker assigned to the user and his identity and a device associated with each locker for receiving and reading the ticket, said system being applicable in railway stations or airports.

Claims

1. A storage system used in railway stations or airports comprising a plurality of adjacent lockers which are each one closed by a door;

a microprocessor device connected through the medium of a device with input/output interfaces to locks for opening and shutting doors of the lockers;

wherein said microprocessor device is also connected to a keyboard-displaying screen unit so as to enable an attendant located at a receiver desk to record the identity such as the surname, the identity card number or the passport number of a user presenting himself to the receiver position and to assign to the identity of the user a free locker number and an hourly slice of engagement of the locker while at the same time the user pays to the attendant the amount of the rent of the locker assigned to the user;

to a dispensing device delivering to the user a ticket with a magnetic track into which are stored in encoded form at least the number of the assigned locker, the identity of the user and the hourly slice of engagement of the locker assigned to the user; and

to a device for receiving and reading the ticket associated with each locker so that a reading device is associated with each locker;

the reading device associated to the free or engaged locker assigned to the user and having received the ticket of the latter is transmitting the information relating to the number of the locker, the identity of the user and said hourly slice of engagement of the assigned locker stored into the ticket to the microprocessor device which would check whether this information corresponds actually to the locker number assigned to the user and the locker assigned to the user is allocated within said hourly slice of engagement and which in the affirmative would operate directly the unbolting of the lock of the door of the locker assigned to the user who is depositing therein or recovering therefrom at least one personal object;

said reading device is giving back to the user his ticket after deposit of his personal object into the locker; and

wherein the locker door is returned into shut position by a resilient biasing member and the microprocessor device is then bolting the lock of the locker door.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said number of said locker may be magnetically encoded differently onto each ticket for each user.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an opto-electronic sensor associated with each door lock of a locker to control the proper bolting of the lock.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said ticket also comprises information printed in clear and relating in particular to the identity of the user, to the number of the locker which has been assigned to him and/or to the hourly slice engagement.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard-screen unit enables the attendant to retrieve the number of the locker assigned to the user from his or her identity in particular in case of loss by the user of his or her ticket.