GB2228915A - Tickets for electronic locker system - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic locker system uses a waterproof paper ticket adapted to carry coded information printed thereon, the ticket being in the form of an elongate strip (8) provided with means at its opposite ends which are adapted to engage with one another so that the ticket may be worn as a wrist-band. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRONIC LOCKER SYSTEM The invention relates to an electronic locker control system that would be suitable for controlling the use of personal lockers in swimming bath changing rooms and other environments where personal lockers are in use and to a wrist band for use therewith.

In existing systems each of a large number of lockers has its own key operated lock that is released for use by insertion of a coin or token into the lock. The lock is operated by a key which the user keeps on his person during e.g. swimming. The keys are carried either pinned to bathing costumes or attached to wrist bands.

The carrying of keys during swimming is inconvenient and can be dangerous. It can also cause damage to equipment such as water slides. Because of these problems swimming baths operate key storage systems where the key is handed in before swimming in exchange for a numbered plastic or rubber wrist band and is kept on numbered hooks in an office. These systems are inconvenient for swimmers and management. There are also various maintenance problems associated with existing coin/token/key systems. The main problems being key loss through theft and mechanical failure of-coin mechanisms and locks. In a typical installation of 400 lockers, 400 different keys will be employed in the 400 different coin mechanisms. Replacement of keys along with the task of keeping a record of key numbers is a considerable administrative burden in addition to the financial cost of providing replacement keys.

The present invention provides a locker control system that will not have the problems experienced with the existing apparatus. In a further aspect the invention provides a wrist band for use with the system.

Figure 1 shows the basic system comprising two blocks of sixteen lockers controlled from a central control consul 1. Each locker having a door 2 with a motor or solenoid operated lock. The locks are fitted into the vertical frames of the lockers and are operated by a DC motor or solenoid via a signal from the control consul. Each lock is connected to a locker state indicator such as a lamp and to an emergency access system. It is preferred for each door to be provided with a manually operated securing handle which will solve the problem of door alignment and give more confidence to users. The purposes of the handle is for the user to secure the door in the closed position prior to electronic locking.

Figure 2 shows the control consul which includes a coin mechanism 3, a circuit board having a liquid crystal display 4, a keyboard 5, a ticket dispensing mechanism 6, and a ticket tray 7.

A preferred sequence of events for using the electronic system is as follows: 1. User approaches available locker; the availability of the locker being indicated by a lamp or other indicator.

2. User opens locker door. The user will have to operate the handle first if necessary.

3. User inserts belongings.

4. User closes door and operates the handle to set the door in a held closed position.

5. User approaches control consul.

6. User inserts necessary coins or tokens into the coin mechanism.

7. User enters the locker number on the keyboard.

8. The system electronically secures the lock of the chosen locker to lock the locker door.

9. System issues ticket with the locker number and a four digit code printed thereon.

10. User goes away for swimming or other activity.

11. User returns to control consul.

12. User enters the four digit code into keyboard.

13. System releases the lock of the chosen locker door.

14. User goes to locker.

15. User operates handle to open locker door and removes belongings.

The control consul comprises a lockable stainless steel box housing containing a ticket printer, ticket reel, ticket guillotine, coin mechanism, membrane keypad, power supply, computer board, interface electronics, LCD display, ticket tray, cashbox, and operator switch. The control consul will be sealed other than at the ticket exit point and at coin entry and return points; these will be designed to prevent tampering.

Ticket printing may be by one of two generally accepted methods both using the dot matrix system. The first method is that of thermal printing where a heat sensitive paper is passed over a head containing pins which can be heated and brought into contact with the paper to leave a mark. The second method is that of ink ribbon printing which is essentially that used in typewriters where the ink is transferred from a ribbon onto plain paper by the impact of a pin. Low cost printers are available to perform both types of printing on thin paper and are commonly used in cash tills. In order to print waterproof tickets a special ticket material is used along with a special form of ink. In the case of thermal printing a plastic coated paper is used.

This however, requires a relatively expensive industrial printer to-print effectively.

In the case of ink ribbon printing a waterproof plasticized paper is used in conjunction with a special ink and a relatively low cost industrial printer can be used. The paper used for waterproof tickets can be that used as plant labels in garden centres. This material is available from Dupont under the registered trade mark Tivec.

Tickets will be retained in the control consul on a ticket reel comprising preformed tickets connected by narrow ribs. Examples of such ticket reels are shown in Figures 3a and 3b. If a very large ticket capacity is required it may be necessary to store the tickets in a fan fold system as used for computer printer paper. This system reduces the load on the paper transport drive.

A guillotine within the control consul will operate to sever the ribs between tickets.

A preferred form of ticket is shown in Figures 4a and 4b. The ticket is in the form of an elongate strip 8 onto which various information has been printed such as the locker number, the four digit code, and the time of issue. At one end of the strip there is provided a relatively large rectangular hole 9 and a number of smaller slits 10. Adjacent the other end of the strip the ticket is of reduced width and has a toothed portion 11.

As shown in Figure 4b the ticket is secured round the wrist of a user by passing the toothed end of the ticket through the aperture 9 and tucking it into one or other of the slots 10.

In an alternative, the ticket could be in adhesive-backed form for applying to the clothing of the user. In this case tickets would be stored on backing paper in reel form, printed on demand, peeled from its backing strip and issued to the user.

Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the overall operation of the electronic locker system. It is proposed that the control electronics should be based on the use of a microcomputer to control and communicate with the various elements of the system. The keypad used to identify a particular locker will either be numeric as shown for entry of the locker number or a keypad corresponding to each locker may be provided. A display on the control consul can be in the form of a two digit LCD to show the locker number or may be in the form of a "mimic" of the display location.

A key operated electrical switch will allow management access to an individual locker by means of inserting a key and entering a special code via the keypad. It is also envisaged that each locker door will have a manual override to allow for access should the electronic system fail for any reason.

User instructions will be displayed on the control consul. They could be simply printed or could be shown on an electronic display which could be interactive.

There will be a mains 250 volt supply to the control consul and this will be transformed by a power supply to low voltage for operating lock mechanisms in the lockers. If required a low voltage could be supplied to the control consul to increase electrical safety of the complete system. The two banks of lockers would be fitted with a wiring harness terminating in a connector. Each connector would plug into the central control consul in a way that would not allow tampering. If the lockers are close coupled to the control the connectors would only be accessible through the locked control unit.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. A waterproof paper ticket adapted to carry coded information printed thereon; the ticket being in the form of an elongate strip provided with means at its opposite ends which are adapted to engage with one another so that the ticket may be worn as a wrist-band.

2. A waterproof paper ticket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elongate strip is formed at one end with a toothed portion and at the other end with an aperture in which the toothed portion can be adjustably retained.

3. A waterproof paper ticket as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the elongate strip is formed from paper having a plastic coating and carries coded information printed thereon by means of thermal printing.

4. A waterproof paper ticket as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the elongate strip is formed from a plasticised paper and carries coded information printed thereon by means of ink ribbon printing.

5. A waterproof ticket substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. An electronic locker system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.