Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/06—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
  • G07F7/0609—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
  • G07F9/001—Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of the supply and the provision of gas cylinders for essentially domestic or professional use.
• the invention relates to the management of the replacement of a empty gas cylinder of a user by a full bottle and the inventory management by the supplier.
• the first is the inability of the user to obtain a full gas bottle on closed days or at late hours, or, to a lesser extent, to obtain said bottle quickly if the staff is busy.
• the second is the supplier's supply management, which depends on the inventory status being updated by facility staff.
• the invention proposes a device for providing a gas cylinder, comprising: A storage compartment with closure means, which can receive a gas bottle,
• Locking means for opening and closing the storage compartment securely by means of the closing means
• the device further comprises:
• the locking means are motorized by the motorization system and powered by the power source,
• the locking means are adapted to be unlocked when an electronic key is in proximity to said electronic chip.
• Such a device notably allows a user to carry out a withdrawal of bottle without direct intervention of an external operator.
• an electronic key has been previously assigned. It is configured to unlock said locking means. In particular, it is adapted to unlock only one device.
• the device may include the following features, taken alone or in combination:
• the device comprises a sensor, the sensor for detecting the presence of a gas cylinder in the storage compartment, the sensor being connected to the electronic chip,
• the power source includes a solar panel and a battery
• the drive system comprises an encoder and in which the locking means comprise a hook which is movable in rotation, in which the encoder is adapted to recognize a rotation of the hook caused by the closing means and trigger locking of the locking means by rotation of the hook,
• the sensor is an ultrasound sensor
• the sensor is a sonar.
• the encoder allows locking simply by inserting the link, which simplifies handling.
• the presence of the sensor makes it possible in particular to check the inventory status of the device.
• the invention also proposes an assembly comprising a plurality of devices as described above.
• the invention also proposes a system comprising a device or an assembly as defined above and an electronic device adapted to store the electronic key and to communicate with said electronic chip for exchanging data.
• These data are typically the electronic key, and / or a state of the locking means, and / or the closure system.
• the electronic device can, when it is near a device, retrieve the stock data from the sensor.
• the electronic device is a mobile terminal of the "smartphone" type.
• the invention provides a method of providing gas cylinders, using a device, system or assembly according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising a full bottle in the compartment, including the following steps - Unlocking the locking means with the electronic key when it is located nearby,
• the method may comprise the following steps, taken alone or in combinations:
• the electronic device receives data relating to the state of the locking means and / or the motorization system
• a replenishment decision step if the number of remaining full bottles is less than a threshold.
• a replenishment decision step if the number of remaining full bottles is less than a threshold.
• FIG. 1 represents an overall view of a device according to one embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 represents a plurality of devices according to the invention
• FIG. 3 represents a diagram of the electronic components of the device, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a hook of the locking means
• FIG. 5 illustrates a housing comprising various elements
• FIG. 6 represents the communications between the device, a mobile terminal and a server, using a network in particular
• FIG. 7 illustrates a state of the stocks
• FIG. 8 represents a method according to the invention
• FIGS. 9a to 9e illustrate various steps of a method according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• a provisioning device 1 allows a user to withdraw a full gas cylinder 2a and to return an empty gas cylinder 2b (called deposit).
• a device 1 for providing a gas cylinder according to the invention comprises:
• a sensor 9 is provided to detect the presence or absence of a bottle 2a, 2b. It will be detailed later.
• the locking means 4 are powered by the motorization system 7 and powered by the power source 5.
• the unlocking is done using an electronic key 6 which is stored on an electronic device 61 when it is at a configurable distance from the electronic chip 41.
• the electronic device 61 is of the type ordiphone, mobile terminal, smart phone (or "smartphone" in English terminology).
• a mobile terminal 62 will be used for simplicity.
• a complete plant I comprises a plurality of side-by-side and / or one-to-one devices in a manner similar to conventional storage compartments which can be found in equipped establishments (eg service station type).
• the storage compartment C is generally a metal rack with a jamb 33 and the closure means 3 comprise a chain or a door mounted on hinges. Any design that makes it possible to prevent or allow withdrawal of a bottle 2a, 2b is suitable.
• the chip 41
• the electronic chip 41 comprises a radio transmitter 411, advantageously according to the Bluetooth standard that also manages most mobile terminals including the mobile terminal 62 used.
• the transmitter 411 thus makes it possible to establish a contact at a parameterizable distance, typically between 2m and 20m.
• This technology is complementary to other radio technologies that can be used by the mobile terminals 62 or the electronic device 61.
• the chip 41 also includes a processor 412 for processing the data and a memory 413 for storing the data (FIG. 3).
• Each chip 41 of the complete installation I has its own identifier.
• the electronic chip 41 can exchange with the mobile terminal 62 information such as an electronic key verification 6, the availability status, an incident history, and so on.
• the electronic chip 41 is powered by the power source 5.
• a complementary power supply system can be provided.
• a standby controller can also be provided to put electronic components in standby during off-peak hours (at night for example).
• the motorization system 7 is
• the drive system 7 comprises a motor 71 driven by the processor 412.
• An interface module 72 may be necessary to convert the data.
• An encoder 73 is also advantageously provided, so as to be able to measure a state of the locking means 4, such as closed / open / closed.
• the encoder is for example of the electromagnetic or rotary type.
• An electronic switch (not shown) disables encoder 73 to limit power consumption.
• the device For the device to work, it is necessary that it is powered by the power source 5. This can simply be a connection to the electricity supply network.
• the power source 5 is integrated in the device 1.
• the power source 5 is a solar panel 52, coupled to a battery 53 for storing the energy (FIG. 3), with a converter module 54.
• the dimensions of the solar panel 52, at As illustrations, are 40x40 mm, with a capacity of 1.2V / 100 mA. This embodiment does not require any intervention of an operator.
• the power source 5 is a battery 51, 3.6V battery type 50x26mm. This provides sufficient autonomy for its periodic replacement by an operator does not pose major difficulty, for example, a refilling of full gas cylinders 2a.
• the locking means 4 make it possible to lock or unlock the closure means 3. They are motorized by the motorization system 7 which allows the unlocking of said means 4 when the electronic chip 41 recognizes the electronic key 6.
• any automated lock system may be suitable. There may be mentioned two examples of particular preferred, non-limiting architecture.
• the locking means 4 comprise a hook 42 rotatable about an axis. This hook 42 to engage in a link 31 of the closing means 3 and thus close the compartment C.
• the hook 42 rotates and releases the link 31 which escapes from the locking means 4 under its own weight, by gravity.
• the hook 42 may comprise a protrusion 421.
• This protrusion 421 is adapted to rotate the hook 42 when inserting the closure means 3. Thanks to the encoder 73 which detects the rotation and which transmits the information to the processor 412, the locking means 4 are then activated to lock the closure means 3.
• the position of the protrusion 421 may make it possible to detect a "closing" rotation, that is to say in the same direction of rotation as the hook 42 to lock the compartment C.
• the adapted shape is typically a convex part on which the link 31 slides when inserted.
• the user does not have his mobile terminal by hand when removing the bottle 2a: the closure must be mechanical or driven by a mechanical action.
• the motor 71 of the motorization system 7 and the hook 42, as well as the encoder 73 are fixed in a lock cylinder 43 which solidarise the assembly to a housing 44 fixed on the jamb 33 of the storage compartment C (FIG. 5) .
• a circlip 45 is provided on the motor 71 to be held in the cylinder 43.
• the motorization system 7 operates about four times at most (two locks and two unlockings, for the user and the operator of the supplier) per day.
• the information relating to the state of the locking means 4 or to the state of the motorization system is advantageously transmitted to the electronic chip 61 which can communicate them to the mobile terminal 62.
• the electronic key 6 is stored on an electronic device 61, preferably a mobile terminal 62.
• the mobile terminal 62 and the electronic chip 41 exchange information and the electronic key is recognized by the electronic chip 41, which allows trigger the unlocking of the locking means 4.
• the recognition is done when the electronic key 6 is close to the electronic chip 41.
• the maximum distance depends on the characteristics of the components of the device 1. It can be of the order of ten meters. It is preferable that it be superior to the meter, for reasons which we will explain later.
• An electronic key 6 assigned to a mobile phone 62 can unlock only one compartment C.
• the mobile terminal 62 can exchange information with all the electronic chips 41 of a plurality of devices 1 located nearby.
• the mobile terminal 62 has access to a server 8 via a connection network 81, of the internet type (WIFI, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, LTE, etc.) (FIG. 6).
• the mobile terminal 62 can store the data and subsequently communicate to the server 8.
• This electronic key 6 is generated and downloaded from the server 8 to the mobile terminal 62, for example during the purchase of the bottle or any other event provided by the server 8, through the connection network 81. This download is preferably done before going to retrieve the full bottle 2a, so as to be certain of having a connection to the network 81 (when arriving at the depot, the user can not be certain of having a network coverage allowing him to interact with the server 8). Thus, once the electronic key 6 downloaded, it will be able, even without access to the server 8, easily identify the device 1 corresponding to open approaching.
• the server 8 is managed by the gas supplier or an agent.
• connection to the server 8 thus allows in particular the creation of the electronic key 6 which will be recognized by the electronic chip 41 of a device 1 which houses, for example, a full bottle 2a.
• the server 8 studies in its database which compartment C to assign to the request of the user. It responds to the request by an allocation to the mobile terminal 62 of said user of an electronic key 6 corresponding to said compartment C and its associated device 1. This electronic key 62 is then downloaded to the mobile terminal 62.
• the identity of the user is assumed to be known for obtaining a key 6. Thanks to the device 1 which replaces the traditional key-lock system, the user can withdraw a full bottle 2a at any time from the day without the intervention of a dedicated staff.
• a sensor 9 is provided in the device 1 (see FIG. 3). To make it invisible to the user, it is preferably arranged in the jamb 33 of compartment C.
• the sensor 9 is able to identify the presence or absence of a bottle, to find out whether the user has replaced the empty bottle 2b after having recovered the full bottle 2a. Complementarily it possibly allows to identify if the bottle in place in the compartment is full 2a or empty 2b.
• the senor 9 is an ultrasonic sensor that can identify the sonar-type bottle.
• the ultrasonic sensor operates from 10cm to 30cm, which allows a freedom of positioning of both the sensor 9 and the bottle 2a, 2b in the compartment C.
• the sensor 9 is a weighing sensor, which evaluates the weight of the bottle 2a, 2b and allows to know the filling state of the bottle.
• An electronic switch can disable the sensor 9 to save energy.
• the management is done without the use of the sensor 9.
• the server 8 can know the state of the stocks simply by analyzing the electronic key request flows 6. For example, it can be defined at the time of the allocation of an electronic key 6, the stock falls by one unit. Alternatively, such stock management can be defined when the server 8 receives from the mobile terminal 62 the data relating to the opening, or the closure of the locking means 4, or again relating to the state of the motorization system 7 .
• the mobile terminal 62 of a user who comes to recover a bottle 2a retrieves all the data of all the electronic chips 41 of all the devices 1 present in the vicinity. This is why a distance greater than one meter for the exchanges between the mobile terminal 62 and the electronic chips 41 is preferable.
• Each lock emits at regular intervals (for example every second) its identifier and its stock.
• a mobile terminal 62 on approach scans all the locks to find the one that has been assigned.
• the mobile terminal 62 retrieves the stock and the identifier of each device 1.
• the mobile terminal 62 After recovery, the mobile terminal 62 has all the data relating to the inventory status of all the devices 1. This data is then transmitted to the server 8 by the communication network 81, as soon as the mobile terminal 62 obtains a connection. Internet.
• the transmission of the electronic key 6 to the electronic chip 41 requires a connection, in particular Bluetooth.
• the supplier is kept informed the overall condition of the stock.
• Such a method makes it possible to limit the errors, since if a connection is defective, the stock will be completely checked as the next user passes.
• the mobile terminal 62 can recover only the data of the chip 41 of the device 1 concerned.
• the server 8 compiles the data from each of the mobile terminals 62 which participate in removing a bottle 2a and establishes the stock.
• the allocation of an electronic key 6 to a user is done thanks to the data relating to the stock on the server 8. Indeed, it is necessary to make available to the user a device 1 comprising a full bottle. 2a.
• the server 8 analyzes said stock data and allocates a key 6 accordingly.
• a graphical interface is provided on the mobile terminal 62 to display information essential to the smooth operation.
• an application is installed to enable operations.
• a button to activate the unlocking is particularly present on the interface. The order of the steps is explained (see the procedure below) on the interface. Exchanges with the server 8 are performed automatically once the withdrawal operations completed, to limit the role of the user to the maximum. Error management
• the encoder detects a closing rotation when the closing means 3 are coupled with the locking means 4,
• the device 1 is designed to withstand climatic aging and salt spray (EN ISO 9227 standard) as well as ATEX environments ("Explosive Atmosphere", resulting from European directives). Indeed, a bottle of uncapsed gas, back of user, can generate a zone 2 according to the ATEX standard in a perimeter of lm, if the tap has not been previously correctly closed
• housing 44 is impact and scratch resistant aluminum and the various elements have undergone anodization.
• the joints of the housing 44 are silicone to seal the housing. Finally, all the electronics (chip, electronic circuit, etc.) of the housing 44 are cast in silicone, with the exception of the battery 53.
• Operating temperatures range from -20 to + 50 ° C.
• insulation, joints and materials are selected according to precise specifications. Thanks to the embodiments of the invention, the existing storage compartments C can be reused.
• the adaptations (motorization of the locking means, sensor, chip, etc.) do not do not require complex or expensive arrangements and have been designed to integrate as simply as possible.
• a method (FIGS. 8, 9a to 9e) is associated with the device 1.
• the electronic key 6 is associated with a mobile terminal 62 having a connection to the communication network 81, of the internet type.
• a first step E0 the user sends an electronic key recovery request 6 to the server 8.
• This creation request is issued from a payment or the entry of a purchase code for example.
• the server analyzes the stock data and assigns a bin and its key 6.
• the request or the delivery of the key may be subject to a validation of a banking organization for example.
• a step E2 ( Figures 8, 9a) the user goes to the site of provision of gas cylinders. Either it looks for the references of the compartment C corresponding to that of the key 6, or the mobile terminal 62 indicates to it by various means (notifications, audible alerts, etc.) when it is close to said compartment C, via a recognition of the chip 41.
• this step is broken down into sub-steps:
• E22 the electronic chip 41 sends an encryption key
• - E23 the mobile terminal 62 codes the electronic key 6 with the encryption key and sends it to said chip 41
• E24 the electronic chip 41 compares its own key with that received in the previous step
• the chip 41 resets the electronic key 6 so that it can no longer serve.
• Step E3 consists of the withdrawal as such.
• the user in a step E31 (FIGS. 8, 9b), activates the unlocking of the compartment C and the compartment C becomes accessible.
• An opening notification is preferably sent to the mobile terminal 62.
• the user removes the full bottle 2a.
• a bottle withdrawal notification, generated using the sensor 9, is preferably sent to the mobile terminal 62.
• a step E33 (FIGS. 8, 9d) the user sets up the empty bottle 2b.
• a bottle delivery notification, generated using the sensor 9, is preferably sent to the mobile terminal 62.
• a step E34 (FIGS. 8, 9e) the user locks the compartment C with the aid of the locking means 4.
• the embodiments of the locking have been previously described.
• This step can be distinguished into three sub-steps:
• the encoder 73 detects a rotation of the hook 42
• the locking means 4 are activated and lock the locker.
• step E33 If step E33 is not performed, an alert is sent to the user and / or server 8 in a step E '.
• the electronic chip 41 retrieves the stock information from the other devices. This step E4 is preferably performed during step E2. Indeed, when the user scans the devices, the electronic chips 41 can exchange their inventory information with the mobile terminal 62.
• the mobile terminal 62 can recover as the states of the means progressively
• a step E5 the data relating to the stock is transmitted by the mobile terminal to the server 8 as soon as a connection with the server 8 is possible.
• the other data acquired by the notifications by the mobile terminal 62 are also transferred to the server 8, to store management histories and possible complications that may have occurred.
• a step E6 the server 8 analyzes said data and makes a decision on the replenishment according to the thresholds presented above.
• This step E6 can be performed without the step E5 (and therefore without the data from the mobile terminal 62) simply by using the electronic key request data 6 and / or allocation of said key.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=53059258

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (3)

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• 2015
  • 2015-02-10 FR FR1551069A patent/FR3032547B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2016
  • 2016-02-10 EP EP16706989.7A patent/EP3257028B1/de active Active
  • 2016-02-10 WO PCT/EP2016/052837 patent/WO2016128472A1/fr not_active Ceased

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