LOCKER ASSEMBLY
This invention relates to a locker assembly. More specifically, although not exclusively, this invention relates to a locker system wherein plural doors are openable even when a fault has occurred.
It is known to provide locker assemblies with multiple compartments, each compartment having a lock to lock the door of the compartment in a closed configuration.
It is also known to provide electronic locks for locking a door. The electronic lock might be, for example, an electronic cam lock, such that providing power to the lock causes the lock to release the door to make accessible the inside of the compartment.
Such locker assemblies are generally provided in busy areas where there is a high turnover of users, and so mechanical locks, for example with individual keys, might be difficult to manage efficiently, for example keys can be lost or become damaged. On the contrary, electronic systems can be easily, quickly and securely updated with different security information.
Such locker assemblies may be in social setting such as bars or nightclubs or in other settings train stations and so on. In this case users might hire a locker to store items such as bags, coats, or other items of clothing. Such locker assemblies may also be deployed in leisure centres, such as at swimming centres or at gyms. In this case the lockers may be used to store clean or dry clothes, towels, mobile devices, purses and wallets and any other items which a user does not wish to have on their person when using the amenities of the leisure centre. Such lockers may also be in large public places such as shopping centres, for example indoor chopping centres. Users may wish to dispose of coats or other items of clothing while browsing in shops, or they may wish to deposit purchases into the lockers throughout their shopping trip. In any of these examples the lockers may also have power sockets or power cables inside, such that a mobile device, such as a mobile telephone, can be charged inside of the locker. Clearly, then, security of these lockers is important as valuable items can be stored in them.
The locks of such locker assemblies might be individually controlled by individual controllers, for example mounted to each compartment door. In this case each controller generally has a security system such as a number pad for entering an access code, an electronic receiver for receiving wireless information (e.g. via Bluetooth (RTM) or over a VViFi or other electronic network) or a biometric scanner, and once the security requirements are satisfied, power may be provided to the lock to unlock the door. In this case the power is typically provided by a common power supply, which is generally a mains power supply.
The electronic locks may otherwise be controlled by a central controller, for example a personal computer, which selectively controls all of the locks. The central computer might be used to select a particular lock to be opened, and direct power to this lock to open the respective door. The central controller may have a user interface (e.g. a physical or wireless interface), for example for a user to input a selection of the particular compartment to open, and to input a code to unlock the compartment. Again, the power is likely provided by a common power supply, which is generally a mains power supply.
In any of these systems, in the event of a failure or malfunction of the power supply or of one or more of the controllers, it is not possible to access the inside of the storage compartments until the fault is rectified. Clearly this is undesirable, especially when it is considered that these locker assemblies may be used in busy places where users may not have enough available time to wait for repair work or for the fault to be overcome.
Clearly it is also necessary to maintain security of the items located in the compartments during malfunctions or failure. Therefore, systems wherein a power failure causes a lock to open are unsuitable because an unauthorised person could then gain unrestricted access to the contents of all of the compartments in the event of fault.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a locker assembly which overcomes at least some of the aforementioned limitations.
Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention provides a locker assembly comprising a plurality of compartments, each of said plurality of compartments comprising a door and an electronic lock, each electronic lock being in electrical communication with a primary control circuit which is connectable to a primary power supply and which is configured to selectively provide power to each electronic lock to unlock the respective door, wherein each electronic lock is also in electrical communication with a secondary control circuit, the secondary control circuit comprising plural user-actuated or actuatable switches which are connectable to a secondary power supply, such that actuation of said plural user-actuated or actuated switches causes power to be provided from the secondary power supply to at least one or more of the electronic locks to unlock a respective one or more of the doors of the plurality of compartments.
The secondary control circuit may be configured, upon actuation, to open more than one of said plural doors, for example a subset of the plural doors or all of said plural doors.
The secondary control circuit may comprise a secondary power supply.
Advantageously, in the event of failure of the primary control circuit and/or of the primary power source, the doors of the compartments are openable by using power from the secondary power supply. This means that access to the contents of the compartments can be gained even in the event of failure of the primary control system and/or primary power supply.
Further advantageously, the provision of separate switches to provide power from the secondary power supply to all of the compartments reduces the likelihood of accidental opening of the compartments, for example if one switch was actuated unintentionally.
Further, the secondary control circuit may be configured to open all of the compartments.
This may be advantageous because the secondary control circuit, as opposed to the primary control circuit which is configured to selectively open the compartments, can have a smaller capacity than the primary power supply. It will be appreciated that the secondary power supply may power a much less complex control circuit and so may be used for smaller amounts of time. In other words, the primary power supply must be capable of continually unlocking selected compartments, whereas the secondary power supply need only be used for a short period of time to open all of the compartments.
Substantially simultaneous actuation of said plural user-actuated or actuatable switches may cause power to be provided from the secondary power supply to at least some of the electronic locks to unlock at least some of the doors of the plurality of compartments.
Advantageously, the use of plural user-actuated or actuatable switches increases security, because plural personnel may be required to facilitate the over-ride.
Said plural switches may be in a series arrangement with one another. Said plural switches may be in a series arrangement with the secondary power supply. The switches may be normally open switches.
Each of said plural user-actuated or actuatable switches may comprise a user interface for actuating the switch. The user interface may be a button, a key, a lever, a touch pad, a biometric scanner, such as a fingerprint scanner, or a key pad.
Actuation of the plural user-actuated or actuatable switches may cause power to be io provided from the secondary power supply to at least some of the locks to substantially simultaneously unlock at least some of the doors of the plurality of compartments.
The locker assembly may comprise a housing having a front, a back, and two sides. The housing may be separated into the plurality of compartments. The housing may be separated into the plurality of compartments One of said plural user-actuated or actuatable switches may be located on the opposite side of the housing to another of said plural user-actuated switches.
Different sets of said plural user-actuated or actuatable switches may correspond to different compartments or sets thereof.
In an embodiment there may be two user-actuated or actuatable switches. For example, the two user-actuated or actuatable switches may correspond to a particular compartment, number of compartments or all of the compartments.
Advantageously, such a configuration would increase the difficulty of a single person being able to actuate both user-actuated or actuatable switches, and so would increase the security of the system.
Each switch may be located at or proximal to a lower edge of the respective side of the housing.
The plurality of compartments may provide a compartment set. The locker system may comprise a plurality of such compartment sets. Each compartment set may have an associated two switches, such that actuation of said two switches associated with a compartment set causes power to be provided to all of the electronic locks of the doors of the respective compartment set to unlock all of the doors of the respective compartments.
The compartments may be arranged in rows and/or columns. Each compartment set may correspond to a row or to a column of compartments.
Each compartment set may correspond to a row of compartments and each switch associated with each compartment set may be located on an opposing side of the locker assembly to the other switch associated with the respective compartment set. The switches o may be arranged in a vertical order corresponding to a vertical order of the compartment sets. The switches may be substantially vertically level with any part of the corresponding compartment set. Advantageously, this would make it clear to users which switches are to be used to open which compartments sets.
The locker assembly may comprise an upper surface. Each compartment set may correspond to a column of compartments and one of said two switches associated with each compartment set may be located on the upper surface. One of said two switches associated with each compartment set may be located on the upper surface in a horizontal order corresponding to a horizontal order of the compartment sets. Advantageously, this would make it clear to users which switches are to be used to open which compartments sets.
The one of said two switches associated with each compartment set, which is located on the upper surface of the locker assembly, may be a master switch. The other of said two switches associated with each compartment set may be a slave switch. Selection of the master switch may determine which compartment set is unlocked The master switches may be located proximal to one of two sides of the locker assembly. The slave switches may be located on the upper surface in a horizontal order corresponding to the horizontal order of the respective compartment sets, proximal to the other one of the two sides of the locker assembly.
Each slave switch may be on one of two side surfaces. Each slave switch may be at or proximal to a bottom of one of two side surfaces.
The master switches may be substantially horizontally level with any part of the corresponding compartment set.
The user-actuated or actuatable switches may be located at or proximal to a bottom of the locker assembly. The user-actuated or actuatable switches may be located at or proximal to a bottom of the locker assembly when the locker assembly is orientated with the doors being openable in a forward direction.
The switches of said plural user-actuated switches which are actuated to cause power to io be provided from the secondary power supply to at least some of the electronic locks to unlock at least some of the doors of the plurality of compartments, may be located with a distance of at least 1.5 m therebetween, for example with a distance of at least 1.6 m, 1.7 m, 1.8 m, 1.9 m, 2.0 m, 2.2 m, or 2.5 m therebetween.
The distance between each of said two switches associated with a compartment set may be greater than 1.5 m, for example greater than 1.6 m, 1.7 m, 1.8 m, 1.9 m, 2.0 m, 2.2 m, or 2.5 m.
The locker assembly may have a width which is greater than 1.5 m, for example greater than 1.6 m, 1.7 m, 1.8 m, 1.9 m, 2.0 m, 2.2 m, or 2.5 m.
The locker assembly may have a height which is greater than 1.5 m, for example greater than 1.7 m, 1.9 m, 2.0 m, 2.2 m, 2.4 m, 2.6 m, or 2.8 m.
Each switch may be a non-latching switch. Each switch may be a normally open, non-latching switching. Advantageously, releasing the actuation of either of the switches will break the secondary control circuit and so will lock all of the corresponding doors.
Each switch may be a key switch. Advantageously this increases the security of the system because the relevant key must be present to actuate each switch.
Each electronic lock may be an electronic cam lock.
Each electronic lock may comprise a relay. Each relay may comprise a relay coil and a relay switch. Providing power to each electronic lock may comprise energising the respective relay coil to close the respective relay switch to cause the electronic lock to be actuated to unlock the respective door.
The primary control circuit may comprise a relay board. The relay board may be configured to selectively energise the relay coil of any number of the electronic locks. The relay board may be controlled by a controller, for example a personal computer. The controller may have a human machine interface. The relay board may be a digital interface card.
When said plural switches are actuated, the second control circuit may be configured to energise all of the relay coils associated with the actuated switches.
The secondary power supply may comprise a battery. The secondary power supply may comprise an uninterrupted power supply. The locker assembly may further comprise the secondary power supply.
The primary control circuit may comprise a user interface, for example the human machine interface, for selecting which compartment to open. The user interface may comprise a screen, a touch screen, a biometric scanner, for example a fingerprint scanner, a key pad or a card reader.
The primary control circuit may comprise a user interface associated with each compartment, for opening the respective compartment. The user interface may comprise a screen, a touch screen, a biometric scanner, for example a fingerprint scanner, a key pad or a card reader.
The primary power supply may be a mains power supply.
A second aspect of the invention provides a pay-to-use locker system comprising: a plurality of compartments; an identification means for authorising a user to access a particular one of the plurality of compartments; a payment means to facilitate payment by a user to access the particular one of the plurality of compartments; an independent override means to allow access to at least some of the plurality of compartments in the event of malfunction of the pay-to-use locker system.
The independent override means may comprise the aforementioned secondary control circuit.
The pay-to-use locker system may comprise the aforementioned locker assembly. The identification means and/or the payments means may be a part of the aforementioned primary control circuit.
For purposes of this disclosure, and notwithstanding the above, it is to be understood that io any controller(s), control units and/or control modules described herein may each comprise a control unit or computational device having one or more electronic processors. The controller may comprise a single control unit or electronic controller or alternatively different functions of the control of the system or apparatus may be embodied in, or hosted in, different control units or controllers or control modules. As used herein, the terms "control unit" and "controller will be understood to include both a single control unit or controller and a plurality of control units or controllers collectively operating to provide the required control functionality. A set of instructions could be provided which, when executed, cause said controller(s) or control unit(s) or control module(s) to implement the control techniques described herein (including the method(s) described herein). The set of instructions may be embedded in one or more electronic processors, or alternatively, may be provided as software to be executed by one or more electronic processor(s).
For example, a first controller may be implemented in software run on one or more electronic processors, and one or more other controllers may also be implemented in software run on or more electronic processors, optionally the same one or more processors as the first controller. It will be appreciated, however, that other arrangements are also useful, and therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular arrangement. In any event, the set of instructions described herein may be embedded in a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory storage medium) that may comprise any mechanism for storing information in a form readable by a machine or electronic processors/computational device, including, without limitation: a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppy diskette); optical storage medium (e.g., CD-ROM); magneto optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM ad EEPROM); flash memory; or electrical or other types of medium for storing such information/instructions.
Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms "may", "and/or", "e.g.", "for example" and any similar term as used herein should be interpreted as non-limiting such that any feature so-described need not be present. Indeed, any combination of optional io features is expressly envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, whether or not these are expressly claimed. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic of a locker assembly according to a first example of the invention; Figure 2 is a wiring diagram showing a possible configuration of primary and secondary control circuits of the locker assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic of a locker assembly according to a second example of the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic of a locker assembly according to a third example of the invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic of a locker assembly according to a fourth example of the invention.
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a locker assembly 1. The locker assembly has a plurality of compartments 10. Each compartment comprises a door 11 which closes the compartment 10, and only one compartment 10 is shown in an open configuration in Figure In this example the storage compartments 10 are all of the same size and shape, but it will be appreciated that the size and shape of the compartments 10 could differ. In this example the compartments 10 are arranged in five rows and four columns, with a control column 15 located between the second and third columns. However, it will be appreciated that any numbers of rows and columns of compartments 10 are envisaged. In this example each compartment 10 is around 500 mm wide and the control column is around 495 mm wide, such that the locker assembly 1 is around 2.50 m wide. The locker assembly 1 is around 1.85 m tall.
io The locker assembly 1 has a side surface 16, 17 at either side of the compartments 10. The locker assembly 1 also has an upper surface 18. The side surfaces 16, 17 and upper surface 18 provide a housing which is separated into the compartments 10. The housing also has a back (not shown). In this example the locker assembly 1 is located on a floor. However, it will be appreciated that the locker assembly 1 may instead be wall-mounted or located on a raised platform.
Each door 11 is mounted to a front plate 14 of the locker assembly by two hinges 12. The front plate 14 provides a front of the housing. Each compartment 10 has a lock, which in this example is a cam lock 13. In this example each lock 13 is mounted onto the respective door 11, and a latch part of the lock 13 is configured to be received in a strike plate mounted to, or behind, the front plate 14 of the locker assembly 1, to secure the respective door 11 in a closed position. The latch part of each lock 13 is spring-loaded such that it is normally extended and requires electrical power to withdraw the latch part. The latch part of each lock 13 has a chamfered leading edge such that the latch can be pushed over the front plate 14 of the locker assembly 1 to lock the door 11, without energising the lock 13.
Each lock 13 of the locker assembly 1 is in electrical communication with a primary control circuit. The primary control circuit has a relay board 20, which may also be referred to as a digital interface card (DIC), and a personal computer (PC) 21. The PC 21 has a human machine interface (HMI) screen 22. The electrical communication between the PC 21 and the relay board 20 is via universal serial bus (USB) (not shown). The primary control circuit is in electrical communication with a second power supply, which in this example is a mains power supply (not shown). The primary power circuit may also be connected or connectable to power sockets (not shown) and/or power cables (not shown) located inside of each compartment, the power sockets or cables being connectible to mobile devices for charging said mobile devices. The primary circuit may also have a payment means (not shown), for example a near-field communication (NFC) reader for taking payment from a payment card or a mobile device.
Each lock 13 of the locker assembly 1 is also in electrical communication with a secondary control circuit. The secondary control circuit has two user-actuated switches, which in this example are normally open, non-latching key switches 31, 32. The secondary control circuit also has a second power supply, which in this example is a battery 33. The switches 31, 32 are in a series arrangement with one another. Each of the two switches 31, 32 is located io on the opposite side surface 16, 17 of the locker assembly 1 to the other of the two switches 31, 32. The switches 31, 32 are located proximal to a bottom edge of the respective side surface 16, 17.
In this example each lock 13 has a relay 131. Each relay 131 has a relay coil 132 and a normally open relay switch 133. A wiring diagram showing a possible electrical configuration of the primary and secondary control circuits is shown in Figure 2, but it will be appreciated that other electrical configurations are also possible. Figure 2 shows a configuration with four locks 13, but this is for illustration only and it will be appreciated that this configuration could comprise any number of locks 13.
The relay coil 132 is in electrical communication with the primary power supply, which is shown as between +V and DV in Figure 2. Each relay switch 133 is in electric communication with the primary power supply and with a lock coil 134. Each relay coil 132, relay switch 133 and lock coil 134 is also in electrical communication with the secondary control circuit, which, in this example, has the battery 33 in series with the two switches 31, 32.
The locker assembly 1 may be in a busy area, with a high turnover of people. One example of where such locker assemblies 1 may be located is in bars or nightclubs. In bars and nightclubs people might wish to deposit coats, bags and other clothing and accessories, in a secure place, whilst they socialise. Another example of where such locker assemblies 1 may be located is in leisure centres, such as at gyms or at swimming centres. In this case users may wish to deposit clean or dry clothing, shoes, bags or any other items which they do not wish to have upon their person whilst using the amenities of the leisure centre.
Another example of where such locker assemblies 1 may be located is at shopping centres.
In such cases users may wish to deposit coats, bags and other clothing or accessories whilst they shop. Users may also wish to deposit their purchases in the compartment 10 throughout their shopping trip. In all of these cases, users may also wish to deposit mobile devices in the compartment 10, to connect to power cables or power sockets inside of the compartment 10 to charge their mobile device.
In use a user is able to use the HMI 22 to select a compartment 10 to open, and to provide the relevant information to gain access to the compartment. The information may be, for example, any suitable security information, such as a passcode, a pass which may be scanned, a key or a biometric scan, such as a fingerprint scan. The information may otherwise be payment information, for example at the start or end of a rental period of the compartment 10. The information may be entered into the HMI 22 or into any other suitable device, such as a card reader or a biometric scanner.
Once the PC determines that the requirements are met for the door 11 to be unlocked, a command is sent to the relay board 20 to energise the relay coil 132 of the lock 13 of the selected compartment 10. The relay coil 132 is then energised using power from the primary power source, and the energisation of the relay coil 132 causes the relay switch 133 to close. Closure of the relay switch 133 closes the circuit between the primary power supply and the lock coil 134, thereby energising the lock coil 134. Energisafion of the lock coil 134 causes the respective cam lock 13 to open and this unlocks the door 11 of the selected compartment 10.
The user then opens the unlocked door 11 to access the inside of the compartment 10.
When the user has finished accessing the inside of the compartment, they close the door 11 to secure the compartment 11. The door 11 might be locked automatically upon closing the door 11. This may be, for example, via a sensor (not shown) which detects that the door 11 is closed and so sends a signal to the HMI 22 to deenergise the relay coil 132, thereby allowing the normally open relay switch 133 to open, thereby deenergising the lock coil 134.
The door 11 might otherwise be locked by a further input to the HMI 22 which causes the relay board 20 to deenergise the relay coil 132, thereby allowing the normally open relay switch 133 to open, thereby deenergising the lock coil 134. The latch part of the lock 13 is thereby allowed to return to the normally locked configuration. The PC 21 may otherwise operate a timer which maintains the relay coil 132 in an energised state for a predetermined amount of time, the amount of time being sufficient for the user to open the unlocked door 11. The latch part of the lock 13 will therefore return to the normal locked configuration after this amount of time, whilst the door 11 is open, and so when the user closes the door the spring of the latch part with be manually compressed as the chamfered part passes over the front plate 14 of the locker assembly 1, to re-lock the door 11.
In the event of failure or malfunction of any part of the primary control circuit, or in any other event which necessitates the opening of all of the compartments 10, the secondary control circuit can be used to unlock all of the doors 11. In this case each of two operatives Ul, U2, for example managers, supervisors or any users with specific responsibility for opening the io locker assembly 1, inserts a key into a respective one of the key switches 31, 32. When the operatives U1, U2 rotate the keys the key switches 31, 32 are closed to close the secondary control circuit. Closing both key switches 31, 32 energises all of the relay coils 132 using power from the battery 33. Energising the relay coils 132 causes the relay switches 133 to close and thereby causes the lock coils 134 to be energised using power from the battery 33. This allows access to be gained to all compartments 10 simultaneously. When one or both of the operatives Ul, U2 release their key the respective key switch 31, 32 opens and so breaks the secondary control circuit. Breaking the secondary control circuit thereby deenergises all of the relay coils 132, thereby opening all of the relay switches 133 and deenergising all of the lock coils 134. This allows all of the latch parts of the locks 13 to return to the locked configuration. By providing a distance, between the two switches 31, 32, it is necessary for two separate operatives Ul, U2 to be present to actuate the switches 31, 32 and thereby open all of the doors in the event of failure or malfunction. Because the operatives Ul, U2 must use keys to actuate the switches 31, 32, it is unlikely that the doors will be openable by unauthorised people as this would require two separate unauthorised people to be present, both with the necessary key to operate the respective switch 31, 32.
Therefore, the locker assembly 1 is openable in the event of malfunction or failure, whilst maintaining a high level of security.
Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown another example of a locker assembly 1'. The locker assembly 1' of Figure 3 is similar to the locker assembly 1 of Figure 1, and similar features are denoted, in Figure 3, with the same reference numerals as in Figure 1, but with a succeeding prime (). The locker assembly 1' of Figure 3 differs from that of Figure 1 in that the compartments 10'A-E are arranged in compartment sets. Each compartment set is provided as a row of compartments 10'A-E, denoted by A-E in Figure 3, where the lowermost row is represented by 'A' and the uppermost row is represented by F. In this locker assembly 1' each compartment set has two respective switches 31'A-E, 32'A-E. The switches 31'A-E, 32'A-E are vertically level with a part of the corresponding compartment set such that it is clear to the operatives Ul, U2 which switches 31'A-E, 32'A-E are to be used to open which compartment set. However, it will be appreciated that the switches 31'A-E, 32'A-E might instead only be in the same vertical order as the corresponding compartment sets, for example with all switches located proximal to a lower edge of the respective side surface 16', 17', in order for the operatives U1, U2 to understand which switches 31'A-E, 32'A-E correspond to which compartment set.
io In the locker assembly 1' of Figure 3, each compartment 10'A-E is in electrical communication with the primary control circuit as in the locker assembly 1 of Figure 1. However, in the locker assembly 1' of Figure 3, each row of compartments, which might also be referred to as each compartment set, is in electrical communication with a respective secondary control circuit. Each secondary control circuit is the same as the secondary control circuit of the locker assembly 1 described with reference to Figure 1. In this example the secondary power supply, namely the battery 33', is common for all of the secondary control circuits.
Use of the locker assembly 1' of Figure 3 is the same as the locker 1 assembly of Figure 1 when individual compartments 10'A-E are to be accessed by using the HMI 22'.
Use of the locker assembly 1' of Figure 3 during failure or malfunction of any part of the primary control circuit, or during any other event which necessitates the opening of all of the compartments 10', is the same as that with the locker assembly 1 of Figure 1 except that actuation of two of the switches 31'A-E, 32'A-E only unlocks the doors 11'A-E of the compartments 10'A-E of the corresponding compartment set. For example, if the operatives Ul, U2 actuated the key switches 31'B, 32'B of the second row of compartments 10'B from the bottom, then only the relay coils of the locks 13'B of the second row of compartments 10'B from the bottom would energise, thereby only unlocking the doors 11'B of the second row of compartments 10'B from the bottom.
Referring now to Figure 4 there is shown another example of a locker assembly 1". The locker assembly 1" of Figure 4 is similar to the locker assembly 1 of Figure 1, and similar features are denoted, in Figure 4, with the same reference numerals as in Figure 1, but with a succeeding double prime ("). The locker assembly 1" of Figure 4 differs from that of Figure 1 in that the compartments 10"A-D are arranged in compartment sets. Each compartment set is provided as a column of compartments 10"A-D, denoted by A-D in Figure 4, where the left-most columns are represented by 'A' and the right-most columns are represented by 'ID'. In this locker assembly 1" each compartment set has two respective switches 31"A-D, 32"A-D. One of each of the two switches is a master switch 31"A-D, and the other of the two switches is a slave switch 32"A-D. The master switches 31"A-D are located on the upper surface 18" of the locker assembly 1", and are horizontally level with a part of the corresponding compartment set such that it is clear to the operatives U1, U2 which master switches 31"A-D are to be used to open which compartment sets. Each slave switch 32"A-D is located on the side surface 17" furthest from the corresponding master switch 31"A-D, to ensure that a sufficient distance between each master switch 31"A-D and the corresponding slave switch 32"A-D is provided. Labels or other indications may be provided to the operatives U1, U2 to correctly identify which slave switch 32"A-D corresponds to which compartment set.
In the locker assembly 1" of Figure 4, each compartment 10"A-D is in electrical communication with the primary control circuit as in the locker assembly 1 of Figure 1. However, in the locker assembly 1" of Figure 4, each column of compartments, which might also be referred to as each compartment set, is in electrical communication with a respective secondary control circuit. Each secondary control circuit is the same as the secondary control circuit of the locker assembly 1 described with reference to Figure 1. In this example the secondary power supply, namely the battery 33", is common for all of the secondary control circuits.
Use of the locker assembly 1" of Figure 4 is the same as the locker 1 assembly of Figure 1 when individual compartments 10"A-D are to be accessed by using the HMI 22".
Use of the locker assembly 1" of Figure 4 during failure or malfunction of any part of the primary control circuit, or during any other event which necessitates the opening of all of the compartments 10", is the same as that with the locker assembly 1 of Figure 1 except that actuation of two of the switches 31"A-D, 32"A-D only unlocks the doors 11"A-D of the compartments 10"A-D of the corresponding compartment set.
For example, if the operatives U1, U2 actuated the key switches 31"B, 32"B of the second column of compartments 10"B from the left, then only the relay coils of the locks 13"B of the second column of compartments 10"B from the left would energise, thereby only unlocking the doors 11"B of the second column of compartments 10"B from the left.
Referring now to Figure 5 there is shown another example of a locker assembly 1", which is the same as the locker assembly 1" of Figure 4 except for the locations of the switches 31"A-D, 32"A-D. Similar features in this locker assembly 1-are denoted, in Figure 5, with the same reference numerals as in Figure 4, but with a succeeding triple prime ("'). In the locker assembly 1-of Figure 5 the master switches 31"A-D and the slave switches 32"'A-Dare located on the upper surface 18" of the locker assembly 1". Both sets of master and io slave switches 31"A-D, 32-A-D are located in a horizontal order which corresponds to the horizontal order of the respective columns of compartment sets. The master switches 31"A-D are located proximal to the left-hand side surface 16" and the slave switches 32-A-D are located proximal to the right-hand side surface 17", such that both operatives U1, U2 are required in order to open sets of compartments.
The operation of the locker assembly 1-of Figure 5 is the same as the locker assembly 1" of Figure 4.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that several variations to the aforementioned embodiments are envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, switches in any of the examples may be located anywhere on the surfaces of the locker assembly. Furthermore, other wiring configurations may be implement in the primary and/or secondary control circuits to achieved the same effect.
It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and/or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein