JP2659078B2 - Self-scanning system equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-scanning system which allows a customer to scan merchandise data of purchased merchandise.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a checkout device provided to a supermarket, a customer scans merchandise data of purchased merchandise by using a self-scanning system device, and a payment operation including money transfer is performed electronically. There is a configuration in which a cashier uses a cash register to perform the operation.

[0003] For example, the checkout device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-46591 is a cashier having a plurality of self-scanning system devices and one common electronic cash register. Meanwhile, 1
There is also a dedicated system composed of one or two self-scanning system devices and one or two dedicated electronic cash registers.

FIG. 6 shows a general configuration of the latter checkout apparatus. In the figure, 1 is a self-scanning system devices, the customer is to column arrangement and an operation unit 10 and the <br/> conveyance-measuring section 20 and the scan top click unit 50 for scanning operations in the product flow direction. The operation unit 10 is provided with a product reading means (optical scanner or the like) 11 for reading a barcode attached to a product, and an input / display unit 12 including various switches such as a start button and a display. . Moreover, conveyance-metering unit 20, proximate vital placed an operation section 10
Conveyor that conveys the product to the stock unit 50
Conveyor (incoming conveyor 21, unloading conveyor 41)
Manipulating the product weight via the conveyor (loading conveyor 21)
It has a weighing device 22 that can measure at a position close to the working unit 10.
doing. For details, the carry-in conveyor 21
Can be carried in the direction of the arrow
I have. The weighing machine 22 is placed on the carry-in conveyor 21.
The product is formed so that the weight of the product can be measured. In addition,
The unloading section 40 is formed from the unloading conveyor 41 and the inclined shooter 42.
The carry-out unit 40 is configured to carry out the adjusted product to the stock unit 50 having the stock place 51.

[0005] Here, the electronic cash register 31
Forming the settlement section 30, carrying out with the carry-in conveyor 21
It is provided in the middle of the conveyor 41 .

In the checkout device, when the customer scans his or her purchased merchandise on the operation unit 10, the merchandise data is stored in the electronic cash register 31.
While being registered in the sales registration file, they product carrying conveyor 21, stock unit 50 through the discharge conveyor 41
Transported to Therefore, the cashier will settle the payment section 3
At 0, it is sufficient to perform only the settlement operation for the customer after scanning. Thereafter, the customer will be bagged at the stock location 51.

Therefore, the cashier can concentrate on only the settlement work, thereby improving work efficiency. On the other hand, customers can shop quickly without waiting for a long line. According to the checkout device disclosed in the above publication, the work efficiency can be further increased by concurrently serving as a cashier.

[0008] However, in such a self-scanning system device 1 irrespective of the dual-purpose system or the full-time system, the customer scans the goods scanned by the customer and the carry-in conveyor 21.
There may be a case where the product does not match the product actually placed by the customer. If this is left unchecked, the settlement operation becomes troublesome, and the introduction of the self-scanning system device 1 cannot achieve the improvement of the operation efficiency and the customer service. On the other hand, when the customer is intentional, it is hard to forgive that this fraud is overlooked.

In the check-out apparatus, the customer reads the weight of the scanned product from the product data file in the electronic cash register 31, and weighs the weight of the product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21.
, And automatically determines whether or not both weights match.

That is, when the customer places the goods after scanning on the carry-in conveyor 21 which is being operated,
As shown in FIG. 7, the weighing device 22 automatically weighs the product (ST50) . On the other hand, the control unit such as an electronic cash register 31 reads the input data by scanning (ST51), the input data is in goods regular registered product data file (ST52 of Y
ES) and both weights match (YE of ST53)
S), the sales registration (ST54) is to be performed.

On the other hand, when the product is not a regular product (NO in ST52) or when the weight of the product input by scanning does not match the automatically weighed product (NO in ST53), the carry-in conveyor 21 is stopped (ST55). And the reverse transportation operation (ST56), and the customer (operation unit 10)
Return to Then, it is general that a countermeasure message such as "Please rescan" or "Place the scanned product" is displayed to the customer (ST57).

Thus, it is possible to improve business efficiency and service while preventing intentional or negligence fraud.

[0013]

However, the conventional self-scanning system device 1 has the following problems, which hinders its further spread.

The carry-in conveyor 21 is continuously operated for quick check-out. On the other hand, installation of the product weight measuring device 22 is essential. Here, since the weighing device 22 must be in sliding contact with the moving conveyor 21 and must accurately detect the product weight on any of the conveyors 21, the structure is complicated and the cost is very high. Become.

Further, a carry-in conveyor 21 and a weighing machine 22
, The life of the carry-in conveyor 21 is shortened. On the other hand, there is a certain limit in improving the accuracy of the weighing device 22, and it is difficult to accurately follow up when dealing with a wide variety of products (products with a very small weight difference).

If the weights do not match, the conveyor
Since the ( conveyor 21 ) needs to be operated in reverse, the controller of the conveyer ( conveyor 21 ) is complicated, which not only increases the cost, but also does not achieve the desired speedup as a whole. In addition, the customer
Some have pointed out that it may cause some discomfort.

[0017] etc. Although the store off-peak time zone, since the input conveyor 21 are continuous operation, a large power consumption.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a low cost self-scanning system device which is simple in structure and easy to handle.

[0019]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention, construction of the conveyance-measuring unit, the cost of the entire device, handling difficulty, operation stability, the other components influence on the speed, etc. of the checkout Paying attention to the fact that it is extremely large compared to the above, it is configured to operate the transport conveyor after confirming that the product scanned by the customer matches the product actually placed on the transport conveyor ( loading conveyor ) , The purpose is achieved.

[0020] Namely, the present invention includes an operation unit including a commodity reading means being Retsuhai set in the product flow direction, the operation portion and the near
Conveys the placed and placed products to the stocking section
Operate the product weight via the conveyor and the conveyor
Conveyance-having a quantifiable meter at a position close to the parts
A self-scanning system device including a weighing unit, a scanning product data storage unit configured to store product data of a product self-scanned by the customer at the operation unit, and a customer placed on the transport conveyor by the customer and using the weighing device. Weighed product weight data storage means for storing the weighed product weight data, and comparing the product weight data corresponding to the scanned product data with the weighed weight data to determine whether both weight data are equal. a comparative determination unit, that it is determined that both the weight equals the conveyance of the conveyor by transfer operation the product by a predetermined distance after movement the transfer operation on condition for items in the comparative determination unit
Characterized by providing a conveyor drive control means Ru is stopped, the.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the self-scanned merchandise data is stored in the scanned merchandise data storage means, and the weighed weight data automatically weighed by the weighing instrument is stored in the weighed merchandise weight data storage means. Here, the comparison determining means compares the product weight data corresponding to the scanned product data with the weighed product weight data, and determines whether the weights are equal.

[0022] Then, the conveyor operation control means, on condition that the comparison and judging means have determined that both weights with respect to the goods are equal, causes the conveyance conveyor to carry out the driving operation and carries out the predetermined operation of the goods.
Distance Ru stops the transfer operation after the move. Therefore,
The weighing device can be configured to measure the weight of goods on the stopped conveyor, and the need for reverse conveyance operation of the conveyor is eliminated. And stable operation is possible.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 3, the self-scanning system apparatus includes two units (1A, 1B) arranged in parallel, and a common settlement unit 30 [two electronic cash registers 31] in the middle.
(A), 31 (B)] is provided as a so-called two-lane type checkout device.

This self-scanning system 1A
(1B) has the same basic configuration as that of the conventional example (FIG. 6), but includes a scanning product data storage unit, a weighed product weight data storage unit, a comparison determination unit, a conveyor operation control unit, and the like. When the self-scanned merchandise (weight) and the weighed merchandise (weight) are determined to match, the carry-in conveyor 21 is transported for the first time.

The same or common parts as in the conventional example (FIG. 6) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

[0026] In FIG. 3, the weighing unit 22, transportable suspended
The structure is such that the weight of the goods placed on the conveyer (the carry-in conveyor 21 ) is automatically weighed (contacted) via the carry-in conveyor 21 . Therefore, since it is sufficient to dispose it on the upstream side of the conveyor 21, it is very small and highly accurate compared to the conventional example. In addition, since it does not slide on the transport conveyor 21 during operation, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. The same applies to the carry-in conveyor 21.

Furthermore, since the weighing device 22 can be configured to be able to move up and down, it can be used after the weighing, that is, when the carry-in conveyor 2 is used.
1 is operated, the weighing machine 22 is loaded into the conveyor 2.
1 can be separated.

By the way, in this embodiment, the scanning commodity data storage means, the weighed commodity weight data storage means,
The comparing and judging means is constructed by also using the components of the electronic cash register 31 (A) [31 (B)] constituting the settlement unit 30 and the functions of the components. Therefore, first, the electronic cash register 31 will be described.

In FIG. 1, the electronic cash register 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU 31A for performing calculations, determinations, instructions, etc., a ROM 31B for storing various programs and fixed data, a RAM 31C for temporarily storing various data, a keyboard 32 (controller 32C), and a printer 37 (controller 37).
C), drawer 34 (controller 34C), operator display 35 (controller 35C), customer display 3
6 (controller 36C), including an interface 31D, a general setting mode, a registration mode,
Inspection mode and settlement mode data processing can be performed, and data can be transmitted to a host computer (not shown).

The RAM 31C has a work area WA for temporarily storing data being processed and a sales registration area RM.
And a product data file area DM shown in FIG. In the product data file area DM, in addition to the product code, the product name, and the unit price, the weight of the product is set and stored in advance.

In the sales registration area RM, an operation unit 1 is provided.
In addition to the product data self-scanned by the customer at 0,
The merchandise data input by the cashier operating the scanner 33 or the keyboard 32 shown in FIG. 1 is also stored.

On the other hand, the following devices forming the self-scanning system device 1 are connected to the interface 31D. That is, the commodity reading means 11 forming the operation unit 10, the four-digit display 14, the start switch 1
5, an input / display unit 12 having a stop switch 16 is connected. The start switch 15 is for declaring that the customer uses the product reading means 11 to start inputting self-purchased product data, and the stop switch 16 is for declaring the end thereof.

Therefore, the start switch 15 is turned on.
Then, the self-scanned product data is automatically input to the electronic cash register 31 via the interface 31D, and the scanned product data is stored in the RAM 3.
It is temporarily stored in the working area WA of 1C. Here, it is understood that the RAM 31C constitutes a scanning product data storage unit.

On the other hand, the weighing device 22 is a means for automatically weighing the weight of the self-scanned product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 stopped by the customer, and the weighed weight is temporarily stored in the working area WA of the RAM 31C. Here, RA
Obviously, M31C also forms a weighed product weight data storage means.

The conveyor controller 29 connected to the interface 31D is a means for controlling the operation of the carry-in conveyor 21 and the carry-out conveyor 41. The carry-in conveyor 21 is started to operate by a conveyor operation control means described later, and a sensor 23 provided on the downstream side of the carry-in conveyor 21 is provided.
The conveyor controller 29 stops the operation when (FIGS. 1 and 3) detects a product. On the other hand, the unloading conveyor 41 is transported after the start switch 15 is turned on.

Further, the conveyor controller 29 includes:
As shown in FIG. 3, the carry-in conveyor 21 can be transported by a foot switch 38 disposed in a range where the cashier can be operated, and an emergency stop can be performed by an emergency switch 39.

The merchandise reading means 11, the input / display unit 12, the weighing device 22, and the conveyor controller 29 include:
Based on the programs shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 stored in the ROM 31B, they are executed in association with each other under the control of the CPU 31A.

The comparing and judging means compares the merchandise weight data (Di) and the weighed weight data (Dm) to judge whether or not both weights are equal (Dm = Di). Is formed from a CPU 31A and a ROM 31B. Specifically, it is executed in ST17 of FIG.

The merchandise weight data (Di) is stored in a merchandise data file (RAM 31C) shown in FIG. 2 based on the scanned merchandise data (D) input by the customer's self-scanning and temporarily stored in the RAM 31C. The weight of the product is obtained by the CPU 31A.

Next, the conveyor operation control means includes a CPU 3
1A, the ROM 31B, and the comparing and judging means (31
A, 31B), a transfer operation command signal of the carry-in conveyor 21 is output to the conveyor controller 29 on condition that it is determined that both weights are equal (Dm = Di).
In other words, customers self-scan for self-purchased products,
Only when the product is placed on the carry-in conveyor 21, the transport operation is started for the first time on the conveyor 21.
Therefore, the waste operation of the transport conveyor 21 is eliminated,
There is no need to operate the transport conveyor 21 in the reverse transport operation. In addition, since only regular purchased products are transported, high-speed operation can be performed.

On the other hand, when the self-scanning is abnormal, the CPU 31A puts the product on the carry-in conveyor 21 without performing the self-scanning, or the CPU 31A puts the product on the carry-in conveyor 21 with the product different from the self-scanned product. , The carry-in conveyor 21 is not operated.
For this reason, the customer's negligence, fraud by deliberately, without giving the unpleasant feeling that reverse transport the goods, it is not possible to prevent.

The shelf 15 shown in FIG. 3 is for temporarily placing a product or the like that has failed in self-scanning.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The customer who has delivered a large number of purchased products to the cart stops at the operation unit 10 and turns on the start switch 15 (ST1 in FIG. 4).
0).

Then, the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display a message (1) "Please scan the product" (ST11). The product data D self-scanned by the customer using the product reading means 11 is temporarily stored in the scanning product data storage means (RAM 31C) (ST12, ST13).

At this time, the CPU 31A reads out the product weight Di corresponding to the scanned product data D from the product data file (RAM 31C) of FIG. 2 and temporarily stores it in the work area WA.

Subsequently, the message (2) of "Please place the scanned product in the frame of the conveyor" is displayed on the display 14 (ST14). Loading conveyor 21
The goods placed on the upper side are passed through the carry-in conveyor 21.
The weighed product weight Dm is automatically weighed by the weighing device 22 (in contact with the weighing device ) , and the weighed product weight Dm is R
It is stored in the AM 31C (ST15, ST16). here,
The comparison determining means (CPU 31A, ROM 31B) determines the identity between the product weight data Di and the weighed weight data Dm (ST17).

If it is determined that Dm = Di (YES in ST17), CPU 31A forming the conveyor operation control means
Outputs a transfer operation command signal to the conveyor controller 29 to start the operation of the carry-in conveyor 21.

On the other hand, if Dm ≠ Di (N in ST17)
In O), the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display a message (3) such as "Please place the scanned product on the carry-in conveyor" (ST18). In this case, the carry-in conveyor 21 is not operated and remains stopped.

Now, it is determined that the self-scanned product and the product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 have the same weight (the same weight) (YES in ST17). (ST19), and sent to the stocking place 51 via the unloading conveyor 41.

During this process, when the sensor 23 detects a product (ST20 in FIG. 5), the scanning product data temporarily stored in the scanning product data storage means (RAM 31C) is stored in the sales registration storage area (31C) by the CPU 31A. ) (ST21). At the same time, the conveyor controller 29 stops the carry-in conveyor 21 (ST22).

Thereafter, the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display a message (4) such as "Please scan the next product" and "Press the stop switch" (ST23).

The next product is handled in the same manner (ST11 to ST23). End of self-scanning for all products,
When the stop switch 16 is pressed, the self-scanning operation ends (ST24).

Thereafter, the electronic cash register 31
The total amount and the like are displayed on the display 36 of the customer.
Make a payment at. The cashier is manually input to the merchandise temporarily placed on the shelf 15 due to the malfunction of the self-scanning using the keyboard 32 or the scanner 33. Settled-customer, the bagged products in stock unit 50.

According to this embodiment, however, the operation unit 1
0, the comparison determining transport and metering unit 20, the self-scanning system device 1 column disposed scan top click section 50 in the product flow direction, scanning product data storage means and (31C) weighing product weight data storage means and (31C) Means (3
1A, 31B) and conveyor operation control means (31A, 31B).
B) are provided on a substrate, self-scanning goods to the transport co
When it is determined that the product placed on the conveyor ( loading conveyor 21 ) is the same as the product placed on the conveyor ( loading conveyor 2).
1) Since by transfer operation is configured to stop the movement after the transfer operation the product by a predetermined distance, meter 22 is conveyed
It can be configured to measure while the conveyor (the carry-in conveyor 21 ) is stopped. Thus, we achieved a very simplified significantly cost reduced structure of conveyance, the measuring section 20 can be further improved power saving Hakare customer service with.

Also, scanning merchandise data storage means,
The weighed product weight data storage means, the comparison determination means, and the conveyor operation control means are provided by the CPU 31A, the ROM 31B, and the RAM 3 of the electronic cash register 31 constituting the settlement unit 30.
Since the configuration also serves as 1C, organic and high-speed processing is possible, and the cost of the entire checkout device can be reduced.

Further, since the weighing device 22 may have a structure in which the weighing device 22 abuts on the conveyer 21 being stopped to measure the product weight, the weighing device 22 is very small and has high accuracy. Therefore, the present invention has a wide applicability that can be introduced to a variety of merchandise dealers having a small difference in weight, and ensures a stable operation.

Further, since the carry-in conveyor 21 is configured to start operation after the product identity is confirmed and to stop after the end of sales registration, high-speed operation can be performed, the operation time can be minimized, power can be saved, and customer handling can be achieved. In the case of deficiency or negligence, there is no discomfort that the carry-in conveyor 21 is reversely conveyed and the product is returned to the operation unit 10.

Although the self-scanning system device 1 described above has been introduced into a two-lane dedicated checkout device, it can be implemented as a self-scanning system device for a dual-purpose checkout device disclosed in the above-mentioned publication. .

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation unit,
Conveyance-metering unit, in the self-scanning system apparatus columns arranged and scan top click section, compared to determine the identity of the scanning product data storage means and the metering product weight data storage means and product weight data and the metering weight data a determination means and the conveyor operation control means is provided, since the self-scanning goods is configured to transfer operation of the conveyance conveyor after confirming that it has been placed on conveyance conveyor, meter, feed transportable dramatically simplified the structure of the conveyance-metering unit which includes a conveyor, can be highly accurate, it is substantially reduced the cost of the entire device, together with the attained power saving and improving customer service.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is also a diagram for explaining a product data file.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the entire checkout device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (1) for explaining the operation.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (2) for explaining the operation.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 1B self-scanning system unit 10 operation unit 11 item reading means 12 input and display unit 14 display 15 rack 20 conveyance-measuring unit 21 input conveyor 22 meter (23) sensor 29 conveyor controller 30 settlement section 31 and 31A, 31B Electronic cash register 31A CPU (comparison and judgment means, conveyor operation control means) 31B ROM (comparison and judgment means, conveyor operation control means) 31C RAM (scanning product data storage means, weighed product weight data storage means) 31D interface 32 keyboard 33 scanner 34 Drawer 35 Operator display 36 Customer display 37 Printer 38 Foot switch 39 Emergency switch 40 Unloading unit 41 Unloading conveyor 50 Stock unit 51 Stock location

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Agency reference number FI Technical display location G07G 1/00 311 G07G 1/12 301Z 1/12 301 G06F 15/21 350

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An operation unit including product reading means arranged in a line in a product flow direction, and placed near and close to the operation unit.
A conveyor that conveys goods to the stocking section and the conveyor
The product weight is set at a position close to the operation unit via the conveyor.
In cell <br/> Ruch scanning system apparatus and a conveyance-measuring unit having a quantifiable meter, and scanning product data storage means for storing the product data of the product the customer self-scanning by the operation unit Weighed product weight data storage means for storing weighed product weight data of a product placed on the conveyor by the customer and weighed by the weighing device; product weight data corresponding to the scanned product data; and the weighed weight data comparison determination means, and conveyed by driving the conveyance conveyor on condition that it is determined that both the weight is equal to commodities in this comparison and determination means for determining whether both the weight data is equal to compare bets
Self-scanning system apparatus characterized by the items provided, the conveyor operation control means for Ru stops the transfer operation after the move by a predetermined distance.