JPH02299093A - Commodity data reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize an efficient twosome system without the burden on customers by reading the discrimination code of a shopping basket by a register part and recording this code and the total amount of money of registered commodities in the storage means of an account part to adjust an account. CONSTITUTION:In plural register parts A1 to An, unregistered commodities in shopping baskets 100A are read by scanners 111 to 11n, and registered commodities are transferred to shopping baskets 100B, and read discrimination codes of baskets 100B and the amounts of money of registered commodities are stored in registers 111 to 11n. When all commodities are registered and end keys of scanners 111 to 11n are operated, discrimination codes of shopping baskets and the total amounts of money of commodities are stored in electronic registers 311 to 31n-1 of account parts B1 to Bn-1 whose number is smaller than the number of register parts. An account is adjusted based on these stored contents and the read discrimination code of a shopping basket 100C which a customer carries to idle one of account parts B1 to Bn-1 and in which commodities are put, and thus, the twosome system is efficiently executed without giving customers to have discrimination tags or the like neither burdening them by account parts and register parts of light operator's burden.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a product data reading device.

[Conventional technology] In order to improve work efficiency, supermarkets and mass retailers use a registration section (mainly,
scanner) and the settlement department (which handles cash transfers and receipts for sales amounts)
Mainly, a so-called two-person system is used, in which the cash register (electronic cash register) is separated and an operator is assigned to each.

In a two-person system, when a customer brings a shopping cart containing unregistered products to the registration department, the operator at the registration department
Unregistered products are taken out one by one from the shopping cart, bar codes attached to the unregistered products are read by a scanner, and then stored in the empty shopping cart used by the previous customer. After all unregistered products have been registered, the shopping cart containing the registered products is moved to the m calculation section, and the empty shopping cart is moved to the back of the scanner in preparation for the next customer. .

On the other hand, when the operator at the checkout section presses the subtotal key when the shopping cart containing the registered products is moved to the checkout section, the product data registered at the registration section is read out and printed out from the printer. At the same time, the total amount will be displayed on the display.

Therefore, money is transferred and received.

Therefore, in a two-person system, as mentioned above, the amount of work in the registration department is much greater than the amount of work in the payment department, so if the registration department and the payment department are made to correspond 1:1,
While the operator of the registration department is busy, the operator of the checkout department is bored, resulting in a problem of poor efficiency as a whole.

Therefore, we reduced the number of checkout departments relative to the number of registration departments, so that customers who have registered their products in any registration department can check out at any checkout department, which is usually the busiest one. A system has been proposed.

In such a system, the operator of the registration department presses the closing key after registering all products, and the registered product data is transmitted to the file controller along with the customer number, and a number printed with the customer number is sent to the file controller. A bill is issued by a printer.

The customer goes to any checkout department with a shopping cart containing registered products and a number tag.

An operator at the payment department receives a number plate from a customer and inputs the customer number on the number plate from the keyboard. Then, the product data corresponding to that customer number is transferred from the file controller, and payment is made based on that product data.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] Conventional systems have the following problems.

Since it is necessary to issue number tags with the customer number 0 printed on them, the registration department must be equipped with a printer.

■Customers have to carry the number tag handed to them at the registration department to the payment department, which is troublesome and may be lost on the way.

■In addition, if you are holding something else in one hand when receiving the number tag, you will have to hold the heavy shopping cart containing registered products with the other hand, so if you cannot hold the number tag. There is. In such a case, it is sufficient to put the number tag in the shopping cart containing registered products, but if the number tag is placed in the shopping cart, it may be difficult to take out the number tag at the checkout section.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a product data reading device that can be used efficiently without placing a burden on customers.

[Means for Solving the Problem] Normally, when registering products, unregistered products are passed through a reading unit and stored in an empty shopping cart used by a previous customer. After all the unregistered products have been registered, the customer goes to the checkout department with the shopping basket containing the registered products, that is, the shopping cart that the previous customer brought to the registration department.

The present invention focuses on the flow of shopping carts, attaches an identification code unique to the shopping cart, and stores the identification code of the shopping cart used by the previous customer before registering the product. , after registering product data corresponding to the identification code, the product data is outputted to the storage means together with the identification code number by a tightening operation.

Specifically, in the process of taking out unregistered products in the second shopping cart one by one and storing them in the first shopping cart used by the previous customer, the product data attached to the unregistered products is In the product data reading device, the product data is read by a reading section and stored in a storage section, and outputs the product data stored in the storage section to a storage means in response to a tightening operation. and a first product data registration area for storing the identification code of the first shopping cart in the storage section and a second product data registration area for storing the identification code of the second shopping cart. and means for storing the product data read by the reading section in the first product data registration area on the condition that the identification code is stored in the first product data registration area. , means for storing the identification code in the second product data registration area when the identification code of the second shopping cart is input; and means for storing the identification code in the second product data registration area when the closing operation is performed. On condition that the identification code is stored, after outputting the identification code and product data of the first product data registration area to the storage means, the identification code of the second product data registration area is output to the storage means. The present invention is characterized in that a control means having a means for transferring data to one product data registration area is provided.

[Function 1: When the customer brings a second shopping cart containing unregistered products to the registration department, the operator takes out the unregistered products one by one from the shopping cart and attaches the unregistered products to the registration department. After the product data is read by the reading section, the product data is stored in the first shopping cart used by the previous customer. Then, on the condition that the identification code of the first shopping cart used by the previous customer is stored in the first product data registration area, the product data read by the reading unit is stored in the first product data registration area. will be registered sequentially.

Before performing the closing operation, store the identification code of the second shopping cart in the second product data registration area, and perform the closing operation on the condition that all unregistered products have been registered. , the identification code and product data of the first product data registration area are output to the storage means, and
The identification code of the second product data registration area is transferred to the first product data registration area. As a result, for the next customer, the identification code of the first shopping cart used by the previous customer is stored in the first product data registration area.

Therefore, after the registration is completed, the identification code of the shopping cart that the customer takes away and the product data of the registered products stored in the shopping cart are stored in a corresponding state in the storage means. Based on the identification code of the shopping cart, product data corresponding to the identification code of the shopping cart can be read out from the storage means. Therefore, the customer does not have to carry a number plate with him as in the past, so there is no burden on the customer.

[Example] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system of this embodiment includes a plurality of registration units A1 to An arranged at regular intervals from each other, and registration units A1 to An arranged at regular intervals from each other in the customer flow direction. A plurality of payment units 81 to Bn-1 arranged
It is composed of: Here, registration parts A1 to A
The number of settlement units 81 to Bn-1 is reduced by one compared to the number n. This helps equalize the workload.

Each registration section A1-An has one soccer cart 101-10.1 which has a space for placing a second shopping cart 100A containing unregistered products and an empty first shopping cart 100B used by a previous customer. And this soccer one 101~10. The scanner 11. is fixed at the center position on the upper surface of the shopping cart 100A, 100B. ~11. It is composed of. Further, each payment section 81 to Bn-1 has one soccer cart 30. ~30.1, and an electronic cash register 31. installed on one side of each soccer machine 30t~30-+. It is composed of ~31−−+.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the shopping carts 100A, B, and C of this embodiment each have an ID number card 101 integrally provided at the upper position of the outer surface of both long side walls constituting a rectangular peripheral wall. It is attached. Each ID number card 101 displays an ID number, which is an identification code unique to the shopping cart, in the form of a barcode.

In addition, scanners 111 to 1 in each registration unit A1 to An
1. and an electronic cash register 31 in each payment unit B1 to Bn-1. 31 a-1 are alternately connected via a closed loop transmission line 8, as shown in FIG. A file controller 1 constituting a storage means is connected in the middle of the closed loop transmission line 8. A post computer 9 is connected to the file controller 1.

FIG. 3 shows the circuit configuration of the file controller 1. As shown in FIG. In the figure, 2 is a CPU. The CPU 2 is connected to the ROM 4 and RA via the address/data bus 3.
M5, a transmission control circuit 6 for transmitting data with the host computer, and the scanner 11 . ~11, and electronic cash register 31
A transmission control circuit 7 for data transmission is connected to each of the terminals 1 to 31m-1.

Here, the CPU 2 selects one of the scanners 111 to 11. according to the program stored in the ROM 4. The product data including the ID number transmitted from
5, and store them separately by ID number, and also store them in one of the electronic cash registers 311 to 31. When there is a request to send product data including ID number from , RA
It has a function of reading the product data corresponding to the ID number from the M5 and transmitting the product data to the electronic cash register 311 to 31°-1 that has received a transmission request.

FIG. 4 shows each scanner 11. ~11. The circuit configuration is shown. In the figure, 12 is a CPU. CPU
12 is connected to the ROM via the address/data bus 13.
14, RAM 15 as a storage unit, reading unit control circuit 16
, a display control circuit 17, a keyboard control circuit 19, and a transmission control circuit 20 for transmitting data to the file controller 1 through the transmission line 8.

The RAM 15 includes a first product data registration area 15A for storing the ID number of the first shopping cart used by the previous customer, and a second shopping cart storing unregistered products to be registered from now on. A second product data registration area 15B for storing the ID number of each product is provided. In each product data registration area 15A, 15B, the ID numbers of the shopping carts 100A, B read by the reading section 21 as well as product data of barcodes attached to the products can be stored.

Further, a reading section 21 that optically reads bar codes by scanning light is connected to the reading section control circuit 16, and a display 22 is connected to the 0 display control circuit 17. A keyboard 24 having an end key and the like is connected to the keyboard control circuit 19. These reading sections 21,
The display 22 and the keyboard 24 are arranged as shown in FIG. That is, the reading section 21 is placed on the front of the main body 25.
However, the display 22 is located at the top of the main body 25 in the open position.
A keyboard 24 is disposed above the reading section 21, that is, at a position above the reading section 21. The reading section 21 reads the shopping cart 10
When 0A passes in front of the reading section 21 along the top surface of the soccer carts 101 to 10, the ID of the shopping cart 100A is detected.
It is attached at a height position where the number card 101 can be read.

Further, the CPU 12 executes the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 according to the program stored in the ROM 14. Note that these processes will be described in detail in the section on effects. Here, the CPU 12 and the ROM 14 send information to the first product data registration area 15A on the condition that the ID number of the first shopping cart used by the previous customer is stored in the first product data registration area 15A. means for storing product data read by the reading section 21 in 15A;
When the ID number of the shopping cart is read by the reading section 21, the ID number is transferred to the second product data registration area 15.
means for storing the ID number in the second shopping cart, provided that the ID number of the second shopping cart is stored in the second product data registration area 15B when the closing operation based on the operation of the end key is performed; It includes means for transmitting the ID number and product data of the product data registration area 15A to the file controller 1, and then transferring the ID number of the second product data registration area 15B to the first product data registration area 15A. It constitutes a control means.

FIG. 6 shows each of the electronic cash registers 31° to 31,
−, shows the circuit configuration of . In the same figure, 32 is C
It is PU. The CPU 32 has an address/data bus 3.
3, ROM 34, RAM 35, keyboard control circuit 36, display control circuit 37, printer control circuit 38
, three drawer control circuits, a reading section control circuit 40, and a transmission control circuit 42 for transmitting data to the file controller 1 through the transmission line 8 are connected to each other.

A keyboard 51 having a subtotal key, a current total key, etc. is connected to the keyboard control circuit 36, and a display 52 is connected to the six-display control circuit 37. A printer 53 is connected to the printer control circuit 38. A drawer 54 is connected to the drawer control circuit 39 .

A reading section 55 that optically reads barcodes by scanning light is connected to the reading section control circuit 40 . The keyboard 51, display 52, printer 53, drawer 54, and reading section 55 are arranged as shown in FIG. That is, a keyboard 51, a display 52, and a printer 53 are arranged on the front of the casing 56, and a drawer 54 is arranged at the bottom of the casing 56.
A reading unit 55 is disposed below 4. Reading section 55
can read the ID number card 101 of the shopping cart 100C when the shopping cart 100C containing registered products is moved along the top surface of the soccer car 30, ~30 m-1 to the position of the reading section 55. It is removably installed at a height position.

Further, the CPU 32 executes the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 according to the program stored in the ROM 34. Note that these processes will be described in detail in the section on effects.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10.

First, as shown in FIG.
Soccer one 101~10. Then, the operators of the registration units A1 to An take out the unregistered products one by one from the shopping cart 100A and point the barcodes attached to the unregistered products to the reading unit 21. After the product data of the barcode is read by the reading section 21, the product is stored in the empty first shopping cart 100B used by the previous customer. Before performing the closing operation, move the shopping cart 100A that contained unregistered products at the time of registration to the reading section 21, read the ID number of the shopping cart 100A with the reading section 21, and then delete all the unregistered products. On the condition that the product registration is completed, the user presses the closing operation, that is, the end key.

Then, scanner 11. ~11. The CPU 12 of
Processing is executed according to the flowchart shown in the figure. First, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as ST) 1, it is determined whether the ID number of the empty shopping cart used by the previous customer is present in the first product data registration area 15A. here,
On the condition that the ID number of the empty tribute basket used by the previous customer is present in the first product data registration area 15A, S
When it is recognized that the product data has been input through the judgments in T2 and ST3, that is, when it is recognized in ST2 that there is input data, and when it is recognized in ST3 that the input data is not an flD number, the process proceeds to ST4 and the first After registering the product data in the product data registration area 15A, the process returns to Sr1 on the condition that the end key is not pressed in Sr1.

Therefore, provided that the ID number used by the previous customer is registered in the first product data registration area 15A, when the barcodes of unregistered products are sequentially read by the reading unit 21, those products Data is sequentially registered in the first product data registration area 15A.

In the process of registering unregistered products, or when the registration of all unregistered products is completed, Sr3 recognizes the ID number of the shopping cart. When the ID number of the shopping cart 100A is read by the reading section 21, the process advances to Sr6 and it is determined whether or not the ID number exists in the second product data registration area 15B.

If there is an ID number in the second product data registration area 15B, it is treated as an error. If there is no ID number in the second product data registration area 15B, the ID number is registered in the second product data registration area 15B and the process proceeds to ST5.

In the course of these processes, when it is recognized in Sr1 that the end key has been pressed, the process advances to ST8 and it is determined whether or not there is an ID number in the second product data registration area 15B. If there is no ID number in the second product data registration area 15B, it is treated as an error. If there is an ID number in the second product data registration area 15B, the process advances to Sr1 and the data in the first product data registration area 15A, that is, the product data including the ID number, is transmitted to the file controller 1.

Thereby, the file controller 1 receives the product data including the ID number, and stores the product data in the RAM 5 by sorting the product data by ID number.

Next, proceed to 5T10 and enter the first product data registration area 1.
Clear the data of 5A, then proceed to 5T11 and the second
After transferring the ID number of the product data registration area 15B to the first product data registration area 15A, the second ID number is transferred at 5T12.
Clear the ID number in the product data registration area 15B. As a result, for the next customer, the empty shopping cart 1 used by the previous customer will be stored in the first product data registration area 15A.
The ID number 00A is now registered.

This completes product registration for - customers. Then, the customer takes the shopping cart 100B containing the registered products and goes to any payment section 81 to Bn-1, while the registration section Al
~An operator transfers the empty shopping cart 100A used by the previous customer to the previous shopping cart 1 in preparation for the next customer.
Move to position 00B and wait for the next customer.0 If the next customer brings a shopping cart containing unregistered products, perform the same operation.In this case, the cart is already in the first product data registration area 15A. contains 10 empty shopping carts used by the previous customer.
Since the ID number of 0A is registered, S via STI
It is possible to proceed to processing after T2.

Note that since no ID number is registered in the first product data registration area 15A at the time of starting the registration process, the ID number of the empty shopping cart is first read by the reading unit 21. Then, the ID number is registered in the first product data registration area 15A at 5T15 through 5T13 and 5T14.
S 'I' It is possible to proceed to the processing after 2.

On the other hand, when the customer waits for the shopping cart 100C containing the registered products, the cashiers in the payment sections 81 to Bn-1 first move the shopping cart 100C to the reading section 55,
Alternatively, remove the reading section 55 and check the ID of the shopping cart 100C.
The number card 101 is read by the reading section 55, and then the subtotal key is pressed and then the current total key is pressed.

Then, the electronic cash register 31. ~31-1C
The PU 32 executes processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the presence of input data is recognized in S'l'21, and then, in 5T22, the input data is
When recognizing that it is a D number, the ID number is registered.

On the other hand, if the input data in Sr1 is not an ID number, 5T
At step 24, it is determined whether or not it is a subtotal key, and at step 5T30, it is determined whether or not it is a current total key. When it is recognized in 5T24 that it is a subtotal key, the process advances to 5T25 and it is determined whether an ID number is registered. If the ID number is registered, the process advances to 5T26 and a data transmission request including the ID number is transmitted to the file controller 1, and in ST27 the product data to be transmitted from the file controller 1 is sent in response to the transmission request. Then, at 5T28, the received product data is printed by the printer 53, and then, at 5T29, the total amount is displayed on the display 52. Further, when it is recognized at 5T30 that it is the current total key, the process advances to 5T31 and the closing process is performed.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the ID number of the shopping cart used by the previous customer is registered in each of the registration units A1 to An, and the product data registered together with the ID number is sent to the file controller 1. , Product data is filed for each ID number in the file controller 1, and when there is a request to send product data including an ID number based on the ID number of the shopping cart in any of the payment units 81 to Bn-1, Since the product data corresponding to the ID number is sent from the file controller 1 to the checkout section 81 to Bn-1 that have received a transmission request, the customer can place the shopping cart containing the registered products in the shopping cart that is used by the next customer. All you have to do is go to any checkout section 81 to Bn-1 with your shopping cart. This is a burden on the customer, as he or she does not have to carry a number tag in addition to the shopping cart, unlike in the past. Payment operations can be carried out efficiently because there is no need to call, and there is no need to worry about losing your number tag.

In addition, in each registration department A1 to An, you can purchase 100A.
But one soccer game is 10. ~10. The reading section 21
Since the reading unit 21 is placed at a height that allows it to read the ID number card 101 of the shopping cart 100A when it passes in front of the shopping cart 100A, it is possible to read the ID number card 101 of the shopping cart 100A. The ID number of the shopping cart can be read by simply moving it along the top surface of the cart. Moreover, since the ID number of the shopping cart can be read after all unregistered products in the shopping cart have been registered and become empty, it is easy to move the shopping cart.

In addition, in each payment section 81 to Bn-1, a shopping cart 100C containing registered products is stored in one soccer bag 301 to 30-+.
Since the reading section 55 is placed at a height position where it can read the ID number card 101 of the shopping cart 1oooc when the reading section 55 is moved to the 1st digit along the top surface, the shopping cart 1oooc can be read.
The ID number of the shopping cart 100C can be read by simply moving the cart 100C along the top surface of the soccer cart 301 to 30 m-1. Moreover, since the reading section 55 is made detachable, if the shopping cart 100C is heavy, the reading section 55 can be removed to read the ID number of the shopping cart 100C. In other words, since there is no need to move the heavy shopping cart 100C, the burden on the operator can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the ID number card 101 is integrally attached to the shopping carts 100A, B, and C, but as shown in FIG. The ID number card 101 may be inserted into the holder.

However, if the ID number card 101 is inserted into the pocket 102, the reading units 2 of the scanners 111 to 11
Since it cannot be read with Pocket 10 when reading
2, the ID number card 101 may be taken out and read by the reading unit 21.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, the ID number card 101 is
If the D number is displayed as a barcode and the ID number is also written in numbers, the cashiers at each payment section 81 to Bn-1 can see the ID number displayed in numbers and input the number from the keyboard 51. You can also do it.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ID number is displayed as a barcode on the ID number card 101, but the present invention is not limited to this.9For example, the ID number may be written magnetically.In this case, each Scanner 11. ~11
1 and each of the electronic cash registers 311 to 31□ may be provided with a card reader for reading an ID number card written magnetically.

Further, in the above embodiment, the scanners 11+ to 11. in each registration unit A1 to An are used. and electronic cash registers 31° to 31. in each payment section 81 to Bn-1. ．． Although the file controller 1 constituting the storage means is inserted in the middle of the closed loop transmission line 8 in which the When the ID number of the shopping cart is input in each payment section 81 to Bn-1, each registration section A
Read the file controllers 1 to An in order, determine whether the corresponding ID number exists, and if there is, read the corresponding ID from the file controllers of registration parts A1 to An.
What is necessary is to read out the product data of the number.

[Effect of the invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the first
In other words, after the registration is completed, the identification code of the shopping cart that the customer takes away and the product data of the registered products stored in the shopping cart are stored in the storage means in a corresponding manner. In the section, product data corresponding to the shopping cart identification code can be read from the storage means based on the shopping cart identification code. Therefore, unlike in the past, there is no need to carry a customer number tag with you.
There is no burden on the customer.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 10 show an embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 showing the overall configuration, FIG. 2 showing the connection between the scanner, electronic cash register, and file controller, and FIG. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the file controller, Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the scanner, Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the registration section, Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the electronic cash register, and Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the payment section. 8 is a perspective view showing the shopping cart, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation on the scanner side, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation on the electronic cash register side. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a shopping cart showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a front view of an ID number card showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1...File controller, (storage means), 12.
14... CPU and ROM (control means) 15...
・RAM (storage unit), 15A...first product data registration area, 15B...
-Second product data registration area, 21...reading section, 100A, B, C...shopping cart, 101...ID number card.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In the process of picking up unregistered products in the second shopping cart one by one and placing them in the first shopping cart used by the previous customer, the product data attached to the unregistered products is read. In the product data reading device, the product data is read and stored in a storage unit by a storage unit, and outputs the product data stored in the storage unit to a storage unit in response to a tightening operation, wherein an identification code unique to the shopping cart is attached to the shopping cart. and a first product data registration area for storing the identification code of the first shopping cart in the storage section and a second product data registration area for storing the identification code of the second shopping cart. and means for storing the product data read by the reading section in the first product data registration area on the condition that the identification code is stored in the first product data registration area. , means for storing the identification code in the second product data registration area when the identification code of the second shopping cart is input; and means for storing the identification code in the second product data registration area when the closing operation is performed. On condition that the identification code is stored, after outputting the identification code and product data of the first product data registration area to the storage means, the identification code of the second product data registration area is output to the storage means. 1. A product data reading device comprising: a control means having a means for transferring data to a product data registration area of No. 1.