BE1016913A6 - MOBILE MESSAGES-COLLECTION DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of automatically checking and billing customer purchased items includes the steps of: (a) measuring the empty weight (GO) of a mobile item collector (10); (b) whenever a customer selects an item (13) and places it in the item collector, recording the price of that item and measuring the actual weight (G) of that item; (c) determining the sum (EGS) of all measured actual weights of the selected items; (d) measuring the total weight (GT) of the filled mobile article collector with articles; (e) determining the net weight (GN) of the selected articles in the mobile article collector by subtracting the empty weight from the total weight; (f) comparing the net weight to the weight sum; (g) and the automatic settlement of the sum of the quoted item prices when the weight sum (EGS) corresponds to the net weight.

Description

Title: Mobile shopping collector

The invention relates generally to a mobile message collecting device suitable for use by a customer in a self-service store.

Said device is preferably provided with wheels, and may have the generally known appearance of a shopping cart. Therefore, the invention will be explained below with reference to a discussion of a shopping cart, but it is noted that this is to be construed only by way of example and not to limit the invention.

In the area of supermarkets, there is a development towards the customer becoming more and more independent. The self-service supermarket is now generally accepted. In such a supermarket, the customer goes into the store with a shopping cart, collects the selected groceries in that shopping cart, and then goes to a checkout point. Such a checkout point was traditionally designed as a manned cash register: the groceries were processed one by one by a cashier, with the price of an item always being entered in the cash register system. Nowadays, almost all items are provided with a bar code; in that case, with a traditional manned cash register, the bar code of the articles is always scanned by the cashier.

Self-service cash registers have been developed from a more recent date. In addition, the barcodes of the articles are scanned without the intervention of a cashier, either by an automatically operating installation or by the customer himself.

This naturally offers opportunities for fraud. To counter that, systems have been developed that perform a check based on the weight of the articles. The barcode of an article is read, and the article is also weighed. The item can be identified and the price can be determined based on the barcode. Based on the identification it is also known how much the item should weigh: the expected weight based on the identification can be looked up in a database. If the actual measured weight, within a certain tolerance, corresponds to the expected value, the price is approved; in the event of a discrepancy, measures can be taken to find out the cause.

Although the development towards greater independence of customers has been going on for several years, this has not yet resulted in market introduction on a large scale. There are various reasons for this. On the customer's side, convenience but also unfamiliarity with the systems play a major role. On the retailer's side, costs and reliability play a major role. Systems such as automatic tunnel scanning systems are quite complicated, extensive and expensive. Systems where the customer has to bring his groceries one by one to a scanner are relatively cheap and compact, but are relatively user-unfriendly because the user (customer) has to perform many actions himself. In addition, the ability to protect the system against misuse (fraud by malicious customers) plays a major role.

The present invention has for its object to improve the introduction and acceptance of self-service at checkout by providing a system that requires relatively little investment by the retailer, offers the customer a great deal of ease of use, if desired can be easily combined with manned cash registers, and is highly resistant. is against fraud.

According to the present invention, a shopping cart is provided with a scanner and with weighing means. The barcode of each item is scanned, and the item is weighed to compare the measured weight with the expected weight. Then the customer places the item in the shopping cart. When the customer is ready, he goes with the full shopping cart to a checkout point, which communicates with the shopping cart to find out the total of the scanned articles from the shopping cart. A checkout strip can now be printed, and the total amount to be paid can be determined, without the customer having to remove the items from the shopping cart. The checkout location is furthermore provided with a weighing platform for weighing the entire shopping cart with content: this measured weight must correspond to the own weight of the shopping cart plus the weight of the articles, and thus constitutes a check for the presence of non-scanned articles.

If the total weight is correct, the customer can pay, for example with a PIN card, and can leave the store. An important advantage that the present invention offers is that the articles do not have to be removed from the shopping cart by the customer.

It is noted that Swiss Patent No. 684,445 describes a system in which a shopping cart is first weighed empty, and wherein after shopping the full shopping cart including the items present therein is weighed again. The difference weight is then the total weight of the items present in the shopping cart, and must correspond to the sum of the individual weights of the detected items. In the system according to this publication, however, the sum of the individual weights of the detected articles is always determined as the sum of the weight data from the database, i.e. the sum of the standard weights. It is true that the actual weight of each detected item will be almost the same as the corresponding standard weight, but there may always be a slight deviation (tolerance). The greater the number of items, the greater the potential deviation between the sum of the weight data from the database used in the calculation and the actual sum of the individual weights of the detected items. The known system is therefore inaccurate. According to an important aspect of the present invention, the weights actually measured are summed in a memory associated with the shopping cart. As a result, the actual total weight of the detected articles is much more accurately known, and the comparison with the measured net weight of the full shopping cart can be made with greater accuracy.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further elucidated by the following description with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like or similar parts, and in which: figures 1A-C schematically show a side view of a shopping cart ; Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the functional components of a store system according to the present invention; Figure 3A schematically shows a side view of a shopping cart; Figure 3B is a block diagram schematically illustrating article recognition means; Figure 4 schematically shows a side view of a shopping cart at a checkout location; figure 5 schematically shows a top view (map) of a store system; Figure 6 schematically shows a shopping cart; Figure 7 schematically illustrates a row of shopping trolleys in a garage; Figures 8A and 8B are block diagrams illustrating details of a stall and a shopping cart according to the present invention; Figure 9 schematically shows a side view of a shopping cart with integrated weighing cells; Figure 10 schematically shows details of a preferred embodiment of a weighing cell.

A shop system 1 for a self-service shop (not shown) according to the present invention comprises a number of shop carts 10, one of which is shown in Figure 1A. When a customer (not shown) enters the store, he takes a ready empty shopping cart 10 (Figure 1A). The system according to the present invention allows the customer to place one or more bags 11, crates 12, etc. in the empty shopping cart 10, as illustrated in Figure 1B. The customer then goes with the shopping cart 10 and the bags, crates, etc. placed therein to a weighing platform 20 (figure IC), where the weight of the shopping cart 10 and the bags, crates, etc. placed therein is determined. The weight measured here will be referred to as zero-weight GO, and can also be referred to as empty-weight.

By thus measuring a zero weight, mutual weight differences no longer play a role in shopping carts. Furthermore, it is made possible for the customer to place all kinds of brought objects in the shopping cart or to hang them on the shopping cart, which in itself is an aspect of ease of use.

Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the functional components of the store system 1 according to the present invention. A central processor 2 serves as the heart of the system 1.

Furthermore, the system 1 has a carriage weight memory which remembers the empty weight GO of the shopping cart 10 in association with an identification of the individual shopping cart in question. In one embodiment, it is possible that the carriage weight memory is attached to the shopping cart 10, and when weighing communicates with the weighing platform 20, so that the empty weight GO of an individual shopping cart is stored in the carriage weight memory of that shopping cart in question. In the exemplary embodiment shown, however, there is a central carriage memory 3 that is associated with or integrated with the processor 2. The weighing platform 20 communicates with the central processor 2 (or directly with the central carriage memory 3), via a signal path 21 which may be wired or wireless.

The system 1 is further provided with car identification means 30 for identifying individual shopping carts. The carriage identification means 30 comprises a carriage identification member 31 mounted on a shopping cart and a carriage identification reader 32 positioned near the weighing platform 20 and adapted to receive identification information from the carriage identification means 31, In a possible embodiment, the carriage identification means 31 is a bar code, and the carriage identification reader 32 comprises a bar code reader, for example a laser scanner, as is known per se. In a preferred embodiment, the carriage identification means 31 is an RF-ID tranceiver chip, as is known per se, and the carriage identification reader 32 comprises an RF-ID receiver, as is known per se. In any case, it is preferable that the car identification means 30 are designed such that the car identification means 31 can be read remotely wirelessly.

The carriage identification reader 32, which is disposed near the weighing platform 20, communicates with the central memory 3, via a signal path 33 which may be wired or wireless. When the customer places the shopping cart 10 on the weighing platform 20, the measured empty weight GO is stored in the car weight memory 3, together with the car identity data received from the car identification reader 32. Thus, by consulting the carriage weight memory 3, the central processor is always able to determine what the empty weight GO of a particular shopping cart 10 is.

The shopping cart 10 is further provided with article recognition means 40 for recognizing individual articles, such as in figure 3A. More specifically, the article recognition means 40 comprises an article weighing platform 41, an article identification reader 42, and a database memory 46.

In the illustration of Figure 3A it is shown that an article 13 can be provided with a bar code 14, and that the article identification reader 42 can be a bar code scanner. However, the articles may also be provided with other identification means, for example RFID members, in which case the article identification reader 42 is a reader adapted thereto, such as for example an RFID reader. It is also possible that articles are recognized with the aid of a camera, for example a digital color video camera, which is provided with image recognition software. Hybrid variants are also possible, whereby there may be several types of codes on the articles; in that case the article identification reader 42 is preferably suitable for reading all types of codes occurring in the relevant store, for example a bar code scanner with built-in RFID reader.

In the illustration of Figure 3A, it is shown that the item identification reader 42 can be a hand-held unit held by the customer. The article identification reader 42 can, however, also be a fixed reader connected to the shopping cart 10. In the case of a bar code reader, the customer will then hold the bar code in front of the reader; in the case of an RFID reader, the customer does not have to perform any additional actions, because the RFID code can be read remotely by the reader.

The article weighing platform 41 can be fixedly attached to the shopping cart 10. However, it is also possible that the article weighing platform 41, together with the article identification reader 42 and possibly the memory 43, is designed as a separate module. A customer who enters the store can then choose to take a "bare" shopping cart and do the shopping in a conventional way, that is to say, pay in a conventional way at a checkout, but the customer can also choose to take a module and attach it to the carriage so as to make use of the advantages offered by the present invention.

Figure 3B illustrates that the article recognition means 40 further comprises a processor 44 which is coupled on the one hand to the memory 46 and which is coupled on the other hand to the article weighing platform 41 and to the article identification reader 42. The article identification reader 42 can be a fixed connection are connected to the processor 44, but preferably the article identification reader 42 is connected to the processor 44 via a wireless connection, for example a BlueTooth connection.

It is noted that it is per se possible that the memory 46 is a central memory, but it is preferred that the memory 46 is a memory connected to the shopping cart 10.

The memory 4 6 contains a database DB with article data, as is known per se. That article data includes the code 14 of an article 13, the price of that article, and the expected or nominal weight of that article, possibly with a tolerance limit. The database may further contain a text describing the article, for example "bottle of milk 1 liter".

The processor 44 is further provided with a second memory 47, which will be referred to as purchase memory, and the purpose of which will be explained later.

In the following, the practical procedure for the customer will be described, assuming that the item identification reader 42 is a bar code scanner.

STEP 1

The customer takes an item 13, and scans the code 14 with the scanner 42. The scanner 42 gives a code signal Sc to the processor 44.

STEP 2

The customer then places the article 13 on the weighing platform 41. The weighing platform 41 gives a weight signal Sg to the processor 44, which represents the measured weight G of the article 13.

The processor 44 receives the read code 14, and searches the database memory 46 for the corresponding article data, including the expected weight Ge and an associated tolerance Gt. The processor 44 checks whether the measured weight G is in the area between Ge-Gt and Ge + Gt, and if that is the case, the processor 44 approves the article 13. The customer is informed of this approval by means of an acoustic or visual signal (with the aid of a signal generator 45 controlled by the processor 44). The individual weight of each item is therefore measured and checked on the basis of the data in the database, which is checked on the basis of the identification data.

STEP 3

The customer takes the article 13 from the weighing platform 41, and places the article 13 in the shopping cart 10, whereby it is possible that the customer places the article directly in a bag or crate, as shown.

The processor 44 writes some article data of the approved article 13 in the purchase memory 47, in particular the measured weight G.

The above steps are repeated until the customer is ready; the customer then goes with the shopping cart 10 to a checkout location.

Figure 4 illustrates the situation at a checkout point. The system 1 comprises a second weighing platform 50, suitable for weighing a shopping cart 10, and a second carriage identification reader 35 which is positioned close to the second weighing platform 50 and which forms part of the carriage identification means 30 and is adapted to to receive information from the carriage identification member 31. Furthermore, the system 1 comprises a data receiver 54 positioned near the second weighing platform 50, which receiver is adapted to receive data wirelessly from the processor 44, preferably via Bluetooth. As illustrated in Figure 2, the second weighing platform 50, the second carriage identification reader 35, and the data receiver 54 are coupled to the processor 2 via signal paths 51, 36, and 55, respectively. These signal paths may be wired, but can also be wireless, which is preferred because it is then easier to set up the processor 2 at a greater distance.

Figure 4 illustrates that the customer has driven a shopping cart 10 filled with articles to the checkout location, where the processor 44 of the shopping cart 10 can transfer data to the central processor 2 via the data receiver 54. That data relates to the articles in the cart 10 , to enable the checkout of the items, and to print a checkout slip for the customer with a list of the items paid and their price. For this purpose, the shopping cart processor 44 has kept a purchase list AL of items purchased by the customer in the purchase memory 47.

It is possible that the purchase list only contains the codes 14 of the purchased items 13. In that case, the central processor 2 is linked to a database, and the central processor 2 reads, on the basis of the article codes 14 from the purchase list AL, the article data from the database, such as description and price. It is also possible that the purchase list AL in the purchase memory 47 already contains a textual description and the corresponding individual price per article, and that this data is transferred to the central processor 2.

In any case, the central processor 2 is now able to print a cash register strip by means of a printer 61 arranged at the checkout location. The central processor 2 sends the control signals required for this purpose to the printer 61 via a signal path 62, which may be wired but which is preferably wireless, for example a BlueTooth connection.

The central processor 2 also has the total amount to be charged by the customer, since this is an addition of the individual article prices. It is possible that the central processor 2 calculates this total price on the basis of the article data received from the shopping cart processor 44, but it is also possible that the shopping cart processor 44 has kept this total price during the scanning of the articles 13 and has stored in the purchase list AL in the purchase memory 47, in which case the central processor 2 can take over this total price from the shopping cart processor 44.

As explained above, the shopping cart processor 44 has performed a weight check per item by comparing the measured weight with the individual item weight from the database. According to an important aspect of the present invention, the central processor 2 now performs a second check based on the total weight. The customer has placed the shopping cart 10 on the second weighing platform 50, which determines and passes on the total weight GT of the shopping cart 10 with the articles 13 and any bags 11 and crates 12 to the central processor 2. The second car identification reader 35 receives identification information from the carriage identification means 31, and transmits this information to the central processor 2, which on the basis of this information reads the empty weight GO of this shopping cart 10 from the carriage weight memory 3 (in the case that the carriage weight memory is mounted on the shopping cart 10 itself, the central processor 2 receives this information from the shopping cart). The central processor 2 now calculates the net item weight GN as GN = GT - GO. This is the measured total weight of the items in the shopping cart, and the second check is based on the fact that this must correspond to the sum of the individual item weights.

In principle it would be possible to take the sum of the standard weights of the individual articles, that is, the data from the article database. However, each individual item will always deviate slightly from its standard weight, so with a large number of items, the deviation from the sum of the standard weights can be relatively large. In contrast therewith, according to the present invention, the sum is taken of the actually measured weights of the individual articles. The shopping cart processor 44 has also kept in the purchase memory 47 the individually measured weights of the scanned articles, so that the total weight of the scanned articles is known as a summation of the individually measured weights. This is referred to as EGS = Σ (G), where EGS indicates the total weight of the scanned articles and where Σ (G) indicates the summation of the individually measured weights G.

It is possible that the shopping cart processor 44 has stored the individually measured weights G in the purchase memory 47 and transmits this data to the central processor 2, so that the central processor 2 performs the summation operation. However, it is more efficient if the shopping cart processor 44 has only kept the summation in the purchase memory 47, and always, after scanning a new article, calculates a new summation according to ΣΰΞ [new] = 2GS [old] + G [new] . In the latter case, the shopping cart processor 44 passes on the total weight 2GS to the central processor 2.

In both cases, the central processor 2 has information indicating the weight of the items in the shopping cart, namely 3GS, and information indicating the weight of the items in the shopping cart, namely GN.

The central processor 2 compares this data with each other, possibly taking into account a predetermined tolerance. In the event of a discrepancy, the central processor 2 blocks the transaction, and gives a message, for example in the form of a text on a display 63, a sound signal, a call to a store assistant, etc. In the event of agreement, the central processor 2 approves the transaction well.

After approval of the transaction, the central processor 2 displays the total amount to be settled on a display 63 or the like, and enables the customer to pay the total amount, for example by means of a payment terminal 64. The payment terminal is preferably suitable for receiving cash and for processing payment cards, credit cards, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the payment machine is suitable for issuing money, so that the payment machine can return large denominations, or the customer can use a larger payment card with his payment card. enter the amount to be paid.

After completing the payment transaction, the customer can leave the checkout with the shopping cart 10. It is noted that the customer did not have to remove the articles from the shopping cart, which is an important aspect of the present invention from the viewpoint of customer friendliness and ease of use.

The customer can now leave the store with the filled shopping cart and, for example, drive to his car, which is parked in a parking lot near the store. The customer then places the bags 11, crates 12, and any loose items 13 from the shopping cart 10 in his car, returns the shopping cart 10 to the store or to a shopping cart assembly point, and can then drive off.

In this regard, it is a problem that retailers are confronted with, that some customers do not return the shopping carts, or even that they take the shopping cart home. Shopping trolleys that are left unattended in a parking lot form a potential risk of damage to vehicles, whereby it is not inconceivable that the retailer, as the owner of the shopping cart, is held liable for such damage. Shopping trolleys that are taken home by a customer represent a considerable damage for the retailer, in particular when the shopping trolleys are equipped with advanced weighing and scanning equipment as described above. To reduce this aspect of the problem, it is possible that the weighing and scanning equipment, as well as the processor and memory devices, are detachably mounted on the shopping cart, preferably in the form of a module, and that the customer, when he wants to leave the store with the shopping cart, who has to deliver parts (module). The disadvantage of this is that it requires extra actions, which detracts from user-friendliness, and that special personnel are needed in the store, which increases costs.

The present invention also provides a solution to these problems.

Figure 5 shows schematically a plan view (plan) of a shop system 1001 for a shop 101 with a sidewalk 102, a parking plate 103 and a road 104. A dotted line 105 indicates a zone boundary that surrounds a permitted zone 106, which permitted zone 106 comprises the store 101 and the parking lot 103, as well as the area between the entrance / exit 101A of the store 101 and the parking lot 103. The permitted zone 106 is a zone within which shopping trolleys may be moved freely; customers with a shopping cart are not allowed to leave zone 106.

Figure 6 shows schematically that a shopping cart 10 is provided with communication equipment 110. This communication equipment 110 can be accommodated in the module discussed above, which comprises the weighing platform 41, but the communication equipment 110 can also be entirely independent of such a module fixedly connected to the shopping cart 10. It is even possible that a shopping cart 10 is provided with communication equipment 110 but not with article recognition means 40 as discussed above.

The communication equipment 110 of the shopping cart 10 can communicate with central communication equipment 120 which is positioned within the store 101 in the example shown, but which can also be arranged at a different location if desired. For the purposes of the present explanation of the invention, it will be assumed that the central communication equipment 120 is positioned within the store 101, but it is emphatically noted that the invention is not limited thereto. The communication equipment 110 of the shopping cart 10 includes a transmitting portion 111, and the central communication equipment 120 in the store 101 includes a central receiving section 122 that can receive signals from the transmitting portion 111 of the communication equipment 110 of the shopping cart 10. The central receiving portion is arranged to monitor the positions of the shopping trolleys 10. As soon as it is found that a shopping cart 10 leaves the permitted zone 106, the central receiving section 122 initiates an action.

Since communication equipment for performing wireless communication is known per se, it is not necessary to describe this equipment in detail here. It suffices to note that radio signals can be used here, but it is also possible to use, for example, BlueTooth or similar communication systems.

Various embodiments are possible for monitoring the positions of the shopping trolleys 10. In a possible embodiment, the zone boundary 105 is defined by a wire antenna arranged in the bottom, and the shopping cart 10 is provided with a detector which passes the wire antenna / zone boundary. 105, in which case the transmitting portion 111 of the communication equipment 110 of the shopping cart 10 generates a transmitting signal which is received by the central receiving portion 122. It is possible that the carriage-sending portion 111 does not generate a signal as long as the shopping cart 10 is within the permitted zone 106, and only generates a signal when passing the zone boundary 105. However, a distinction cannot then be made between a shopping cart within the zone 106 and a shopping cart whose communication equipment 110 is defective. Preferably, therefore, the carriage transmitting portion 111 continuously, or at regular intervals, transmits a signal indicating that the communication equipment 110 is still functioning and that the shopping cart is within the zone 106, while a different alarm signal is transmitted when it is exceeded from the zone border 105.

In a preferred embodiment, the shopping cart 10 is provided with a position-determining device, for example a GPS receiver 113, which is coupled to the transmitting part 11a of the communication equipment 110 of the shopping cart 10. As GPS technology is known per se there is no need to describe this technique in detail here. It is sufficient to note that GPS receivers are capable of calculating the coordinates of the current position of the receiver with a particularly high accuracy. Instead of the standard GPS receivers that operate on the basis of the reception of time signals transmitted by satellites, it is also possible to use special receivers that work on the basis of specially designed transmitters and set up at zone 106 . Ultimately, it is not necessary to obtain a positioning relative to world coordinates, but a relative positioning relative to a fixed marking point, for example the entrance 101A of the store 101, is sufficient.

Alternatively, it is possible that the central communication equipment 120 comprises a plurality of receivers, which are arranged along the zone boundary 105, and which receive a signal transmitted by the carriage transmitting portion 111 and transmit it to a central processor which is arranged to calculate the position of the shopping cart 10 from the timing differences in the various reception signals.

In all these cases, the carriage sending portion 111 continuously, or at regular intervals, sends a carriage sending signal to the store receiver (s) 121. The central communication equipment 120 thus has information continuously or at regular intervals that informs the position of the shopping cart 10 represents. The central communication equipment 120 is arranged to calculate the position of the shopping cart 10 and compare it with data defining the allowed zone 106. The central communication equipment 120 is thus always able to ascertain whether a shopping cart leaves the permitted zone 106.

An important advantage of the embodiment in which position-determining means are provided, in which the central communication equipment 120 always compares the positions of the various shopping carts with the size of the defined zone 106, is that it is relatively easy to use software zone 106 change.

Once the central communication equipment 120 determines that a particular shopping cart is leaving the allowed zone 106, the central communication equipment 120 initiates measures. These measures can be of various nature. It is possible that store personnel from the relevant store will retrieve the shopping cart in question, or that a call is made to a security company and that personnel from that security company will retrieve the shopping cart in question. In addition, it is advantageous that, thanks to the position-determining means, it is always possible to indicate exactly where the shopping cart in question is located.

It is also possible that the central communication equipment 120 sends a command to the relevant shopping cart. To that end, the central communication equipment 120 comprises a transmitting part 121 and the car communication equipment 110 comprises a receiving part 112. Furthermore, the shopping cart 10 is provided with a unique identification number, which is communicated to the central communication equipment 120 by the car communication equipment 110, so that the central communication equipment 120 knows to which shopping cart the command is to be sent.

It is possible that a message is given to the customer concerned to warn him that he is leaving the authorized zone with the shopping cart. To this end, the shopping cart 10 may be provided with a display 114, possibly with a flashing light 115 or similar visual signaling means and optionally with a siren 116 or similar auditory signaling means. The central transmitting part 121 can then send a warning command to the shopping cart 10. That command can be received by several shopping carts, but the command contains a code indicating the intended shopping cart, and only the intended shopping cart recognizes its own code. In response to receiving the warning command with the correct identification code, a message is displayed on the display 114, for example "You are now leaving the parking lot; that is not allowed, please return". To ensure that the customer actually reads this message, his attention can be drawn by energizing the flashing light 115 and / or the siren 116 or the like.

It is also possible that driving further with the shopping cart is prevented. This can be done immediately, or only in the second instance, after the customer has first been given the above-mentioned warning, while the signals received do not indicate within a predetermined time, for example half a minute, that the shopping cart has returned to the permitted zone. 106. To this end, the shopping cart 10 can be provided with a controllable wheel blocking system 117, which can engage on a single wheel 15 of the shopping cart 10, as shown, or on a plurality of wheels. The central transmitting part 121 can then send a blocking command to the shopping cart 10. In response to receiving the blocking command with the correct identification code, the wheel blocking system 117 comes into operation, which blocks the wheel in question, so that further travel with the shopping cart 10 is no longer possible. .

Advantageously, the shopping cart 10 is provided with an input member 118, for example a keyboard, but, because of its robustness, preferably a key-operated switch, as illustrated, which input member is coupled to the wheel locking system 117 to cancel its operation. As a result, it is possible for staff to, when they arrive at the blocked shopping cart, to release the blocking of the wheels so that the shopping cart can be driven back to the permitted zone 106.

In the foregoing, examples have been described of shopping trolleys which are provided with electronic equipment, for example the communication equipment 110 or the article weighing means 41. For feeding such equipment, the shopping cart 10 is then provided with a battery or the like. Depending on the size, batteries can provide more or less energy for the equipment to be fed, but a battery must ultimately be recharged. It is particularly impractical if the individual batteries have to be monitored by personnel and have to be charged individually if they run out. The present invention therefore has for its object to provide a simple and practical system with which it is possible to ensure that the batteries of shopping carts are always charged as well as possible without the need for checking personnel.

To this end, the present invention makes useful use of the fact that shopping trolleys are put down after use in a garage, where they are pushed into each other and secured to each other by means of a locking pin on a chain, which locking pin for releasing a shopping cart can only be deleted by entering a deposit currency. When a battery charging system is integrated into such a facility, an automatic charging is achieved without the customers having to perform actions that they are not used to. If a shopping cart is not returned to the storage facility by a customer, someone else will usually take care of the unmanaged shopping cart and return it to the storage facility, possibly after use, where the deposit currency can be collected as a reward. If a shopping cart remains outside the garage for a long time, so that the energy content of the battery drops below a certain level, this can be detected (for example by monitoring the battery voltage) and the communication equipment 110 triggers a send the message to the central communication equipment 120, whereby the position of the shopping cart 10 can also be communicated.

Figure 7 schematically shows a row of four shopping trolleys 10B to 10E in a garage 170, and a new shopping cart 10A approaching the row to be parked. Each shopping cart 10 has a locking box 140 attached to its handle as well as a locking pin 142 attached to a chain 141 or cable or the like. The locking pin 142B of the rear shopping cart 10B in the row hangs loose. The locking pin 142C of the subsequent shopping cart 10C is locked in the locking box 140B of the rear shopping cart 10B. Furthermore, the corresponding locking pin 142D, 142E of each shopping cart 10D, 10E is always locked in the lock box 140C, 140D of its predecessor, so that all shopping carts are locked to each other. When the new shopping cart 10A is parked, the locking pin 142B of the rear shopping cart 10B is locked into the locking box 140A of the new shopping cart 10A. Such a parking system is generally known.

It is further illustrated in Figure 7 that the new shopping cart 10A has a rechargeable battery 130; the other shopping carts also have such a battery, but that is not shown.

Figure 8A shows a schematic top view of a stall 170, where no shopping carts are shown. The stall 170 has a longitudinal direction which is directed vertically in the figure, and the drive-in direction for shopping trolleys is from the bottom up in the figure. The garage 170 is furthermore provided with a fixed bracket 143, to which is attached a first chain 151 with a first locking pin 152, for locking with the locking box 140 of a front shopping cart in the row. According to the present invention, the stall 170 is furthermore provided with a voltage source 150, as well as a longitudinal contact rail 153, which is electrically connected to a first pole of the voltage source 150. The other pole of the voltage source 150 is electrically connected to the first chain 151, which is electrically conductive, as well as the first locking pin 152.

Each shopping cart 10 has a sliding contact 154 which, when that shopping cart 10 is driven into the storage 170, makes contact with the contact rail 153. For the sake of simplicity, that sliding contact 154 is shown in Figure 7 only for the new shopping cart 10A.

Fig. 8B is a schematic block diagram illustrating that each latch box 140 is provided with an electrical socket 145 electrically connected to the corresponding chain 141, which chain 141 is electrically conductive, as well as the corresponding latch pin 142. Thus, all latch pins 142 form chains 141, latch boxes 140 and contact sockets 145 an electrically conductive circuit connected to the second pole of the voltage source 150.

Figure 8B further illustrates that the battery 130 of a shopping cart 10 is provided with a charging controller 131 (known per se), which is electrically connected to the contact socket 145 and to the sliding contact 154. Optionally, a charging controller could be integrated in the voltage source 150 Thus, whenever a shopping cart 10 is correctly parked in the garage 170, its battery 130 is coupled to the voltage source 150, whether or not via a charging controller, so that that battery is charged.

It is also possible that a dynamo is included in one or more of the wheels of the shopping cart, which contributes to charging the battery while driving.

In the foregoing, the invention of performing a check on the total weight of the articles in the collecting device 10 has been explained for the example of a shopping cart that is weighed on a weighing platform 20 or 50. Alternatively, the invention can also be applied with carrying baskets, which are weighed on special weighing platforms.

Weighing platforms suitable for weighing complete shopping trolleys are relatively bulky, and therefore take up a large area of the relevant store. In a further aspect of the present invention, each shopping cart is provided with integrated weighing means that are suitable for weighing the total trolley content. This aspect of the present invention is based on the insight that, in order to measure the total weight of the articles in a shopping cart, it is not necessary to weigh the entire shopping cart. In short, every shopping cart has a bottom frame and a basket carried by that bottom frame. Weight sensors are included between the bottom frame and the basket. These weight sensors always measure the weight of the basket with the items contained therein; the weight of the bottom frame is therefore not included in the total weight. This aspect of the present invention is schematically illustrated in Figure 9.

Figure 9 shows a schematic side view of a shopping cart 200, with a bottom frame 210 and a basket 220 carried by that bottom frame 210. The bottom frame 210 carries the wheels 211 and a handle 212. Between the bottom frame 210 and the basket 220 (i.e.: weighing cells 230 are located under basket 220. In a suitable embodiment, the bottom frame 210 and basket 220 have a rectangular or trapezoidal contour in plan view, and the weighing cells 230 are arranged at the corners of that contour, so that there are therefore four weighing cells 230 . The full weight of the basket 220 with its contents is supported by the load cells 230 on the lower frame 210.

Figure 10 shows as an enlarged detail X of Figure 9 a schematic cross-section of a preferred embodiment of a weighing cell 230. The lower frame 210 comprises a frame tube 213 with an opening 214 in an upper wall 215 thereof. In the frame tube 213 a weighing bridge 231 is arranged, in the form of a beam, one end 232 of which is fixedly attached to the frame tube 213 and whose other end 233, which is not in contact with the frame tube 213, is located below the opening 214; this end will be referred to as the sensitive end.

On the sensitive end 233 of the weighbridge 231 there is an elastic member 242, in this example a coil spring, which at its upper end carries a support platform 240, which is provided with a fastening member 241, in this case a vertical bolt. A basket 220 (not shown) is placed on said support plate 240 and fixed by means of the bolt 241.

When a downward force is exerted on the supporting platform 240 by the weight of the basket 220 and its contents, that force is transmitted via the coil spring 242 to the sensitive end 233 of the weighbridge 231. This will thereby bend somewhat. To detect this bending, the weighbridge 231 is provided with deformation detectors 234, for example strain gauges. Since strain gauges are known per se, and the way in which the output signals of strain gauges can be processed are also known, this requires no further explanation here. It suffices to note that the shopping cart 10 is provided with a processor which receives the measurement data from all weighing bridges, and which is capable of calculating from this measurement data the total weight of the load pressing on the load cells.

As the weight increases, the coil spring 242 is further depressed, so that the supporting platform 240 drops relative to the frame tube 213. The weighing cell 230 is provided with a stop which protects the weighing bridge against an excessive load. The stop may consist of the supporting platform being provided with a downwardly directed edge that comes to rest against the frame tube. In the illustrated embodiment, the support plate 240 has a peripheral wall 250 which extends downwardly around the coil spring 242, to protect the coil spring and the weighbridge from the ingress of dirt and moisture. Mounted on the frame tube 213, within the circumference of the said circumferential wall, is an upwardly oriented stop member 260 with in this example a top end 261 bent over 90 ° in the direction of the circumferential wall 250. The circumferential wall 250 in turn is provided with a inside curved portion 251, which is below the bent top end 261 of the stop member 260.

In the rest state, that is, when no basket is attached to the support trays 240, the inwardly bent portion 251 of the circumferential wall 250 can abut the underside of the bent top end 261 of the stop member 260. When a basket has been placed there is at least some play between the inwardly bent portion 251 of the peripheral wall 250 and the underside of the bent top end 261 of the stop member 260, as shown.

When an upwardly directed force is exerted on the basket 220, and thus on the bolt 241, that force is transmitted directly to the frame tube 213 via the mutually touching parts 251, 261 and the stop member 260, so that the weighbridge 231 is protected against an upwardly directed overload.

When the weight of the basket 220 with its contents becomes too large, the underside of the supporting platform 240 comes to rest against the upper end of the stop member 260, and the further pressing force is transmitted directly via the stop member to the frame tube 213, so that the weighbridge 231 is protected against a downward directed overload.

Because the stop member 260 is located within the space protected by the peripheral wall 250, the chance that objects can get trapped on body parts is greatly reduced.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the central processor 2 now receives the weight data GO and GT, instead of weighing platforms 20 and 50, from the processor 44 of the shopping cart 10 (wireless). The central processor 2 still calculates the net item weight GN as GN = GT - GO, where GT and GO now relate to the combination of basket and items while excluding the weight of the frame.

In the foregoing discussion with reference to Figures 1-4, it is assumed that the mobile article collecting device is formed by the combination of basket and bottom frame of a shopping cart. With reference to Figures 9 and 10, it has been clarified that it is possible to keep the bottom frame of a shopping cart out of the weighing; in that case, the basket of the shopping cart can be considered as the mobile item collecting device that is weighed in the method of claim 1.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments discussed above, but that various variants and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

For example, the use of bags etc in the shopping carts may depend on agreements that the customer makes with the relevant retailer. It is even possible that the use of the user-friendly shopping trolleys with a self-scanning facility is only reserved for customers who have received special permission from the relevant retailer and who have received a special key for that use. It must be clear from the above description that the present invention makes it possible for bags etc to be placed in the shopping cart, but this does not make this a requirement.

In the described example, two weighing platforms 20 and 50 have been mentioned, the first weighing platform 20 of which is used to weigh the shopping cart in the "empty" state, and whose second weighing platform 50 is used to weigh the shopping cart in the "full" condition. It is then most efficient if the first weighing platform 20 is located at a storage location for empty shopping trolleys, or at the entrance of the relevant store, while the second weighing platform 50 is located at a checkout location. In principle it is possible that only a single weighing platform is present, which fulfills both the function of first weighing platform 20 and that of second weighing platform 50; this variant is particularly interesting for relatively small stores. On the other hand, especially at large stores, it is possible that there are several weighing platforms with the function of first weighing platform 20, and that there are several weighing platforms with the function of second weighing platform 50.

Furthermore, it will be clear that instead of the beam-shaped weighbridge 231 discussed with reference to Figure 10, another embodiment for a weighing sensor can be used.

In the foregoing, the present invention has been explained with reference to block diagrams illustrating functional blocks of the device according to the present invention. It will be clear that one or more of these functional blocks can be implemented in hardware, the function of such functional blocks being performed by individual hardware components, but it is also possible to implement one or more of these functional blocks in software, so that the function of such a functional block is performed by one or more program lines of a computer program or by a programmable device such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, etc.

Claims (55)

A method for automatically checking and paying for items purchased by a customer, comprising the steps of: (a) measuring the empty weight (GO) of a mobile item collection device (10); (b) recording the price of that item and measuring the actual weight (G) of that item each time a customer selects an item (13) and places it in the item collection device (10); (c) determining the sum (EGS) of all measured actual weights (G) of the sorted items; (d) measuring the total weight (GT) of the filled mobile article collection device (10) containing the sorted articles; (e) determining the net weight (CN) of the selected items in the filled mobile item collection device (10) by subtracting the measured empty weight (GO) from the measured total weight (GT); (f) comparing the net weight (CN) with the weight sum (SGS); (g) and the automatic settlement of the sum of the item prices quoted when the weight sum (EGS) corresponds to the net weight (CN) within a predetermined tolerance. Method according to claim 1, wherein each time a customer selects an item (13) and places it in the item collection device (10), the measured weight (G) of that item is compared with a predetermined expected weight (Ge) of that item. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (a) the measured empty weight (GO) of the article collecting device (10) is stored in a trolley weight memory (3), and wherein in step (e) the empty weight (GO) from the article collecting device (10) is read out from the carriage weight memory (3). The method of claim 3, wherein the carriage weight memory (3) is a central memory; wherein the item collecting device (10) is provided with an identification code; wherein in step (a) the identification code of the article collecting device (10) is also read and stored in the trolley weight memory (3); wherein in step (d) the identification code is again read from the item collecting device (10); and wherein in step (e) the empty weight (GO) of the article collecting device (10) is read from the carriage weight memory (3) on the basis of the identification code read in step (d). A store system (1), comprising: at least one mobile item collection device (10); a first weighing platform (20) for determining the empty weight (GO) of the mobile article collecting device; a carriage weight memory (3) for remembering the empty weight (GO) of the mobile article collecting device (10); a second weighing platform (50) for determining the total weight (GT) of a filled article collecting device; a central processor (2) that receives data from the second weighing platform (50) and from the trolley weight memory (3); wherein the mobile item collection device (10) is provided with item recognition means (40) for recognizing individual items (13); wherein the mobile item collection device (10) is provided with item weighing means (41) for determining the weight of individual items; wherein the mobile item collecting device (10) is provided with a purchase memory (47); wherein the mobile item collection device (10) includes a processor (44) that receives data from the item recognition means (40) and from the item weighting means (41); wherein the carriage processor (44) is arranged to store the measured weight (G) of an article in the purchase memory (47); wherein the central processor (2) is adapted to determine from the data in the purchase memory (47) the sum (EGS) of the measured weights (G) of the purchased items; wherein the central processor (2) is adapted to determine the net weight (GN) of the purchased items from the data in the carriage weight memory (3) and the data from the second weighing platform (50); and wherein the central processor (2) is arranged to determine the total amount to be settled from the data in the purchase memory (47) if the sum (EGS) of the measured weights (G) of the purchased items corresponds within a predetermined tolerance with the net weight (CN) of the purchased items. A store system according to claim 5, wherein the cart weight memory (3) is associated with the mobile article collecting device (10), and wherein the central processor (2) is arranged to handle the empty weight (GO) of the mobile article collecting device (10) to be read from the trolley weight memory (3) of the mobile article collecting device (10). The store system of claim 5, wherein the wagon weight memory (3) is associated with the central processor (2); wherein the mobile article collecting device (10) is provided with a carriage identification member (31), which contains a unique carriage identification code that identifies the relevant article collecting device (10); wherein the first weighing platform (20) is provided with a carriage identification reader (32) coupled to the central processor (2); and wherein the second weighing platform (50) is provided with a carriage identification reader (35) coupled to the central processor (2). A store system according to claim 7, wherein the central processor (2) is adapted to also read and record the car identification code of the relevant article collecting device (10) when measuring the empty weight (GO) of the empty article collecting device (10) store in the wagon weight memory (3); and wherein the central processor (2) is adapted to also read the car identification code of the relevant article collecting device (10) when measuring the total weight (GT) of the filled article collecting device (10) and to read the based on the read car identification code retrieve the empty weight (GO) of the relevant item collecting device (10) from the trolley weight memory (3). A store system according to any of the preceding claims 5-8, wherein the article recognition means (40) comprises an article identification reader (42) for reading an identification code (14) provided on an article (13) and a memory (46) that contains article data, including expected weight (Ge); wherein the carriage processor (44) is arranged to compare the measured weight (G) of an item with the expected weight (Ge) from the memory (46). A store system according to claim 9, wherein the carriage processor (44) is arranged to include the price of that item within the predetermined tolerance limits if the measured weight (G) of an item corresponds to the expected weight (Ge) the purchase memory (47). A store system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the carriage processor (44) is arranged to, if the measured weight (G) of an article within predetermined tolerance limits corresponds to the expected weight (Ge), the measured weight (G) on to count against a sum memory (EGS) in the purchase memory (47). A mobile article collecting device (10) for a shop system (1) according to any of the preceding claims 5-11, or for performing the method according to any of the claims 1-4, which mobile article collecting device comprises: article recognition means (40) for recognizing individual items (13); item weighing means (41) for determining the weight of individual items; a purchase memory (47); a processor (44) receiving data from the article recognition means (40) and from the article weighting means (41); wherein the carriage processor (44) is arranged to store the measured weight (G) of an article in the purchase memory (47). A mobile article collecting device according to claim 12, provided with a carriage weight memory (3) for remembering the empty weight (GO) of the mobile article collecting device (10). A mobile article collecting device according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising a carriage identification member (31), which contains a unique carriage identification code that identifies the relevant article collecting device (10). A mobile article collection device according to any of the preceding claims 12-14, wherein the article recognition means (40) comprises an article identification reader (42) for reading an identification code (14) provided on an article (13) and a memory (46) ) that contains article data, including expected weight (Ge); wherein the carriage processor (44) is arranged to compare the measured weight (G) of an item with the expected weight (Ge) from the memory (46). The mobile item collection device according to claim 15, wherein the carriage processor (44) is adapted to record the price of that item if the measured weight (G) of an item corresponds to the expected weight (Ge) within predetermined tolerance limits in the purchase memory (47). The mobile article collecting device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the carriage processor (44) is adapted to, if the measured weight (G) of an article within predetermined tolerance limits corresponds to the expected weight (Ge), the measured weight (G) to be added to a sum memory (EGS) in the purchase memory (47). An article weighing and recognition module for a mobile article collecting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims 12-17, or for carrying out the method according to any of the claims 1-4, which module comprises: article recognition means (40) for recognizing of individual articles (13); item weighing means (41) for determining the weight of individual items; a purchase memory (47); a processor (44) receiving data from the article recognition means (40) and from the article weighting means (41); wherein the carriage processor (44) is arranged to store the measured weight (G) of an article in the purchase memory (47). A module according to claim 18, provided with a carriage weight memory (3) for remembering the empty weight (GO) of a mobile article collecting device (10). A module according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the article recognition means (40) comprises an article identification reader (42) for reading an identification code (14) provided on an article (13), and a memory (46) for that article - contains data, including expected weight (Ge); wherein the carriage processor (44) is arranged to compare the measured weight (G) of an item with the expected weight (Ge) from the memory (46). The module of claim 20, wherein the carriage processor (44) is adapted to include the price of that article within predetermined tolerance limits if the measured weight (G) of an article corresponds to the expected weight (Ge) the purchase memory (47). A module according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the carriage processor (44) is arranged to, if the measured weight (G) of an article within predetermined tolerance limits corresponds to the expected weight (Ge), the measured weight (G) on to count against a sum memory (EGS) in the purchase memory (47). Method for monitoring shopping trolleys (10) of a store (101), wherein the shopping trolleys (10) are provided with respective transmitters (111), and wherein a receiver is arranged centrally, for example in or at the store (122) for receiving transmission data from the transmitters (111); wherein the shopping carts are arranged to determine whether they are leaving a predetermined permitted zone (106); wherein, as soon as a shopping cart finds that it is leaving the allowed zone (106), the relevant sender (111) of that shopping cart sends a message to the central receiver (122). Method for monitoring shopping trolleys (10) of a store (101), wherein the shopping trolleys (10) are provided with respective transmitters (111), and wherein a receiver is arranged centrally, for example in or at the store (122) for receiving transmission data from the transmitters (111); wherein the shopping carts continuously or regularly send data to the central receiver (122); wherein the central receiver (122) derives the position of the respective shopping carts from the received signals; and wherein the central receiver (122) compares the thus calculated positions of the shopping carts with data defining a predetermined allowable zone (106). The method of claim 24, wherein each shopping cart determines its own position, and reports this position to the central receiver (122). A method according to any of the preceding claims 23-25, wherein each shopping cart (10) is provided with a receiver (112); and wherein the central receiver (122) is associated with a central transmitter (121) which, when the central receiver (122) determines that a shopping cart leaves the allowed zone (106), sends a signal to the receiver (112) of the relevant shopping cart. The method of claim 26, wherein each shopping cart (10) includes a display (114), and wherein said signal results in displaying a message on the relevant display. A method according to claim 26 or 27, wherein each shopping cart (10) is provided with a wheel blocking system (117), and wherein said signal results in the blocking of one or more wheels of the shopping cart. A store system (1001), comprising: at least one shopping cart (10) provided with a transmitter (111), and wherein a receiver (122) arranged centrally in, for example in or at the store, is provided for receiving transmission data from the transmitters (111); wherein a shopping cart is arranged to determine whether it is leaving a predetermined allowed zone (106), and then to send a message to the central receiver (122). A store system (1001), comprising: at least one shopping cart (10) provided with a transmitter (111), and wherein a receiver (122) arranged centrally in, for example in or at the store, is provided for receiving transmission data from the transmitters (111); the shopping carts continuously or regularly sending data to the central receiver (122); wherein the central receiver (122) derives the position of the respective shopping carts from the received signals; and wherein the central receiver (122) compares the thus calculated position of the shopping cart with data defining a predetermined allowable zone (106). A store system (1001), preferably according to claim 30, comprising: at least one shopping cart (10) provided with a transmitter (111), and wherein a receiver is arranged centrally, for example in or near the store 122) for receiving transmission data from the transmitters (111); wherein the shopping cart (10) is provided with a battery (130) and means for monitoring the charging state of the battery; and wherein the shopping cart (10) is adapted to send a message to the central receiver (122) if the charging state monitoring means detects that the charging state of the battery is below a predetermined level. A store system according to any of claims 29-31, wherein each shopping cart is provided with position determining means (113) to determine its own position, and to report this position to the central receiver (122). A store system according to any of the preceding claims 29-32, wherein each shopping cart (10) is provided with a receiver (112); and wherein the central receiver (122) is associated with a central transmitter (121) adapted to send a signal to the receiver (112) when the central receiver (122) finds that a shopping cart leaves the allowed zone (106) ) of the relevant shopping cart. The store system of claim 33, wherein each shopping cart (10) is provided with a display (114), and wherein a shopping cart is arranged to display a message on the relevant display in response to receiving said signal. A store system according to claim 33 or 34, wherein each shopping cart (10) is provided with a wheel blocking system (117) which is adapted to block one or more wheels of the shopping cart in response to receiving said signal. A shopping cart (10) for a shopping system (1001) according to any of the preceding claims 29-35, or for carrying out the method according to any of the claims 23-28, which shopping cart comprises a transmitter (111), wherein a shopping cart is arranged to detect that it leaves a predetermined allowed zone (106), and then to send a message to a central receiver (122). A shopping cart (10) for a shopping system (1001) according to any of the preceding claims 29-35, or for carrying out the method according to any of the claims 23-28, which shopping cart comprises a transmitter (111), wherein a shopping cart is adapted to send data continuously or regularly to a central receiver (122), which data are suitable for deriving therefrom the position of the relevant shopping carts. A shopping cart according to claim 36 or 37, provided with position determining means (113) for determining its own position, the shopping cart being adapted to report this position to the central receiver (122). A shopping cart according to any of the preceding claims 36-38, provided with a battery (130) and means for monitoring the charging state of the battery, the shopping cart (10) being adapted to send a message to the central receiver (122) if the charging state monitoring means detects that the charging state of the battery falls below a predetermined level. A shopping cart according to any of the preceding claims 36-39, provided with a receiver (112) and a display (114), and wherein the shopping cart is arranged to display, in response to receiving a predetermined signal, a display on the relevant display. to display the message. A shopping cart according to any of the preceding claims 36-40, including a receiver (112) and a wheel blocking system (117) adapted to block one or more wheels of the shopping cart in response to receiving a predetermined signal . 42. Central unit (120) for a store system (1001) according to any of the preceding claims 29-35, or for carrying out the method according to any of claims 23-28, which unit is a central, for example in or near the store comprises receivable receiver (122) for receiving transmission data from transmitters (111) associated with shopping carts (10); wherein the central unit (120) is adapted to derive the positions of the respective shopping carts from the received signals; and wherein the central unit (120) is arranged to compare the thus calculated position of a shopping cart with data defining a predetermined allowable zone (106). The central unit of claim 42, further comprising a central transmitter (121); wherein the central unit is adapted to send a signal intended for the shopping cart in question when a shopping cart leaves the permitted zone (106). A central unit according to claim 43, wherein said signal contains a command for the relevant shopping cart (10) to display a message on a display. A central unit according to claim 43 or 44, wherein said signal contains a command for the relevant shopping cart (10) to block one or more wheels of the shopping cart. A shopping cart (10) comprising: a battery (130); at least one alternator included in a wheel of the shopping cart for charging the battery (130). A shopping cart (10) comprising: a battery (130); means (131) for charging the battery (130); a locking pin (142) attached to a flexible member (141); a lock box (140) adapted to receive a lock pin (142); a sliding contact (154); wherein the flexible member (141) and the locking pin (142) are electrically conductive; wherein the locking box (140) is provided with an electrical socket (145) for making electrical contact with a locking pin (142) inserted into the locking box (140); wherein the socket (145) is electrically connected to the flexible member (141); wherein the battery charging means (131) for receiving power supply are coupled to the socket (145) and to the sliding contact (154). A storage (170) for shopping trolleys (10), comprising: a contact rail (153) directed in the longitudinal direction of the storage; a locking pin (152) attached to a fixed point (143) by a flexible member (151); an electrical supply (150); wherein the flexible member (151) and the locking pin (152) are electrically conductive; wherein a first output pole of the power supply (150) is electrically connected to the contact rail (153) and wherein a second output pole of the power supply (150) is electrically connected to the flexible member (151). A store system comprising a garage (170) according to claim 48 and at least one shopping cart (10) according to claim 47; wherein the sliding contact (154) of the shopping cart (10) is arranged to make contact with the contact rail (153) of the garage (170); wherein the locking box (140) of the shopping cart (10) is adapted to receive the locking pin (152) of the parking (170); and wherein the battery charging means (131) is adapted to be powered from the power supply (150) of the garage (170). A shopping cart (200) comprising a bottom frame (210) and a basket (220) mountable on the bottom frame, wherein weighing cells (230) are received between the bottom frame (210) and the basket (220). The shopping cart of claim 50, wherein the lower frame (210) comprises a frame tube (213) with an opening (214) in an upper wall (215) thereof; wherein a load cell (230) comprises a load sensor (231) disposed in the frame tube (213) below the opening (214); and wherein a support platform (240) for the basket (220) rests on the sensitive second end (233) of the weighbridge (231). The shopping cart of claim 51, wherein the weighing sensor (231) comprises a weighbridge (231), a first end (232) of which is fixedly attached to the frame tube (213), and whose sensitive second end (233) is located below the opening (214). A shopping cart according to claim 51 or 52, wherein an elastic member (242) is arranged between the supporting platform (240) and the weighing sensor (231); and wherein a stop member (260) is included between the support platform (240) and the lower frame (210) to protect the weighing cell (230) against overloading. A shopping cart according to claim 53, wherein the support plate (240) is provided with a shielding circumferential wall (250) which extends downwards from the periphery of the support plate (240), and wherein the stop member (260) is arranged within the peripheral wall provided by said peripheral wall (250) surrounded space. The shopping cart of claim 54, wherein the stop member (260) extends upwardly from the lower frame (210), and has an upper end (261) bent over to the peripheral wall (250); and wherein the circumferential wall (250) has an inwardly bent portion (251) that can engage under the bent upper end (261) of the stop member (260).