EP2315166B1 - Checkout till, checkout area and checkout method - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a cashing island in particular for large areas in which customers purchase items, a collection area including this cashing island and a method of cashing the amount due by customers for their purchases.

In order to save time and money, many consumers often shop in supermarkets where they find, in one place, all the products they need for their daily lives. At busy times, it is common for queues of customers, longer and longer, to form before the crates provided at the exit of these supermarkets. In addition to the tensions that these queues generate, some of the time that customers have gained by centralizing their purchases in a single point of sale is lost in waiting time in these queues. Also, to keep their customers and attract new customers, a permanent concern of managers of supermarkets is to improve customer traffic flow, especially when they go to checkout. Another concern of the managers of superstores is to increase the profitability of their stores by satisfying an increasing number of customers with a more and more limited number of employees, especially of employees dedicated to the collections, while limiting the number flights.

Prior art

The German patent application EP 0 585 732 describes a self-scanning collection island whose main purpose is to improve the circulation flow of the customers at the time of the payment of their articles, while allowing a reduction of staff dedicated to cashing. As described in this publication, the customer traditionally chooses the items he wishes to purchase and places them in his cart. When the customer has selected all his items, he appears in front of one of the cashing islands at the exit of the supermarket. Each collection island has two reception areas arranged next to each other and joined at their output ends by a single box to receive each of the customers and the items they want to buy. The casing island thus delimits, on either side of its counters, two symmetrical circulation paths, a first and a second dissociated path, each associated with one of the reception zones, the first and second paths being able to accommodate a flow of customers each. Each customer is free to choose the flow of traffic in which he engages, for example according to the attendance of each traffic flow. At the level he chose himself, the customer unloads the items contained in his cart to place them on a training mat after which, in the counting area, the customer can scan his items to determine the amount that he has to pay for all his purchases. During the scanning operation, a screen allows the customer to view the individual cost of each of his items and, at the end of the scan, the total amount he has to pay. The first and the second path thus guide customers from the entrance of the cashing island to its exit by systematically passing through one of the reception areas and the corresponding control area. The customer then pays the amount he owes to the cashier at the cashier. The principle of self-scanning consists of entrusting the responsibility for all or part of the scanning of articles to customers. The self-scanning thus makes it possible to free part of the time previously dedicated by each collection agent to the scanning. The same collection agent can therefore simultaneously supervise several customer circulation flows. In the example given by this publication, the cashing agent simultaneously supervises two customer circulation flows. For this purpose, the encashment agent is placed at the outlet of the marl encasement island. to be able to monitor each of the operations performed by the customers of each of the traffic flows. It thus emerges from this document that this collection island is intended for traditional large areas in which counting is done in cash, without pre-counting.

Many other self-scanning solutions are known. Despite the advantages offered by this kind of self-scanning solutions, the managers of supermarkets are still looking for more efficient solutions, especially for large areas in which some customers discount their purchases over the selection of items in the big box office. area. Indeed, the frequentation of supermarkets being in constant increase, even the islands of encaissement such as that of the preceding publication are often congested.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a cashing island and a cashing process to optimize the circulation of customers at the exit of a store, to ensure random control of the amount of purchases paid in comparison with the purchases made, to limit the staff dedicated to cashing while limiting flights.

The invention relates to a cashing island especially for large areas in which customers purchase items, this casket island comprising at least a first reception zone arranged to receive customers and the items they wish to purchase, a first control zone provided with first means of controlling the amount owed by each customer for the purchase of his articles, a first path for guiding at least one client from the entrance of said cashing island to its exit through said first reception and control areas. This island of cashing is remarkable in that it comprises at least one alternative path, separated from said first path by a piece of furniture, and intended to guide at least one customer to the output of said cashing island without passing through said first area of control, and in that it comprises at least one sorting zone provided at the entrance of said casing island and provided with switching means arranged to allow, in a non-predictable way, the selective passage of said customers to one said first path and alternative path.

The casing island according to the invention is constructed in a particular manner and determined to meet the goals set. Indeed, this collection island comprises specific technical means, including a random sorting area and means of referral of customers to a control area or not. The primary technical effect of these technical means is to guide, randomly, the passage of customers in a first path with control or in an alternative path without control. The island cashing according to the invention allows, by this random control, that customers are wary of the unpredictable aspect of the referral and thus to limit theft, some attempts to frauds or unfortunate omissions can also be detected during the check.

This island of cashing thus makes it possible to optimize the flow of the customers who present themselves at the cash desk. It allows a quick passage of some customers by the way alternative and a controlled passage of other customers by the first way. These two paths (first path and alternative path) being dissociated, the flow of customers is fluid. This island of cashing is particularly interesting for supermarkets in which customers are equipped with a portable scanning device that allows them, during their journey in the supermarket, to pre-register the amount corresponding to items that they place in their cart. Thus, arriving at the cashing island, some customers enjoy a quick cashing without control. For other customers referred to the control, the latter is equivalent to a traditional checkout. In addition, since some of the amounts due are paid by clients, the need for staff is reduced.

According to an advantageous variant embodiment, the cashing island comprises at least a second reception zone, a second control zone and a second path intended to guide at least one client from the entrance of said cashing island to its exit through said second reception and control areas. The cashing island can thus accept a larger number of customers.

The cashing island preferably comprises at least one payment zone of said amount due by said customer for the purchase of his articles, this payment zone being combined with at least said first control zone.

Advantageously, the cashing island comprises at least one main payment area of said amount due by said customer for the purchase of his items, this main payment area being merged with said sorting area. Only one person can manage the sorting of customers and the collection of amounts due by uncontrolled customers. In addition, since only a portion of the customers are controlled, the number of control operations is reduced, resulting in a total workforce required for the operation of the smaller supermarket.

When the cashing island has a first and a second path, the alternate path may be provided between said first and second paths. The circulation of the customers is thus optimized. Indeed, at the level of the first and second paths, the progression of the customers will be slowed by the step of control which is not the case for the customers borrowing the alternative way. It is therefore possible to provide an alternative path for two control paths. The central configuration of the alternative path makes it possible to avoid any crossing between the traffic flows of the controlled and uncontrolled customers and to facilitate the overall circulation of the customers leaving the supermarket.

The casing island advantageously comprises delimiting means arranged to prevent the passage of customers from one of said first / second path and alternative path to another of said first / second path and alternative path. These delimiting means make the encashment more reliable by preventing malicious clients from changing their path and in particular that customers referred to the control do not escape this control by fraudulently borrowing the alternative path.

The casing island may comprise two sorting zones, a first sorting zone coupled to a first reception zone and a first control zone, a second sorting zone coupled to a second reception zone and a second control zone. In this configuration, the collection island preferably comprises a single alternative path shared by said first and second sorting areas.

The invention also relates to a collection area especially for large areas in which customers purchase items, this collection area comprising a plurality of cashing islands. This collection area is remarkable in that it comprises at least one cashing island as described above.

• une étape de triage au cours le laquelle on décide de manière non prévisible, d'effectuer ou non un contrôle dudit montant précompté avant son paiement et on aiguille en conséquence ledit client vers un premier chemin avec contrôle ou un chemin alternatif sans contrôle, et on guide au moyen dudit chemin alternatif, au moins un client vers la sortie dudit îlot d'encaissement sans passer par ladite première zone de contrôle,
• une étape de contrôle dudit montant précompté dudit client préalablement aiguillé vers ledit premier chemin.

The invention finally relates to a method of cashing, in particular for large areas in which customers buy items, this cashing process comprising at least one pre-counting step performed by at least one customer to pre-count the amount that he must pay for the purchase of his articles and a step of payment of the said amount. This method is remarkable in that it comprises at least the following additional steps:

• a sorting step during which it is decided in a non-predictable manner, whether or not to check said pre-discounted amount before payment, and the customer is accordingly directed to a first path with control or an alternative path without control, and guiding by means of said alternative path, at least one client to the output of said cashing island without passing through said first control zone,
• a step of controlling said pre-discounted amount of said customer previously referred to said first path.

The method of encashment advantageously comprises at least one step of cashing the amount due by said customer.

During the cashing process it is possible to route several clients so as to simultaneously circulate at least one customer in said first path and at least one other client in said alternative path.

Brief description of the drawings

• La figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'un îlot d'encaissement selon l'invention ;
• La figure 2 est une vue en perspective de l'îlot d'encaissement de la figure 1 ;
• La figures 3 est une vue de dessus d'une zone d'encaissement comportant un îlot d'encaissement selon l'invention.

The invention is described below, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• The figure 1 is a top view of a casing island according to the invention;
• The figure 2 is a perspective view of the casing island of the figure 1 ;
• The figures 3 is a top view of a collection area comprising a casing island according to the invention.

In the following description, the casing island according to the invention is described in a configuration of use in which it is used in a large area making available to customers, portable scanning devices that customers can use. when shopping to prepay the amount they will have to pay. Customers circulate in the supermarket, equipped with their cart and their portable scanning device with which they scan, as and when, each of the items they place in their cart. It is understood that the casing island can also be used in combination with scanning stations. In this case, each customer collects in his shopping cart the items of his choice then, at a scanning station, scans all items in his cart to prepay the amount he owes. After, the customer can go to the cashing island according to the invention as described below.

Best way to realize the invention

With reference to figures 1 and 2 , the casing island 1 according to the invention comprises two furniture 2a, 2b, each C-shaped, arranged side by side, the ends of the branches of each of the furniture 2a, 2b, being oriented two by two towards each other to define a central zone 3. A space is preserved between the ends of the branches of each of the furniture 2a, 2b, so as to provide a passage between the two furniture 2a, 2b.

Each of the pieces of furniture 2a, 2b has a sorting zone 3a, 3b provided at the entrance of the casing island 1. The entry is here defined with respect to the direction of arrival of the clients, illustrated by the arrows A Each sorting zone 3a, 3b is occupied in the central zone 3 by a sorting agent 4a, 4b. In this example, the sorting area 3a, 3b includes means of collection 10 to cash the payments of uncontrolled customers, edit a receipt and possibly make change. At the arrival of a customer, at the entrance of the cashing island 1, the sorting agent 4a, 4b decides whether the pre-counting of the client must be controlled or not.

When a control is decided, the sorting agent 4a, 4b invites the customer to follow the first / second path 5a, 5b which leads the client to a first / second reception area 7a, 7b. This first / second reception area 7a, 7b is for example provided with a moving mat on which the customer deposits the items contained in his carriage. The first / second reception area 7a, 7b is contiguous with a first / second control zone 8a, 8b occupied by a control agent 9a, 9b which then scans the items that the customer has placed on the moving belt. In this example, the sorting zone 9a, 9b comprises means of collection 10 substantially similar to those of the sorting zone 3a, 3b.

When a passage without control is decided, the customer pays directly to the marshal 4a, 4b, the amount corresponding to the pre-counting. After payment, the sorting agent 4a, 4b invites the customer to follow the alternative path 6 to go to the exit of the island 1 without going through a control zone.

It is clear from figures 1 and 2 that the first and second paths 5a, 5b are separated from the alternative path 6 by the furniture 2a, 2b which delimit them. There is thus no risk of confusion in the flow of traffic between customers who have to pay without control and those whose purchases have to be controlled. In the example shown, each piece of furniture 2a, 2b comprises a sorting area 3a, 3b, a reception area 7a, 7b and a control area 8a, 8b. Each piece of furniture 2a, 2b is also provided with multiple storage compartments of lighting means 11 and electrical and computer connection means (not shown).

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the furniture comprises partitions for separating the alternative path locations of the sorting agents and control.

In a variant embodiment not shown, the casing island according to the invention comprises only one piece of furniture delimiting a first path for the control and an alternative path without control.

According to another embodiment not shown, the cashing island comprises a sorting area at which the sorting agent does not support the payment. In this case, the triage officer's responsibility is limited to directing the client to a control area as described above or to a payment area where the customer will be asked to pay the discounted amount. According to this variant embodiment, a sorting zone can be provided for a number of control and payment zones greater than two. It is also possible to envisage sorting zones comprising several sorting agents.

Similarly, according to yet another variant of realization the payment by the customers may be scheduled offset from the control area. Thus, the contents of the truck would be controlled in the control area by a control agent and the controlled amount paid by the customer to a payment area managed by a payment agent. The cashing can also be provided by automatic collection means.

In the collection island represented in the figures 1 and 2 the triage, control and payment zones are managed by triage and control agents. Thus, the marshalling agents perform the technical function of switching means by directing the customers to the first / second path or to the alternative path. It is understood that these sorting and control agents can be replaced by automated equipment. For this purpose, the switching means may be automated and include computer means capable of determining, for example randomly, the customers to control. The automated control means may for example be coupled to identification means of each client. It is also quite possible to use automated switching means, such as for example turnstiles or barriers provided or not with indicator lights and / or sound means indicating the authorized traffic flow or the prohibited traffic flow. .

Similarly, the control means described are means for scanning a previously referenced bar code and which corresponds to a price per item. The cashing island according to the invention is of course compatible with any other means of detecting the price of items, such as for example means using RFID technology. Thus, the terms "scanning" and "means of control" are to be considered in a broad and non-limiting manner and include any other technology and any other means in the field of product identification.

The figure 3 illustrates a portion of a payment area 100 of a large area having a casing island 1 according to the invention and traditional payment islands 11 at which customers are invited to unload the items they have placed in their trolley on moving mats. The amount due for the purchase of the items is then counted by a cashing agent 12 who receives the payment from the customer. In this example, the first and second paths 5a, 5b of the casing island 1 are separated from the paths 14 of the traditional payment islands 11 by partitions 13. The alternative path 6 being provided between the first and second paths 5a, 5b, there is no risk of confusion between this alternative path 6 and the paths 14 of the traditional payment islands 11. The path taken by customers can easily be controlled which limits the risk of theft.

In a non-represented embodiment of a payment zone, two payment islands 1 as shown in FIGS. figures 1 and 2 are arranged side by side and the first path of the first casing island is separated from the second path of the second casing island by a partition.

It is understood that the examples described are only particular illustrations and in no way limiting the fields of application of the invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to make arrangements of size, shape and material to the particular embodiment of the casing island, the collection area and the cashing process without departing of the scope of the present invention.

Claims (15)

1. Desk (2a, 2b) for checkout station (1), in particular for retail stores where customers purchase items, having a single reception zone (7a) arranged for receiving customers and the items that they wish to purchase, a single checking zone (8a) provided with means for checking the amount owed by each customer for the purchase of their items, and a first payment zone provided with first checkout means, said desk (2a, 2b) delimiting a first path (5a) of said checkout station (1) which is intended to guide at least one customer from the entrance of said checkout station (1) to its exit, passing through said reception (7a), checking (8a) and payment zones, characterised in that said desk (2a, 2b) further delimits an alternative path (6) of said checkout station (1), which alternative path is separate from said first path (5a), in that said desk (2a, 2b) comprises at least one sorting zone (3a, 3b) which is provided at the entrance of said checkout station (1) and is provided with directing means (4a, 4b) which are configured to authorise, for example randomly, the selective passage of said customers to one of said first path (5a) and said alternative path (6) of said checkout station (1), and in that said desk (2a, 2b) comprises a second payment zone which is distinct from said first payment zone and is provided with second checkout means, said alternative path being intended to guide at least one customer to the exit of said checkout station (1), passing through said second payment zone and without passing through said single checking zone (8a).
2. Desk according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said first zone (3a) for paying said amount owed by said customer for the purchase of their items is combined with at least said single checking zone (8a).
3. Desk according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said second zone for paying said amount owed by said customer for the purchase of their items is merged with said sorting zone (3a, 3b).
4. Desk according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that it comprises delimitation means arranged to prevent said customers from passing from one of said first/second paths (5a, 5b) and alternative path (6) to another of said first/second paths (5a, 5b) and alternative path (6).
5. Desk according to claim 1, characterised in that said first payment zone (3a) for paying said amount owed by said customer for the purchase of their items is distinct from said checking zone (8a).
6. Desk according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said reception zone is provided with a conveyor belt on which the customer deposits the items.
7. Desk according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said reception zone adjoins said checking zone.
8. Desk according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it has a C shape.
9. Desk according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it is provided with a plurality of storage spaces, lighting means and electrical and computer connection means.
10. Desk according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that said directing means are automated and comprise computer-based means which are capable of determining the customers to be checked.
11. Desk according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that said checking means are coupled to means for identifying each customer.
12. Checkout station, in particular for retail stores where customers purchase items, comprising at least one desk (2a, 2b) according to any of claims 1 to 11.
13. Checkout station (1) according to claim 12, characterised in that it comprises at least one second reception zone (7b), one second checking zone (8b) and one second path (5b) which is intended to guide at least one customer from the entrance of said checkout station (1) to its exit, passing through said second reception (7b) and checking (8b) zones.
14. Checkout station (1) according to claim 13, characterised in that said alternative path (6) is provided between said first and second paths (5a, 5b).
15. Checkout station (1) according to claim 14, characterised in that it comprises two sorting zones (3a, 3b), a first sorting zone (3a) coupled to a first reception zone (7a) and to a first checking zone (8a), a second sorting zone (3b) coupled to a second reception zone (7b) and to a second checking zone (8b), said checkout station (1) comprising a single alternative path (6) shared by said first and second sorting zones (3a, 3b).

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