GB2457315A

GB2457315A - Self-service checkout terminal

Info

Publication number: GB2457315A
Application number: GB0803934A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arc Steve A Fadahunsi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-06
Filing date: 2008-03-03
Publication date: 2009-08-12
Also published as: GB0802178D0; GB0803934D0

Abstract

A self-service check-out terminal 1 has a basket and/or trolley weighing 3 station to weigh goods collected in a store and placed in a basket or trolley and taken to the check-out machine, a reader means 11 to value goods to be purchased, a bagging weighing station 9,10 to weigh goods placed thereon, a comparator 12 to compare the weight of goods at the bagging station to the weight of goods at the basket or trolley weighing station and to provide an indication of any difference in weight; and a payment means 13,14,5,16 to receive payment for goods. Any unwanted goods may be placed in a separate area 7 and weighed for comparison. Dummy products relating to small goods of high value may be scanned by the reader means 11 and the selected item would then be dispensed by dispenser means 21.

Description

Title: Self Service Check-out Machine The present invention relates to a self service check-out machine, especially for use in supermarkets.

A number of supermarkets have self service check-out machines. A customer selects goods to be purchased in a shop and places these in a basket or trolley and then proceeds to a self service check-out machine. The check out machine has a scanner, and the goods to be purchased are swipes over the scanner by the customer.

The total value of the goods swiped over the scanner is displayed, and the machine allows for the customer to pay for the goods using cash or a credit or debit card.

A problem with these machines is that they rely on the honesty of the customer, since a customer can simply take goods away without scanning them. It has been attempted to install a weighing mechanism on a "bagging area" of the check-out machine where goods are packed, and the check out machine compares the weight of goods scanned with those placed on the "bagging area" and indicates when there is a discrepancy and prevents the user from proceeding any further with a check-out.

However this does not prevent a customer from taking goods from a basket and trolley and placing it directly in receptacle without scanning the goods or placing the goods on the "bagging area".

The invention seeks to provide an improved self service check-out machine which avoids the above difficulties.

According to the present invention there is provided a self service check-out machine comprising: a) a basket and/or trolley weighing station to weigh goods collected in a store and placed in a basket or trolley and taken to the check-out niachine, b) reader means to value goods to be purchased.

c) a bagging weighing station to weigh goods placed thereon.

d) a comparator to compare the weight of goods at the bagging station to the weight of goods at the basket or trolley weighing station and to provide an indication of any difference in weight, and e) payment means to receive payment for goods, in use a basket or trolley of goods to be purchased is placed in the basket or trolley weighing station and weighed. goods to be purchased are then entered using the reader means and placed on the bagging weighing station and weighed, the weight of goods on die basket or trolley weighing station and bagging weighing station are compared, and payment of the goods is made using the payment means.

Preferably said payment means only receives payment for goods, if the weight of goods on the basket or trolley weighing station and bagging weighing station is equal.

Preferably the reader means is a bar code scanner. Alternatively the reader iiieans could be a keyboard.

Preferably a screen is provided to display an indication of purchase transactions.

The self service check-out machine may further comprise an unwanted goods weighing station (e.g. for instances when customers having brought items to the machine for payment suddenly change their mind and no longer wishes to buy a particular item), and said comparator further compares the weight of goods at the bagging station and the unwanted goods weighing station to the weight of goods at the basket or trolley weighing station and provides an indication of any difference in weight.

The self service check-out machine may further compnse at least one product dispenser.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a firs embodiment, and Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a self service check-out machine 1 having an overall housing 2.

A basket and trolley weighing station 3 is provided to weigh goods collected in a store and placed in a basket or trolley and taken to the check-out machine. Station 3 has open faced container 4 supported on an electronic weighing scale 5. Container 4 can receive a supermarket trolley "A", or can receive a basket "B" on its shelves 6A,6B. Weighing scale 5 deducts the weight of the trolley "A" or basket "B" from the total weight of the trolley or basket with goods therein to give a weight of the goods themselves.

An unwanted goods weighing station is provided in the form of a bin 7 and electronic weighing scale 8 (not visible).

A bagging weighing station is provided in the form of a bin 9 and electronic weighing scale 10 to weigh goods placed thereon. Bin 9 can receive a plastic bag A reader means to value goods to be purchased is provided in the form of a bar code scanner 11 which can scan bar codes on goods to be purchased. Instead of a scanner, an alternative reader means could be provided such as a keyboard.

A comparator 12 is provided connected to the weighing scales 5,8 and 10.

Comparator 12 compares the sum of the weight of goods at the bagging station bin 9 and goods at the unwanted goods weighing station bin 7 to the weight of goods at the basket or trolley weighing station container 4. Comparator 12 provides an indication of any difference in weight.

Payment means is provided to receive payment for goods in the form of coin slot 13 and note slot 14, and card reader 15 and "PIN" keyboard 16. A change aperture 17 is also provided. The payment means only receives payment for goods, if the weight of goods on the basket or trolley weighing station and bagging weighing station and unwanted goods weighing station is equal.

An interactive screen 18 is provided to display an indication of purchase transactions.

The self service check out machine 1 would normally be placed near the exit to a shop. A customer would enter the shop, pick up a basket or trolley, select goods to be purchased from the shelves and cabinets etc. and place them in the basket or trolley, and then go to the machine I. The basket or trolley of goods to be purchased is placed in the basket or trolley weighing station container 4 and weighed by the scale 5 and recorded by comparator 12. Any goods in the trolley or basket which are unwanted can be placed in unwanted goods weighing station bin 7 and weighed by the scale 8 and recorded by comparator 12. Goods to be purchased are then passed over scanner 11 by the customer where their value and total purchase price is displayed on screen 18. The customer places the goods in a plastic bag "C" on the bagging weighing station bin 9 where they are weighed by the scale 10 and recorded by comparator 12. The weight of goods on the basket or trolley weighing station container 4 and bagging weighing station bin 9 and unwanted goods weighing station bin 7 are compared. If the weights are equal, the customer is prompted by the screen 18 to make payment of the goods using the payment means. If the weights are unequal, payment is not prompted and the user is unable proceed any further and an alarm may sound if desired, as this may indicate that goods have not been paid for and possibly pilfered.

Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a self service check-out machine identical to that shown in Figure 1, except that a product dispenser 20 is provided with a dispensing aperture 21.

Some products sold in a shop are especially prone to being stolen, e.g. small high value items. It is envisaged that in order to purchase these items, a card with a bar code relating to such an item and picked up off a shelf by a customer (e.g. by a dummy product or picture of a product) and would be scanned over scanner 11. Any selected item would then be dispensed by dispenser 20 only after it had been paid for.

If desired more than one product dispenser, controlled by one or more self service check-out machines, could be provided at spaced intervals in a store to dispense numerous or all products in a shop.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A self service check-out machine comprising: a) a basket and/or trolley weighing station to weigh goods collected in a store and placed in a basket or trolley and taken to the check-out machine, b) reader means to value goods to be purchased.c) a bagging weighing station to weigh goods placed thereon, d) a comparator to compare the weight of goods at the bagging station to the weight of goods at the basket or trolley weighing station and to provide an indication of any difference in weight, and e) payment means to receive payment for goods, in use a basket or trolley of goods to be purchased is placed in the basket or trolley weighing station and weighed, goods to be purchased are then entered using the reader means and placed on the bagging weighing station and weighed, the weight of goods on the basket or trolley weighing station and bagging weighing station are compared, and payment of the goods is made using the payment means.
2. A self service check-out machine according to claim 1, wherein said payment means only receives payment for goods, if the weight of goods on the basket or trolley weighing station and bagging weighing station is equal.
3. A self service check-out machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reader means is a bar code scanner.
4. A self service check-out machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reader iiieans is a keyboard.
5. A self service check-out machine according to any preceding claim, wherein a screen is provided to display an indication of purchase transactions.
6. A self service check-out machine according to any preceding claim, further comprising an unwanted goods weighing station, and said comparator further compares the weight of goods at the bagging station and the unwanted goods weighing station to the weight of goods at the basket or trolley weighing station and provides an indication of any difference in weight.
7. A self service check-out machine according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one product dispenser.
8. A self service check-out machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.