JP2008198088A - Shoplifting prevention system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shoplifting prevention system applicable to various merchandise and easily introduced into a store. <P>SOLUTION: When a customer 8 selects desired merchandise 1 in the store and pays the bill at a counter 14, a store clerk 9 reads a bar code 2 and a signal information identifier 3 attached to the merchandise 1, by a bar code scanner 7. The magnetic amount of the read signal information identifier 3 is reduced so as not to be received by an alarm means to turn into a non-transmitting state. Consequently, even if the customer 8 holding the purchased merchandise 1 passes through an entrance 11, an alarm means 6 of a monitoring device 5 does not give an alarm. When the customer 8 having the merchandise 1 in a bag or the like in secret goes out of the store from the entrance 11 without paying for the merchandise 1 in the store at the counter 14, the alarm means 6 receives magnetism transmitted from the signal information identifier 3 attached to the merchandise 1, and gives an alarm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a shoplifting prevention system. Specifically, the present invention relates to a shoplifting prevention system in a store where an entrance is provided and products are exhibited.

Shoplifting is a type of theft. In store department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, bookstores, drugstores, etc. during business hours, shoppers steal and steal the eyes of shop assistants pretending to be shoppers. Is.
In addition, although there are variations depending on the type of business, the product loss due to shoplifting is said to be around 0.5% of sales on average in the retail industry, and it is inevitable for each store in a shopping district that has continued to be sluggish. It is a problem.

  Thus, some techniques for preventing shoplifting have been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, a tag body is locked to a product in an anti-theft tag for locking the tag body to a product to prevent theft. A locking means, a wire having a ring that is integrally and continuously led out from the tag main body and through which the tag main body can pass, and a separation detecting means for detecting that the product has been detached from the tag main body, and a wire In response to detection by the disconnection detection means or the disconnection detection means, the alarm detection means for generating an alarm in response to detection by the disconnection detection means or the disconnection detection means, the wire is hooked on the product shelf, and the tag body is passed through the wire loop. An anti-theft tag characterized in that the tag body is locked to a product is described.

JP-A-7-320169

  However, in such a tag, the tag body and the wire cannot be separated, so when replacing the tag body with another tag body, changing the tag body to another product, changing the position of the product, etc. It must be removed from the product shelves through it, which takes time. In addition, there is a type that can replace the battery when the battery runs out, but in reality the tag body including the wire is actually discarded, and even when checking the remaining battery level, the tag body is purposely removed. Must be removed and checked. Furthermore, when the wire is cut by shoplifting or when the tag main body is broken, the tag main body and the wire cannot be separated from each other.

  In addition, for example, if the merchandise to be handled is a unified store such as a record store or a rental video store, it is relatively easy to attach an anti-theft tag to the merchandise, but there are various types handled in general supermarkets. It is very troublesome to attach a tag to all the commodities, and it is very expensive and difficult to put into practical use. For this reason, tags are only attached to some stores such as record stores and rental video stores. In general supermarkets, video cameras are installed and security guards are installed to prevent shoplifting. It was the current situation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a shoplifting prevention system that can be applied to various products and is easily introduced by a store.

  In order to achieve the above object, a shoplifting prevention system according to the present invention is a shoplifting prevention system in a store where an entrance is provided and a product is displayed, and includes a product information identifier attached to the product, and a transmission. An identifier reading unit that reads signal information identifiers that can be switched from a state to a non-transmission state substantially simultaneously, and an alarm that is disposed at an entrance and exits when receiving a transmission from the signal information identifier in a predetermined space And the signal information identifier is in a non-transmitting state when read by the identifier reading means.

  Here, the monitoring means having an alarm means for issuing an alarm when receiving a transmission from the signal information identifier located in the entrance and receiving in the predetermined space, receives from the signal information identifier attached to the product. Depending on the presence / absence of the product, the presence or absence of a warning occurs when the customer with the product passes through the entrance / exit, and the presence / absence of shoplifting is known. Since the presence or absence of transmission from the signal information identifier attached to the product occurs, the presence or absence of an alarm is issued depending on the presence or absence of accounting, and the presence or absence of shoplifting is known, which is effective in preventing shoplifting. The “predetermined space” here refers to, for example, an entrance / exit space.

  Further, in the shoplifting prevention system of the present invention, the signal information identifier transmits a predetermined amount of magnetism in the transmission state, and the identifier reading means has a signal information identifier attached to the product when weakening the magnetism of the signal information identifier. The system introduction cost is not high because it is only necessary to magnetize or weaken the magnetism. Here, the “predetermined amount” refers to an amount by which the alarm means can receive magnetism, for example.

  Further, in the shoplifting prevention system of the present invention, when provided with a restoring means for returning a signal information identifier that has been in a non-transmission state to a transmission state, for example, even if a customer who bought the product returns the product, it can be resold as a product.

  Further, in the shoplifting prevention system of the present invention, when the monitoring means includes a reporting means for reporting to the police agency when the warning means issues an alarm, the monitoring means reports to the police agency at the same time as the detection of shoplifting, so it becomes a deterrent against shoplifting. sell.

  The shoplifting prevention system according to the present invention is a system that can be applied to various products and is easily introduced by a store.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an embodiment of a shoplifting prevention system to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, a bar code (an example of a product information identifier) 2 and a transmission state in which magnetism is transmitted in advance to all products 1 themselves or a package of the products 1 in the bookstore where the bookcase 10 is arranged. The linear signal information identifiers 3 are printed side by side and the shoplifting prevention system to which the present invention is applied is a bar code scanner (a bar code scanner (9) that reads the bar code 2 and the signal information identifier 3 substantially simultaneously. 7 is an example of an identifier reading unit.) 7 and is disposed at the entrance 11 of the store, and the space of the entrance is monitored by a magnetic sensor (not shown) and attached to the product 1 held by the customer 8 passing through the entrance 11. And a monitoring device (an example of monitoring means) 5 having an alarm means 6 for issuing an alarm when receiving the magnetism transmitted from the signal information identifier 3. Further, a register (money registering machine) 4 to which product information (product name, price, etc.) obtained from the barcode 2 read by the barcode scanner 7 is input is arranged in the payment counter 14.
Further, when the signal information identifier 3 is read by the barcode scanner 7, the magnetism transmitted from the signal information identifier 3 is weakened by the reverse magnetism emitted from the barcode scanner 7 and having a strength greater than that of the signal information identifier 3. Thus, the calling state is changed to the non-calling state, and the alarm means 6 does not receive the call.
Moreover, the monitoring apparatus 5 has the report means 12 which reports to a police organization when the warning means 6 issues a warning.
In addition, the shoplifting prevention system to which the present invention is applied includes a restoration means 13 for applying magnetism to the signal information identifier 3 whose magnetism has been weakened to form a signal information identifier having a predetermined amount of magnetism, and the restoration means 13 is a payment counter. 14.

Here, as long as the signal information identifier can be switched from the transmission state to the non-transmission state, the signal information identifier may not necessarily be magnetized, and may transmit electromagnetic waves, for example.
Further, the shoplifting prevention system may not necessarily include the restoration unit as long as it includes the identifier reading unit and the monitoring unit.
Moreover, the monitoring apparatus does not necessarily need to have a reporting means as long as it has an alarm means.
In addition, as an example of the identifier reading unit, a barcode scanner held by hand is cited. However, the product information identifier and the signal information identifier that can be switched from the transmission state to the non-transmission state can be read substantially simultaneously. For example, a bar code scanner that does not necessarily have to be a hand-held type, such as a bar code that can read these identifiers by simply passing the merchandise product information identifier and signal information identifier downward. It may be a scanner.
Further, if the signal information identifier is attached to the product and the product information identifier is read almost simultaneously with the product information identifier by the identifier reading unit, the signal information identifier does not necessarily have to be attached side by side with the product information identifier. If the signal information identifier is linear as in the product information identifier and printed side by side in the same manner as the product information identifier as in 1, the shoplifting prevention function is provided to a person who intends to perform shoplifting. It is difficult to detect that it is preferable.
Further, the product information identifier and the signal information identifier do not necessarily have to be printed directly on the product or the package of the product. For example, the product information identifier and the signal information identifier are printed on a sticker or label, and the seal or label is affixed to the product or the package of product. It may be.
Further, the product information identifier is not necessarily a barcode, and may be a two-dimensional code.

When the customer 8 selects the desired product 1 in the store and checks at the payment counter 14, the store clerk 9 reads the barcode 2 and the signal information identifier 3 attached to the product 1 by the barcode scanner 7 and reads the read signal. The magnetic amount of the information identifier 3 is reduced to an amount that cannot be received by the alarm means, and the non-transmission state is set. Thereby, even if the customer 8 holds the purchased product 1 and passes through the doorway 11, the alarm means 6 of the monitoring device 5 does not issue an alarm.
On the other hand, if the customer 8 does not pay the merchandise 1 in the store at the payment counter 14, puts the merchandise 1 in a bag or the like and conceals it and leaves the store from the entrance 11, the alarm means 6 is attached to the merchandise 1. The magnetism transmitted from the received signal information identifier 3 is received and an alarm is issued. A series of these flows is shown in FIG. 2, which is a flowchart showing alarm processing by the monitoring device.

In addition, if the signal information identifier attached to the product can be switched from the transmission state to the non-transmission state, the signal information identifier may be configured by an IC chip, for example. This IC chip has, for example, a configuration in which a light receiving unit, a frequency discrimination circuit, a memory, and a transmitter are connected to a control circuit that controls them. Further, a thin and small battery or a solar battery may be used as the power source.
In this case, unless the light receiving unit receives the laser beam from the bar code scanner, the transmitter is controlled to continue to transmit the electromagnetic wave. When the alarm means receives the electromagnetic wave from the transmitter in the entrance / exit space, an alarm is generated. It is done.

  As described above, the shoplifting prevention system according to the present invention includes the monitoring unit that is arranged at the entrance and that has an alarm unit that issues an alarm when receiving a transmission from the signal information identifier in a predetermined space. Depending on the presence or absence of reception from the signal information identifier attached to the product, the presence or absence of an alarm is issued when the customer with the product passes through the entrance and exit, and the presence or absence of shoplifting is known, and the signal information identifier by the identifier reading means Depending on the presence or absence of reading, that is, depending on the presence or absence of accounting, there will be the presence or absence of transmission from the signal information identifier attached to the product. Therefore, the store can introduce a shoplifting prevention system simply by attaching a signal information identifier to a product by printing or the like, and can be applied to various products.

  The signal information identifier transmits a predetermined amount of magnetism in the transmission state, and the identifier reading means weakens the magnetism of the signal information identifier, so the signal information identifier attached to the product is magnetized or weakened. System introduction costs are not high.

  Further, the shoplifting prevention system of the present invention includes a restoring means for returning a signal information identifier that has been in a non-transmission state to a transmission state, so that even if a customer who bought the product returns the product, it can be resold as a product.

  Moreover, since the monitoring means includes a reporting means for reporting to the police agency when the warning means issues an alarm, the monitoring means also reports to the police agency at the same time as the detection of shoplifting, so it can be a deterrent against shoplifting.

It is the schematic for demonstrating one Example of the shoplifting prevention system to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the alarm process by a monitoring apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Product 2 Barcode 3 Signal information identifier 4 Register 5 Monitoring device 6 Alarm means 7 Barcode scanner 8 Customer 9 Clerk 10 Book shelf 11 Entrance 12 Notification means 13 Restoration means 14 Payment counter

Claims (4)

A shoplifting prevention system at a store where a doorway is provided and products are exhibited,
An identifier reading means for reading the product information identifier attached to the product and the signal information identifier that can be switched from the transmission state to the non-transmission state substantially simultaneously;
A monitoring unit that is arranged at an entrance and exit and has a warning unit that issues a warning when receiving a transmission from the signal information identifier in a predetermined space;
The shoplifting prevention system according to claim 1, wherein the signal information identifier is in a non-transmission state when read by the identifier reading means. The signal information identifier transmits a predetermined amount of magnetism in a transmission state,
The shoplifting prevention system according to claim 1, wherein the identifier reading unit weakens magnetism of the signal information identifier. The shoplifting prevention system according to claim 1, further comprising restoring means for returning the signal information identifier in the non-transmission state to the transmission state. The shoplifting prevention system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit includes a reporting unit that reports to a police agency when the warning unit issues an alarm.

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