JP2013218437A - Pos system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a POS system for supporting the fare adjustment processing of a customer, and for achieving smooth fare adjustment processing without arranging any special clerk or device for supporting the fare adjustment processing.SOLUTION: In a POS system in which the registration of a purchased merchandise is performed by a merchandise registration device B to be operated by a clerk, and fare adjustment processing is performed by a fare adjustment device C on the basis of the registered information, the fare adjustment device C is installed adjacently to the merchandise registration device B at the downstream side in a traffic line direction of the customer such that an operation surface 14 is faced to the opposite side or the same side of operation surfaces 5 and 6 of the merchandise registration device B to be operated by the clerk.

Description

  The present invention relates to a POS system in which a store clerk (a cashier) registers a product purchased by a customer by using a product registration apparatus, and the customer himself / herself performs a settlement process using the settlement apparatus based on the registered information.

The settlement process for purchased products in supermarkets and the like is generally performed by a store clerk (resistor) operating a single product registration settlement apparatus (register) for product registration and settlement. For the purpose of shortening the check-out time by a general system, a system has been proposed in which purchased product registration processing and settlement processing are performed at different locations (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
The system described in Patent Document 1 is a so-called semi-self-registration in which a store clerk registers a customer's purchased product using a product registration device, and the customer himself / herself performs a settlement process using the settlement device based on the registered information. System. And the said payment apparatus is installed in the place (for example, entrance / exit vicinity) away from the goods registration apparatus.

However, in the case of the above semi-self-registration system, it is unfamiliar with the handling of the checkout device, so there is a problem that personnel costs are inevitably increased due to the arrangement of specialist staff to deal with troubles such as unknown operation procedures. Has occurred.
In addition, as described above, the checkout device may be arranged near the exit of the store at a position away from the product registration device as described above. However, the customer who goes to the checkout device and the customer who finishes the checkout and packs the bag In order to prevent the flow lines from overlapping, it is necessary to place a checkout device at the end of the product registration device, and to provide a soccer stand to pack the products that have been purchased ahead of it, resulting in a large amount of space. It was.

Japanese Patent No. 3578868

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and can support a customer's checkout process without arranging a specialist to support the checkout process. It is an object of the present invention to provide a POS system that enables a small space.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the POS system according to the present invention has a product registration device for a store clerk that registers purchased products and a customer checkout device that performs a checkout process adjacent to each other, whereby the product for the store clerk is installed. The store clerk who operates the registration device can support the customer who operates the customer checkout device.
Specifically, in a POS system in which a product registration device that is operated by a store clerk performs registration of purchased products and a customer performs a checkout process with a checkout device based on the registered information, the product registration device is adjacent to the product registration device. The payment apparatus is installed on the downstream side in the direction of flow of the customer, and the operation surface is directed to the opposite side or the same side as the operation surface operated by the store clerk of the product registration device.
The method for transferring the information registered by the product registration device to the payment device may be either online or offline (print medium). In addition, the settlement apparatus includes an automatic change fishing bill machine having an operation surface (operation display unit) for performing various operations of settlement processing, a storage unit for storing banknotes and coins paid by customers, and a change discharge unit. These are mounted on a mounting table.

When the settlement apparatus is installed adjacent to the commodity registration apparatus, the commodity registration apparatus mounts the settlement apparatus on the front side of the mounting table equipped with the equipment (the surface facing the customer who operates the settlement apparatus). In this case, the counter side of the checkout device (the surface facing the customer of the mounting table) is arranged in the depth direction of the counter from the front end surface of the counter of the product registration device. You may install it so that it may enter.
In such a case, the position of the customer who operates the checkout apparatus moves in the depth direction of the counter, and as a result, approaches the store clerk who operates the product registration apparatus. As a result, the store clerk is closer to the customer who operates the checkout apparatus, and is easier to support.

The settlement line composed of the merchandise registration apparatus and the settlement apparatus may be a single settlement apparatus, but the settlement line is configured by installing at least two settlement apparatuses in parallel adjacent to one commodity registration apparatus. The payment lines are arranged in parallel in a plurality of rows at a predetermined interval, and the payment apparatus of each payment line has the operation surface in a staggered direction.
In that case, the operation surface of the checkout device installed in parallel may be in a different direction, but the first checkout device installed close to the product registration device is particularly designed to be operated by the store clerk of the product registration device. By setting it facing away from the operation surface to be operated, customers who use the first checkout device can checkout with the shopping cart containing the purchased product placed on the counter of the product registration device It becomes.
As a result, the customer (first customer) who has completed the registration process of the purchased product in each settlement line performs the settlement process with the first settlement device near the product registration device, and the customer who has completed the registration of the next purchased product ( The second customer) can perform the settlement process with the second settlement apparatus of the next settlement line. Therefore, each customer who performs the checkout process can place the cart on which the shopping cart is placed along the back of the checkout apparatus in the same row, and does not hinder the movement of the customer who performs other checkout processes.
In addition, the orientation of the plurality of settlement devices in each settlement line is arbitrary, such as changing the orientation in the same direction or every other row. In any case, customers of each checkout line can be divided into the checkout device of their own line facing the customer's flow line and the checkout device of the next checkout line, and product registration for each checkout line is possible. A store clerk operating the device can support the customer checkout process.
Also, each payment line is not equipped with multiple (at least two) payment devices, but the second payment device is placed between the payment lines adjacent to each other. You may enable it to share an eye adjustment apparatus. In this case, the two-row settlement apparatus is arranged so that the operation surface faces the downstream side or the upstream side of the settlement line, and can smoothly be used from both of the settlement lines.

In addition, the merchandise registration apparatus and the settlement apparatus constituting the POS system are communicable, and data related to transactions registered by the merchandise registration apparatus is transmitted to the merchandise registration apparatus by designating the settlement apparatus. A designation means may be provided. In that case, a machine number for identifying the settlement apparatus is assigned in advance to each settlement apparatus, and the product registration apparatus is provided with a “number” key for designating the settlement apparatus, for example, as the designation means.
In the case of the above configuration, when the product registration is completed and a key indicating a settlement apparatus to be transmitted is pressed among the plurality of “number” keys, data relating to the transaction is transmitted to the designated settlement apparatus. Therefore, for example, since the customer reads out the data related to the transaction he / she settles with the settlement apparatus, for example, the code information printed on the paper is not specified by reading with the reading means, so that quick settlement is possible. .
In addition, the settlement apparatus is configured by placing the settlement apparatus main body on a mounting table, and the shopping basket storage section provided in the lower portion of the mounting table includes a front surface facing the operation surface side and a back surface of the settlement apparatus main body. You may make it open so that the rear surface which the side faces may penetrate, and a shopping basket can be taken in and out from the front-back direction.

  In the POS system of the present invention, a customer who operates the product registration apparatus is operated by a customer who operates the product registration apparatus by installing a payment apparatus that the customer performs the payment process adjacent to the product registration apparatus in which the store employee registers the purchased product. Can support. Therefore, it is possible to perform a smooth settlement process without incurring an extra expense such as arranging a dedicated customer service representative. In addition, since the settlement device is arranged in the vicinity of the product registration device as described above, even if a bagging table for packing the product in the bag is provided at the tip of the customer's flow line, the overall number is small. In the space, a product registration device, a checkout device, a bagging table, and the like can be arranged.

Schematic which shows the structure of a POS system. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the goods registration apparatus which comprises a POS system. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the payment apparatus which comprises a POS system. (A), (b) is a layout schematic diagram which shows the basic form of the payment line which consists of a goods registration apparatus and a payment apparatus. The layout schematic diagram which shows the modification of FIG. The layout schematic diagram at the time of arrange | positioning multiple rows of payment lines provided with two payment apparatuses. The layout schematic diagram by the modification of a payment line. The layout schematic diagram by the other modification of a payment line. The layout schematic diagram by the other modification of a payment line. Sectional drawing which shows the modification of the mounting base which mounts a payment apparatus.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a POS system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a POS system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the POS system includes a store controller (management device) A, a plurality of product registration devices operated by a store clerk, that is, a store clerk product registration device B, and a plurality of checkouts operated by a customer. It is comprised with the apparatus, ie, the customer adjustment apparatus C. The store controller A, the clerk product registration device B, and the customer checkout device C are connected via a LAN. The LAN connection form may be any connection form such as wired or wireless.
Further, the store controller (management device) A may be located outside the store, and may be communicable via the clerk product registration device B, the customer checkout device C, and the WAN.

  The store controller A is a computer that controls the POS system, and manages various information such as a product master. The store controller A appropriately transmits the latest product master to each store clerk product registration device B and customer checkout device C.

  The clerk product registration apparatus B registers and aggregates information on the purchased products of customers for each customer. As shown in the block diagram showing the electrical configuration in FIG. 2, the store clerk product registration apparatus B includes a CPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a scanner unit 4, a display unit (for store clerk) 5, and a display unit ( (For customer) 5 ', operation unit (for store clerk) 6, communication unit 7, printing unit 8, and hard disk 9, which are connected to each other via a bus and can communicate with each other. Yes.

  The CPU 1 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the clerk product registration apparatus B by reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 2. The ROM 2 is a read-only memory that stores the program. The RAM 3 temporarily stores files and setting data necessary for the CPU 1 to operate. The scanner unit 4 optically reads a barcode (product code) attached to a product. The bar code (product code) read by the scanner unit 4 is stored in the RAM 3.

The display unit 5 is a clerk display unit that displays various information to the clerk who operates the clerk product registration apparatus B. For example, information acquired from the product master (for example, product name, price, etc.) is displayed. And since this display part is a touch panel type (for example, liquid crystal touch panel), in addition to the display to a store clerk, the product information (product code etc.) preset and registered in the button (preset button) provided on the screen Accepts input. The display unit 5 ′ is a customer display unit that displays information on product registration to the customer.
The operation unit 6 includes operation buttons such as various keys for operating the clerk product registration apparatus B, a subtotal key, a current total key, a numeric key, a correction key, and a preset key.

The communication unit 7 communicates with the store controller A via the LAN. And when the product registration device B for the clerk prints the information of the customer's purchased product on the checkout form (accounting ticket), the product number that identifies the transaction and the product registered by the transaction of the transaction number Is transmitted to the store controller A, and is stored so as to be readable by the store controller A.
The printing unit 8 prints and issues a settlement sheet (accounting ticket), and a transaction number for identifying a registered transaction is encoded on the settlement sheet, for example, encoded in a one-dimensional barcode, and the others. Alternatively, a customer settlement apparatus number to be settled may be printed.
The hard disk 9 stores customer purchase information stored in the RAM 3 after the payment sheet is printed.

The customer settlement apparatus C includes a settlement apparatus main body C1, an automatic change bill machine C2, and a placing table 17 on which the settlement apparatus body and the automatic change bill machine are placed in the vertical direction.
As shown in the block diagram showing the electrical configuration in FIG. 3, the customer settlement apparatus C includes a CPU 10, a ROM 11, a RAM 12, a scanner unit (reading unit) 13, a display operation unit (liquid crystal touch panel) 14, and the like. The communication unit 15, the printing unit 16, the card reader 20, the calling lamp 21, and the automatic change bill machine C 2 are connected to each other via a bus and can communicate with each other.

The CPU 10 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the customer settlement apparatus C by reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 11.
The ROM 11 is a read-only memory that stores the program.
The RAM 12 is a read / write memory that temporarily stores files and setting data necessary for the CPU 10 to operate. For example, the product master acquired from the store controller A and the purchased product information indicated by the barcode read by the scanner unit 13. Memorize etc.
The scanner unit 13 optically reads the code information (bar code) of the checkout paper printed and issued by the clerk product registration apparatus B.

The display operation unit 14 displays various information and becomes an operation screen for the settlement process. For example, based on the code information read by the scanner unit 13, the transaction number of the transaction to be settled is specified, and the code information of the product based on the transaction number is transmitted via the communication unit 15 and stored in the store controller A. The code information of the product in the transaction number is specified, the product master stored in the RAM 12 is referred to, the purchase details of the product purchased by the customer are displayed, and the account settlement process is performed.
The communication unit 15 communicates with the store controller A via the LAN. For example, the latest product master is acquired from the store controller A by connecting to the store controller A (management device).
The printing unit 16 prints the accounted receipt that has been settled by the customer after the customer settlement (accounting).
The call lamp 21 is a lamp that is turned on when a customer calls a store clerk during the checkout process.

  The automatic change bill machine C2 includes a coin insertion slot, a coin dispensing slot, a bill insertion slot, and a banknote dispensing slot. The automatic change bill machine C2 is connected to the change machine control unit of the settlement apparatus main body C1 and, based on a signal from the CPU 10, pays out money to the automatic change bill machine C2, or automatically changes the change bill. Control is performed to transmit the money information deposited in the machine C2 to the CPU 10.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a basic form of a checkout line by the clerk product registration device B and the customer checkout device C constituting the POS system. FIG. 4A is a clerk product for registering a customer's purchased product. In the registration device B, the operation surface for the clerk (the display unit 5 and the operation unit 6) of the product registration device B for the store clerk is provided at a substantially central position in the length direction of the counter 18 on which the shopping cart containing the purchased product is placed. It is installed so as to be parallel to the front side edge of the counter 18, and the display unit (customer) 5 ′ is located on the opposite side of the store clerk operation surface (display unit 5, operation unit 6). The customer checkout device C is adjacent to one end in the length direction of the counter 18 on which the store clerk product registration device B is installed (downstream end in the flow direction of the customer) and an operation surface (display operation). Section 14) is directed to the side opposite to the operation surface (display section 5, operation section 6) of the clerk product registration apparatus B, and further to the front side of the mounting table 17 of the customer settlement apparatus C (the customer settlement apparatus is The surface facing the customer to be operated is installed so as to be substantially flush with the front edge of the counter 18 of the clerk product registration apparatus B.
FIG. 4B shows an example in which two checkout lines for the clerk product registration device B and the customer checkout device C are arranged adjacent to each other at a predetermined interval on the left and right. Then, the customer checkout device C installed adjacent to the clerk product registration device B is placed in the direction opposite to that shown in FIG. (A), that is, the operation surface (display operation unit 14) of the clerk product registration device B The operation surface (the display unit 5 and the operation unit 6) is directed in the same direction, and further, the back side of the mounting table 17 of the customer settlement apparatus C (the opposite side of the surface facing the customer who operates the customer settlement apparatus). It is installed so as to be substantially flush with the front edge of the counter 18 of the clerk product registration apparatus B. In addition, you may install the basket mounting base which mounts a shopping cart beside the mounting base 17 which mounted the adjustment apparatus main body C1 and the automatic change bill machine C2.

The flow of the accounting process in the payment line of the POS system is as follows. In either case of FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the store clerk first scans the bar code of the product purchased by the customer using the store clerk product registration device B. Register products. After the salesclerk completes scanning (registering products) the barcodes of all the products purchased by the customer, the transaction number indicating the transaction of the customer is encoded into a one-dimensional barcode, and the checkout sheet 8 is printed. Issued and handed to customers.
When registration in the clerk product registration apparatus B is completed, the transaction number in one transaction and the product code of the product registered in the transaction are transmitted to the store controller A that can communicate.
Next, in the case of FIG. 4 (a), the customer who has received the checkout paper is a predetermined customer checkout device C installed adjacent to the downstream side in the flow line direction along the counter 18 of the clerk product registration device B. The code information printed on the payment paper is read using the scanner unit 13 of the customer payment apparatus C. Thereby, the transaction number of the settlement process is identified, and the identified transaction number is referred to as a key among the data relating to the transaction stored in the predetermined storage area of the store controller A that can communicate with the customer settlement apparatus. The purchased product is specified, the price, the total amount, etc. are displayed on the display operation unit 14, and the customer settles the displayed total amount with bills, coins, etc., using the automatic change bill machine C2. When the settlement is completed, the accounting receipt that has been settled is issued from the printing unit 16.
As described above, the transaction number for identifying the transaction is encoded and stored in a one-dimensional barcode on the checkout form, and the code information of the commodity registered in the transaction is transmitted to the store controller A together with the transaction number for storage. When the bar code information of the checkout paper is read by the customer checkout device, the store controller A, which is the host device, is referred to and the product information to be checked is specified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition to the transaction number on the checkout form, the product code of the product registered in the transaction is encoded into a two-dimensional code, for example, and the code information is read by the customer checkout device. The product registered in the transaction may be specified. In this case, since it is not necessary to refer to the data to the host device, this is particularly effective when communication with the host device is interrupted.
In the case of FIG. 4 (b), it moves in front of the customer settlement apparatus C in the settlement line adjacent to the settlement line where the product registration has been performed (the settlement line on the left side in the drawing). Perform the checkout process by performing the same operation as in.
FIG. 4A shows an example in which the cart 22 is arranged near the downstream of the customer settlement apparatus C. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 4B, the customer settles with the customer settlement apparatus C in the adjacent settlement line. become. Therefore, since the payment apparatus located downstream of the clerk's product registration apparatus B that has registered the product has the back face in the direction of the customer's flow line, if the interval between the left and right payment lines is not large, the customer Only the customer himself / herself may make payment at the next payment line while the cart is placed in the space behind the payment apparatus in the direction. Thereby, since the cart only needs to move on the flow line, the operability of the customer is further improved.
In the case of FIG. 4B, the customer installed adjacent to the downstream side in the flow line direction along the counter 18 of the clerk product registration device that has registered the product without using the customer checkout device of the adjacent checkout line. It is also possible to go around in front of the settlement apparatus for settlement and perform the settlement process.

  In the checkout process using the customer checkout apparatus C, for example, when an elderly customer is unfamiliar with the handling of the customer checkout apparatus C, the clerk operating the merchandise registration apparatus B for the checkout line Alternatively, the store clerk operating the clerk product registration apparatus B of the adjacent checkout line can face the customer checkout apparatus downstream from the counter 18 to quickly explain and support the operation procedure. Further, a customer who is unfamiliar with the handling of the customer checkout device can easily ask the store clerk who operates the product registration device B for the clerk of the checkout line.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the customer checkout apparatus C is installed on the front side of the mounting table 17 of the customer checkout apparatus C (the edge facing the customer who operates the checkout apparatus). You may install in the depth direction of this counter 18 from the front edge of the counter 18 of B. In that case, the distance between the customer who operates the customer settlement apparatus C of the settlement line and the store clerk who operates the product registration apparatus B for the store clerk becomes closer, and the support for the customer by the store clerk becomes easier. 4 and 5, the shopping cart is placed on the cart 22 and is placed next to the customer, and the settlement process is shown. However, the shopping cart is a counter 18 in which the clerk product registration device B is installed. It is also possible to carry out the settlement process while being placed on the upper surface of the settlement apparatus C (between the clerk product registration apparatus and the customer settlement apparatus).

  FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which two customer settlement apparatuses C constituting the settlement line are arranged in parallel, and a plurality of such settlement lines are arranged in parallel, and the two customer settlement apparatuses C in each settlement line are displayed. The first customer settlement apparatus C, which is arranged so that the orientation of the operation section 14 is staggered and is located near the clerk product registration apparatus B, has a display operation section 14 surface for the clerk of the settlement line. It arrange | positions so that the direction of the operation surface (the display part 5 and the operation part 6) for salesclerks of the merchandise registration apparatus B may face the other side. As a result, in the second customer settlement apparatus C, the surface of the display operation unit 14 is in the same direction as the operation surface (display unit 5, operation unit 6) for the clerk of the product registration apparatus B for clerk of the settlement line. It is arranged to face.

  In the checkout process by the checkout line layout shown in FIG. 6, the customer (customer 1 in the figure) who has completed the product registration of the purchased product in each checkout line is the first unit installed near the product registration device B for clerk. It moves in front of the customer settlement apparatus C and performs settlement processing. Then, the customer (customer 2 in the figure) who has completed the product registration of the next purchased product is the second customer settlement apparatus C on the next settlement line (in the illustrated example, the settlement line on the left in the drawing). Move to before the checkout process. When the product registration process by the store clerk ends and the process proceeds to the checkout process, if the first customer checkout device C near the product registration device B for the store clerk is available, the first customer checkout device C You may carry out the checkout process.

With the above configuration, product registration of purchased products in each checkout line is performed by a store clerk who is familiar with the product registration device B for the store clerk, and the checkout process of the product for which the product registration is completed is performed on the checkout line facing the customer's flow This can be done with the first customer settlement apparatus C and the second customer settlement apparatus C in the adjacent settlement line. As a result, the store clerk operates the store clerk product registration apparatus B for the customer 1 who is operating the checkout process by looking at the display operation unit 14 of the customer checkout apparatus C located on the opposite side of the counter 18. It is possible to assist the customer 1 in the checkout process while staying at the position. Moreover, since the customer 2 comes to be located on the same side as the store clerk who operates the store clerk product registration apparatus B of the adjacent checkout line arranged in parallel, the store clerk leaves the position where the product registration operation is performed. Therefore, it is possible to assist the customer 2 in the settlement process while staying at the registration operation position. Thereby, the work of the customer who operates the customer checkout apparatus C can be reliably supported by the store clerk operating the merchandise registration apparatus B for the checkout line.
Then, the customer who performs the checkout process with the customer checkout device C in each checkout line places the cart 20 with the shopping cart along the back side of the other customer checkout device C in each checkout line. Checkout processing can be performed. Further, by arranging the product registration device B for the clerk and the customer checkout device C close to each other, a bag packing device arranged at a certain interval from the customer checkout device C on the downstream side of the customer checkout device C. Since the table can be arranged at a position closer to the customer settlement apparatus C, the space can be reduced, and as a result, it can be sufficiently arranged even in a store where the space is not large as a whole.

  FIG. 7 shows another modified example for the installation of the two customer settlement apparatuses C in the settlement line shown in FIG. 6, and the first customer settlement near the merchandise registration apparatus B in each settlement line. The device C is arranged so that the surface of the display operation unit 14 faces the same side as the direction of the operation surface for the clerk (display unit 5 and operation unit 6) of the clerk product registration device B of the payment line (FIG. 4B). The second customer settlement apparatus C is arranged so that the surface of the display operation unit 14 faces the direction opposite to the direction of the display operation unit 14 of the first customer settlement apparatus C (see FIG. 4 (a)).

In the checkout process according to the checkout line layout shown in FIG. 7, the customer (customer 1 in the figure) who has completed the product registration of the purchased product in each checkout line is set apart from the store clerk product registration device B. It moves in front of the customer settlement apparatus C and performs the settlement process. Then, the customer (customer 2 in the figure) who has completed the product registration of the next purchased product is the first customer settlement apparatus C on the next settlement line (in the illustrated example, the settlement line on the left in the drawing). Move to before the checkout process.
With the above-described configuration, the settlement processing for the product for which the product registration has been completed is performed by the second customer settlement apparatus C of the settlement line facing the customer flow line and the first customer settlement apparatus of the adjacent settlement line. C can be performed. Thereby, since the customer 2 is located on the same side as the store clerk and adjacent to the store clerk, the store clerk can immediately assist the customer 2 in the settlement process. In addition, the customer 1 performs the checkout process with the second customer checkout device C installed downstream from the product registration device for the salesclerk of the checkout line where the product registration is performed. It is possible to assist the customer 1 in the settlement process without changing the customer's work. As a result, the customer's work for operating the customer settlement apparatus C is performed as the merchandise registration apparatus B for the clerk of the settlement line. The store clerk who operates can be surely supported.
In this case as well, as in the layout shown in FIG. 6, the customer who performs the checkout process with the customer checkout device C of each checkout line puts the cart 20 with the shopping cart on the other checkout line. The payment process can be performed along the back side of the customer payment apparatus C.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which the payment line shown in FIG. 6 and the payment line shown in FIG. 7 are alternately arranged in parallel. The payment process in this case is shown in FIG. In the checkout line of the same arrangement as the checkout line, the customer who has completed the product registration of the purchased product (customer 1 in the figure) is in front of the first customer checkout device C installed near the product registration device B for the clerk. Go to and perform the checkout process. Then, the customer (customer 2 in the figure) who has completed the product registration of the next purchased product is 1 in the next settlement line (the same settlement line as the settlement line shown in FIG. 7 on the left settlement line on the drawing). It moves in front of the third customer checkout device C and performs checkout processing.
Further, in the checkout line in which the arrangement of the two customer checkout devices C is the same as the checkout line shown in FIG. 7, the customer who has completed the product registration of the purchased product (customer 1 in the figure) is the product registration device for the store clerk. It moves in front of the second customer settlement apparatus C installed away from B and performs settlement processing. Then, the customer (customer 2 in the figure) who has completed the product registration of the next purchased product is the next checkout line (the checkout line on the left side in the drawing is the same as the checkout line shown in FIG. 6). It moves in front of the third customer settlement apparatus C and performs settlement processing.

With the above configuration, the checkout process for the product for which the product registration has been completed is performed by the customer of the checkout line having the layout shown in FIG. 6 and the first customer checkout device C of the checkout line facing the customer flow line. The settlement process is performed by the first customer settlement apparatus C on the next settlement line (the settlement line of the layout shown in FIG. 7). Further, the customer of the checkout line of the layout shown in FIG. 7 has a second checkout device C for the checkout line facing the customer's flow line and an adjacent checkout line (the layout of the layout shown in FIG. 6). This can be done with the second customer settlement apparatus C in the settlement line). As a result, the work of the customer who operates the customer checkout device C can be reliably supported by the store clerk operating the product registration device B for the clerk of each checkout line.
Also in this case, as in the layouts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the customer who performs the checkout process with the customer checkout device C of each checkout line puts the cart 20 with the shopping cart on the checkout line. The payment process can be performed along the back side of one customer payment apparatus C. Therefore, the customer's cart for the checkout process does not disturb the movement of the customer who uses the other customer checkout device C.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, each of the checkout lines arranged in parallel is arranged with two customer checkout devices C on the downstream side of the store clerk product registration device B. When the first customer settlement apparatus C is in use, the next customer can perform a settlement process using the second customer settlement apparatus C in his or her own row. However, the time required for product registration in each checkout line varies depending on the quantity of purchased products, and therefore, there is a case where the second customer checkout device C has a vacant time. Therefore, the second customer checkout apparatus C can be used efficiently by sharing one with two rows of checkout lines adjacent to each other. Hereinafter, an example of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

9 removes the second customer settlement apparatus C in each settlement line shown in FIG. 6, and instead, between each settlement line and in the vicinity of the downstream side of the first customer settlement apparatus C. This is an example in which a customer settlement apparatus C ′ shared by two rows is arranged. The customer settlement apparatus C ′ for two rows is arranged with the surface of the display operation unit 14 facing the downstream side of the settlement line.
With the above configuration, if the first customer settlement apparatus C in two adjacent settlement lines is vacant, the customer who has completed the product registration is downstream of the clerk product registration apparatus B that has performed the product registration process. It is possible to move to the first customer settlement apparatus C installed in the vicinity of the customer and perform the settlement process. Then, the customer who has completed the next product registration on the two rows of settlement lines can move to the customer settlement device C ′ shared by two rows and perform the settlement processing.
Also in this case, since the first customer settlement device C and the two-row customer settlement device C ′ of each settlement line are arranged close to the downstream side of the store clerk product registration device B, 1 A customer who operates the second customer settlement apparatus C and the two-row customer settlement apparatus C ′ can be surely supported by a store clerk operating the store clerk product registration apparatus B. Although FIG. 9 shows an example in which the customer settlement apparatus C ′ for two rows is arranged in the vicinity of the downstream side of the first customer settlement apparatus C, the shared customer settlement apparatus C ′ is used. May be arranged not between the downstream side of the first customer settlement apparatus C but between, for example, two first customer settlement apparatuses C arranged in parallel. Further, in FIG. 9, the customer settlement apparatus C ′ shared by two rows and the customer settlement apparatus C on the settlement line on the left side of the drawing are arranged with a space, but the space is eliminated and the customer settlement apparatus C ′ You may arrange | position with the payment apparatus C 'and the customer's payment apparatus C' shared by 2 rows.
Further, the customer settlement apparatus C ′ shared by two columns may be arranged with the display operation unit 14 facing the upstream side of the settlement line (opposite direction of the customer settlement apparatus C ′ in FIG. 9). Good. In that case, in particular, the store clerk operating the store clerk product registration device B in the checkout line on the left side of the drawing is close to the display operation unit 14 of the two-row customer checkout device C ′, so that it is shown in FIG. Compared with the arrangement, it becomes easier to support the customer's settlement operation for operating the customer settlement apparatus C ′. Further, in this case, it is only necessary to provide a space between the customer settlement apparatus C on the left side of the drawing and the customer settlement apparatus C ′ so that only one customer coming from the settlement line on the left side can pass. Therefore, since it does not leave | separate greatly with the store clerk who operates any product registration apparatus B for shop assistants, it becomes possible to assist operation by the shop assistant operating the product registration apparatus B for shop assistants.

Further, the placing table 17 of the customer settlement apparatus C is generally open on the surface (front face) facing the customer who operates the automatic change bill machine C2 and the settlement apparatus main body C1 placed on top. The other three circumferential surfaces (back and left and right side surfaces) are closed to form a shopping basket holder. Therefore, the customer carries the shopping basket by himself / herself during the checkout process, and puts it in / out of the shopping basket storage part of the mounting table 17 through the front opening. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the mounting table 17 of the customer checkout apparatus C is formed with openings 24 and 24 ′ on both front and rear sides for accessing the shopping basket storage unit 23, so that the shopping basket to the shopping basket storage unit 23 is formed. The loading / unloading may be performed from both the front and rear surfaces of the mounting table 17. With the above configuration, for example, in the arrangement of the settlement line as shown in FIG. 9, the mounting table 17 of the customer settlement apparatus C ′ shared by two rows has the openings 24 and 24 ′ on both front and rear sides. The customer's shopping basket that completes product registration on the left checkout line, moves to the location of the customer checkout device C 'shared by two rows, and performs checkout processing is held by the store clerk who registered the product on the checkout line. It can move to the downstream side, and can be carried into the shopping basket storage part 23 from the rear surface opening 24 'of the customer settlement apparatus C' shared by the two rows. Therefore, the customer who performs the checkout process with the customer checkout device C ′ shared by two rows does not need to move with a heavy shopping cart, and the burden of carrying the shopping cart to the customer can be reduced. Then, the customer can take out the shopping cart placed in the 17 shopping cart storage units 23 on the mounting table by the store clerk as it is from the front opening 24 of the mounting table 17. That is, the shopping basket placing portion 23 is opened so that the front surface facing the operation surface side of the payment apparatus main body C1 and the rear surface facing the back surface side of the payment apparatus main body C1 penetrate.
Further, the loading plate 25 on which the shopping cart of the shopping cart placing portion 23 is placed has a front and rear end protruding to the outside from the openings 24 and 24 ', so that the shopping cart can be easily put in and out. It becomes.
Note that the customer settlement apparatus having the front and rear open type mounting table 17 shown in FIG. 10 can be used as appropriate in each of the embodiments described above. In FIG. 9, the customer's shopping basket that is settled by the first customer settlement apparatus C may be placed on the counter 18 on the downstream side of the clerk product registration apparatus B, or the customer In the same manner as described above, the mounting table 17 on which the settlement apparatus main body C1 of the settlement apparatus C is mounted is also an open-front mounting platform 17, and when the store clerk completes the registration operation by the store clerk product registration apparatus B, The customer's settlement apparatus C may be placed on the shopping basket placing portion 23 provided on the placing table 17 on which the settlement apparatus main body C1 is placed.

In the above embodiment, the checkout process is performed by issuing a checkout sheet (accounting ticket) using the merchandise registration device for the store clerk and causing the scanner unit of the customer checkout device to read the barcode printed on the checkout paper. Although an example is shown, the settlement process may be performed without issuing the settlement sheet by the clerk product registration apparatus. In other words, when the product registration for one transaction is completed with the clerk product registration device, the clerk operating the clerk product registration device finds a vacant customer checkout device and designates the vacant customer checkout device. Data relating to the transaction for which the registration has been completed may be transmitted to the designated customer settlement apparatus. And as for the method of designating the vacant customer checkout device, each customer checkout device is assigned a machine number for identifying itself in advance. When a plurality of “number” keys (designating means) which are the machine numbers for designating the settlement apparatus for a customer are provided and the “number” key of the designated settlement apparatus for a customer is pressed, the customer of the designated machine number The merchandise code registered in the transaction is transmitted to the settlement apparatus. Then, after the clerk operating the clerk product registration device transmits the data, the customer is verbally informed of the number of the customer settlement device used for the settlement process. Thereafter, the customer moves in front of the designated customer settlement apparatus, and, for example, when paying with cash, the cash is put into an automatic change bill machine and settlement is performed.
In addition, although an example in which data related to a registered product is transmitted by pressing a plurality of “number” keys that specify the customer checkout device displayed on the display for the store clerk of the product registration device for the store clerk is shown. Not limited to this, a “send” key for declaring transmission is provided after the “number”, and data related to the transaction is sent to the customer settlement apparatus designated by pressing the key. You may do it. In this case, when the “number” key is pressed, may the transaction data be transmitted to the clerk display unit of the clerk product registration device to the checkout device of the number? Or the like, and then the “send” key is pressed to send the message to the designated customer settlement apparatus. Thereby, the salesclerk who operates the merchandise registration apparatus can be prevented from erroneously transmitting transaction data to another checkout apparatus.

As a method of reading data related to transactions transmitted from the clerk product registration device by the customer checkout device, for example, when data related to the transaction is transmitted from the clerk product registration device, the customer checkout device immediately acquires data related to the transaction. Is displayed and an example is shown in which payment is possible. This is possible because the clerk product registration device and the customer checkout device are close to each other as in this embodiment, so that the customer is unlikely to accidentally execute a checkout with another checkout device. Become. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when a human sensor that senses a person located within a certain distance is provided in a customer settlement apparatus, and the sensor senses a customer standing in front of the customer settlement apparatus, Data related to the transaction transmitted from the registration device is displayed on the display unit of the customer settlement apparatus and can be settled, or a read key is provided on the display unit of the customer settlement apparatus, and the key is pressed, Similarly, the data related to the transaction transmitted from the clerk product registration device may be displayed on the display unit of the customer checkout device so that the checkout is possible.
Further, the data relating to the transaction transmitted from the clerk product registration device to the customer checkout device is not limited to a method of transmitting all the product code information of the products registered in the transaction. When the registration in the product registration device for the store clerk is completed and the “number” of the customer checkout device is pressed, the transaction number for identifying the transaction and the code information of the product registered in the transaction are stored in the store controller A. At the same time, only the transaction number is transmitted to the designated customer settlement apparatus. Then, the customer checkout apparatus to which the transaction number is transmitted may read the product code information registered in the transaction from the store controller A using the transaction number as a key.

The POS system according to the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.
(1) In the embodiment, an example in which the clerk product registration device is placed on a counter having a space for placing a shopping cart is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the clerk product registration device is a dedicated device. You may arrange | position the counter which mounts on a stand and mounts a shopping basket on both sides across the stand.
(2) The form of the clerk product registration device and the customer checkout device is not limited to the illustrated configuration. For example, the customer settlement apparatus may be of a type that does not have a card settlement function.
(3) In the embodiment, the display unit (for customer) of the clerk product registration apparatus is not provided with the operation unit. However, the display unit (for customer) is not limited to this example. A key for declaring “no plastic bag” and a product for urging to buy are placed near the product registration device for the store clerk, and a product selection screen for adding and registering those products is displayed on the display unit (for customers). Further, a display operation unit may be provided in which a product to be added is selected from the display and can be additionally registered.
(4) In the embodiment, for example, FIG. 6 shows an example in which the display operation unit of the customer checkout apparatus and the back surface of the apparatus face the direction of the customer's flow line. The orientations of the two customer settlement apparatuses arranged in tandem on the downstream side of the merchandise registration apparatus may be oriented in the direction of the customer flow line. As a result, since there is a store clerk operating the merchandise item registration apparatus for any customer close to any of the customer checkout apparatuses, it is possible to support the operation of the customer who operates the customer checkout apparatus.

B ... Sales clerk product registration device (product registration device)
C, C '... Settlement device for customers (settlement device)
5 ... Clerk's display (operating surface for clerk)
6 ... Operation part (operating surface for clerk)
14 ... display operation part (customer operation surface)
18 ... Counter

Claims (7)

In a POS system in which purchased products are registered with a product registration device operated by a store clerk, and a customer performs a checkout process with a checkout device based on the registered information,
Adjacent to the product registration device, the settlement device is installed on the downstream side in the flow direction of the customer and the operation surface is directed to the opposite side or the same side as the operation surface operated by the store clerk of the product registration device. POS system characterized by that.   In the product registration device, at least two settlement devices are arranged in parallel, a plurality of settlement lines are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals, and the settlement device of each settlement line has an operation surface in a staggered direction. The POS system according to claim 1.   A payment line in which a payment device is installed in a row adjacent to the product registration device is arranged in parallel with a plurality of rows at a predetermined interval, and is positioned between the payment devices adjacent to each other, and a two-row shared payment device is provided. 2. The POS system according to claim 1, wherein the two rows of the settlement apparatus are disposed with an operation surface facing a downstream side or an upstream side of the settlement line.   4. The POS system according to claim 2, wherein the product registration device includes a counter for placing a shopping cart between the payment device installed adjacent to the product registration device.   The said check-out apparatus adjacent to the counter of the said product registration apparatus is installed with the operation surface facing toward the opposite side to the operation surface operated by the said store clerk of the said product registration apparatus. POS system.   The merchandise registration apparatus and the settlement apparatus can communicate with each other, and the merchandise registration apparatus includes designation means for designating and transmitting the settlement apparatus with data relating to transactions registered by the merchandise registration apparatus. The POS system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the POS system is characterized in that:   The payment apparatus has a payment apparatus main body mounted on a mounting table, and the mounting table includes a shopping basket storage part for mounting a shopping basket at a lower part, and the shopping basket storage part is a front surface facing the operation surface side of the payment apparatus main body. 7. The POS system according to claim 1, wherein the POS system is opened so as to penetrate through a back surface of the settlement apparatus main body facing the back side.

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