JP2019139568A - Gate type settlement system and gate type settlement apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a system for automatically recognizing commodities put into in a shopping basket carried by a shopper while the shopper passes through the system.SOLUTION: A gate type settlement system 1 is composed at least of a commodity 4 to which an RF tag 3 is attached and a gate type settlement device 2. The gate type settlement device 2 comprises a pair of gate bodies 20 forming a carrying passage 2a of a shopping basket 5 and a control part 23, and a human body sensor 22, a reader/writer 21, a collision member 24 and an impact sensor 25 are provided on at least one of the gate bodies 20. The control unit 23 causes the reader/writer 21 to perform an operation of detecting the RF tag 3 when the human body sensor 22 detects a shopper 6 and when the impact sensor 25 detects an impact that the shopping basket 5 has collided with the collision member 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for saving labor in a product checkout operation using an RF tag (RF: Radio Frequency) used for automatic individual identification by radio.

  For the purpose of resolving serious labor shortages in local areas and improving the efficiency of checkout operations, stores such as convenience stores and supermarkets are trying to save labor in the checkout of products.

  In order to save the checkout work, it is necessary to automatically recognize each product purchased by the customer. As a method for automatically recognizing a product purchased by a customer, Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which a camera is provided in a shopping basket in which a product to be checked out is placed and an image of this camera is used to automatically recognize a product in the shopping basket. Although disclosed, techniques for automatically recognizing products placed in a shopping basket using RF tags are becoming mainstream.

  When a product placed in a shopping basket is automatically recognized using an RF tag, an RF tag is attached to each product sold in the store and stored in the RF tag attached to the product placed in the shopping cart. By using a reader / writer that reads the collected data, the product identification data for identifying the product is collectively read from each RF tag attached to the product placed in the shopping cart. Automatic recognition.

  In the method of automatically recognizing a product put in a shopping basket using an RF tag, a reader / writer that reads data stored in the RF tag can be incorporated in a register as disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example. It is common. However, in the configuration in which the reader / writer is incorporated in the register, the customer places the shopping cart on the reader / writer incorporated in the register, makes the register recognize the product in the shopping cart, and then relates to the product in the shopping cart. You must stop in front of the register until you have paid for the purchase. In stores with a relatively small number of customers, this is not a problem, but in stores with a relatively large number of customers, a queue of customers waiting to be settled can be a cause of congestion.

  If the process of automatically recognizing the product in the shopping cart and the process of paying the purchase amount related to the product in the shopping cart can be separated using the RF tag, the time required for the product checkout operation can be shortened, and the settlement It will be difficult to generate a customer queue waiting for you. As an apparatus having such a configuration, for example, in Patent Document 3, a conveyor (product conveyor) that conveys products, a reader / writer that reads product identification data from an RF tag attached to a product that is conveyed by the conveyor. Device) and an accounting processing device including a self-accounting machine (automatic accounting machine) used for payment related to the purchase price of the product.

JP, 2006-57813, A JP 2008-299404 A JP 2004-013392 A

  However, as in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 3, when a conveyor is used for transporting a shopping basket containing products, a system for automatically recognizing the products placed in the shopping basket becomes large.

  Therefore, the present invention proposes a system capable of automatically recognizing a product placed in a shopping basket carried by a shopper without using a conveyor.

  A first invention that solves the above-described problem is a gate-type payment system that includes at least a product attached with an RF tag and a gate-type payment device that automatically recognizes the RF tag attached to the product. 1st invention WHEREIN: The said gate type | formula adjustment apparatus forms a conveyance path | route of the shopping basket into which the said product was put, and is equipped with a pair of gate main body and a control part which have a radio wave shielding function, At least one of the said gate main bodies, A human body sensor that detects a shopper who uses the gate-type payment apparatus, and a reader / writer that transmits a radio wave for wireless communication with the RF tag toward the conveyance path, and the control unit When the human body sensor detects a human body, the reader / writer is caused to perform an operation of detecting the RF tag. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gate-type checkout system, wherein a shopper passes by the gate-type checkout device so that a shopping basket moves along the transfer passage formed between the gate bodies. A formula checkout device is configured to detect the RF tag attached to the product in the shopping basket.

  Furthermore, the second invention is the gate-type payment system described in the first invention, wherein a shopping basket conveyed along the conveyance path is caused to collide with at least one of the gate bodies of the gate-type payment apparatus, A collision member for tilting the shopping basket at 1 to 45 degrees is provided. Furthermore, a third invention is the gate-type payment system according to the first invention, wherein the shopping basket conveyed along the conveyance path collides with at least one of the gate bodies of the gate-type payment apparatus. A collision member and an impact sensor for detecting an impact when a shopping basket collides with the collision member are provided, and the control unit detects a shopper's impact when the human body sensor detects the human body. When detected, the reader / writer is caused to perform an operation of detecting the RF tag. 2nd invention and 3rd invention are invention which made it possible to create the state which is easy to detect the RF tag by moving the goods by the collision member.

  Furthermore, a fourth invention is the gate-type payment system according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein a slit is formed in the upper part of the gate body along the center of the transfer passage to A ceiling member having a shielding function is provided. 4th invention is an invention which prevents that a shopping basket moves between the said gate main bodies in the state which came out from the upper part of the said gate type | formula adjustment apparatus.

  Furthermore, a fifth invention is the gate type settlement system according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, wherein the inner wall of the gate body is curved inward on the entrance / exit side of the transfer passage. Features. The fifth invention is an invention in which the detection performance of the RF tag is improved by utilizing reflection of radio waves.

  Further, a sixth invention is characterized in that in the gate type settlement system described in any one of the first to fifth inventions, a door having a radio wave shielding function is provided on the entrance / exit side of the transfer passage. A sixth aspect of the invention is an invention that prevents radio waves from entering from the entrance / exit side of the transport passage.

  Furthermore, the seventh invention is a gate-type payment apparatus constituting the gate-type payment system described in any one of the first to sixth inventions. A seventh aspect of the invention is an invention relating to a gate type settlement apparatus required in the gate type settlement system described in any one of the first to sixth aspects.

  According to the present invention described above, when the shopper passes by the side of the gate-type payment apparatus so that the shopping basket moves along the conveyance path formed between the gate bodies, the gate-type payment apparatus is Since the RF tag attached to the merchandise contained therein is detected, the merchandise put in the shopping cart carried by the shopper can be automatically recognized without using the conveyor.

The figure explaining the external appearance of a gate type adjustment system. The figure explaining RF tag attached to goods. The figure explaining the side surface of a gate type adjustment apparatus. The figure explaining the structure of a gate type adjustment apparatus. The figure explaining operation | movement of a gate type adjustment apparatus. The figure explaining an example of the payment method of goods. The figure explaining the gate type | formula adjustment apparatus which concerns on a modification.

  From here, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. The following description is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention, but is provided to aid understanding.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the external appearance of a gate-type payment system 1 according to this embodiment. The gate-type payment system 1 according to the present embodiment includes at least a product 4 with an RF tag 3 and a gate-type payment apparatus 2. The gate-type checkout apparatus 2 forms a transfer passage 2a through which a shopper 6 moves a plastic shopping basket 5 containing products 4, and has a pair of gate main bodies 20 (gate main body 20a and gate main body 20b having a radio wave shielding function). ) And a control unit 23, and at least one of the gate main bodies 20 transmits a human body sensor 22 for detecting a shopper 6 using the gate type settlement apparatus 2 and a radio wave for wireless communication with the RF tag 3 to the transport path 2a. A reader / writer 21 for transmitting toward the vehicle, a collision member 24 for causing the shopping basket 5 conveyed along the conveyance path 2a to collide, and an impact sensor for detecting an impact when the shopping basket 5 collides with the collision member 24 25 is provided.

  In the present invention, the shopping basket 5 means what the shopper 6 uses to carry the product 4. In FIG. 1, the shopping basket 5 has a bowl shape, but the shopping basket 5 may be a plastic bag, or the shopping basket 5 may be in the form of a plastic shopping cart.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the RF tag 3 attached to the product 4. The RF tag 3 attached to the product 4 is in the form of a seal label, and is attached to the product 4 using an adhesive material formed on the back surface of the RF tag 3. The RF tag 3 is a medium used for automatic individual identification using radio. The RF tag 3 is connected to an antenna 30 corresponding to a frequency band (in this case, a UFH band) used for radio communication and to the antenna 30. IC chip 31 is built in. The IC chip 31 built in the RF tag 3 stores at least a tag identifier that differs for each RF tag 3. Furthermore, the product data (product code and price) of the product 4 to which the RF tag 3 is attached can be stored in the IC chip 31.

  The gate type settlement apparatus 2 will be described. The two gate main bodies 20 included in the gate type settlement apparatus 2 have a target shape, and the products 4 with the RF tags 3 are inserted between the two gate main bodies 20 by being installed facing each other. The shopping cart 5 serves as a transport path 2a through which the shopper 6 moves. The reader / writer 21 only needs to be provided in one of the two gate bodies 20, but in FIG. 1, the reader / writer 21 is provided on the inner wall of each of the two gate bodies 20 in order to improve the detection accuracy of the RF tag 3. The position where the reader / writer 21 is provided is near the middle of the transport path 2a.

  The human body sensor 22 is provided on the outer wall of the gate body 20 on the entrance side of the transport passage 2a. The human body sensor 22 only needs to be provided in one of the two gate main bodies 20, but in FIG. 1, the shopper 6 passing by the right side of the gate type payment apparatus 2 and the left side of the gate type payment apparatus 2 A human body sensor 22 is provided on the outer wall of each of the two gate bodies 20 so that both of the shopper 6 passing by can be detected. Although the human body sensor 22 includes a transmission type, an infrared human body sensor 22 is used in the present embodiment.

  The collision member 24 and the impact sensor 25 are only required to be provided in one of the two gate bodies 20, and in FIG. 1, on the inner wall of the gate body 20b on the left side when viewed from the entrance of the transport path 2a, A collision member 24 and an impact sensor 25 are provided at a location immediately downstream of the reader / writer 21.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a side surface of the gate type settlement apparatus 2. Since the reader / writer 21 provided in the gate-type payment apparatus 2 transmits radio waves toward the conveyance path 2a, the shopper 6 does not have the shopping basket 5 come out from the upper part of the gate-type payment apparatus 2, and the conveyance path It is necessary to move the shopping basket 5 along 2a. In order to make it easier for the shopper 6 to move the shopping basket 5 along the conveyance path 2a in a state where the shopping basket 5 does not come out from the upper part of the gate type payment apparatus 2, the height of the gate type payment apparatus 2 is standard. The height is near the abdomen of an adult. Further, in order to make it easy to detect the RF tags 3 of all the products 4 in the shopping basket 5, the size of the antenna surface of the reader / writer 21 provided in the gate type settlement apparatus 2 is made larger than the size of the shopping basket 5. Yes.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the gate type settlement apparatus 2. As described above, each of the gate bodies 20 included in the gate type settlement apparatus 2 has a radio wave shielding function. As for the performance of the radio wave shielding function, it is desirable that the radio wave attenuation rate be 10 dbi or more. In order to realize the radio wave attenuation rate of 10 dbi or more, at least a gate with a material having a surface resistance value of 1 KΩ / sp (square) or less. It is desirable to configure the surface of the formula payment apparatus 2.

  Further, when the surface of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 is made of at least the surface resistance value of 1 KΩ / sp (square) or less, the surface of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 reflects radio waves. At least the inner wall of the gate body 20 is curved inwardly (on the conveyance path 2a side) on the entrance / exit side of the conveyance path 2a, and the radio wave transmitted from the reader / writer 21 is reflected toward the center of the conveyance path 2a at the curved position. , The detection range of the RF tag 3 is further expanded.

  The collision member 24 is placed in the conveyance path 2a so that the shopping basket 5 conveyed along the conveyance path 2a collides, and the inclination angle θ of the shopping basket 5 collided with the collision member 24 becomes 1 to 45 degrees. The gate body 20 is attached in a protruding state. The reason why the inclination angle θ of the shopping basket 5 that has collided with the collision member 24 is 1 to 45 degrees is to prevent the shopping basket 5 from being unable to be conveyed by the collision member 24. Although the collision member 24 can be installed on the exit side of the transport passage 2a, in the present embodiment, the collision member 24 and the impact sensor 25 are provided at a location immediately downstream of the reader / writer 21 in the transport passage 2a.

  Even when there is an RF tag 3 that is difficult to detect by the reader / writer 21, such as when the RF tag 3 attached to the product 4 is in contact with another metal product, by providing the collision member 24 in the gate type settlement apparatus 2, The product 4 attached with the RF tag 3 is moved by the impact of the shopping basket 5 colliding with the collision member 24, and the RF tag 3 attached to the product 4 is separated from other metal products. You can create a state.

  An impact sensor 25 that detects an impact when the shopping basket 5 collides with the collision member 24 is attached to the base of the collision member 24. Although the impact sensor 25 can be arbitrarily selected, in the present embodiment, the sensor is a sensor that detects the tensile force when the collision member 24 falls to the exit side of the transport path 2a as an impact.

  The control unit 23 of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 is a function realized using a computer device such as a PLC (programmable logic controller). The control unit 23 of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 is connected to the reader / writer 21, the human body sensor 22, the impact sensor 25, and the like, and the RF tag attached to the product 4 in the shopping basket 5 that moves along the transport path 2a. At least a process of automatically recognizing 3 is executed.

  From here, operation | movement of the gate type adjustment system 2 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated, describing operation | movement of the gate type adjustment system 1 which concerns on this embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment. When the shopper 6 carrying the shopping basket 5 containing the product 4 to be purchased passes by the side of the gate body 20 where the human body sensor 22 is installed, the human body sensor 22 of the gate type checkout apparatus 2 detects the shopper 6. Then, the human body sensor 22 of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 outputs a human body detection signal indicating that the human body has been detected to the control unit 23 of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 (S1).

  When the human body detection signal is output from the human body sensor 22, the control unit 23 of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 instructs the reader / writer 21 to start the operation of detecting the RF tag 3 (S2). An operation for detecting the tag 3 is performed, and a tag identifier or the like obtained by the operation for detecting the RF tag 3 is output to the control unit 23 (S3).

  When the reader / writer 21 of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 performs the operation of detecting the RF tag 3, the reader / writer 21 transmits a radio wave carrying a polling command, which is a command used to detect the RF tag 3, and the reader / writer 21 By receiving the tag identifier from the RF tag 3 existing in the detectable range 21, the RF tag 3 existing in the detectable range of the reader / writer 21 is detected. When reading product data from the RF tag 3 in addition to the tag identifier, the reader / writer 21 transmits a radio wave with a command to read data from the RF tag 3 and sends the product from each RF tag 3 that has read the tag identifier. Read data. Since a plurality of products 4 are often placed in the shopping basket 5, the reader / writer 21 needs to support anti-collision that is a function of detecting a plurality of RF tags 3 simultaneously.

  The shopper 6 moves the shopping basket 5 along the conveyance path 2a formed by the pair of gate bodies 20 in a state where the shopping basket 5 does not come out from the upper part of the gate type payment apparatus 2, and the shopper 6 moves When the shopping basket 5 collides with the collision member 24, the impact sensor 25 detects an impact when the shopping basket 5 collides with the collision member 24, and sends an impact detection signal indicating that the impact has been detected to the control unit 23. Output (S4).

  When the impact detection signal is output from the impact sensor 25, the control unit 23 of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 instructs the reader / writer 21 again to start the operation of detecting the RF tag 3 (S5), and the reader / writer 21 The operation of detecting the RF tag 3 is performed, and the tag identifier and the like obtained by the operation of detecting the RF tag 3 are output to the control unit 23 (S6). The operation in which the reader / writer 21 detects the RF tag 3 has been described above.

  The reason why the reader / writer 21 detects the RF tag 3 when the impact sensor 25 detects an impact when the shopping basket 5 collides with the collision member 24 is that the shopping basket 5 enters the conveyance path 2a. Even when there is an RF tag 3 that is difficult to detect, such as touching another metal product, the product 4 attached with the RF tag 3 moves due to the impact of the shopping basket 5 colliding with the collision member 24. This is because the RF tag 3 attached to the product 4 can be easily detected by leaving the RF tag 3 away from other metal products.

  When a human body detection signal is output from the human body sensor 22 and when an impact detection signal is output from the impact sensor 25, a tag identifier or the like is output from the reader / writer 21 to the control unit 23. When a tag identifier or the like is output from the reader / writer 21 after the impact detection signal is output from the impact sensor 25, the control unit 23 confirms the duplication of the tag identifier output from the reader / writer 21 of the gate type settlement apparatus 2. (S7).

  Next, the control unit 23 of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 generates a settlement product list that is a list of the products 4 in the shopping basket 5 from the list of tag identifiers that are not duplicated (S8), FIG. This procedure ends. When product data is stored in the RF tag 3, a settlement product list can be generated using the product data read from the RF tag 3. When product data is not stored in the RF tag 3, the control unit 23 of the gate type settlement apparatus 2 acquires product data from a server storing product data in association with the tag identifier, and generates a settlement product list. To do.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a settlement method for the product 4. The method for adjusting the product 4 using the adjusted product list generated by the control unit 23 of the gate type payment apparatus 2 may be arbitrary, but in FIG. 6, the control unit 23 of the gate type payment apparatus 2 displays the adjusted product list. A printed receipt 230 is issued so that the shopper 6 can settle the product 4 by the automatic settlement machine 7 using the receipt 230.

  As described above, the shopper 6 who uses the gate type payment system 1 according to the present embodiment moves the shopping basket 5 along the transport path 2a in a state where the shopping basket 5 does not come out from the upper part of the gate type payment apparatus 2. Although it is necessary to move, it is also possible to move the shopping basket 5 along the conveyance path 2a in a state where the shopping basket 5 does not come out from the upper part of the gate-type payment apparatus 2, so that the gate-type payment apparatus 2 It is desirable that the store clerk can easily see the shopping basket 5 in a state of coming out from the top of the shop.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a gate type settlement apparatus 8 according to a modification. The gate type settlement apparatus 8 according to the modified example illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a center of the conveyance path 2a as a device for easily seeing the shopping basket 5 in a state of coming out from the upper part of the gate type settlement apparatus 8 according to the modified example. A ceiling member 80 in which a slit 80a along the line is formed is installed on the upper surface of the gate type settlement apparatus 8 according to the modification. Depending on whether or not the shopping basket 5 comes out of the ceiling member 80 formed with the slit 80a along the center line of the conveyance path 2a, along the conveyance path 2a in a state where it comes out from the upper part of the gate type checkout apparatus 8 according to the modification. The shopping basket 5 that is moving can be easily seen. A radio wave shielding sheet can be used for the ceiling member 80 in which the slit 80a is formed along the center line of the transport passage 2a.

  In order to prevent radio waves from entering from the outside via the ceiling, it is desirable that the ceiling member 80 formed with the slit 80a along the center line of the transport passage 2a also has a radio wave shielding function. It is also desirable to prevent radio waves from entering via the entrance / exit of the gate type settlement apparatus 8 according to the modified example. The gate type settlement apparatus 8 according to the modified example illustrated in FIG. A door 81 having a radio wave shielding function is provided at the entrance / exit of the checkout apparatus 8. The door 81 is preferably formed of a plate-like member, but may be a curtain.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gate type settlement system 2 Gate type settlement apparatus 2a Transfer path 20 Gate main body 21 Reader / writer 22 Human body sensor 23 Control part 24 Collision member 25 Impact sensor 3 RF tag 4 Goods 5 Shopping basket 6 Shopper 8 Gate type settlement according to modification Equipment 80 Ceiling member 80a Slit 81 Door

Claims (7)

A product having an RF tag and at least a gate type settlement apparatus that automatically recognizes the RF tag attached to the product;
The gate-type payment apparatus includes a pair of gate main bodies and a control unit that form a transport path for a shopping basket containing the product and that have a radio wave shielding function,
At least one of the gate bodies is provided with a human body sensor for detecting a shopper who uses the gate-type payment apparatus, and a reader / writer that transmits radio waves for wireless communication with the RF tag toward the conveyance path,
The control unit causes the reader / writer to perform an operation of detecting the RF tag when the human body sensor detects a human body.
A gate-type payment system characterized by that. At least one of the gate bodies of the gate-type checkout apparatus is provided with a collision member for causing the shopping basket conveyed along the conveyance path to collide and tilting the shopping basket at 1 to 45 degrees. Characterized by,
The gate type settlement system according to claim 1. A collision member for causing a shopping basket conveyed along the conveyance path to collide with at least one of the gate bodies of the gate type settlement apparatus, and an impact when the shopping basket collides with the collision member. An impact sensor is provided, and the control unit causes the reader / writer to detect the RF tag when the human body sensor detects a human body and when the impact sensor detects an impact. It is characterized by
The gate type settlement system according to claim 1. In the upper part of the gate body, a slit is formed along the center of the transfer passage, and a ceiling member having a radio wave shielding function is provided.
The gate type settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The inner wall of the gate body is curved inward on the entrance / exit side of the transfer passage,
The gate type settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A door having a radio wave shielding function is provided on the entrance / exit side of the transport passage,
The gate type settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A gate type settlement apparatus constituting the gate type settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.