JP2019153065A - Wagon cart - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a wagon card whose easy-to-use position is mounted with a commodity specification device for specifying a commodity.SOLUTION: A shopping card includes caster parts provided to run freely on a floor surface. Rear ends of the caster parts are provided with flames provided upward. Upper sides of the caster parts or front sides of the flames are provided with a placement part for placing a commodity. The flames are provided with: a grip part gripped by an operator; and a commodity specification device that is configured to be detachable to a plurality of positions of the grip part and specifies a commodity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a cart.

  In stores such as supermarkets and shopping malls, an increasing number of stores have introduced a point-of-sale (POS) system. In such a store, a product identification device for identifying a product in a shopping cart used by the customer, for example, a shopping cart in which a scanner is attached so that the customer can read a product code attached to the product is known. . Such a scanner is attached to a shopping cart handbar.

  However, the hand bar is provided for the customer to push and pull the shopping cart, and depending on the position where the scanner is installed, there is an example where it is difficult to grasp the hand bar and the shopping cart moves. In addition, there was an example in which it was difficult to see the inside of the shopping cart when attached to the center of the shopping cart.

  For this reason, a shopping cart in which the scanner can be installed at an appropriate position of the hand bar is desired.

Japanese Patent No. 5711773

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cart that can be installed at a position where a product specifying device for specifying a product is easy to use.

  The cart of the embodiment includes a caster portion that is provided so as to be able to run on the floor surface. A frame provided upward is provided at the rear end of the caster portion, and a placement portion for placing a product is provided on the caster portion or on the front side of the frame. The frame is provided with a product specifying device for specifying a product, which is provided and is configured to be detachable at a plurality of positions of the grip unit that is gripped by an operator.

Drawing 1 is an appearance perspective view showing a shopping cart concerning an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control unit incorporated in the shopping cart. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the transfer position of the scanner attached to the shopping cart. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a shopping cart to which an extending arm is attached.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a shopping cart 10 corresponding to a point-of-sale (POS) system according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control unit 200 incorporated in the shopping cart 10. It is. In the present embodiment, the handle frame part 40 side is the rear, and the protruding direction of the hook receiving part 50 protruding from the handle frame part is the front.

  Although not shown, the shopping cart 10 functions as a registration machine that reads the product code of the product that the customer desires to purchase. The read commodity list is transferred to a checkout machine which is a separate device. The customer shall pay by using the checkout machine.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the shopping cart 10 according to the present embodiment includes a cart unit 20 that carries a shopping basket P that stores products, and an electrical component unit 100 that is attached to the cart unit 20. The cart portion 20 includes a caster portion 30 for smoothly moving on the floor surface, a handle frame portion 40 erected on the rear wheel side of the caster portion 30, and an intermediate portion in the height direction of the handle frame portion 40. It is provided with a hook receiving portion 50 attached to the position toward the front. The caster unit 30 and the basket receiving unit 50 are configured such that the shopping basket P is appropriately placed thereon. The shopping basket P has a swinging handle Pa.

  The caster unit 30 includes a rectangular frame-shaped frame 31 having an open rear side, and casters 32 provided at the four corners of the frame 31, respectively. The caster 32 includes a bracket 32a that freely rotates around a vertical axis, and a rubber or resin wheel 32b that freely rotates in the horizontal direction on the bracket 32a. The frame 31 is provided with a receiving portion 33. The receiving portion 33 is formed with a size that allows the lower portion of the shopping basket P to be accommodated.

  The handle frame portion 40 includes vertical frames 41 and 41 that are respectively attached to the left and right rear wheels of the caster portion 30 and a horizontal hand bar 42 that connects the upper ends of the vertical frames 41 and 41. An extension arm 43 is attached to the left vertical frame 41.

  The gutter receiving portion 50 has a square frame-shaped frame 51 and a receiving portion 52 provided on the lower side of the frame 51. The receiving portion 52 is formed with a size that allows the lower portion of the shopping basket P to be accommodated.

  The electrical unit 100 is provided on the caster unit 30. On the lower end side of the handle frame portion 40, a battery portion 110 attached over the vertical frames 41, 41 and a scanning device 120 for reading a product code are provided. Moreover, the display 150 which displays various information, such as the product name and unit price of the product read with the scanning apparatus 120, and the camera 160 which images the shopping cart P inside etc. are provided. The battery unit 110 supplies power to the scanning device 120, the display device 150, and the camera 160 via a power line built in the handle frame unit 40. In addition, the scanning device 120, the display device 150, and the camera 160 are connected to each other by a cable built in the handle frame portion 40 and the extension arm 43. The indicator 150 is attached to the upper end of the extension arm 43. Further, the camera 160 is attached to the middle part of the extension arm 43. With these configurations, a shopping cart is configured as a registration machine that reads a product code of a product that a customer desires to purchase.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the scanning device 120 includes a clamp 121 that is detachably attached to the hand bar 42 and a scanner body 122 that is integrally attached to the clamp 121. The clamp 121 is fastened by a bolt 121a to prevent the handbar 42 from moving in the axial direction.

  On the front surface of the scanner main body 122, a reading unit (product specifying device) 123 for reading a product code for specifying a product is provided. Further, a scanner trigger 124 for starting a reading operation by the reading unit 123 is provided on the upper surface of the scanner body 122.

  The display device 150 includes a display panel 152 having a touch panel function. A display panel 152 is provided on the front surface of the terminal housing 151. Inside the terminal housing 151, a control unit 200 that controls the battery unit 110, the scanning device 120, the display device 150, and the camera 160 is provided.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 that centrally controls each unit and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 that stores fixed data in a fixed manner via a bus line 210. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 that stores variable data in a rewritable manner and functions as a work area of the CPU 201, and a nonvolatile memory 204 are connected. The RAM 203 is provided with a storage area for storing a product master downloaded from the host server and a shopping list created based on the product code read by the customer and the product master. The nonvolatile memory 204 stores a program executed by the CPU 201. Further, the CPU 201 is connected to an interface 205 with the display panel 152, an interface 206 with the scanning device 120, an interface 207 with the battery unit 110, and an interface 208 with the camera 160 via the bus line 210. The CPU 201 is connected to the communication interface 209 via the bus line 210. It communicates with a settlement machine, a host server, etc. via the communication interface 209.

  The shopping cart 10 configured as described above is used as follows. That is, the shopping cart 10 is initially placed at the entrance of the store. At this time, the scanning device 120 is fixed to, for example, the central portion of the hand bar 42 by the clamp 121. The scanning device 120 is fixed by a shop clerk or the like tightening the bolt 121a with a tool. In addition, the clerk etc. can move the fastening position of the clamp 121 to an arbitrary position of the hand bar 42 by loosening the bolt 121a using a tool. Therefore, the customer does not move the scanning device 120 during use.

  Next, the customer pulls out the shopping cart 10 to be used, takes the shopping cart P, and places the shopping cart P on at least one of the caster unit 30 and the basket receiving unit 50. Here, it is assumed that the shopping basket P is placed on each of the caster unit 30 and the basket receiving unit 50. Then, the customer moves the shopping cart 10 toward the merchandise shelf where the merchandise is displayed while pushing the hand bar 42.

  The customer takes out the target product from the product shelf, brings the product code of the product closer to the reading unit 123 of the scanning device 120, and presses the scanner trigger 124. Thereby, the product code is read by the scanning device 120, and the read information is sent to the control unit 200, stored in the RAM 203, and displayed on the display panel 152 as a product name and a price. The customer puts the product into the shopping basket P placed on either the caster unit 30 or the basket receiving unit 50. When all the shopping is done, the customer goes to the checkout machine. Then, the shopping list stored in the RAM is transmitted to the checkout machine by operating the touch panel of the display 150. The customer uses the checkout machine to make a payment. The customer who has finished the settlement returns the shopping cart 10 to a predetermined position in the store.

  Next, relocation of the scanning device 120 will be described. As described above, the clamp 121 can be moved to an arbitrary position of the hand bar 42 by loosening the bolt 121a of the clamp 121. For example, in the example of FIG. 1, the scanning device 120 is fastened at the center position of the hand bar 42, but there may be a case where it is difficult for the customer to see the inside of the shopping cart P due to the judgment on the store side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the scanning device 120 may be fastened to a position shifted to the right side of the hand bar 42 from the position indicated by the two-dot chain line. Similarly, it may be fastened at a position shifted to the left side.

  In this way, the store clerk can change the position of the scanning device 120 on the hand bar 42, so that the arrangement can be made in consideration of the convenience of the customer. The location of the scanning device 120 is determined by the store. For example, by preparing in advance the shopping cart 10 that is fastened to the center position, the right position, and the left position, the customer can scan to the desired position. It becomes possible to select the shopping cart 10 to which the device 120 is attached.

  As described above, the shopping cart 10 according to the present embodiment can attach the scanning device 120 for specifying the product to a position that is easy for the customer to use, and convenience is improved.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the shopping cart 10 with the extension arms 44, 44 attached to the vertical frames 41, 41, respectively. Extension arms 44, 44 can be attached to the shopping cart 10 as required. The extension arms 44 and 44 are firmly attached by fastening with bolts or a lock mechanism.

  In the shopping cart 10, the customer moves the inside of the store by pushing and pulling the hand bar 42. Therefore, when the scanning device 120 is attached to the hand bar 42, the grip portion for placing a hand is reduced. For this reason, by attaching the extension arms 44, 44, the number of clip portions is increased, and the customer can easily handle.

  Note that the extension arms 44 and 44 are also attached to the shopping cart 10 in advance by the store. Moreover, you may mix with the shopping cart 10 which does not attach the extension arms 44 and 44. FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, the position at which the scanning device 120 is attached is the hand bar 42. However, the attachment position is limited to the hand bar 42 as long as the customer grips it and uses it for pushing and pulling the shopping cart 10. I can't. Also, the extension arms 44, 44 may be one instead of a pair of left and right. Further, the attachment of the scanning device 120 to the hand bar 42 may be an attachment method other than the attachment method using the clamp 121, and even when the clamp 121 is used, a fastening method other than the bolt 121a may be used.

  Furthermore, although the scanning device 120 optically reads a product code, a scanner configured to read the product code with a wireless tag may be used.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Shopping cart, 20 ... Cart part, 30 ... Caster part, 31 ... Frame, 32 ... Caster, 40 ... Handle frame part, 41 ... Vertical frame, 42 ... Hand bar, 43 ... Extension arm, 44 ... Extension arm, 50 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Receiving part, 51 ... Frame, 100 ... Electrical equipment part, 110 ... Battery part, 120 ... Scanning device, 121 ... Clamp, 121a ... Bolt, 122 ... Scanner body, 123 ... Reading part (product specifying device), 124 ... Scanner Trigger, 150 ... display, 151 ... terminal housing, 152 ... display panel, 160 ... camera, 200 ... control unit, P ... shopping basket.

Claims (5)

A caster part provided on a floor surface so as to be freely movable;
A frame provided upward from the rear end of the caster part;
A placing portion on the caster portion or on the front side of the frame, on which a product is placed;
A grip provided on the frame and gripped by an operator;
A product specifying device configured to be detachable at a plurality of positions of the grip portion and specifying a product,
A cart equipped with   The cart according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion is a hand bar extending in a horizontal direction.   The cart according to claim 1, wherein the commodity specifying device is fixed to the grip portion by a fastening member.   The cart according to claim 2, wherein the frame further includes an extension grip that is extended outward from both ends of the hand bar and is gripped by the operator.   The cart according to claim 4, wherein the extension grip is detachably attached to the frame.